Resources needed to combat rape

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Manhattan: Re “The NYPD’s broken promise on rape” (op-ed, July 19). The authors, the former leadership at the Department of Investigation, did a thorough and careful report providing evidence of a serious lack of staff, skills and clean facilities at the NYPD Special Victims Division. Rather than take the DOI report as an opportunity for change, the leadership at NYPD has decreased Special Victims staff, persisted in assigning police officers not yet trained in investigation and eliminated or downsized units that address issues specific to sexual assault. These include: a unit that checks to see that cases are not undercharged, a unit that specializes in the investigation of drug facilitated sexual violence and the cold case unit. Furthermore, current reports on the Jeffrey Epstein case reveal a Sex Offender Monitoring Unit that is too understaffed to monitor persons convicted of sex offenses.

The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, of which I’m the executive director, calls on the mayor and the commissioner to respond to the 16% increase in reports of rape between 2014-2018 by adding the staff and skills needed to conduct sensitive and timely investigations of sexual assault cases reported to them. This must be done in order to assure protection and justice to children and adults who experience the life-altering damage of sexual violence. Mary Haviland

Piggybacker

Bronx: This self-absorbed mayor refused to recently go to a memorial for 9/11 recovery heroes. But now, for political reasons, he wants to show up at a bill signing to fund said heroes. This is a ploy to make people believe he had anything to do with this bill. How low must he be to use sick and dying heroes for his own selfish gain. And he shows not one drop of shame.

Our heroes

Carmel, N.Y.: Even if the EPA had declared from day one that the WTC pile was unsafe, that would never have deterred all those who responded to the horrible destruction and the searches that went on for the remains of those who perished. God bless every one of them. It is despicable that it has taken our elected politicians so long to approve the extension of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund!

A dedication

Stephen Hill Susan McCormack

Metuchen, N.J.: Open letter to Jon Stewart: Please buy the song by Bette Midler, “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” Without you, our heroes would be without health coverage and financial support. Jon Stewart = The Wind Beneath My Wings.

Carol Hoousendove

The good fight

Manhattan: The 9/11 fund extension was necessary but do not criticize the two senators who stuck out their political necks, as they were not against approval. They wanted to see accountability put in place and they should be praised. How often have we seen funds go to the wrong people and not to the victims or needy?

Suzan Chute

Cart before the horse

Lynbrook, L.I.: After reading Voicer and de Blasio aide Freddi Goldstein’s letter, it seems she has Police Officer Pantaleo fired before the decision becomes final. I guess since she is the mayor’s press secretary, she is playing her hand. It seems the NYPD don’t have rights or due process.

Larry Lombardo

Hush now

Manhattan: While it is obvious that Nancy Pelosi is unable to silence Ilhan Omar, the speaker of the House can remove her from all committee assignments and give her the cold and silent treatment. Certainly at present, Omar is not a positive in the Democratic Party’s campaign to get rid of President Trump in the 2020 election.

Nelson Marans

Blame game

Brooklyn: Why hasn’t our buffoon of a mayor blamed Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell for the multiple blackouts in the same manner he blamed former Commissioner Joe Esposito for a snowstorm?

Peter “ER” Pennolino

Bravo, Bill!

Flushing: Kudos to Bill de Blasio for calling out Con Edison. Remember how his predecessor kowtowed to them during the 2006 Woodside/ Astoria power disaster?

John Puglese

Nice thinking

Manalapan, N.J.: Having the governor and the mayor take over the electrical grid in New York City is a brilliant move, after the bang-up job they’ve done with NYCHA and the MTA. Perhaps they can get Bernie Madoff a pardon so he can fix the budget deficit and bring back Bernie Kerik to lead the fight against corruption by city officials.

Bossy bikers

Joe Fontanelli

Holliswood: Re “Linking Death To Bike Battle” (July 21): It appears that Joe Cutrufo of Transportation Alternatives and Jon Orcutt do not believe the community should have a say about the installation of protected bike lanes. What is the purpose of having community boards if you’re just going to ram your proposals through? Shouldn’t the community, the very community who will be

/ANGUS MORDANT/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS impacted and have to deal with the unintended consequences of these street redesigns, have a say? Sounds like they don’t believe in democracy, but autocracy. Gregory W. Chupa

Passport holder

Fresh Meadows: To Voicer Colleen Passafiume: Unfortunately my father is no longer here to speak for himself. He pursued his citizenship like many before and after him. He loved this country. With all due respect, I find your questions interesting as I have to ask, are these standard questions for anyone who becomes a citizen? To my knowledge, once you attain your citizenship, you are an American without an asterisk.

E.S.L.

Zane Tenenbaum

Brooklyn: Voicer Deborah Flynn assures me that I have my definitions backwards. Understood. But, regardless, interpreters/translators have a purpose: To speak for, or on behalf of, another who doesn’t speak a language. I’m 60 years old (young) and from Puerto Rico. I’ve been a mainland US resident and New Yorker for 57 years. I learned to speak, read and write English in kindergarten in 1964 through the school of hard knocks and watching English language programming. So, yes. I do get it! It’s never too late to learn!

Cecilia Rivera

Patriotic protest

Manalapan, N.J.: As a form of conscientious objection that is both moral and patriotic, take down American flags and store them until the American government ceases in its cruel, horrendous, and inhumane policy with respect to the children and parents at the border. The garrison flags at car dealerships and corporations should come down first, followed by the flags of homeowners, allowing only the flags on government property to fly. When children are united with their parents, when the detention centers are abolished, and the private sector is allowed to help those in need, the conscientious objection will come to an end.

Getting straight

Astoria: In terms of Dwight Gooden being able to once and for all time forego the sauce, the blow, and what not, the answer is simple: Doc “couldn’t.” God bless our troubled champion.

Richard Melnick

Well deserved

Ray Kalainikas

Flushing: I see so many inventive (mainly older) people in my neighborhood searching for bottles and cans on the streets and in trash receptacles. Wouldn’t it be the right thing to reward these souls with a raise which also would accomplish a tax on sugary drinks and plastic water bottles? Ben Jordon