Mistakes merit compensation, but details count
Albany: Re “Hochul must help grieving families” (op-ed, Nov. 16): I deeply sympathize with the grief shared by Nelson Ramirez and Jose Perez. Unfortunately, the Legislature continues to pass a version of the Grieving Families Act with only minor changes, addressing none of Gov. Hochul’s concerns.
Despite their slight amendments, the bill would still enact the most expansive wrongful death statute in the nation. Personal injury trial lawyers claim that Illinois has the same law. That is not true. The Illinois law allows for “pecuniary,” or economic, damages related to grief and loss, like therapy and professional support — not unlimited subjective damages for emotional distress, as this bill proposes.
In 2023, Hochul expressed her concerns in a Daily News op-ed (“Let’s agree on helping grieving families before today’s midnight deadline,” Jan. 30, 2023), calling for the Legislature to carefully analyze the potential economic impact of the proposal “on small businesses, families, doctors and nurses, struggling hospitals in underserved communities, and the overall economy.”
In violation of its own rules, the Legislature still has not done that. Lawmakers continue to claim that the fiscal impact will be “none.” That’s not possible. The additional awards have to come from somewhere.
To make this work, the Legislature must listen to Hochul to craft a balanced solution that delivers justice without jeopardizing our economy or health care system. Tom Stebbins, executive director, Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York
Known volatility
Sunnyside: I was very sorry to read about the murders of three innocent people by the violent, mentally ill Ramon Rivera. I think the factor that makes this even more tragic is that it was so obvious he was uncontrollably violent when he attacked an innocent correction officer named Carol Garcia (“Rivera bashed correx cop who then kicked him: DA,” Nov. 20). Therefore, I can not understand how the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the Department of Investigation could charge Garcia with attempted assault when she was compelled to kick Rivera while restraining him. I am glad that Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, spoke up on her behalf. But I wish that the heads of the DA’s office and the DOI were as courageous — and as competent — as brave correction officers like Garcia and Boscio. John Francis Fox
Dinner time
Brooklyn: Mayor Adams and his rat czar have no consideration for senior homeowners of one- and two-family homes by insisting that garbage may only be placed at the curb in a garbage bin starting at 8 p.m. Do rats not eat at 8 p.m.? Connie Ranieri
Can we not?
Brooklyn: What knucklehead thought of these so-called rat-busting lidded garbage pails? I’m sure the pails will eventually crack from being mistreated and the lid will break off, never to be seen again. Will the only company that supplies them even be around to cover the 10-year warranty? I bet the only supplier will be gone in three years or less. Forcing elderly residents to go out into the darkness and on cold winter nights, to risk falling or worse, to put their garbage out after 8 p.m. can be considered elder abuse. Another outcome of this forced requirement is that inconsiderate dog walkers now do not have to carry the plastic bag — or worse yet, newspaper — filled with dog poop, or other loose garbage, to their lidded garbage pails. They have so many to make smell like the morning doo-doo. Follow the money and you will find the rat. John J. Accardo
L.I. icon
Brooklyn: Kudos to “Karate Kid” actor Ralph Macchio for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. From his first role on the show “Eight Is Enough” at age 19 in 1979 to “My Cousin Vinny,” “Cobra Kai” and all those guest-starring roles on all those TV shows, he is a humble actor from Long Island and a Broadway star. He defined cool like the Fonz and Chachi. He’s a Hollywood icon and acted with all the Brat Pack. Go Ralph. Can’t wait for your next music video with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Maybe Bon Jovi will hire you to join his band. Raquel Hanon
America’s choice
Greenville, S.C.: Congratulations to Donald Trump for winning a second term in the White House. We gotta love the fact that he did it again! This vindicated the MAGA “America First” policies the Trump campaign championed as right for the country. Now is a time to kill the tricks of those people who would want to take away and trample on the freedoms and liberties of America, and this election is the right solution for those who yearn for the American dream. Steven Hawkins
Without delay
Bronx: Thanks for your interesting editorial “No free pass” (Nov. 21). While the due process clause of the 14th Amendment protects the freedom of the press from being abridged by state legislation, it’s now troubling to see the Daily News advocating for New York to suppress President-elect Trump’s due process right to appeal by delaying his sentencing for four years. Several prominent legal scholars believe that Judge Juan Merchan’s rulings are rife with reversible error, but appellate review can’t be commenced until after the sentence is pronounced. The sentence itself could be an issue for appeal. If Merchan delays the sentencing for four years as the Daily News wishes, he might be appeasing his political handlers and the elitist woke media, but he does so at the expense of his sworn oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of New York. Charles T. Compton
Make the calls
Bronx: To Voicer Nick DiPasquale: You stated that when Trump speaks, others listen, and if he says stop the wars, the wars will stop. Well, what is he waiting for? He’s a former president. Have him use his diplomacy with his friends and help America. Have him call Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin and have the wars stopped. Simple, right? Lydia Milnar
Got out clean
Manhattan: No one knows how to work the system better than Trump. From his days of building his Fifth Ave. tower with illegal aliens to not paying legitimate contractors (lessons taught by the late Roy Cohn), this modern-day P.T. Barnum just did it again. Matt Gaetz was never a serious candidate for attorney general, but his resignation from Congress stopped the release of the ethics report right in its tracks. And taking his name out of the running gives no reason for any senator or anyone else to ever see the damning testimony of underage sex, drug abuse and bribes. Gaetz, one of Trump’s most vociferous attack dogs during the election, is now rewarded by being taken off the hook. and this show hasn’t even started. Louie Russo
God complex
Congers, N.Y.: To Voicer Andrew Toulonis, who believes that vaccines are against God’s will: That is the nuttiest thing I’ve ever read in the Voice of the People, and there are a lot of nuts out there. I bet you got your vaccines as a child, and I bet your children and grandchildren (if you have any) are also vaccinated. Sounds to me like you’re playing God with people’s lives. Beth Friscino
Underqualified
North Bergen, N.J.: Let’s face facts, Shohei Ohtani definitely did have the offensive stats for National League MVP, but he did not have one defensive play on the field this season. With that in mind, how could the Baseball Writers’ Association of America unanimously cast all of their votes for him? Whether I am a Mets fan or not (and I am), I am a baseball fan. Francisco Lindor and every other candidate played the field throughout the year and had both offensive and defensive stats. Shouldn’t an MVP be required to play defensively in the field in addition to their offensive talent? Selecting a designated hitter as MVP is not representative of a complete and versatile player. Ohtani might have been the league’s offensive MVP, but definitely not overall MVP. Bob Eagleson
All choked up
Garwood, N.J.: All we’re hearing lately is about potential roster moves by the New York sports teams. In my opinion, the Yankees, Jets and Giants all need to add only one person: a skilled EMT who is proficient in the Heimlich maneuver. I have never seen so much choking in all my life! John E. Deichmeister
