Under a probe’s cloud, can NYC bank on Banks?
Brooklyn: With the resignation of Police Commissioner Edward Caban, one obvious question is whether NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks will, or should, also resign. The two men hold similar rank in key city government posts. Caban led the nation’s largest police department; Banks, its largest school district. Both just had their homes raided by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, with their phones and other devices seized. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing, but Caban is gone and Banks remains. Why?
It can be argued that a law enforcement official under criminal investigation has some built-in conflict with carrying out official duties. But at least as important are the distraction from full-time duties and public confidence in his leadership. Similar concerns, though not identical, beset Banks. Bread crumbs lead to the supposition that Caban’s brother worked to enrich himself with contracts to the nightlife industry. Banks’ brother, a government affairs consultant, may have provided clients with favored access to city Department of Education contracts. Is contract procurement less important than restaurant and bar regulation? Is the appearance of impropriety less for Banks than for Caban? Is the distraction greater? Is public confidence in the honesty of police leadership more important than the honesty of our educator-in-chief?
Speedy clarification from the U.S. attorney’s office would help to dispel the doubts besetting students, parents and the public over Banks’ culpability. In the meanwhile, the parlous state of our schools hangs in the balance, with its leadership under a cloud. David Bloomfield
Restroom restrictions
Manhattan: During lunch, only five students out of nearly 200 are allowed to use the bathroom at a time! It’s completely ridiculous. And don’t get me started on having to ask for permission every single time. As a teenage girl, it’s so frustrating to be constantly reminded that I need to justify something as basic as using the bathroom. It’s kinda awkward too. I get weird stares sometimes just for asking to use the bathroom twice. Honestly, it’s just not fair. Nayaa Addai
Held up
Brooklyn: I’m currently on my way to school and I’m late again! Why are the buses and trains so slow? Imagine trying to get somewhere on time depending on the B/Q trains? Forget about it! Jeniah Russell
Free-state folly
Maspeth: It’s a shame that the people elected to protect and serve NYC are destroying it with their ridiculous bills. The City Council needs to be overhauled immediately. Slavery ended more than 200 years ago in NYC, and they want to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to hand out free money to people. Minority Leader Joseph Borelli said it well: If they can introduce me to one New Yorker who owned a slave, I’d be happy to pay reparations. Lance Lovejoy
Support creatives
Brooklyn: Myself and thousands of artists and makers local to NYC are struggling. Instagram, Facebook and other platforms that were our primary marketing methods have yet again changed what is allowed/not allowed, and as such, accounts don’t get the reach they formerly did. My and many of my fellow artists’ bookings are down because of this. Please, with the holiday season coming up, I beg you: Book a shoot, commission a gift to be made — we need support because we are drowning. Randy Contello
Opportunistic outrage
Edgewater, N.J.: Conservatives on TV are quick to highlight the plight of Americans abroad who come into harm’s way, but I’m beginning to think they do so only to embarrass the Biden administration, which they disagree with. There has been no mention of Aysenur Eygi, an American activist allegedly killed in the West Bank by the Netanyahu administration, which they deeply admire. Conclusion: There’s great conservative concern for Americans abroad, except for those with the wrong politics. Similarly, their “say her name” gambit only applies to American victims of violence at home when conservatives can fault their opponents. Their recent solemn coverage of the 9/11 anniversary seemed odd, as there was no one for them to shame with blame; maybe it’s because that horrible massacre occurred under a president of their own party? Jay K. Egelberg
Trounced
New Hyde Park, L.I.: The beating Donald Trump took from Kamala Harris was hard to watch. It just shows what happens when a smart young woman goes up against a crazy old — and I mean old — man. Did I mention that he is old? Bob Wiecezak
Unanswered
Brooklyn: Voicer Jim Heimbuch thinks Trump should have answered the question about Ukraine or Russia winning the war. He gave the only answer possible. Choosing one country over the other would have been a total mistake, especially if he ends up back in the White House. At least he didn’t ignore the question, as Kamala Harris did when asked about her sense of responsibility for the disastrous Afghanistan pullout. She totally avoided the subject and the moderators let it pass. L. Veneroni
Inverted analysis
Peekskill, N.Y.: That was some absurd debate analysis from Voicer Eugene R. Dunn in disagreement with a drastic majority of reviewers, including many Republicans, as to who significantly won that debate: the vice president! What a pompous attitude by Dunn, claiming “my superior knowledge and memory of events”! You were joking, right? You were fine with that idiot of a former president claiming the eating of pets in Springfield, Ohio, abortions performed in the ninth month and newborn babies put to death! That lunacy was accurate in your head! Plus, now “45” refuses to partake in a rematch. If you believe that crap you wrote, you probably think Delaware is larger than California and Neptune is closer to the sun than Mercury! Steven J. Bevacqua
Sidelined majority
Brooklyn: It is apparent that neither presidential candidate shows any interest in the 40 states in this country that are not considered battleground states. With each passing day, we hear more about candidates campaigning in these 10 states, yet the problems facing America are widespread and complex. This distortion of our electoral system is a direct result of the anachronism known as the Electoral College. It is time to do away with it, or at the very least, give some numeric value to a candidate who wins the popular vote. It is very doubtful that there will be any change in the system, so we will continue to see how issues affecting these 10 states overcome the issues faced by the other 40. Robert Mascali
MVP preview
Manhattan: Re “Verdict not in yet” (Sept. 1): Aaron Judge was recently on pace to hit 63 home runs. I was excited to see him reach 60 or more again. He hit his 50th and 51st homers on Aug. 25 against the Colorado Rockies and then nothing until Friday night’s grand slam, the longest homer dry spell of his career. It’s ’22 all over again: Pitchers aren’t giving him much to hit. This should in no way affect his Most Valuable Player award odds against Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals. Witt is impressive, though. He owns the highest batting average in baseball and is a fast base runner. Much to Witt’s credit, the Royals are poised to earn a wildcard playoff spot. The silver lining is that Judge doesn’t need to be distracted by home run 63 or the batting Triple Crown race (though he’s potentially in contention for the elusive batting average category). He doesn’t have to prove any of that. The only number that really matters is 28. Adam Silbert
Lasting legacy
Jamaica: This year marks the 30th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s debut album “Grace.” Buckley was an American artist who became a sensation from his covers of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Rolling Stone listed “Grace” as #43 of its 100 Best Debut Albums. Selling more than 2 million copies, he left an impact on the music industry. The production quality, songwriting and instrumental arrangement changed the standard of music. Buckley inspired artists to have an intense vocal delivery, like Thom Yorke in his band Radiohead. Only having one full studio-recorded album, Buckley remains a powerful influence on others. Tashfeya Hossain