Plea for pachyderm personhood
Morganville, N.J.: Re “Happy’s plenty happy” (editorial, Oct. 5): I am seriously considering cancelling my subscription to your newspaper because of your repeated speciesist stance promoting the exploitation and abuse of nonhuman animals. The Nonhuman Rights Project is asking the courts to recognize Happy the Bronx Zoo elephant’s personhood and fundamental right to bodily liberty.
If Happy were to be set free, she would not be able to return to her natural habitat — despite your moronic editorial opinion suggesting otherwise — because she has been imprisoned and domesecrated (domesticated and desecrated) for most of her life. Instead, she would be transferred to a large elephant sanctuary where she will be able to run freely and socialize with other elephants. She deserves nothing less. Why is that so threatening to some humans?
Those in favor of the horse-drawn carriage industry and keeping elephants like Happy locked up in prisons called zoos are motivated by greed and power. Your pathetic excuses and needless continual support of these self-serving and archaic human institutions over the freedom and well-being of other sentient beings is cowardly and despicable.
Life sentence
Manhattan: While I can certainly appreciate why civilized men would feel the need to publicly electrocute a circus elephant as Topsy was in a Coney Island amusement park in 1903, I would be curious to know if anyone even remembers just what crime Happy was alleged to have committed some 40 years ago to warrant her removal and incarceration in a zoo for the balance of her life.
A tryout period
Greenburgh, N.Y.: If Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court appointment were not a lifetime position, his confirmation would not have hurt as much. The Constitution should be changed. Justices of the Supreme Court should not be appointed for life — at least initially. How about putting justices on probation for six years before giving them a lifetime job? In that time we’ll learn more about their background, the way they handle their job, their judicial demeanor and whether they are too partisan. A short-term mistake is better than a wrong lifetime confirmation.
Four weeks to go
West Milford, N.J.: From the mouth of our newest Supreme Court Justice, Brett
Kavanaugh, words of wisdom were said during the Senate hearings: “What goes around, comes around.” I will remember those words come Nov. 6, Election Day.
Following her conscience
Briarwood: Bravo to Sen. Susan Collins, who did what she feels is right instead of being a follower of strict party lines. She takes the time to review and understand the issues. Her impassioned speech on Friday was so moving. She is truly bipartisan, and senators who have blinders on ought to learn a valuable lesson from her.
Retribution ahead
Edison, N.J.: The Democrats’ Kavanaugh assassination is reuniting the right. Brett Kavanaugh is no longer a mere Supreme Court justice. His name is now a veritable conservative cause.
Party of losers
Brooklyn: The shameless progressive left and the Democratic Party are spiraling to new depths. The sad, yet comical behavior of the teary-eyed adult liberals responding childishly to the realities of life, as in the case of the Kavanaugh nomination, is amazing. One would think responsible adults would carry on in a distinguished, above-board fashion, and set an example of behavior to be admired by all. This, of course, is not happening because those representing the Communist left were never taught, nor will ever learn, civility. Like foolish, young spoiled brats, they will continue to make fools of themselves.
Senate tribute band
Massapequa, L.I.: Since Elizabeth Warren thinks she is an Indian, Cory Booker thinks he is Spartacus and Richard Blumenthal believes he is a war veteran, I say we should dress them all up and let them tour America as a new version of The Village People.
Jersey cleansing needed
Brooklyn: New Jersey would be better off with a dead person running for Senate on the Democratic ticket than have a crook like Bob Menendez. New Jersey will become a laughingstock, and those who vote for him need an ethics check. The clear choice is the honorable Robert Hugin.
Freedom of speech
Rockaway Beach: As to Voicer Joe Ametrano and his comment about Trump: Some of us think he belongs under Mount Rushmore. And it’s a great country where we can say something like this, without getting shot for it.
Revive the commuter tax
Long Island City: Gov. Cuomo says that congestion pricing is the only answer to funding the MTA repairs. Instead of charging city residents money to drive on the roads their taxes are already paying for, they should bring back the commuter tax so that out-of-city residents who use city streets and services can pay their fair share.
Traffic and transit tie-up
Holliswood: So, travel speeds for cars, buses and taxis in Manhattan have fallen 21% since 2010 according to the NYC DOT. And yet fewer vehicles are entering Manhattan, down from a high of 745,000 per day in 1990 to 717,000 per day in 2016. And mass transit ridership is down 20,000 per day from 2014 to 2016. Could it be there is less lane capacity for vehicles because of all the bus lanes, protected bike lanes and pedestrian plazas? And the lower speed limit and pedestrians walking in the street don’t help. As for lower mass transit ridership, I can only assume that ridership is determined by fares collected. So don’t believe your lying eyes even though train after train and bus after
AP bus are stuffed, that ridership is down. Could it be that fare evasion is up, as Select Bus Service requires proof of fare payment upon request and the mayor and City Council decriminalized turnstile jumping/fare evasion? Now they are considering congestion pricing, the congestion being a mess that they themselves created. As a proud 52-year old lifelong New Yorker, it may be time for a move. And no, Gov. Cuomo, it won’t be due to the weather.
West coast warnings
Hillsdale, N.Y.: California’s Proposition 65 requires a warning label on any product manufactured with certain chemicals that can cause cancer and/or birth defects. So either the people in California have more value on their lives or one can only get cancer or birth defects if they use those products in California. Hey, New Yorkers and every one else, let’s move to California, where we carry more value!
Ballot ballet
Bronx: I am willing to bet that appointed Chief Democracy Officer Ayirna FonsecaSabune is a friend of the de Blasio family and that one family member will be on the ballot for the next mayoral election. Guess who?