#MeToo’s gain and WNYC’s loss
Bronx: Jazz standards were playing on WNYC radio last Saturday, without Jonathan Schwartz. My husband and I searched the internet to find that both he and Leonard Lopate had been fired for sexual harassment. What?
I love the #MeToo movement. We are winning. Finally. But we may be losing, too. Like many women, I am glad that rapey, predatory bullies get what’s coming to them. When I think of my own #MeToo experiences, I’d love to do a Pam Grier, flipping tables and hitting violators .
However, I have a greater impulse for due process, arbitration, something. Hints of McCarthyism and Pinochet-like disappearances swirl in my head. It’s weird to see men disappear from the airwaves on an almost weekly basis. It’s eerie to see men dance trying to avoid land mines and walking on eggshells.
Today men dance, but I wonder if tomorrow it might be others. That is, if the lack of due process becomes normalized. Like the bad old days when saying the wrong thing politically or doing the wrong kind of art brought swift reprisal. Maybe the scorched-earth firings are justice overdue for several generations. Perhaps collateral damage will be part of this “justice” in varying degrees.
I do not think that Lopate or Schwartz should have lost their careers so swiftly. We don’t even know what they’re accused of doing. After first being written up, then put on probation, they should have been fired. HR should have vigorously rectified the accusers’ complaints sooner. Not every incident is a Weinstein, Nassar or Cosby predation. Punishment at WNYC, yes, absolutely. But firing? Not necessarily. Corinne Basabe
Not all women
Lindenhurst, L.I.: When I was a kid, we used to watch a cartoon called “Fractured Fairy Tales.” Maybe our news media should change their title to “Fractured News Items” — or “Fairy Tales by News.” A prime example is their coverage of the March for Life and the Women’s March this year. Funny that they show an overhead of the one (Women’s) and next to nothing of the other (Life). If that is not an obvious attempt to slant the news, what is? For shame! Louise Perrotta
Not that woman
Staten Island: Voicer Ziv Damary doesn’t get why Women’s March protesters didn’t support Nicole Malliotakis for mayor. She is a conservative Republican Trump supporter and was unqualified. Organizations like Emily’s List trained 2,700 women to run in the 2018 midterm elections. Being a woman isn’t enough to get unconditional support from other women. I would save that disgust for anyone that thinks gender is the only criterion. This from a progressive woman, marcher and Staten Islander. Ellen Settanni
Credibility counts
Bronx: Voicer Ziv Damary asks why women didn’t vote for Nicole Malliotakis to make her the city’s first female mayor. The reason is that she had no credibility nor integrity to gain the trust of New Yorkers, both female and male, finding her unfit for the position. It’s the same reason back in 2008 when the National Organization for Women endorsed Barack Obama and Joe Biden over John McCain and Sarah Palin, citing Palin as the source for their identical concerns. Michael S. Wilbekin
No #KobeToo?
Staten Island: I just read that Kobe Bryant has been nominated for an Oscar. Hey, ladies, here is one for you. Bryant was accused of forcible rape of a female hotel concierge a few years back. His only penalty was that he had to buy his girlfriend a large diamond ring. How quickly some forget. Robert McKenna
NFL hypocrisy
Maspeth: Thanks to the NFL for making it easier and easier to stop watching games (“NFL rejects veterans group’s ad for Super Bowl program,” Jan. 23)! The NFL refuses a veterans group’s ad asking all people to stand for the national anthem because it is considered a “political statement”? Are you kidding me? Meanwhile, some of their players kneel during the national anthem — a slap in the face of all who have fought to give them this right, but the playing field or workplace is not where they should be showing their disrespect for the U.S.A. Do it on your own time. Tim Murphy
Trading influence
Garwood, N.J.: On Tuesday, it was reported the Trump administration is significantly raising tariffs on washing machines from South Korea and solar panels from China. The question I ask: Are these two items in a class of their own or is this an across-the-board increase? I wonder if these upped tariffs apply also to all products made overseas by the Trump Organization and Ivanka Trump’s clothing line. If not, are these unfair trade practices? I know the Trumps are making a mint on hotels and golf courses in this country as a means of selling influence. John Deichmeister
Where were the parents?
Staten Island: We all know what a lowlife Larry Nassar is, but most of these girls said he was doing these horrible things to them over six years. Why didn’t they say anything after, say, the first or second year? One said she told her parents, but they chose to ignore her accusations and didn’t believe her at first. I wonder how money, like everything else, played into letting Nassar abuse these young girls for years. I think they all should be held responsible — including some of the parents who let their kids get sexually abused for the love of fame and fortune. Anthony Liverano
Declining delivery explained
Bronx: As a recently retired letter carrier from the U.S. Postal Service, I feel I have to respond to the previous Voicers who were complaining about mail delivery. The fault lies totally at the feet of the attending supervisors in the individual stations. The Postal Service hiring practices have drastically changed. About 30 years ago, you had to take a test to be hired by the post office. They have eliminated all testing of entering employees. They now hire you off the street — no memory test, reading skill test, nothing of the sort. All you need is a driver’s license of two years. Then the supervisors send these unqualified people out into the street with no training to deliver first-class mail. These carriers are told not to bring mail back, no matter what the reason, or they will be fired. They are given two carrier routes to deliver within an eight-hour shift. This is why you get mail late and delivered incorrectly. David Gonzalez
Move over, Superman
Brooklyn: Having survived the first year of his term despite enormous adversity and hateful, picayune opposition, President Trump is still standing strong. The man is made of iron. And he passed his official physical exam with flying colors, despite his ice-cream desserts. By God, he’s determined to make America great again! This millionaire, Republican, blue-collar President may very well accomplish his goal. Ruth Biller
Willing to stand Pat
Dumont, N.J.: I don’t know if Pat Shurmur will be a good coach or not. But I seem to recall a headline and articles some 22 years ago in the Daily News, that read “Clueless Joe.” Same type of articles with quotes from anonymous baseball execs about his managing ability. How did Joe Torre work out? Your paper has gotten progressively worse over those 20-plus years, as I’m sure your circulation numbers show. Gary Myers, a once-respected football columnist, has fallen into that trap. Between your misinformation about the Giants coaching search and trying your hardest to discredit the President. Couple that with your love affair with Obama and the Clintons, your paper is right down there with The National Enquirer. If it weren’t for your crossword puzzles, which are the only believable part of your paper, you would be adding me to your growing list of lost circulation. Rich Russo
Not so Fonda Megyn
Bayside: This week Megyn Kelly showed everyone just how much of an embarrassment she can be to NBC and her “Today” co-workers. Her response to Jane Fonda’s interview on her show was disgraceful. Fonda is an icon in the Hollywood industry; she is a role model for women of various decades, not because of her plastic surgery, but for her intelligence, talents, initiative, creativity and her undaunted ability to take risks. Unfortunately, Kelly wasted the opportunity to interview this talented performer by not being properly prepared and pigeonholing her ideas and questions. Ms. Kelly, it’s time to go back to the classroom and review the chapter on conducting interviews. Review the tapes of your predecessors, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Andrea Mitchell, and see what real professionalism is all about. As for Fonda, after you apologize to her, leave her alone. She’s way out of your league! Pam Gartland