Penny’s trial should consider all of the facts
Opelika, Ala.: Re “Battle in slay case” (Sept. 12): Well, well. There it is — in the first sentence, no less: the obligatory “former Marine” attribution to Daniel Penny. Of course, it’s factual, but it’s also designed to garner him sympathy for his chokehold killing of Jordan Neely as the second-degree manslaughter case looms.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office seeks to prohibit testimony from psychiatrist Alexander Bardey concerning Neely’s K2 use and how it interacted with his mental well-being. Allowing immaterial records is a ploy to defile, demean and devalue Neely. What was in Neely’s system when Penny killed him? That’s material.
The prosecution should call expert witnesses to testify about a chokehold’s lethality. In 1982, the Los Angeles Police Commission prohibited their officers from employing chokeholds. Why? Within several months in 1982, 16 men in LAPD custody died from police-exerted chokeholds; 12 were Black. In 1993, the NYPD banned chokeholds.
A May 4, 2023 New York Times article included a quote from the American Academy of Neurology’s position paper, which concluded that chokeholds are inherently dangerous. The group recommended its prohibition “because there’s no amount of training or method of application of neck restraints that can mitigate the risk of death or permanent profound neurological damage with this maneuver.”
New York Penal Law 125.15: Manslaughter is defined as causing someone’s death without intent. Such cases involve recklessness, negligence or heat of passion. Doesn’t that accurately describe Neely’s actions? Marc D. Greenwood
Necessary presence
Staten Island: To Voicer Neil J. Pollicino: I do agree that the NYC Transit Authority is wasting money the way it makes purchases. But making it free to save on the expense of the police is ridiculous. There will always be crime in the subway. With no police, it would be much worse. Where would they get the money for the employees, maintenance, new cars and upgrading the system? They would raise our taxes so we would all be paying for the transit system. Think about that. Thomas Bell
Accountability: priceless
Brooklyn: Was nice to see in the paper that Sean “Diddy” Combs wasn’t granted bail. It proves that money can’t buy everything — not even $50 million for bail. Charlie Pisano
Artificial learning
Manhattan: A man in a jam needs a plan. I read your coverage of Schools Chancellor David Banks’ plan to deal with the dire state of our city schools (“Chancellor: With AI in learning, who needs standardized tests?” Sept. 18) and wanted to shout. Instead, I’m writing. When the problems include corruption at the top, high student absenteeism, below-grade-level reading and math skills, assaults and worse during the school day, educating non-English-speaking migrant kids and low teacher morale, the solution is not artificial intelligence! It’s a hands-on commitment to improving the realities of each and every school-age kid in the public school system. Do the hard, sometimes dirty, work. As outlined by Banks, the plan would mainly benefit cronies who are looking for city contracts to provide remote AI “services.” Sounds like another steal of a deal. Frankie Turchiano
Cognitive dissonance
Holbrook, L.I.: I watched some of Donald Trump’s rally in Nassau Coliseum, and the hypocrisy was breathtaking. Trump ranting about Nassau County residents living in a crime-infected “hell” was pretty interesting considering that Nassau was just declared the safest county in the country! I wonder how the county executive and noted Trump butt-kisser Bruce Blakeman feels about the world being told that living in his county is “living in hell.” Besides the hypocrisy, it was hysterical to see the crowd cheer Trump on immigration. Almost every attendee has used or hired undocumented labor — landscapers, painters, tile setters, restaurant workers, factory workers or farm workers. Those people have hired them all and never cared as long as the work was cheap. I know — I grew up there! Michael L. Wilson
Rage rallies
Brooklyn: Do any of the people at these Trump spectacles ever feel that their intelligence is being trampled upon by this lying carnival barker? Why would anyone want to sit there and watch this modern-day minstrel show of such low entertainment? Do his cult followers actually have such a low opinion of our American political system that they are willing to support this raging hate-America fest? I’m hearing that some of these folks are walking out of these events. I wonder why. How much nonsense can anyone take before they realize that the thing is bad for your mental health? Irwin Cantos
Not to be believed
Rockville Centre, L.I.: Re “Trump’s welcome SALT switch” (editorial, Sept. 19): Candidate Trump is not a “convert” on SALT, nor is the GOP. The current cap, as noted, “is unfair, putting an extra burden on people in states like New York.” But that was the GOP’s purpose then, and remains so today: retribution, to raise tax revenue to shift to the wealthy and demonstrate favoritism to GOP states. You now believe that Trump or MAGA will support Chuck Schumer? That Trump’s ephemeral warmth for New York will survive November’s chill? That a single remark constitutes a tax policy? This is the “art of the deal” — to exploit the gullible. Brian Kelly
Empty promises
Wyckoff, N.J.: You applaud the former president for telling his supporters that he will restore the full tax deduction for state and local taxes (SALT). I have one question: Will that come before or after Infrastructure Week, Mexico pays for a border wall, Trump releasing his tax returns and his “coming shortly” great health care plan? However appealing to New York metro-area taxpayers, anyone who believes a word coming out of his mouth simply hasn’t been paying attention for the last nine years. Marc Schaeffer
Thanks for that
Massapequa Park, L.I.: I would like to thank Hillary Clinton for coming out and giving her opinion on the upcoming election (“Hillary Clinton cheers Kamala as possible first woman prez,” Sept. 14). You will always be No. 1 in my book! What I mean by that is you are the only person in this country who is hated more than Donald Trump! Remember, you lost to him. Raymond P. Moran
System particulars
Scarsdale, N.Y.: A recent letter informs readers that Trump will be a danger to our democracy with no real respect for the Constitution. Problem: We don’t live in a democracy! We have a representative form of government. As Benjamin Franklin first announced, our form of government is a constitutional republic. If we did live in a democracy, there would be no need for an Electoral College. Yet we have one as provided in the Constitution because under federalism, power is shared by the state and federal governments. Peter McCarthy
Take Texas’ lead
Warsaw, N.Y.: Take with a big grain of salt whatever shade my state Sen. George Borello casts at Democrats regarding Gov. Hochul’s energy summit (“Look who missed the NYS energy summit,” op-ed, Sept. 18). Here are his own words criticizing wind and solar: “Vast quantities of precious natural resources are consumed, and carbon dioxide emissions are created by their manufacture, transportation, and installation.” None of the alternative technologies he champions — small, modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture — are going to be built by magic either. As a Republican, Borello should model his energy advocacy on ruby-red Texas, which produces the most wind energy of any state and where battery storage has reached a new high. Hochul must stick to New York’s truly clean energy goals. Lynn Saxton
Spread the weed
Brooklyn: Back in August, you printed a letter by Voicer Michelle del Pin about how the milkweed plants on which the monarch butterfly depends for its survival are being mowed into oblivion by our highway departments. For those growing milkweed in their gardens, it is fast approaching the time when the seed pods ripen and disperse their feathered seeds into the breeze. In order to not have anything but milkweed in your garden, put rubber bands around the ripening pods. When the seeds are ready to fly, open the pods and release the seeds in vacant lots and waste areas in NYC. In the meantime, we can hope for a more enlightened mowing regimen from the Department of Transportation. Ed Temple