Letters to the Editor — June 18, 2023
NYPD’s booze blitz
The NYPD’s edict to issue open-container summonses, even as marijuana smoke has become the most prevalent scent in the city (Canadian wildfires notwithstanding), may be one of the least satisfying public policies since the military’s confounding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” directive in the early 1990s (“Booze hounded by NYPD fines,” June 12).
A police source in your story notes that “since marijuana is nothing these days . . . cops are making up for it with drinking summonses.”
As someone who is committed to helping young people in recovery stay drug- and alcohol-free, I fear that, to their detriment, we have gotten our signals mixed up.
Making it easier for young adults to solve the mystery of how to build rewarding, fulfilling lives without getting high should be the priority of a city that, unfortunately, now seems more interested in generating revenue and figuring out how to cash in on the demand for legalized marijuana products.
Eve Goldberg, Founder, BIGVISION, Manhattan
Disgust at defense
I understand that defense attorneys play a key role in our judicial system, but whenever I read about one making patently asinine comments in support of their client, it sets my blood boiling (“Where was my mercy?” June 14).
The latest comes from Peter Frankel, the lawyer defending Waseem Awadeh, the man found guilty of beating up a Jewish man in an unprovoked attack during a clash between Israel and Palestine supporters, and then allegedly saying in a jail cell he would “do it again.”
Said Frankel, “I’m a lifelong New Yorker, I’m a Jewish man. I have not seen anything whatsoever in my deals with him to indicate he is in any way antisemitic.”
Hopefully his client won’t offer to sell this lifelong New Yorker the Brooklyn Bridge because Frankel sounds pretty gullible to me.
Peter Bochner, Wayland, Mass.
Invest in vests
“Air travel hack using fishing gear really works: ‘Absolutely every time,’ ” (June 12) reinforced my spirit.
I started my multi-pocketed vest ritual at least 30 years ago. I tried various styles like Banana Republic, ScotteVest, Polo and Orvis. Truth be told, I don’t do any fishing so I call it my “technology vest.”
I found that using the pockets to keep my cellphones, digital camera, wallet, glasses, receipts folder and lottery tickets worked well to protect my go-to gadgets and possessions.
People don’t recognize me if I don’t have my vest on. Since I have created a work-from-beach office facing the Atlantic Ocean, I place my vest behind my chair as I sit at my folding table that acts as my “desk.”
I don’t mind wearing a fly-fishing vest in a public space, and I’m proud to look like a giant dork. After years of wearing blue and gray suits as a lawyer on Wall Street, the fly-fishing vest is a fashion statement.
I’m hooked.
Steven A. Ludsin, East Hampton
Forcing NYers out
The Post’s “Doom Loop” graphic almost perfectly showed the cycle of our city’s financial grief (“Real-estate apocalypse coming,” June 9).
I say “almost” because the box labeled “City raises taxes in other ways, hitting residents” should have said “Rather than cut spending, city soaks residents with more taxes.”
And the cycle will only speed up. More and more high earners — who pay the most in taxes — are fleeing a city that Democrats have made cripplingly expensive and physically dangerous.
Bill Marsano, Manhattan
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy and style.
