EDITORIALS: LONG STORY SHORT

A promising newcomer, a valued role model

Letitia James has already made history: She’s the first African-american elected to statewide office in New York, and the first woman elected as the state’s attorney general. Her challenge now is to conduct herself in office in a way that will live up to the hopes of the citizens who elected her.

She could well take guidance from her immediate predecessor, Barbara Underwood, who was appointed to an eight-month tenure in the job and now has returned, at age 74, to her role as solicitor general, the office’s top appeals lawyer.

In particular, Ms. Underwood has been understated but firm in pursuing cases involving President Donald Trump, which she insisted was not about partisanship, but about standing up for the law on behalf of New Yorkers. We’re grateful for Ms. Underwood’s service, and hopeful for Ms. James’ tenure.

Confronting addiction candidly is admirable

None of us eagerly confront our own weaknesses, but the challenge for a politician is especially acute, because others are always eager to take advantage. So we must offer a word of praise for Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan (R-east Northport), who Friday said he would miss the opening of the legislative session as he continues treatment for alcohol dependency.

Addiction is a disease that touches more than two-thirds of American families. Yet a stigma still exists against people in recovery. The more often people are candid about their struggle with addiction and deal openly with its impact, the greater will be the opportunity for others who follow to avoid such stigma.

For Mr. Flanagan’s honesty, then, we thank him, and wish him well on his path toward wellness.

Who’s leaving who?

Now comes Dominick Comitale, the Troy cop just indicted for assaulting a man at a Little League game last summer, who already cost the city $174,000 to settle four unrelated allegations of excessive force filed against him since 2011. Mr. Comitale quit Thursday; he “has lost faith in the justice system,” his lawyer said. More relevant: The justice system has lost faith in Mr. Comitale. And so has the public.