Readers sound off on a smoked out NYC, stop-and-frisk stops and xenophobes

Woodside: On my regular brisk evening walk on Wednesday, I happened across a lady who was intently taking pictures with her smartphone pointed to the moon in the sky. The moment she saw me, she excitedly said, “Look up, we have a red moon today!” After a quick greeting and acknowledgment of her discovery, I resumed my walk, trying to figure out the “red moon” by reading news reports.

Within no time, I could see the sky getting hazier and it faintly smelled like something was burning. I texted my daughter, who responded by saying this was happening due to the wildfires in Canada as the smoke wafted through the skies over the Northeast. From my apartment window, where the New York City skyline is normally clearly visible, it had become invisible due to the thickening of the haze. Unfortunately, NYC’s Air Quality Index of more than 160 is the second worst in the world, following only Delhi in India.

What remains scary is the ongoing debate about the existence of global warming despite the fact that what’s unfolding in the world is sufficient proof of its dangers, such as we now see in NYC. I sincerely hope we don’t have to default to wearing masks or, worse, suits with oxygen supply on a regular basis, modified for mitigating the hazards of environmental pollution that is looming and unfolding menacingly across the world. This is threatening the health of the global population, notably children, the most vulnerable and, sadly, many more generations to come. Atul M. Karnik

Hopewell Junction, N.Y.: Someone tell them up north that you can not put out wildfires with ice and a Zamboni, eh. Freddy Sacco

Brooklyn: Voicer Antonio Garcia makes a valid point. The war isn’t going to end if Russian security isn’t solidified. We need to bring the Russian Federation into the European fold. This will guarantee border protection. If we keep going the way we are, all you will end up with is a stalemate. Vito Labella

Forest Hills: George Santos “would rather go to jail” than reveal the names of the individuals who posted his bail. Well, fine then! How soon can you start, George? Alan Hirschberg

Yonkers: Once again, not always a fan, but my double kudos to Mayor Adams for not bowing down to federal monitor Mylan Denerstein and the other no-experience police expert, Charles McLaurin (“We’re not axing unit fighting neighborhood crime, says mayor in wake of critical report,” June 7). Both of these intellectuals find disparity in stops by police, especially where minorities are concerned — an injustice to minority communities. As Adams himself stated, “Over 90% of people using guns are Black and Brown and 90% of victims are Black and Brown.” Yet, these two geniuses consider the numbers a disparity. You put either one of these renowned experts in a police uniform for one tour and they’d need adult diapers. Disbanding the Neighborhood Safety Teams is what would be a true injustice to minority communities. Adams’ safety teams are doing an excellent job — unlike the team of Denerstein and McLaurin who are playing to the crowd. Ralph A. Manente

Floral Park, L.I.: After reading your page 10 story “Street stops by cops on rise, 93% are Black or Latino” (June 7), it’s interesting to note that the officer in the photo wearing the hat and the eagle on his shoulder is Rodney Harrison, then a full inspector who went on to be an NYPD chief of department. Of course, he is now the Suffolk County police commissioner. Let’s all hope that this particular stop-and-frisk met the NYCLU standards, according to your article. A side note: It’s nice to see a boss of his rank assist and participate in the stop. Edward Rankin

Hammonton, N.J.: Now Mayor Adams wants to toy with the idea of paying homeowners to take in illegals? It’s obvious he has no clue that our open border policy, in addition to violating our national laws, is absolutely not sustainable, just like our national debt. William Cook

Staten Island: To Voicer Richard Angione: Why do you think your people left (probably Campania)? Were they escaping when the many kings in Italy were constantly at war with each other? Or maybe during the war with the Turks? Or the hunger and poverty after WWI or WWII? Were your ancestors going to the world’s dumping ground or the one created for the downtrodden, put-upon and scared? That’s why America was created: to give those being crapped on a place to be safe and prosper. Or do Central Americans, actually from this hemisphere, not deserve the same possibilities at a nice life that your family had and still has? A guy with an Italian name knocking immigrants sure twists me. The same folks you’re standing with against immigrants called your family “dago” and “wop” and wouldn’t give them jobs. They called all Irish “micks” and decried the papist invasion. Despicable behavior from a son of immigrants. Tom McGuire

Forest Hills: It’s now absolutely proven that geniuses like Elon Musk are total fraudster con men, as Musk drove Twitter off a cliff, exactly as expert Chris Licht drove CNN off a cliff, exactly as expert crime-fighter Mayor Adams has driven NYC off a cliff. Why do we tolerate dishonesty and corruption at every turn? That’s what’s really killing America. Jim Ranium

Brooklyn: I fully agree with the Daily News’ June 8 editorial, “Put it in the history books,” that we should give our children a school day off to celebrate Diwali. New York is a diverse and global city that embraces other cultures, so we are long overdue to commemorate one of the most widely celebrated and important holidays in India and other areas of South Asia. More than 200,000 New Yorkers in this growing South Asian and IndoCaribbean community celebrate this sacred holiday, and they deserve the same accommodation afforded to those who observe other significant holidays. Outside of my capacity as Assembly majority whip, personally, as a new mom who got engaged on Diwali to my now-husband of Indian, Guyanese, and Haitian descent, my husband and I would love to have the day free to celebrate and embrace the holiday with our son. The vast majority of my Brooklyn and Queens colleagues are in support of making Diwali a priority even if it means doing away with the Brooklyn-Queens Day holiday. Before the legislative session ends, let’s pass Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar’s bill to give our children a day off to celebrate Diwali. Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

Pine Plains, N.Y.: To Voicer Dianne Mischler: Exposing children to all religions is certainly the best way to get them totally confused and unable to choose any to follow into adulthood. They need to develop concrete reference points first before they are capable of selecting from a huge menu of ideas. To present them with too many often conflicting ideas will result in their inability to decide on anything. As for her opinion on the “ridiculous notion of original sin,” she obviously has no clue to the complex and beautiful theology behind it. It is a case of having a firmly held opinion on something you know absolutely nothing about. Joseph McCluskey

Copiague, L.I.: Advocates for Medicare Advantage plans boast that 80% of retirees can keep the providers they now use. This is true because most patients are healthy, or receiving routine care for stable conditions. The problems with the limited networks, typical of Advantage plans, only appear when there is a medical crisis and there is no time to shop for in-network specialists — surgeons, anesthetists or ambulance services, or the illness requires the attention of high-demand specialists — psychiatrists, for example. There will almost certainly be a qualified professional somewhere in the system, but where and when are the devilish details. Long waiting lists and long-distance travel are to be expected — the very things we feared so much about single-payer and socialized medical plans. Mitchell Kessler