Coordinate transportation cops
Manhattan: Chaos erupted at Penn Station recently after unfounded reports of shots fired sparked a stampede. Not knowing Amtrak police had subdued a man with a stun gun, cops from other agencies watched in dismay.
Now politicians and experts are calling for change in the way police organizations interact when working at the same location. The problem is that a hodgepodge of independent agencies police transportation facilities. NYPD, state troopers, MTA police and Bridges and Tunnels security patrol the MTA’s bridges, and an even greater conglomeration of law enforcement agencies police airports. Duplication leads to a lack of coordination and wastes precious manpower, which in turn makes security efforts less effective as agencies compete for counterterrorism dollars.
Policing major transportation facilities needs to be a coordinated effort, similar to the way U.S. Homeland Security handles national political conventions, UN General Assembly meetings and the Super Bowl, coordinating law enforcement, police and National Guard participation under the Secret Service.
We have to brace for terrorist attacks, not only from abroad but also from disenfranchised or radicalized Americans. Gov. Cuomo should designate transportation facilities like Penn Station, airports, bus terminals, bridges and tunnels as New York Special Security Zones and appoint a security czar to oversee unified command and control. Nicholas Casale, NYPD Detective (ret.) and former MTA deputy director of Police and Counterterrorism
Splattered egg
Brooklyn: Just curious to know if Donald Trump found time to send condolences to the sons of EMT Yadira Arroyo, who was killed in the line of duty several weeks ago. Also: What kind of Easter egg hunt mess was that on the White House lawn? You have to admit that with the Obamas it was fun. This one, everyone’s dressed up and the man is giving away hats. Come on! Holly Goddard
Honor their sacrifice
Glendale: As we recall America’s entry into World War I, let us remember the sacrifices of the men and women who fought in the trenches and died to save democracy. I remember my great-grandfather telling us how he boarded the German ocean liner Vaterland, renamed USS Leviathan, to fight the country that had made this wonderful ship. Martin Pietruslowicz
Piling on to Bill
Middletown, N.Y.: The ouster of Bill O’Reilly from Fox News is an example of the liberal media using the women’s movement to advance their agenda. One must ask themselves where the feminists and the liberal news were when Bill Clinton along with his wife were abusing and harassing women. It’s embarrassing to see women being used, and that is exactly what is happening here. The media aren’t going after O’Reilly for his sexual harassment but using this as an excuse to stop his news agenda. These whining feminists gave the puritans of the liberal media what they wanted. This type of behavior by women is going to backfire. If you want to play with the big boys in the corporate world, grow some thick skin, put on your big-girl panties and stop whining. If you can’t handle the heat, then step aside. Maureen McGuigan
Out of the pen
Patchogue, L.I.: Bill O’Reilly is a many-talented man, but he is also an obnoxious pig and should be ashamed of himself. Catherine Lo Curto
Deal, ladies
Lakewood, N.J.: To all those female impersonators on “The View”: You can now stop bashing Donald Trump and his family. When you clowns wake up in the morning, he’ll still be your President. God bless Donald Trump and Bill O’Reilly. Dick Schwenk
Dazed and confused
Staten Island: The highly contagious disease infoitis has become dangerously widespread. With the advent of the internet and mobile devices, this phenomenon is crippling our imaginations while defacing America. Sharing data, photos, videos, etc., has made us slaves to technology, feeling frightened and unprotected without a device glued to our hand. Due to social media, we are fast becoming a nation of robots, compelled to follow, link, share, tweet and employ app after app, in search of more information or ways to do things differently. As a species, we struggle to comprehend what is going on in the world. I am not interested in having hundreds or thousands of Twitter or Facebook friends I’ve never met. Apparently, society has gone not to the dogs but to the birds. Robert Anthony
Driving him crazy
Brooklyn: I am a 92-year-old World War II combat veteran of four D-Day invasions in Europe and two D-Day invasions of Asia. I am of sound body and mind, with a clean driving record. An anonymous caller reported me to the Department of Motor Vehicles, so I am now forced to get a medical report to prove I am qualified to drive. I find this discriminating. Anonymous calls should not be honored unless they are serious in nature. In my case, the call disrupts my way of life. Joseph Ruggiero
Can’t bear it
Norfolk, Conn.: Our Connecticut bears need your help. Meanspirited Connecticut legislators are trying to legalize bear hunting here. When a hunter guns down and kills a beautiful mother black bear, what else happens? Her orphaned cubs will die a slow, brutal death of starvation. Also, our children do not need to be traumatized by seeing a hunter dragging a dead bear or bear cub across the road. The woods will become dangerous for hikers and joggers by trigger-happy hunters who mistakenly think they are bears. Some hunters drink. Booze and guns don’t mix. There are only 600 bears in Connecticut. Let our legislators know you don’t approve of bear hunting here. William Bures
View from the rear
Flushing: To Voicer Grace Lutraro: You are correct that all cars look the same — ugly. The backs of cars are so high that drivers cannot see behind them, so smart designers decided to put a camera there, which does no good because the image is distorted. Besides, you’re supposed to be able to see 360 degrees around for safety’s sake. Cameras are an added expense and just another thing that can go wrong with a car. Charles J. Lercara
Unwelcome guests
Flushing: Re the United Airlines dress code: It doesn’t make sense that those flying with a Buddy Pass must comply with a dress code that prohibits leggings because those passengers “represent the airline.” Who would know that those passengers were flying as the airline’s guests? I’m reasonably sure that those flying for free aren’t going to broadcast that fact to others who are not. Additionally, I believe the dress code is discriminatory. Elaine Jacoby
Missed swings
Bronx: To Voicers Rich Japko and Ken Ackermann: Where were your comments when Barack Obama played golf while they cut off the heads of our men? You cannot even begin to count how many times Obama played golf, how many times they used security to have a date night and vacations. Obama said a lot of things and never followed through. Our current President has the intelligence to change his mind when circumstances change. Obama just didn’t do anything. Stop counting the pennies President Trump is spending. He forfeited his salary and does have his own money. It seems no matter what he does, it is criticized. He has been in office such a short time and works daily on many issues. He deserves a weekend in Florida, and even works while he is there, but you want to deprive him of a golf game. Wake up: He is a human being who gave up a lot to help this country. Talk to me in four years. Linda Ranallo
Stand up to bull and bullies
Levittown, L.I.: “Fearless Girl” is standing up to the “Charging Bull,” which symbolizes the bully. There are many bullies in the world, especially in this country. Many are people in powerful positions. They need to be stood up to. That’s what “Fearless Girl” symbolizes. P.S.: Thank you, Daily News, for being the voice of the people. John Di Milia
Ain’t it
Norwalk, Conn.: The only thing wrong with the NBC series “This Is Us” is the terrible makeup and wig that make Mandy Moore 100 years old in the modern-day scenes. There is no way that beautiful Rebecca could ever have turned into such a dour hag. David Hubbard
