The Issue: Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s plans to improve quality of life in NYC and hire more cops.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s push for a return to “broken windows” policing is inspiring (“New police aim — quality of life,” Feb. 27).
This policy, which was largely abandoned, has often served as a preventer of violent crime.
However, her efforts face major roadblocks from Gov. Hochul, Democratic legislators and criminal-sympathizing district attorneys.
We should remind her critics that law enforcement is only as effective as the laws it enforces.
Without reforms, police efforts will continue to be undermined.
Denis David,
Queens
Tisch has a demonstrated an ability to get stuff done.
She took on the role of sanitation commissioner, a job few others likely wanted.
(“Rat Czar” isn’t exactly a flattering nickname).
After successfully reducing New York’s rat population, she was appointed NYPD commissioner at a time when the department faced serious internal issues.
Tisch quickly removed unfit officers and replaced them with more qualified personnel.
With her new efforts to revamp the department, Commissioner Tisch is once again showing her qualities.
Looking ahead: If Tisch ran for mayor (“Tisch for Mayor?”, Editorial, Feb. 23) New York voters might finally have a real contender.
Dick Mills,
Bardonia
Tisch is an outlier in the Adams administration — intelligent, pragmatic and deeply knowledgeable about the NYPD’s mission.
Her task is monumental, with leftist City Council members, soft-on-crime district attorneys and judges who misunderstand their roles all working against her.
I hope Tisch gets the time and resources to restore the NYPD to its former greatness.
Mitchell Schwefel
Barnegat, NJ
Jessica Tisch has a solid strategy for improving quality of life (“Tisch unveils Finest effort for more cops,” Feb. 27).
However, her approach to the staffing crisis is flawed.
Lowering academic requirements isn’t the answer.
Admitting candidates to the academy who are unable to complete the curriculum would be counterproductive.
A better solution: Competitive salaries and benefits.
Thomas Urban
Wantagh
The Issue: The White House announcing it will be taking control of the press pool covering the president.
Before the 2024 election, then-President Joe Biden warned us that a second Trump term would be a threat to democracy (“Oh, pity the lefty WH press corps,” Miranda Devine, Feb. 27).
Republicans responded with outrage; some even suggested that Biden was inciting assassination attempts.
Many analysts saw this reaction as an overblown attempt to deny an uncomfortable truth: a second Trump presidency could indeed threaten fundamental freedoms.
Now, the White House’s decision to control press pool access strikes at the core of democracy: the free press.
It only reinforces concerns about Trump’s own authoritarian tendencies.
Jim Paladino
Tampa, Fla.
The Trump administration’s takeover of the White House press pool is a win for everyday Americans against elitist gatekeepers.
Critics cry about “press freedom,” but true freedom comes from inclusion, not an old boys’ club.
While some conservatives see this as a strike against liberal media dominance, let’s not forget the bigger picture here.
The White House must ensure this shake-up welcomes all perspectives, otherwise we’d be starting a dangerous precedent.
Ronald Beaty
West Barnstable, Mass.
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