Readers sound off on Rikers reform, older relatives and Muslim-majority nations

The unintended consequences of closing Rikers

Freeport, L.I.: Let’s be honest. No one is going to close Rikers Island, and doing so could be disastrous. The money to close it doesn’t exist, nor is it coming from any imaginable source.

Rather, the most practical and compassionate way to address the jail crisis is to develop small facilities to house mentally ill patients, get them off the island and into an environment where they are safer and where their conditions might be addressed.

Diversion is fine, but to the extent that it includes dangerous criminals, it becomes something akin to collusion. It’s a limited response. However, addressing the vulnerable and driving down inmate numbers over time and with the means available can at least begin the process of improvement. I know some advocates look forward to the day that the courts shut down Rikers. If that day comes, be ready for the consequences, because money is in limited supply and what goes to one course comes from another. We all know where it’s going to come from: libraries, schools, public safety and transportation services.

The middle class in New York already is making its departure as the city continues to deprioritize its needs, which means the basic foundation of those New York communities not already set aside for the wealthy is eroding. A Rikers closure would just wind up adding to the already barely tolerable pressure on New York’s middle class. If people think New York can survive the direction in which it’s heading — a municipality primarily populated by lower-income and rich folks — they’re mistaken, and the potential for economic and social collapse comes closer to reality. Michael J. Duff

Favorite color

Brooklyn: To Voicer Jeanette Pecora: I did not say it would be fine to show Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce if they were Black. Where did you see that? It would be just as nauseating. But the networks think we care more about seeing white people — and if you can’t see that, get some glasses. Many people have told me they agree, including white people. Dennis Burge

Cut him some slack

North Arlington, N.J.: I think Mike Lupica’s Sunday column on Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was the best I have seen written about him and his struggles playing for the team. I don’t think he was prepared to have every pass he threw, even in his first training camp, critiqued by the New York press. I also think the speed of the pro game surprised him, and it showed up on so many passes he missed to open receivers in the flat, where he probably envisioned a pick-six, and if so, being killed by the sportswriters the next day. I’m not a Jets fan but I also wish him well today and in the future with another team. Karma would have him coming into MetLife Stadium with another team and beating the Jets. Armand Rose

Honor thy elders

Howard Beach: As we get older, we’re lucky if we have family to rely on for love, comfort and trust. As the mind slowly becomes not what it used to be, it’s good to have a family that looks out for you and cares for you. But sometimes family members look at you as old and useless. They stay away and no longer come to see you like before. The hurt one feels when ignored and lied to by family members is overwhelming when you’re older. The elderly will do anything to help a family member, but often it becomes a one-way street. During this holiday season, I hope you remember your senior citizens. Say hello to them, smile and maybe give them a hug. For someday, you will become “old and useless” and want to be loved by your family members, especially the younger ones. Nick Di Pasquale

Downtown-bound?

Bronx: I wonder — was that bull on the tracks headed for Wall Street? Barbara Sulkowski

Cheap treats

Manhattan: The popular talk show “The View” is slacking off on Christmas this year. Their 12 days of Christmas giveaways started off with ordinary gifts for the audience and ended on Friday with an equally ordinary gift, a silver insect pin from the Whoopi Goldberg Collection of jewelry. The 12th day has usually seen big gifts like cruises and trips. I was in the audience last year on the ninth day of Christmas and came home with a $550 voucher for Omaha Steaks, which included prime rib, lobster, veggies, cheesecake and baked potatoes! It was truly a super gift and that was day nine. The 12th day last year gave each audience member tickets for two for a seven-day cruise. What happened this year? Seems like their budget went on a cruise! Michael DeSouza

Why her?

Bronx: Did “Jeopardy!” fire the wrong person? Denis Buckley

Make it count

Manhattan: Now that so many hedge fund heads and other millionaires and billionaires are not donating to Ivy League colleges, it is time that they really show charity and caring. Why not choose a local NYC college and donate your funds there, where so many middle-class and economically deprived children go? That would be true giving and would help so many people now and in their future. Marilyn Levin

Exclusionary

Bayside: The mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, openly disregarded her white co-workers in a racist statement using her political position as well as taxpayers’ money, and no outrage from the news media. She planned a people-of-color-only holiday party and I can’t believe the deafening silence from your publication! The Democrats’ cancel culture doesn’t apply to their club members, no matter how biased, bigoted, racist, demonizing and divisive it gets. How is such a hateful individual allowed to stay at the helm of one of the most liberal urban communities in the country? This is definitely indicative of the hypocrisy of our institutions, media and academia, and Congress, the Massachusetts attorney general as well as the U.S. Department of Justice. Jacques Hakim

Political ploy

Holbrook, L.I.: Republicans are trying to make America believe that last week’s vote on impeaching President Biden is just a vote for “an inquiry.” I call B.S. on that! They know full well that this is the first of two votes to impeach the president, who has done nothing wrong. They’ve done this at the direct order of Donald Trump. I say this is the first of two votes because there’s no way, in the middle of a presidential election, that Republicans and Trump will allow the headline “Biden innocent.” So instead, they’ll drag the country and the world through this dangerous sham simply because Trump has ordered it! Michael L. Wilson

Blocked support

Parkland, Fla.: A little-publicized event indicates that Hungary’s prime minister vetoed the European Union’s funding of Ukraine for his own political gain. He’d better hope that Russia does not set its sights on Hungary next. Another example of the United States footing the bill. John Squicciarini

No help

Flushing: There are 22 Arab countries in the world and another 28 Muslim-majority countries that are not Arab. Yet, in spite of that, not one of these countries has offered the people of Gaza asylum in their lands. As a matter of fact, both Egypt and Jordan, the closest countries to Gaza geographically (all Egypt has to do is open the border to let in these refugees who are suffering so much), have categorically refused to let in Palestinians. Jordan, whose population is more than half Palestinian and whose queen is of Palestinian origin, also refuses to take them in. Why is that? Do they know something about the Palestinians that the rest of the world does not? All I can surmise is that the tears they are crying on behalf of the poor Palestinians are of the crocodile variety. C. Weissman

From the outset

Brooklyn: To Voicer John Esche: Your claim that Israel had initial widespread support after Oct. 7 is incorrect. Pro-Hamas demonstrations broke out at many of our prestigious colleges and universities on Oct. 8 and 9. Wendy Jackson