Readers sound off on high-speed chases, Palestine’s plight and automated customer service

No suspect is worth innocent bystanders’ lives

Whitestone: Amanda Servedio, riding her bike in Long Island City, entered an intersection and was struck and killed by burglary suspects in a Dodge Ram being chased by an NYPD van with its lights flashing (“Truck fleeing cops hits & kills cyclist,” Oct. 24). To the officers’ credit, they did stop the chase and tried to render aid to the victim, but she succumbed to her injuries.

The NYPD insists that high-speed chases are sometimes necessary. The NYPD is wrong; in the crowded streets of NYC, they are never necessary or defensible when they endanger innocent pedestrians, bikers and other vehicles.

Many police chases are unsuccessful, but even if a chase results in the apprehension of a suspected criminal fleeing them, 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 chase/pursuit doesn’t work because the chatter on the police radio usually drowns out any clear communication with a supervisor once a chase begins. Every police pursuit should stop immediately as soon as the suspect begins to flee at a high speed.

It’s far more important to ban police chases than it was to ban chokeholds by police officers. The numbers of injured and dead clearly tell the story. Michael J. Gorman

Trashy bin

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

No fare

Huntington Station, L.I.: Last Saturday at 7:30 a.m., I disembarked from the Enchanted Princess cruise ship in the Brooklyn Terminal in Red Hook. Dozens of yellow and green taxis were waiting, as well as Uber drivers. None of them would allow me in their cars since I wanted to go to Atlantic Terminal train station in Brooklyn. They only wanted to do airport runs. I pointed out that their refusal to drive me was illegal and one driver suggested I speak with “the boss.” I spoke with 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 runs and hope karma will reward you later. I have reported this incident to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Ann Rita D’Arcy

Discarded context

Albany: The recent editorial about the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar provided no insight into why Hamas attacked Israel a year ago, and it furthered misunderstanding about the long conflict between Israel and Palestinians. More than 700,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes in 1948-1949 during the Israeli war of independence. Equally important, 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 700,000 refugees of yesteryear 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 assisted these Palestinians for 75 years. About two-thirds of the people in Gaza were refugees before Oct. 7, 2023. Tom Ellis

Still believing

Brooklyn: To Voicer Paul Falabella: I am one of those people who believe Donald Trump. You choose not to believe it because it is so horrible. Thank God Trump doesn’t give up. I have never seen such bravery to try and better our country. God bless America! Wanda Lucci

Flunked economics

Manhattan: If Kamala Harris loses, it will be because she did nothing to challenge the narrative that people had a good economy during Trump’s term but not so much under President Biden’s term, even if both of those things are likely true for most people. She should have at least tried to educate people that there is a lag between presidential actions and economic impact. People enjoyed a good economy during the first three years of Trump’s term primarily because of Barack Obama’s policies, and Trump inherited such a strong economy after Obama saved the country from George W. Bush’s 2008 economic crisis. People endured high inflation in 2021 and ’22, but all of the ’21 inflation was due to Trump’s spending in ’20 and Biden’s spending in ’21. Such a shame that the electorate doesn’t understand the lag reality in economics. Ken Blomster

No proof

New Haven, Conn.: JD Vance doesn’t believe that President Biden won the election in 2020. Those of us who don’t believe Vance won his election have a stronger case. Sixty-five courts verified Biden’s victory. Not one verified Vance’s. It should be investigated. Charlie Fromm

Fool’s agenda

Manalapan, N.J.: To Voicer Thomas Fraumeni: Calling me a moron for promoting Kamala Harris is the golden rule of Trumpism, i.e.: “Insult unto others as they have not done to you.” In your book, supporting a man who lies continuously, calls the murderous Vladimir Putin a genius, promises to end the Constitution, will go after the “enemy within” using the U.S. military to arrest American citizens who opposed him, will hunt down 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 his taxes, etc. all points to a smart choice to lead our nation and the Free World? I ask you, Mr. Fraumeni, who is the moron now? Herb Paserman

Dem drumbeat

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

Losing the faith

Bronx: I have come to the conclusion that the Jets no longer wish to win football games (“Lowly Jets drop fifth straight,” Oct. 28). This latest disaster proved to me that they have no interest or desire to. Even Aaron Rodgers did everything he could to ensure defeat. 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 watching how much worse they can get, so I no longer waste my time or energy. It’s time to enjoy watching the Knicks (a real team) play. Carmelo Burgos

Unforgettable

Astoria: This month, the baseball world lost one of its own, 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, was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and his stats were record-breaking. Rest in peace, Mr. Rose. You will be missed. Kerry Hanfy

‘Left Arm of God’

Long Island City: I’m a Jew, and I will never forget Yom Kippur in 1965. Sandy Koufax did not pitch on that day that year. I was 14. Koufax was the greatest left-handed pitcher of all time and won my respect by not pitching on Yom Kippur. He was a good Jew. Jews across America loved Sandy. Steve Chaddock

Automated angst

Manhattan: 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; real person not available. Stress, anxiety, fury and loss of time (the worst). A cry for help echoes across the country: Give me a human! A human being, please! No wonder we’re all going mad. R.B. Brandel