Readers sound off on race dynamics, the subway chokehold and feeding seniors

Manhattan: To Voicer Fran Boffa: While being respectful of the tragic 1973 killing of 10-year-old Clifford Glover at the hands of a police officer who was white, your feelings are hurt. Why? Because this happened to be an entire fact?

Did you complain when the Daily News states daily that a Black male or individual was the killer or the suspect in this paper? Do you care when they show Black men brought out in front of your local newscast, disheveled, with the usual assumption that these Black men are guilty until proven innocent instead of vice versa?

Why not take in the fact that there are numerous times where Black men have been killed by law enforcement (by white or Black officers) and that the color mentioned was, again, a fact? Another fact is that an officer’s job is to arrest or de-escalate a situation, not to escalate it and not to be judge, jury and executioner.

Your entitlement of not wanting to hear about a Black life being taken by a white officer because it makes you feel uncomfortable for a few minutes indicates that others being treated worse than yourself is cool — complicity. Imagine living a Black life daily and reading your silence-is-complicity retort in Voice of the People regarding not wanting to hear a fact. I’m always wary of those who say, “It doesn’t matter if he was Black, white, green, yellow or blue.” It sounds a little like “I have a Black friend” to me. Edward Scott

Fall River, Mass.: It’s a classic case of the law of unintended consequences. The 24-year-old straphanger who used a chokehold to subdue — and inadvertently killed — Jordan Neely, an aggressive and apparently mentally unstable subway rider, reacted in a manner that many others wished they were brave enough to duplicate. Unfortunately, it’s likely inevitable that this young man will be vilified by the usual race-card, blame-game crowd of social justice charlatans. But such are the times in which we live. Charles Winokoor

Manalapan, N.J.: Anyone who has ridden the subways can relate to the fear of being trapped in a car with a ranting, dangerous character. With 28 killings since March 2020, your own life could be on the line at any moment. Can any of the howling protesters understand this fear? The people in that subway car were unimaginably relieved when a strong ex-Marine tried to end the threat and subdue this lunatic. Be assured that this will never happen again because in the Al Sharpton universe, the victim has no right to defend himself and the hero is the criminal. Where was Sharpton when the other 27 human beings were killed on the rails? No problem, the victims didn’t fight back so we’re all good. Herb Paserman

Pearl River, N.Y.: By putting this Good Samaritan’s picture on the front page of the paper (“Erratic and ‘ready to die,’ “ May 5), you just subjected this man to a life of holy hell. Jordan Neely, whatever condition he was suffering from, was acting in a menacing and threatening way and three citizens of New York came to the aid of fellow passengers. It’s very unfortunate that the man died but again, he created the situation, the Good Samaritans didn’t. From what I’ve seen in the video, three men were restraining Neely to stop the aggression, not trying to kill him. Please use more discretion in the future and think of both parties involved. Robert Brennan

Yonkers: Consider Jordan Neely’s plight: Diagnosed as mentally ill, he was homeless and hungry, and he’s been arrested more than 40 times, including for violent behavior. He should have been hospitalized or incarcerated. He crossed paths with a former Marine who didn’t wait for Neely to do harm to anyone on the train. Surely, the killing of Neely was unintentional. We can only imagine what this unhinged man would have done had the young Marine let him loose sooner. Now the race hustlers and pandering politicians, including Gov. Hochul are out in force ready to pounce. Mayor Adams, who has washed his hands of this tragedy, should have addressed the homeless and mentally ill issue from the start of his term. And the citizens? They’re left to fend for themselves. Nicholas Maffei

Parkland, Fla.: Is there not a process whereby a Supreme Court justice can be impeached and removed from office for malfeasance? We now learn that Clarence Thomas accepted $150,000 of tuition payment from his billionaire friend. Thomas participated in cases involving companies that are financially connected to said billionaire. John Squicciarini

Schenectady, N.Y.: To Voicer Edward Sere: You are the schmuck. How many times do you need to be told this: More than 60 federal judges said our 2020 election elected President Biden with more than 70 million legal votes. Immigrants can’t and didn’t vote. “Brandon” stands for broadband, railroad construction, airport improvement, non-gas vehicles, developing mass transit, overhauling roads and bridges and no lead in our water. Thank you, President Biden! Diane Hombach

Howard Beach: NATO and the U.S. are willing to help Ukraine fight Russia to the last Ukrainian. War by proxy never works. Not standing up to a bully directly only postpones the eventual confrontation. Britain and France found that out with Hitler too late. Ernest Kienzle

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: While on vacation in Venice last week, we were discussing the world situation with a gondolier. He related to us a very wise Italian saying: “La madre de cretini es sempre incita” — the mother of stupid people is always pregnant. Summed it up perfectly. Bob English

Manhattan: In their piece “Aiding NYC’s seniors this month and every month” (op-ed, May 1), Mayor Adams and Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez emphasize the importance of programs that make New York an age-inclusive city. The Cabinet for Older New Yorkers’ work is encouraging, and an intergenerational approach to aging services is a great opportunity to align and build services. However, as the leader of a policy organization that advocates for community-based programs serving older adults, I am puzzled that Adams proposed eliminating $12 million from senior meal programs in his fiscal year 2024 executive budget. We know that the number of older adults living in poverty has increased 28% over the last decade. Cutting funding for senior meal programs will leave older adults in a precarious position as pandemic-era SNAP benefits expire. Older New Yorkers need to know a meal will be there for them when they need it. Susan Stamler, executive director, United Neighborhood Houses

Bronx: I would first like to thank nurse Hannah and the others who took care of me at Einstein Hospital for more than three weeks through last Monday. The shortages are so bad that I was sometimes left alone for up to six hours. I hope this can be fixed quickly with a new contract. Charles Lavorerio

Bronx: As a licensed and insured driver, I find it getting more difficult to find parking. Never mind that we have to contend with e-bike riders, illegal car washes, and public parking given to private rent-a-car companies and outdoor dining. Now Mayor Adams wants to take away more parking by placing garbage bins in the streets. Can that man do anything for the taxpayers of this city or is he too busy making this a sanctuary city? Kenneth Joe

Hazleton, Pa.: Being a newspaper veteran for 34 years, I still have ink in my blood. I buy your paper Monday through Friday on a newsstand. I could not help but notice on Friday the somewhat restructured paper. I am very disappointed. If the type gets any smaller in the structure it is in, I will need to consider an alternative. I am not pleased with the makeover. I did notice your print test last week with the ripping and silver strip. Now, the structured layout? You lost a certain pizazz! Please reconsider. Gary Yacubeck