Our readers ask: ‘Who watches the watchers?’

To the editor,

It is creepy to have people with less police credentials then George Zimmerman spying on people.

Midwood has nothing to do with the Leiby Kletzky case, Levi Aron did his crime in Borough Park and Kensington (“Midwood spy cams go to group accused of shielding sex predators from police,” online May 31) — unless it’s because rabble rouser Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D–Borough Park) lives here, or because ultra-orthodox perverts can ogle Midwood’s unorthodox Russian women through a network of spy cams.Bob Sulman

Midwood

Bay ‘gunk’

To the editor,

I live at the beginning of Shore Boulevard, right behind the Holocaust Memorial Park, and the accumulating garbage in the bay is an eyesore.

I cannot smell the trash in the water when I sit on a bench on the promenade, but I can certainly see the filth which gathers in the corner of the bay, at the end of Emmons Avenue. It was bad enough when the gunk was sucked up once a week, but since the budget cuts this is done even less.

I have lived and traveled to many places in my life, but never have I seen a sight as disgusting as this — not even in a favela in Rio!

Unfortunately, I have never been able to go to community board meetings because of a back problem, and therefore have not been able to voice my opinion.

Kirsten Deaver

Manhattan Beach

Cat-atonic

To the editor,

Obviously, Barbara Berger is not thinking clearly when she says that she would rather be homeless than give up any of the 10 cats she “can’t live without” (“Cat hoarder: I need a new home,” online May 18).

It is understandable that she is feeling desperate, but how does she think she will be able to take care of herself or her cats on the street? What does she think will happen to those cats she loves so much? They would not stay in one place with her, they would wander around, or get hit by a car, eat poison or spoiled food, get attacked by other animals, or even be harmed by a cruel person.

Feral cats can live successfully outdoors, but Barbara Berger’s cats are domesticated and used to living indoors. Perhaps she should follow the example of the mother in the biblical story of King Solomon — she was willing to give to another woman rather than see it come to harm.

I hope that Barbara Berger can find a pet-friendly home in time, or keep her current home, even if she does have to give away some of her beloved kitties.

Sarah Vogel

Sea Gate

RIP, Etan

To the editor,

For more than three decades, New Yorkers were haunted by the tragic disappearance of adorable Etan Patz. As a parent I can’t fathom what his parents felt and had to live with.

Now, as quickly as he vanished 33 years go, there is an answer to the mystery. Until proven otherwise, suspect Pedro Hernandez is presumed to be telling the truth.

I would never use the world “closure” for the Patzes. Their closure will only come when they depart the earth.

If Pedro Hernandez is to be believed, Etan’s death was swift, he was not violated, and he was not tortured. Can his parents find any comfort in that at all? I do not mean to be heartless, but I hope so.

We will never know how many people’s lives would have been touched by Etan had he been permitted to live and become an adult.

His disappearance, though, did bring forth many new changes regarding missing children. Rest in peace, Etan.

Ruth Weiner

Sheepshead Bay

Mike’s ‘reversal’

To the editor,

Mayor Bloomberg’s reversal regarding social promotion is still further proof that his educational policies have failed miserably. Now, it will be all right to promote children who have already been left-back once. Such children would have to show “progress” in summer school.

Let me tell you what goes on. Such children wander the halls in summer school, just as they do during the regular school year. Usually, supervisors tell teachers the following: “Do you want him or her again in your class?” The guidance counselor discusses with the teacher that the child should be given “alternate assessments” so that the child can pass. The alternate assessment might include writing a report, creating a diarama, or some other nonsense so that we can push the child ahead. The fact that the child did little academic work, failed tests miserably, and refused to do homework — but knew how to disrupt the class — are all not taken into consideration.

The fact is that the mayor has probably been told by the so-called educational experts that many of these children are constant behavior problems. Rather than have smaller class sizes, 600 schools for the unruly, and place A.T.R.’s back in the classroom so as to lower class sizes, the mayor resorts to the pushing-the-child-ahead theory. As with his other educational reforms, this will not work since the child will be promoted into a class that is already overcrowded. The more crowded the class is, the worse the discipline will be.

Our educators and leaders fail to realize this, as so many never taught themselves. Educators, such as myself and others, are all so happy to be long retired and far removed from a mayor who enjoys bashing teachers, and a union that constantly gives contractual items back while stating that it’s the best we can do.

Ed Greenspan

Sheepshead Bay

Mayoral fizz

To the editor,

Mayor Bloomberg’s support of the Department of Health’s proposal to ban the sale of beverages over 16 ounces — to combat the excessive calories contained in sugary drinks — is a waste of taxpayers dollars. There is no coercion used to get customers to purchase beverages. Everyone is aware of both calories and sugar content.

High obesity rates have just as much to do with the sedentary lifestyle of many people, who spend more time on iPods and home computers than playing sports, exercising after work, or just walking. Following this insane logic we should also stop stores from selling ice cream, pizza, fries, cake, and cookies.

The ban will start with just restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, and arenas, but will inevitably expand to fast food restaurants, supermarkets, local delis, and bodegas.

Everyone’s profit margins are dependent upon the sales of large beverages. Distributors of soda provide gainful employment for thousands of warehouse and delivery people.

Businesses which stock larger sodas and related products assist in providing tens of thousands of additional jobs.

All of these people are our neighbors who are just trying to earn a living. Both businesses and employees pay taxes that help pick up the tab for municipal services. Customers purchase these products via free will. Even a child can figure out how to get around this ban. Customers will increase pollution by purchasing two smaller beverages to consume over 16 ounces.

Our economic and civil liberties prosper best when government stays out of the bedroom, marketplace, and our stomachs! Just what will the “politically correct” health food police go after next?

New Yorkers face a nine percent unemployment rate (with an additional seven percent more who have given up looking), a looming multi-billion-dollar municipal budget shortfall, a growing $65 billion long-term debt, long-term pension funding shortfalls in the billions, along with critical issues dealing with education, housing, transportation, public safety, and the environment — to name a few.

Mayor Bloomberg should lighten up on becoming our health food czar, and worry about these more pressing quality of life issues of the day.Larry Penner

Great Neck, N.Y.

. . .

To the editor,

I agree with Mayor Bloomberg that something has to be done to battle obesity, among children especially.

Why not educate public school children during physical education classes? Make their gym class consist of more exercise and more activity — the kind you could get in a private gym.

Inmates in prison get better workouts than our students. Did you ever see the muscles on them when they are released?

Make gym a more serious class with a grade that means something, not just a free period. Teach them when they are young to eat properly and to exercise regularly. I think this will help break the cycle of obesity in our kids.

Keeping them physically fit will also increase their self esteem and also might help to prevent some kids from getting bullied.Nufigity Sanzone

Coney island

. . .

To the editor,

Mayor Bloomberg ought to have the police incorporate a manual Body Mass Index check with every Stop and Frisk. This will kill two birds with one stone. When a police officer stops a New Yorker for interrogation and weapons check, he can also ask the person for his or her height and weight to calculate a quick B.M.I. or by performing the pinch-an-inch test by pinching the side of the person about waist-high, and seeing if it is more than an inch of fat between his index finger and thumb.

If the suspect is found to be overweight he could be given a warning or a ticket, or even arrested if he is found to obese.

If this catches on like we think it will, this method could also be used at airports with the body scans and pat downs. While there, passengers could get checked for other medical problems including a prostate exam.

This will save time and money while saving lives!

Millie and Stu Gotts

Kensington