Readers sound off on Commissioner Kavanagh, Don Lemon and offshore wind farms

Brooklyn: Back when Mayor Adams was looking for a fire commissioner, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association told the mayor their choice for the position would be anyone but Laura Kavanagh.

Four months after Kavanagh’s appointment to the position, there is a wave of resignations from the top posts of the department. These actions beg for questions to be asked and answered. It appears from the information given to the public that the commissioner was asking for accountability from her chiefs and not getting any. If all it takes these days is your boss to ask for accountability after several months of work and the immediate response from the upper cadre is to turn and run away, then it would appear they are unqualified to hold those positions.

Kavanagh worked under Commissioner Daniel Nigro for years and held many responsibilities, including being first deputy commissioner for four years. She has worked for the department and been exposed to and surely studied its inner workings. She is now the boss. She is accountable to the mayor and the people of this city for everything the department does. Kavanagh has every right to ask for and demand accountability from her agency. If they are unqualified or unsuited for the tasks ahead, then she has every right to get rid of the dead wood. Removals have been done in past administrations.

The UFOA’s response to all of this is to present the standard, ever-overbearing misogynistic rebuttal from decades ago: “She’s not qualified.” This serves only to show it is not the woman who is unqualified or unwilling to face the road ahead, but those who turned and ran when the going got tough or uncertain. Marie McCormick

Oak Ridge, N.J.: Woke up Saturday feeling pretty good about myself until I read what a bad person I really am. Thank you, Antwan Staley, for your column (“Bieniemy not being a head coach is a disgrace,” Feb. 18). Where do I send my check? By the way, Eric Bieniemy could have turned down the offensive coordinator job with the Washington Commanders. James Heimbuch

Tobyhanna, Pa.: To Voicer Michael Hooker: In my original letter, I stated that the question of God and suffering is complicated. Read what philosophers and theologians have written — there are plenty of articles online — or perhaps just ask yourself: Why would God allow his son to be put to death and why would his son freely choose to be put to death? Joseph Matarazzo

Forked River, N.J.: Re “Lemon apologizes to CNN staff for age comments about Nikki Haley” (Feb. 18): How about an apology to the person his ignorant remarks were directed at? This man thinks he is correct because he Googled it. I guess that makes it accurate. He can’t distinguish between cognitive and reproductive prime. He is truly a “lemon” in his field. Linda C. Marino

Kew Gardens Hills: Re “Fetterman goes to hosp for depression treatment” (Feb. 17): It’s clear that Sen. John Fetterman can no longer fulfill his duties and must resign in fairness to Pennsylvania constituents. Hospitalization for clinical depression is the latest setback to hit him since he suffered a stroke in May. He has difficulty hearing and communicating with people, essential skills for a senator. But depression may make him incapable of doing his job. I speak as someone who had to leave my job after being hospitalized for depression. Fetterman has experienced depression throughout his life, said his chief of staff. Why wasn’t this revealed to voters during his 2022 campaign? Woke warriors accuse critics of “ableism,” a meaningless buzzword, for pointing out Fetterman’s obvious incapacity to serve. Democrats may pressure him to remain in the Senate to preserve their slim margin of control but that would be unfair to his state’s voters, his family and himself. Richard Reif

Central Islip, L.I.: President Biden’s doctor said he is physically fit to successfully execute his duties. I doubt if his psychiatrist would say the same. Thomas Sarc

Manhattan: Voicer Joseph Catrambone says Mike Pence is in denial and “has his head buried in the sand. Sickening.” Joey C. is too kind. Mikey P. really has his head stuck up where the sun don’t shine! Disgusting. Chris Lee

Mineola, L.I.: To Voicer Noel Merritt: You say that the Republicans are a “party with no platform.” Why don’t you try to see things from a different perspective? You say Republicans vilify innocent victims. Look up the pasts of George Floyd and Eric Garner, just to name a few, and see how innocent they were. Next, let’s address the need for better education in urban communities. Maybe if both parents of children in urban schools had a significant role in their children’s education at home, the kids wouldn’t need to be coddled as much in school. I have the answer to the SNAP program: Get a job! There are plenty available. You blame the opioid/fentanyl crisis on George W. Bush, meanwhile the current idiot in charge is allowing China and Mexico to infest our country with these drugs and does nothing about it. C’mon man! Wake up. James Formato

Highland Falls, N.Y.: Re “Bombshell memos: Fox hosts knew Don fraud claims were garbage,” (Feb. 18): With the release of documents in the case of Dominion Voting Systems vs. Fox News, we have confirmed one thing already known and exposed something a lot worse. Anyone with half a brain already knew Fox News is a whorehouse pretending to be a news operation. Rupert Murdoch has been sucking up to the British royal family and the Chinese for decades at the expense of truth, so why should his minions be any different? The stock price is more important to their “journalists” than reality is. The more dangerous revelation is the sizable number of Americans who don’t want to hear any truth at all, only their paranoid fantasies confirmed. Should Tucker Carlson stop feeding their crazy beliefs, they would throw him out for someone who will. Joe Cyr

Kings Park, L.I.: In what other country can an average person buy an AR-15-type weapon in a store? Years ago, they persecuted people who didn’t believe the Earth was the center of the universe. Today, we still have Congress and the Supreme Court that believe in the sanctity of the Second Amendment. Very sad! Dennis Downer

Massapequa Park, L.I.: To Voicer Timothy Collins: Whales are not killed by offshore wind turbines. Whales die when hit by ships, usually freighters, and by getting entangled in fishing gear and drowning. They were washing up dead periodically long before offshore wind got started. Warmer oceans created by heat-trapping gas are their long-term killer. Gov. Hochul is upholding the state’s strong climate mandate and getting us running on clean, renewable solar and wind energy despite huge corporate expenditures fighting it. New York is already on target to be powered with 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind. Hochul must keep up her good work by picking as many viable offshore wind farms as possible in the next round of bidding. New York City and Long Island need it to replace fracked gas. The Beacon and Empire 2 projects will connect at sites of major fossil fuel pollution, making it healthier to breathe in these disadvantaged neighborhoods. Karen C. Higgins

Port Washington, L.I.: Voicer Lynne Henderson voices a common concern: How will the grid support renewable energy? The issue is not the gas transition itself, but the increase in electric use that will ensue. We can rest assured that upgrading and expanding the grid infrastructure is a key aspect of both federal and state climate laws. Here in New York, Gov. Hochul is presiding over massive electric infrastructure projects across the state. Why did spring start in January this year? Heat-trapping methane gas has daffodils pushing up and trees budding. It is way too late to delay halting the use of heat-trapping methane gas. Wind turbines are starting to rise in the Atlantic to bring clean power to the city. Hochul must choose the maximum number of offshore wind projects in the next solicitation to stop climate pollution and the disruptions it causes. Star Anthony