No suspect deserves the lives of innocent bystanders

Whitestone: Amanda Servedio, who was riding her bicycle in Long Island City, entered an intersection and was struck and killed by burglary suspects in a Dodge Ram pursued by an NYPD van with its lights flashing (“The truck fleeing the police hits and kills a cyclist,” October 24). To the officers’ credit, they stopped the pursuit and attempted to aid the victim, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The NYPD insists high-speed chases are sometimes necessary. The NYPD is wrong; on New York’s busy streets, they are never necessary or defensible when they endanger innocent pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles.

Many police pursuits are unsuccessful, but even if a pursuit leads to the apprehension of a fleeing criminal suspect, is it worth the price of a dead or seriously injured victim, whether caused by the suspect’s vehicle or the police vehicle? Of course not.

The rule that a supervisor must be called on the radio to allow the pursuit/tracking doesn’t work because police radio chatter usually drowns out any clear communication with a supervisor once the pursuit begins. Every police pursuit should stop immediately as soon as the suspect begins to flee at high speed.

It is much more important to ban police chases than it was to ban chokeholds by police officers. The number of wounded and dead tells the story clearly. Michael J. Gorman

Trash can

Brooklyn: I just got my new city-approved trash can. I haven’t started using it yet and already a wheel has fallen off. Also, whose idea was the rubber latch? I paid $60 for this piece of junk! Christina C. Anderson

No tariff

Huntington Station, LI: Last Saturday at 7:30am, I disembarked from the Enchanted Princess cruise ship at the Brooklyn Terminal in Red Hook. Dozens of yellow and green taxis were waiting, as well as Uber drivers. Neither of them would let me get in their cars because I wanted to go to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. They just wanted to do airport runs. I pointed out that their refusal to drive me was illegal and one driver suggested I speak to the “boss”. I talked to a guy who had a reflective vest and a walkie-talkie who seemed to be in charge and he just walked away from me. I drove a cab on Long Island and I understand the need to make money, but sometimes you have to take passengers on cheap rides and hope karma pays you off later. We have reported this incident to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Ann Rita D’Arcy

Context removed

Albany: The recent editorial on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar offered no insight into why Hamas attacked Israel a year ago and added to the misunderstanding of the long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. More than 700,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes in 1948-1949 during Israel’s War of Independence. Just as importantly, they were never allowed to return. Many hundreds were killed trying to return in the 1950s. Several tens of thousands of elderly Palestinians live in exile today in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. The once 700,000 refugees now number in the millions and have been legally recognized by the United Nations as refugees all these years. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been helping these Palestinians for 75 years. About two-thirds of the people of Gaza were displaced before October 7, 2023. Tom Ellis

Still believing

Brooklyn: To Paul Falabella: I’m one of those people who believes Donald Trump. You chose not to believe because it is so horrible. Thank God Trump isn’t giving up. I have never seen so much courage to try to improve our country. God bless America! Wanda Lucci

Wrong economy

Manhattan: If Kamala Harris loses, it will be because she did nothing to challenge the narrative that people had a good economy under Trump but not so much under President Biden, even though both of those things are probably true for most people. He should have at least tried to educate people that there is a disconnect between presidential actions and economic impact. People enjoyed a good economy during Trump’s first three years in office primarily because of Barack Obama’s policies, and Trump inherited such a strong economy after Obama rescued the country from the 2008 economic crisis of George W .Bush. People put up with high inflation in 2021 and 22, but all the inflation in 21 was due to Trump spending in 2020 and Biden spending in 21. It’s a shame the electorate doesn’t understand the reality of the gap in the economy. Ken Blomster

No proof

New Haven, Connecticut: JD Vance doesn’t think President Biden won the election in 2020. Those of us who don’t think Vance won the election have a stronger case. Sixty-five courts verified Biden’s victory. Neither checked Vance. It should be investigated. Charlie Fromm

Diary of fools

Manalapan, NJ: To Voter Thomas Fraumeni: Calling me stupid for promoting Kamala Harris is the golden rule of Trumpism, ie: “Insult others as they have not done you.” In your book, supporting a man who lies continuously, calls the murderous Vladimir Putin a genius, promises to end the Constitution, pursue the “enemy within” by using the US military to arrest American citizens who opposed him, will hunt and deport. 11 million human beings (many who have lived here productively for decades), tried to overthrow our government with a fraudulent scheme, is a convicted felon and rapist, cheated on their taxes, etc. all point to a smart choice to lead our nation and the Free World? I ask you, Mr. Fraumeni, who is the fool now? Herb Paserman

Dem drums

Bayside: Please rename the Voice of the People to its correct name: “People Who Really Hate Trump.” Constant complaints about Trump, day in and day out. You won! The Daily Rag is nothing more than a democratic propaganda machine. Let the elites run America and, as Hillary Clinton says, those hillbillies in the middle of the country are deplorable. Case closed. Let’s hear more news from the Voicers. Timothy Collins

Loss of faith

Bronx: I’ve come to the conclusion that the Jets don’t want to win football games anymore (“Lowly Jets drop to fifth in a row,” October 28). This latest disaster has proven to me that they have no interest or desire. Even Aaron Rodgers did what he could to ensure the loss. He could have been flagged for “delay of game” at least 20 times, but the referee only helped him once. I can only thank this team for stopping me from looking at how bad they can get, so I don’t waste my time or energy anymore. Time to enjoy watching the Knicks (a real team). Carmelo Burgos

Unforgettable

Astoria: This month, the world of baseball lost one of them, Pete Rose. Known as Charlie Hustle with the Cincinnati Reds, he went on to win back-to-back World Series with them (1975 and 1976). He was the World Series MVP in 1975. Rose won his third World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980. He was a manager, he was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and his stats broke records. Rest in peace, Mr. Rose. you will be missed. Kerry Hanfy

“The Left Arm of God”

Long Island City: I’m Jewish and I’ll never forget Yom Kippur in 1965. Sandy Koufax didn’t perform that day that year. I was 14 years old. Koufax was the greatest left handed pitcher of all time and earned my respect by not throwing on Yom Kippur. He was a good Jew. American Jews loved Sandy. Steve Chaddock

Automated restlessness

Manhattan: Do you know why there are so many mentally ill people in America? Because you can never get a human on the phone if you need help of any kind. Simple question: what do I send back? A robot could not answer; the real person is not available. Stress, anxiety, anger and wasted time (the worst). A cry for help resounds throughout the country: Give me a man! A human being, please! No wonder we’re all going crazy. RB Brandel