That union label is still necessary
Dayton, N.J.: Wow! My last response to an editorial was over 20 years ago to a prominent Jersey newspaper in response to an ill-informed article about union apprentice training. The News’ Feb. 12 editorial, “The union label,” about Amazon, completely missed the mark about the ultimate benefit of union membership.
Job opportunity? Absolutely. Sick leave and vacation time? Great if you can collectively bargain and secure them. Fair wages? If the Daily News or New York workers think $15 an hour is the glass ceiling, well, I’m sorry, that is the floor level of poverty and you are missing the ultimate goal.
Unions are about benefits, first and foremost. Wages pay the bills and if you can save a little, maybe you have a place to live you can call your own, and perhaps afford a portion of what a child’s four-year college education will ultimately cost. But benefits provide what all trickle-down economics should, but do not provide — pension, health and welfare benefits to provide a quality of life earned through a skilled trade that pay a fair wage for a fair day’s work. C’mon, Daily News, you need a better read on the plight of your readers. If you believe union jobs don’t raise the wages and conditions of all non-skilled workers, you still believe the world is flat. It’s all about jobs and benefits. Eddie Fraass Jr.
Green light
Brooklyn: Even though Old King Coal sits in the White House, there is no reason that we can’t launch a Green New Deal right here, right now. New York — city and state — are both in Democratic hands. We now have tremendous power. There are hundreds of city- and state-owned buildings that have perfect rooftops for the installation of solar panels. There are housing projects whose roofs bake in the summer sun where the residents could benefit from reduced power costs and power outages. There are miles of coastline where wind farms could be set up and there are tidal rivers with strong currents that could turn underwater turbines. The only obstacle would be political will. That excuse can’t hold when we desperately need the spirit of innovation to prevail. Ed Temple
Back where she belongs
Coram, L.I.: Memo to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: In the 2018 midterm elections, 84% of registered Democratic Party voters in your district did not cast a ballot; they were certain of Joe Crowley being re-elected and possibly becoming speaker of the House if members booted Pelosi. Come 2020, these voters, enraged at the moronic and dangerously stupid monster they created, will come out in droves and send you back to your house in Westchester, where you will become the dust mite you are in American politics. Do not fret, however, because I am certain you can attain a high cabinet position in Nicolas Maduro’s cabinet in Venezuela. Gene Pappalardo
Security show and tell
Springfield Gardens, N.J.: I think I may have come up with an idea to reduce small business store hold-ups. Stores should post a sign on their doors stating that no one will be allowed entry without the removal of their hoodies. Once hoods are removed, cameras should take a picture of everyone’s face trying to enter the store. Once hoods are removed and pictures are taken, customers will be buzzed in. I am sure it may cost store owners a little money, but it will be worth it. Kathi Mitchell
Capitalism is as capitalism does
Glendale: It’s a trip when American billionaires like Mike Bloomberg and Howard Schultz tell us with straight faces that all socialist countries are like Venezuela. Given the relative political sophistication of Norwegian voters, I’m quite sure none of the socialist politicians over there would even think about trying to tell their constituents that all capitalist countries are like Somalia. Does Venezuela have a household annual per capita income of roughly $80,000 in U.S. dollars — like Maryland, the richest of the states — but excellent universal healthcare as well? Norway does. And of course while the thought of living in Mississippi — the poorest of the 50 states — isn’t nearly as frightful as the thought of living in Somalia, the fact that Mississippi’s household annual per capita income is about half that of Norway’s and without Norway’s health care, is nevertheless quite appalling. Peter Richards
Fear not
Manhattan: In his Feb. 4. Op-Ed on efforts to reform New York’s discovery laws (“Discovery reform is dangerous”), former Manhattan prosecutor Daniel Alonso conjures visions of terrified witnesses refusing to testify and criminals running roughshod over our judicial system. But as with most instances of hyperbole, reality is far different. In truth, New York State’s medieval discovery law gives prosecutors unfair and unjust advantages and lags behind the rest of the country. Our discovery system, known as the “blindfold law,” empowers prosecutors to withhold critical evidence from the defense, robbing them of the ability to mount an effective case. This not only violates the constitutional guarantee of being innocent until proven guilty, but also impairs our criminal justice system, evidenced by New York’s sky-high rate of wrongful convictions. More than 30 states have amended their discovery rules without issue. If New York is committed to the cause of equal justice, we must update our outdated discovery law this session. Khalil A. Cumberbatch chief strategist, Topeka K. Sam senior adviser, New Yorkers United for Justice
Fantastical emergency
Lakewood, N.J.: Can someone please tell me why the socalled President considers his ridiculous wall an emergency (a wall which he promised for years that Mexico would pay for), when mass shootings by citizens of the United States are not being addressed? Since he took office, hundreds of our innocent children, teachers, night club patrons and many others have been slaughtered by people born and raised in the United States. Why doesn’t this egotistical dope consider gun violence and mental illness an emergency? One has to question his mental state, if he continues with this nonsensical wall! Frank Mongiello
JLo down and dirty
Far Rockaway: To say that I was disappointed by JLo’s Motown tribute performance on the Grammys is putting it mildly (“Motown’s for all,” Feb. 14). I was thoroughly disgusted and outraged. Had she used a pole to slide on instead of a piano, I might find some modicum of respect for her. Shame on you, Smokey, for defending her; obviously you did not see the horrified look on Berry Gordy’s face. Ora Reed
One lost fan
Bronx: Once I saw J. Lo trying to pay tribute to Motown, I turned the channel and refused to turn back. Not only that, I will never watch the Grammys again. JLo should have never taken the job in the first place. Heck, she couldn’t even get people of the Bronx to come see her free concert in the Bronx . As far as Smokey Robinson goes, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Kenneth Joe