Readers sound off on Zymere Perkins, bagels and pricey basketball tickets

All of us failed Zymere Perkins

Woodside: Appalling. The brutal and inhuman beating death of 6-year-old Zymere Perkins that would even put the most heartless person to shame, throws a spotlight on the abject failure of those who are mandated to protect their children as parents and the agencies that are sworn to identify and prevent child abuse (“He killed kid,” Jan. 16).

The breakdown of New York City’s child welfare system is patent from the fact that despite visible abuse and injuries inflicted on Zymere — a huge red flag — the city’s Administration for Children’s Services investigated the child’s mother five times, and cleared her of any wrongdoing.

Considering the vulnerability of children to their abusers — who often times enjoy the position of trusteeship, but still heinously torment the helpless children — that this went conveniently unnoticed is a colossal failure of the collective responsibility of our civilized society.

I hope the guilty are prosecuted to the fullest extent of law and Mayor de Blasio revamps the city’s dysfunctional and broken child welfare system by making them fully accountable before it’s too late and we have more victims like little Zymere. I also hope Congress mandates uniform child protection laws across America with necessary checks and balances to identify and prevent the occurrence of child abuse in the very first place. Atul M. Karnik

Little angel

Staten Island: I can’t believe that the mother of that child stood and watched as that man beat and killed her child. Then she cleaned his broken body, put on her makeup and wig and took him to the hospital. Why didn’t she call the police? Why didn’t she try to protect him? Why did she stay with this crazy man? It was obviously an ongoing issue. And she gets a deal of two to six years. That’s horrific too. She is as guilty as he is. It is just sickening what that poor child went through. Zymere Perkins is with God now. He has finally found peace. Amen. Natalie Johnson

Flipping Rikers

Bayside: To Voicer Patrick Freeman: I want to thank you for writing in response to my letter. You suggest that the homeless will be living in a jail. I am suggesting that they would be living in a cleaned up, modified ex-prison facility. If the city wanted to sell the property, it would be worth billions to a real estate company. They could find a way to clean up Rikers Island and decontaminate it in a hurry. It would be better to put a roof over the heads of the homeless, sustain them and not worry about the decor. It doesn’t have to be pretty, just tolerable and livable, and hopefully workable and palatable. As far as sending prisoners upstate, would you tolerate upstate sending prisoners here? I doubt it! You’d have another NIMBY situation, prison police would be on unemployment lines, and some of the prisoners have not been tried yet and may not be guilty. Philip Berkowitz

Call to arms

Briarwood: No cash bail needs to be revised immediately. It’s only been in effect this month and so many incidents have already occurred. Potential victims can’t even legally carry anything to protect themselves otherwise they could be the ones who wind up getting arrested and having to post bail and face a trial. Come on people, work together to fix this! Patricia Nuzzi

Hating productively

South Hempstead, L.I.: With violent criminals being released on no bail just to commit more crimes against innocent citizens, I wish the Democrats hated crime as much as they hate America. Michael Quane

Beat the rush

Greenwood Lake, N.Y.: Can anyone tell me when the Nancy Pelosi Commemorative Impeachment pens go on sale and where? Joe Fioramonti Sr.

Monkey see, monkey do

Clearwater, Fla.: Re “Lev Parnas says Trump, Giuliani directed his Ukraine actions,” (Jan. 15): There is something to be said about the three wise monkeys. They see and hear no evil. Therefore, they can speak no evil. Perhaps President Trump is taking his cues from the wise ones, as he vehemently denies knowing Parnas. But the Beatles might accuse Trump of “taking the easy way out.” JoAnn Lee Frank

News values

Somerset, N.J.: Re the Jan. 16 front page headline “Schmear campaign”: What’s more important? Toasting a bagel or a death caused by a sanctuary city felon? Instead of asking why de Blasio and Cuomo feel not working with ICE is a stupid idea, you’re worried about a bagel toasting. They also think Nancy’s eBay pen signing and laughing at a “solemn” event is okay. Maybe your editors need to change their priorities. Peter Provenzale

Schmeared repuation

Manhattan: If how a man eats his bagel deserves front page headline status, then the Daily News deserves to go out of business. Really? I guess the impeachment doesn’t rate. Dean J. Badolato

To the point

Brooklyn: Who really cares if the mayor likes his bagels toasted? I did as well. More importantly, his political career is toast! Ed Greenspan

Throw them a bone

Bronx: Speaking as a parent of a die-hard, true basketball fan, I find it frustrating that regular working class people will probably never be able to afford a “good seat” or a floor seat at Madison Square Garden or any arena in the land. Basketball teams should open up a section of their arena and maybe have a lottery so real fans might get a chance to see a game up close from the sidelines. All I see are the rich and famous on the sidelines — most get free seats and publicity. Jolinda Celentano

Trash

Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: A famous baseball movie in the 1970’s was called “Bang the Drum Slowly.” If they make a movie about the Houston Astros, will it be called “Bang the Garbage Can Slowly”? Anthony Vegliante

Yellow cab blues

Manhattan: Whose big idea was it to have new taxis that are SUVs? So many of us seniors have mobility and pain problems. I, for one, have to wait for a regular size cab as I cannot climb into the larger one. I tried once and I ended up on my knees, crawling to get in and being pushed from behind by my husband. Never again! I will wait for one of the dwindling number of car-sized taxis that still roam the streets. Not all of us are young and spry. Marcia Epstein

New tactic

Jamaica: I respect our uniformed men and women. I fully understand that they fight for our rights as Americans. All I ask is: Can they show up and recruit in the “well-above-average neighborhoods” before they start from the bottom and work their way to the top? Sean A. James