Ranked choice voting empowers us

Email to or post your letter to or send fax to Please include full name, address and daytime phone number. The Daily News reserves the right to edit letters.

Manhattan: I hope New York City voters vote “yes” for ranked choice voting. Bruce Gyory made the case against ranked-choice voting, arguing that it favors candidates who “appear to have a chance to win” and therefore white candidates (“Just say no to instant runoffs,” op-ed, Oct. 10). This is not the case. Ranked choice voting will help candidates who are polling poorly to gain traction by eliminating the “spoiler” effect.

For example, in the public advocate special election, a voter who supports Ron Kim but fears Republican Eric Ulrich would be reluctant to vote for Kim, because they know Kim would be unlikely to win, and the best vote to defeat Ulrich is for Jumaane Williams. Under ranked-choice voting, however, voters would not be discouraged from voting for a candidate with a low chance of winning because they could rank other candidates second and third to ensure that their vote isn’t wasted. This empowers trailing candidates and their supporters.

With ranked-choice voting, candidates have to attract supporters from all areas. Even if a candidate knows that a certain area will definitely not vote for them as their first choice, they will still have to try to get their second choice votes. This will force elected officials to be responsive to all.

With ranked-choice voting, there’s no need for runoff elections. This saves New Yorkers their time, and saves taxpayers money.

And besides, if the voters don’t like the system, they will still have the option to vote by filling in their first choice and leaving the rest blank. Judah Klingsberg

Veni, Vidi, Vici

Whitestone: So the governor finally did something right — stepping in to have a statue of Mother Cabrini erected in the city despite the mayor’s wife’s ignorance and refusal. How dare the mayor’s wife disregard what the people voted for? She needs to educate herself in the democratic process. The people decide, not her. Erect that statue of Mother Cabrini and honor her loving human kindness for all. Eugene O’Brien

Oh, no Joe

Newton, N.J.: Once again, the Mets blew it. Joe Girardi was the perfect man to lead this Mets squad, but no, the Mets let him go to the Phillies of all teams. On behalf of most Mets fans, we are furious. They better hire Dusty Baker not Carlos Beltran, who has no managerial experience and would be another Callaway nightmare. Are you listening, Mr. Van Wagenen and Mr. Wilpon?

Bobby Pfeiffer

Cliffhanger

Little Neck: I think what Torah Bontrager wrote about

so eloquently was the substandard education of some schools in ultra-religious communities where secular subjects and critical thinking skills are barely taught, so that she, as an Amish youth, had no inkling of what was going on in the world outside of her insulated group (“The limits of religious freedom,” op-ed, Oct. 19). I, for one, was awed by her story of how she left her group at 15, got an education, and ended up at Columbia University. I would love to hear more: Where did she live? How did she support herself? Who helped her? Maybe the Daily News could do a feature story on her. I am sure many young people with troubled lives could be inspired by her story. As for Voice Barry Scharch, unlike the clearly articulated article by Bontrager, your writing makes no sense. What on earth are you trying to say?

Reena Fettner

On Giuliani

Bronx: Rudy Giuliani would be wise to be his own attorney, to shield what he did on his thorny Trumpy journey. For as his own lawyer, he could remain defiant, arguing loudly while the truth stayed hidden, silent. It’s all quite simple and juridically essential. Attorney/client matters are confidential.

Fred Smith

Free publicity

Manhattan: We replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill as follows: New bill worth $20.20 with President Trump on it. That is, Trump in 2020.

Mort Goldberg

So surreal

St. Petersburg, Fla.: I can’t believe it! A complete page of the Voice of the People with not one hate letter about President Trump (Oct. 24). Your editors must have been out sick yesterday. What a pleasure for a change. And now all those haters can start writing about my relief.

Bill Barrett

Call out

Brooklyn: Your Oct. 23 headline said “Impeach noose tightens” on the same page where you condemn President Trump for his use of the word “lynching” as hitting a racial cord. The Daily News has inadvertently shown that words have multiple meanings without always having any racial intent or overtones.

Thank you for proving it by your use of the word “noose.” Should everyone now believe The News is racially insensitive as you would have the world believe Trump is?

Glenn Brown

Her girl for sure

Vestal, N.Y.: After watching the last Democratic debate, I’ve decided that Sen. Amy Klobuchar has my support for the Democratic presidential nomination. She is very intelligent — a magna cum laude graduate from Yale. She is not vague. She provides clear-cut solutions to problems. She does not evade or dodge questions. She’s not for Medicare for All, nor for free college tuition for everyone, nor for eliminating college student debt. She supports the proposed assault weapons ban. These are the views I hold. Therefore, I will vote for Klobuchar to stop Don the Con from being re-elected.

Jeanne Urban

It’s showtime

Spotswood, N.J.: Max Burns’ op-ed cracked me up (“The Republicans sink even lower,” Oct. 23). Does he live in opposite world? The most despicable and dangerous stunt being pulled in Washington is this

GETTY IMAGES fake impeachment inquiry. Everyone knows it is complete nonsense, and it is very toxic for our country. The anger and the hatred on the left needs to end, or it will cause irreparable harm.

Tom Scott

The whole shebang

Forest Hills: This is in response to Voicer Catherine Lo Curto’s letter regarding Trump’s tax returns and how she feels it has nothing to do with anything. Well it does. Where and how he makes his money is revealed in your taxes. We need to know if he has business interests in foreign countries and and if it’s illegal or legal. Is he a financial criminal? We need to know if he is continuing to make money in foreign countries while he is president since he never put his business in a trust. Is he putting the American people or his financial interests and families’ interests first? I don’t want a president that puts his interests over the American people as a form of foreign policy. His taxes will tell that. Is he honest about his earnings? If he has nothing to hide, he should release his taxes!

Ellen Zakin