In defense of our new gig economy

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Copiague, L,I.: Many people who could not work otherwise are benefiting from the gig economy (“The gig economy: A godsend to me,” op-ed, Jan. 13). A friend was able to be with his wife for every chemo treatment, and take a day off when she had her really bad post-chemo day a couple of days later. She’d had to take leave from her job, so it was fortunate that he was still able to earn money on his own schedule. His clients didn’t care when the work got done — noon or midnight — as long as the deadline was met.

I know several people who would be on disability if not for the gig economy which allows them to work when able and take time off when their symptoms are acting up. If forced to choose between full-time work at the employer’s convenience or part-time work at their own convenience, every one of them would turn down the full-time job because they physically can’t do it.

Not every person wants a full-time job. Not every person wants a set schedule. Some would be jobless if that was the only option. Karen Meyer Campbell

Fighting back

Bay Shore, L.I.: To Voicer Catherine Lo Curto: As an addendum to my previous letter on self-defense, I can advise you that your idea of stun guns would not be advantageous. First, stun guns are illegal in this state. Secondly, they are ineffective. Most stun guns are batterypowered, which results in a pinch like a bee sting. Unlike the action hero in a movie, the victim of a stun gun will not drop to the floor and be incapacitated for hours. I have been subjected to being zapped by a stun gun and I’ve had worse reactions to touching a defectively wired lamp. My reaction to the stun gun bite was that I wanted to slap the person holding it.

IRL

Linda Garramone

Bronx: The revolving door at courthouses, a long-standing joke, has become a reality thanks to the those in Albany, our governor and mayor.

Off to the feds!

Robert Neglia

Manhattan: In the case of Gerod Woodbury, prolific bank robber, there is a very easy way to address this problem (“He’s sprung & robs bank, say police,” Jan. 12): When a suspect repeatedly abuses the city’s bail procedure as he has done, you opt to have him prosecuted

federally. That will give him time to ponder the error of his ways.

Aydin Torun

Power to the people

Little Neck: Who are the idiots who voted for the state’s new bail guidelines? I want to know, so I can do all I can to vote them out!

Reena Fettner

Rikers II

Bradley Beach, N.J.: To Voicer Phil Berkowitz: I have a better idea for the use of Rikers Island. Why subject our homeless people to a jail? Rikers is not fit for humans, as pointed out in the Daily News recently. Our brave correction officers are coming down with cancers from the toxic soil. Let’s send the prisoners to upstate facilities where most belong, tear down the buildings and let the grass grow if it can.

Patrick Freeman

Cruel and unusual

Howard Beach: I can’t believe that you had the audacity to publish a story about the Metropolitan Correction Center and comment on the heating crisis of last year (“Federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself gets new leadership, including lawyer at center of heating crisis in Brooklyn lockup,” Jan. 12). I am supposed to feel sorry for the prisoners? There are many people who go to work every day and work hard who have to fight with landlords to get heat and it goes on for years while the city does nothing. Let us be real: You are in jail. You committed a crime. Stop complaining. And to the elected officials, if they have no heat, let them stay at your house if you are so worried about their welfare. We, the people of New York City, deserve better. Stop pandering to the criminals.

Manny Agostini

Two wheelers

Rego Park: Re “Of trucks and hearses” (editorial, Jan, 11): Think truck technology alone will stop pedestrian and cyclist deaths? I’ve got a fleet of Boeing 737 Maxes to sell you. New York City’s and this paper’s continued focus on driver behavior to meet the city’s Vision Zero goals is shortsighted. While drivers have the primary responsibility towards pedestrians and cyclists, where are the public service announcements educating the most vulnerable road users about the heightened risks they face when they are not attentive, ignore traffic rules, enter truck blind spots, or don’t wear helmets?

Arthur L. Miller

Like the Bible says

Staten Island: To Voicer Chet Walker, who was disturbed by the inclusion of gay pride photos in the yearend montage: Our constitutional freedom of religion does not include the right to demand that others observe the same way you do. There’s a very simple solution: turn the page. You urge readers to read Leviticus 20:13. Tell me, do you eat shellfish, get your hair trimmed, or wear garments made of two different kinds of thread? These are forbidden in other parts of Leviticus. Perhaps you should consider Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

Carrole Portantiere

Ticket to Tehran

East Meadow, L.I.: To Voicer Chet Walker: The United States is a secular nation. Your cherry-picked Bible verses are not American law, and nobody has to follow them. If you don’t like photos that the Daily News publishes, then that says a lot about you. If you don’t like the fact that two people of the same sex can love and marry each other, too bad. If you don’t like the horoscope

AP because it goes against your beliefs, too bad. I do have a suggestion for you: If you want to live in a place where biblical laws are strictly followed, you can move to Iran.

Richard Skibins

Keep them honest

Bronx: I would like to ask Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this question: If you knew of imminent attacks, can you now point to evidence of defensive action that was taken to defend the targets of those attacks? We await your response and hope for specific details. I would like to ask Vice President Mike Pence the same question.

Miriam Levine Helbok

Let down

Bronx: When Mike Pompeo opens his mouth and says to the American people that ”We are safer now,” does he believe we are morons or is he hoping we are all in comas due to the sound of his voice? We, the people, will voice our displeasure that this administration had its chance to shine and has fallen far short of expectations.

Mark Benveniste