AOC, next time adopt, don’t shop
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Los Angeles: This reader was also deeply disappointed at the choice of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s new pet being a purchased French bulldog puppy rather than a rescue from one of umpteen shelters wherein she could have no doubt found a similar breed, even a purebred dog, since sadly so many can be found in such sad places. It is, of course, totally her choice. I’m sure the pet will find a wonderfully good home in her care, but when so many wonderful dogs, including puppies, are desperately in need of homes, it does seem to have been a chance for her to “do the right thing” and save a little life rather than continue to support the breeding of more dogs by enabling such a purchase.
This nation over-breeds domestic dogs, cats and rabbits, and taxpayers must pay the huge cost to euthanize the overflow which is a waste of money and animal lives. It is a nation’s shame! We who care about such a misuse of a profit motive are also too well aware that certain breeds pay a huge price in their health to please a vanity standard on behalf of Kennel Club breeders to comply with features of face and form so that many of these creatures suffer from respiratory, ear and eye infections and such. It is a disgrace that this is so. However, hopefully this progressive young woman might choose to also adopt a shelter mutt or even a shelter purebred to add to her family which would certainly please us all.
Elaine Livesey-Fassel
Forgotten four-legged friends
Manhattan: It is not just animal rights activists who are disappointed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to purchase a French bulldog. Moderate animal welfare people, as well as regular folks, largely agree that adopting a dog from an animal rescue shelter is the only way one should add a pet to the family. Pet stores usually buy from inhumane puppy mills. Yes, there are responsible breeders for some breeds, but even then, rescue is the right choice because of all the homeless animals. Also, regarding breeders, it is cruel to breed for characteristics like flat faces in bulldogs because these dogs are born into a life of misery with difficulty breathing as well as eye and nose problems. It seems Ocasio-Cortez is only progressive when it comes to people, not animals.
Cathy Wallach
In the numbers I
Brooklyn: I am so tired of hearing elected officials play the race card every time a higher percentage of black and Hispanic citizens are cited for breaking the law. Case in point is subway fare evasion. If a disproportionate number of summonses are issued to blacks and Hispanics,
maybe it’s because they do a disproportionate amount of fare beating! It is time to stop picking on the cops for doing their duty. Pick on the criminals instead.
George Nader
In the numbers II
Brooklyn: Here we go again. The NYPD is going out and throwing a net over innocent minorities and charging them with fare evasion, like they do with the weed smokers, just to make their white bosses happy. We all know that black and brown people are all misunderstood, law-abiding people who are being oppressed, and not really the majority of people who are committing these and many other offenses. Give me a frigging break. Let’s just do away with the police and see how the different races act.
Leighton Perkins
Constituent complaints
Brooklyn: Hey, Gov. Cuomo, you are the top official of New York, not Puerto Rico! While it is admirable to see the federal government and many states pitch in after the earthquakes, you should be up here attending to the “devastated” areas here in your own state. There are all too many neighborhoods, from the rotten apple to Niagara that look like Puerto Rico after the earthquakes. They have seemingly been ignored by the Democrat-controlled Legislature and localities for decades. Homelessness has only received lip service from you and other feel-good liberals feigning concern for these unfortunate individuals. While it is great to see the Power Authority help out the corrupt and failing power systems in Puerto Rico, how about a presence here finding a low-cost alternative for power as you drive a stake in the heart of Indian Point? So before you trot off on your pre-2024 presidential campaign, how about hanging out here and doing something positive for your own constituents?
Robert W. Lobenstein
Broken system
Bronx: To all those opposed to the new bail reform guidelines: I also don’t believe that there should be a revolving door putting the wrong people back on the street. However, it’s our justice system that is at fault. Its failure is what created the necessity for bail reform. The Constitution clearly mandates that the accused should be guaranteed a speedy trial. No prisoner should have to be imprisoned in a hellhole like Rikers Island for one or two years before being given a trial. How do you compensate someone imprisoned for years and who, when finally brought to trial, is found not guilty? This happens too often with the failure to make bail. Readers: Before expressing your opinions, think first.
Gilbert M. Lane
So serious
Brooklyn: Shame on the Daily News for the Jan. 15 front cover that trivializes the coming Senate trial of Trump by using the terms “farce” and “circus.” Those are terms, moreover, that Trump and his GOP enablers often used to trash the historic efforts by House Democrats to impeach this president, who abused his powers and obstructed the search for truth about his Ukraine dealings. I hope future covers will treat the Senate trial of this president with the gravity it deserves.
Louis Menashe
Trumpland
Wallington, N.J.: To all the critics and complainers: Our
INSTAGRAM great President Trump is keeping our country safe! Ronnie Deckert
#HowAboutMeToo
Toms River, N.J.: I have no sympathy for these women who are coming out against men who allegedly sexually harassed them five, 10, 20 years ago. Where have you been? At my age, if somebody sexually harassed me, I would be so thrilled I would tell everybody!
Richard D. Vigneri
Rose by any other name
Stockholm, N.J.: Everyone who was involved in the cheating scandal in baseball should be thrown out at the plate. How many people got big contracts because they knew what pitch was coming? How many pitchers were winners because the batters put up big numbers knowing what pitch was next? Not only that. With the advantage they had, they could easily have bet on games. This makes Pete Rose look like an altar boy. Either throw them out or let Pete back in.
Nat Saraceni