Readers sound off on cops, crime and geese

Stop-and-frisk, cause-and-effect

Manhattan: While the Daily News and others continue to mislead the public, the NYPD’s own data show that stopping and frisking people without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity doesn’t get guns off the streets (“Scared stiff on shootings,” editorial, July 14). The height of the Bloomberg administration’s stop-and-frisk program in 2011, with nearly 700,000 stops, saw one of the city’s highest levels of shootings during his administration. In Bloomberg’s last year, when the number of stops was down to closer to the current level, the city had its lowest level of shootings during his tenure and in recent history. The data tell the story. Those who defended the Bloomberg administration’s out-of-control stop-and-frisk policy should stop with the misinformation and fear-mongering. Candis Tolliver, New York Civil Liberties Union

The price of policing

Staten Island: What is going to cost more: Lawsuits against the NYPD for violating people’s civil rights or lawsuits against the city by people who have been shot? I think it would be fiscally responsible and beneficial for crime rates if the city dealt with the civil rights lawsuits and let the NYPD do the great job that they always do. John L. Patane

From potholes to bullet holes

Manhattan: Police Commissioner Bill Bratton claims he lowered crime dramatically via so-called broken windows, wherein the police harass people for small violations to send a message that law enforcement means business. He claims that any signs of decay, like potholes or litter, increase serious crime. OK. So is it that there was almost no jaywalking or potholes over the last 20 years, or did he lie to us all? Whenever I travel to nations that do allow public drinking of alcohol or other liberties and freedoms, I see almost none of the crime or decay that I see here. Janice Amato

Of subways and Super Bowls

Brooklyn: As a person who must ride our dreary, decrepit, sweaty, hellish subways each day, I welcome all performers underground, because they bring a smile to my face. Even the bad ones at least take my mind off the sweat dripping under my work clothes or how the train isn’t moving because of “traffic ahead,” which is rarely true. The people complaining about the performers are in the minority, and I say we should put it to a public referendum. It’s like when Janet Jackson’s boob came out during the Super Bowl. The FCC got a lot of complaints, but only because the 700 million guys who loved it didn’t waste their time to call up. Only the angry people did. What’s really funny is it’s right-wing types who hate the performers, yet if a subway performer is not good, they will make no money and give up quickly. So how come the right now says we shouldn’t trust the free market? Uchena Shorey

Update in order

Brooklyn: Whoever changes the signs when a new mayor is chosen better get on the ball. The sign on the front of the WWII Veterans Memorial Ice Skating Rink in Staten Island says Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It should be Mayor Bill de Blasio. Twelve years was too much, and we don’t need to be reminded of Bloomberg on the sign. Change it! Mary Ellen Becht

A high bar, but not a level one

Manhattan: Your rant against teacher tenure exposes the Daily News’ hypocrisy (“Think of the kids, Eric,” editorial, July 13). The vast majority of teachers have degrees in education, content courses and student teaching. Yet you choose to focus on the few uncertified ones, who have a time limit to get the certification they need to continue teaching in the NYC education system. Where is your outrage concerning charter-school teachers, most of whom are inexperienced and have gone through an eight-week course, at most? Do the mostly minority students they teach benefit from these barely certified teachers, or by the high level of turnover in charter schools? The News seems to apply its high standard only to unionized teachers. Miriam Applebaum

Not cool, dudes

Hollis: Your editorial “How cool is this?” (July 15) couldn’t be further from the truth. While high-profile parks get all the money and services, others in less affluent neighborhoods get nothing. Cunningham Park in Queens still hasn’t had the fallen trees cleaned up from Hurricane Sandy and has a parking lot the city uses for tree grinding and sand for the roads in the winter. They haven’t cleared the paths in the woods or repaired them in more than 50 years. I have lived there for more than 60 years, and there has been no new equipment, buildings or features for as long as I can remember. Clearly, a tale of two cities! Robert Frank

An American tradition

Alexandria, Va.: As a former resident of Elmhurst, Queens, from 1966 to 1980, I was disturbed to read about current residents protesting the emergence of homeless persons and families in their neighborhood (“New shelter doesn’t fly,” July 2). I would have expected the people there to be more receptive and helpful to others in need, as I’m sure so many residents were when they first arrived in the area. Their hostile attitude is contrary to the American tradition of welcoming immigrants and new residents to their communities. George Constantinidis

Be about it

Flushing: Albor Ruiz’s column makes Americans responsible for foreign-born children coming illegally to this country (“America can’t shun this responsibility,” July 13). If he feels so personally responsible, how many kids is he taking home? Half a dozen? Maybe a baker’s dozen if he feels real generous? Ana Martinez

Down we go

Brooklyn: Remember the Obama administration line, “GM is alive and Osama Bin Laden is dead”? Hmm. Has anyone noticed that Al Qaeda is running wild across the Middle East and GM has recalled more than 29 million cars in the past year? Down and down we go. Not that anyone on the left or in the White House would notice. Tommy Mitchell

The wrong way

Levittown, L.I.: It is amazing that authorities are considering no jail and no fine guilty pleas from the retired police officers and firefighters who committed fraud by claiming fake disabilities and collected tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands in disability and retirement benefits. This only encourages cops and firefighters to lie and cheat, because if they are caught they will not face any real penalties. Shameful. Ivan J. Rodriguez

Blame to spare

Manalapan, N.J.: I believe Pope Francis has done more than anyone to repair the damage done in the priest scandal. I find it strange that no one ever mentions the part played by the parents of these victims, who took money and signed documents not to disclose any information. Was this not some kind of a coverup as well, or is it just easy to blame the Catholic Church for everything? Maria Mastromarino

Fracking wrong

Omaha: Before Errol Louis writer another article on the merits of fracking, he might want to do his homework (“How fracking foes are killing N.Y. jobs,” column, July 3). Specifically, once the water supply is ruined, you cannot get it back — as we’ve seen in towns in Pennsylvania and Texas, and in Kansas, where to date they have had 56 earthquakes where the fracking has been taking place. Tom Dahulick

Man before goose

Bellerose, L.I.: Voicer Mary Beth Artz should calm down and read what I wrote. I did not advocate killing geese, but “removing them.” I will say that the problem in this society and world is that people don’t put other people first. Their commendable efforts are misguided. And Artz is right that I wouldn’t go to a public beach or park. There are too many filthy Canada geese there! Paul Dellacona

Tears for species

Brooklyn: Having worked closely with founder David Karopkin as a GooseWatch NYC volunteer for the past three years, I can say that no paid job in my life ever gave me the spiritual satisfaction of getting up at 4 a.m. to watch the silhouettes of still-sleeping geese in a park before sunrise while waiting for my government’s executioners. A daily epiphany would overcome me: that these animals, who know only how to live, represent everything that is right in the world while we now represent everything that is wrong in the world. I have cried for the geese, but I cry even more for humankind. Jeffrey Kramer

Captain, our captain

Garden City, L.I.: To Voicer Mary Beth Artz and all the other geese-loving citizens: What we need are expert opinions. How about we start with Chesley Sullenberger? Paul Falabella