When accurate statistics aren’t the whole story
Malverne, L.I.: To Voicer David Melvin: Thank you for your letter. However, I never changed my position or contradicted myself. Unfortunately, my original letter was edited by the Daily News and they did not print it in its entirety, therefore losing some context. When I responded to your letter, I abridged what I originally wrote, and they fortunately printed most of it unedited. Sorry for the confusion.
That aside, I do agree with you that more omnipresence makes people feel safe, but again, the policies of defunding the police affected staffing levels, which makes that very difficult to do. The NYPD and Commissioner Jessica Tisch does a great job of doing more with less, but having the right policies in place is always what has been most effective — policies that have changed over the last 10 years, and people who live in N.Y. and are old enough know what I am talking about, as they have lived in both eras.
In regard to “figures lie and liars figure,” here is an example: 20 burglaries are committed in a particular sector over a month’s time, police flood the area, and now there are 10 reported burglaries. That’s a 50% drop. Sounds great, right? However, in another sector, we had one burglary, and the next month we had two burglaries — that’s a 100% increase! It sounds a lot worse. However, the original sector still has the problem, as they are experiencing eight more burglaries a month. The 50% drop in crime is deceiving, and so is the 100% increase. That was my point. Dave Kalin
Sitting idly by
Stratford, Conn: Addressed to the morons who, we the people, elected to higher office, I will type really slowly so you can understand: Only the police and the military need automatic weapons, period. Get your dirty hands out of the NRA’s pockets, stop being cowards and do the right thing for once in your lives. And tell me, the lowering of flags to half-staff and reminding all the people who lost family members that they are in your thoughts and prayers — how’s that working out? Peter Sulzicki
That’s nothing
Plainview, L.I.: After Moses fled Egypt, God gave him the commandment “Thou shalt not steal” (along with nine others). Thousands of years later, the U.S. government virtually says that it’s not such a bad thing to steal after all. Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Rachel Kovner has sentenced an Egyptian doctor to only 180 days in prison for stealing 590 historical artifacts from Egyptian graves and dig sites, which amounts to less than eight hours per theft — not even a proverbial slap on the wrist. And the judge let the thief plead guilty to a mere four counts of smuggling. Clearly, this judge failed third-grade math as a child and learned nothing about justice in law school! Richard Siegelman
Leaves a hole
Saugerties, N.Y.: What happened to the Justice Story and the CARIBBEAT? I have been buying the Sunday Daily News for years and have noticed you no longer run either piece. Can you please bring them back? Terry Lanigan
Low-income
Rochester, N.Y.: Voicer Leslie Langer does not understand that there are the working poor. Just because a person goes to a food pantry in a car does not mean they should be banned. And yes, I go to food pantries! Luanne Malouf
Not as he does
Astoria: To Voicer Angelo Vivolo: I agree with every word you say regarding Zohran Mamdani, but you’re incorrect if you attribute his unfitness to be mayor to inexperience. Mamdani is the most profound example of a dangerous liberal lunatic I’ve ever seen. That’s why he must be kept out of Gracie Mansion. He exhibits every facet of liberalism that makes liberalism antithetical to American values. He’s a hypocrite. He trumpets rent stabilization, yet his family rented out a loft in the village for $6,500 monthly. He decries income inequality but recently returned from a three-day wedding soiree at the family compound in Uganda, replete with bodyguards and cell phone jammers. He’s an anti-white racist who boasts he’ll tax “richer white neighborhoods” more. He sings the siren song of socialism to an intellectually degraded public, promising free services and goods, like the naughty boys lured to the funfair in “Pinocchio.” They all became donkeys, ironically. Bradley Morris
Move them up
Brooklyn: The schedule for the upcoming mayoral debates is very disappointing. The first debate will not be until Oct. 16, which is only a few weeks before the election. The Campaign Finance Board should seriously consider rescheduling that first debate to Oct. 2 and then have the second debate on Oct. 16. Voters need to see and hear their candidates for mayor in a timely manner in order to make an informed decision. Robert Mascali
Toughening up
Penticton, British Columbia: North Korean troops are becoming battle-hardened in Ukraine in preparation for invading South Korea. This would be a pincer movement in unison with China moving into Taiwan. Their timing is predicated on America’s leaderless, unstable, rapid decline. Joe Schwarz
Missing his mark
East Meadow, L.I.: To protect President Trump from what may be in the Epstein files, House Speaker Mike Johnson has made the outrageous claim that Trump was an undercover agent working for the FBI. This claim is completely false and impossible because if Trump did work for the FBI, he would have bankrupted it. Richard Skibins
Crime on the high seas
San Mateo, Calif.: Just in from the Piracy Adjudication Board of the Caribbean: Wannabe Pirate Sir Donald of Trump has been found guilty of malfeasance in the practice of piracy. Instead of firing a shot across the bow of his quarry and failing to board the vessel in search of gold doubloons and pieces of eight or any other booty, including seizing any fair maidens for ransom, the accused simply scuttled the vessel with all hands on board (” ‘Drug boat’ hit hailed,” Sept. 4). What is to become of the good name and reputation of pirates the world over? For his sentence, the accused brigand will be remanded to Devil’s Island to serve out his days swabbing the decks at the pleasure of the local inhabitants, who had been living there since their deportation from the Americas. Signed, presiding jurist Captain Jack Sparrow. Mike Caggiano
Power projection
Whitestone: Trump wants to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. It seems that this goes beyond the obligation to defend our country when necessary. It implies that we are ready to actively engage our military in any instance that Trump sees fit. Big difference. Again, his true narcissistic, violent colors keep coming out. Frank Basile
Jackpot idea
Brooklyn: Each time the lottery jackpot climbs into the hundreds of millions, people rush to buy tickets. Most of us imagine personal windfalls, a new home, early retirement or a vacation. What if one winner used it for something bigger? What if our representatives actually represented us? Eighty-two percent of Americans want term limits on Congress. This goes beyond party lines. As a nation, we agree. Congress is not going to vote themselves out of a job. This can only come as a demand from the people. What if one lucky lottery winner decided to use that money to fund a general strike? A “Strike for America” to put power back in the hands of the people where it belongs. This could organize and supplement strike funds of existing unions and help everyday people who don’t have a union. The lottery promises riches against impossible odds. What if we found a greater prize? Sarah Royer
Be better
Brooklyn: I can’t believe how infuriating it is to read day after day all the negative comments here, from either side of the fence. This guy is a clown, this woman is a nut job. How about this man thinks he’s a she, or she thinks she’s a he? My suggestion is to stop the third-grade mentality. Stop the name-calling. Find some common ground. If not, when the third-graders come of age, there will be nothing left. Please, it’s time to act and talk like adults. Stop the insults. Robert Braunstein
