NYPD Shoots Armed Individual: Letters to the Editor
Civilian privilege
I believe the Civilian Complaint Review Board members should exercise caution before hastily judging Officer Derek Bernard (“CCRB calls for cop’s job,” Dec. 3).
Unlike Bernard, the CCRB members don’t face life-threatening situations on a daily basis.
They are able to deliver their judgments from the comfort of their climate-controlled offices.
As a result, they lack insight into the factors that contribute to tragic events, such as the unintended deaths of individuals with mental health issues like Raul de la Cruz.
John Francis Fox,
Queens
On the mountain
Jack Fowler correctly signals a call to action to “Make America’s Heritage Great Again” (Dec. 3).
In his piece, he highlights Sabin Howard for his remarkable sculptures and significant contributions to commemorating aspects of our nation’s history.
However, he only briefly mentions Mount Rushmore.
Gutzon Borglum, the man behind its creation, deserves more acknowledgment.
He dedicated over 14 years to this endeavor, often employing explosives to tackle the challenges of carving granite amid unpredictable weather.
His perseverance resulted in the lifelike images we admire at Mount Rushmore today.
Bob Heier,
Estero, Fla.
RIP Coach Lou
Coach Lou Carnesecca was truly a living legend (“Goodbye Lou,” Dec. 1).
His commitment to coaching at St. John’s University was remarkable.
He dedicated his entire life to guiding players, serving as a genuine inspiration to countless athletes throughout his extensive career.
His passing is a tremendous loss; he treated everyone with the highest level of courtesy, respect, and professionalism.
John Amato,
Fresh Meadows
Pay street docs
FDNY’s Emergency Medical Specialists, referred to as “Street Doctors,” risk their safety daily while treating critically ill and injured individuals, yet they are not compensated fairly (“Underpaying city medics,” Nov. 30).
Three years ago, Mayor Adams vowed to establish equitable pay for EMS personnel in line with their frontline counterparts.
We are still awaiting progress.
This year, the city enacted a minimum wage of $19.56 per hour for food-delivery workers, while our highly skilled EMTs start at a mere $18.94 per hour.
That is simply unacceptable.
Currently, EMS manages 500,000 more medical emergencies each year than it did two decades ago.
However, staffing levels and resources have remained stagnant.
Turnover rates are alarming, with 50% of personnel leaving within five years.
The mayor and the city’s refusal to grant a pay increase ultimately compromises the safety of the public we are dedicated to serving.
Oren Barzilay, President, FDNY EMS Local 2507,
Whitestone
Manchin mischief
Senator Joe Manchin has suggested that President Biden should pardon President-elect Trump (“Sen. Joe Manchin calls on Biden to pardon Trump,” Dec. 2).
Personally, I have little regard for the senator from West Virginia.
He traded his crucial vote for the Inflation Reduction Act in exchange for a pipeline project in his home state.
The IRA represented one of the largest federal expenditures in history but did little to alleviate inflation.
Manchin was not elected to broker “deals,” and the Senate was never intended to function as a venue for such practices.
His statements lack credibility.
David F. Lipton,
Toms River, NJ
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