To the Editor:
Re “Goodbye to the Way We Used to Shop,” by Sarah M. Seltzer (Sunday Review, Sept. 6):
One of the great ladies of retail is departing.
Five generations of my family have looked to Lord & Taylor as their mainstay, their “go to” store. My nana (receipts starting in 1905), mother and I shopped and lunched amid live parakeets and visited the real Santa there.
In the dressing room mirrors, I journeyed from young girl to old woman. I became the grandmother watching my daughters and granddaughters discover the delights of the store.
“Nanny, look at my shoes. The ones I got for prom.”
“Where did you get them?”
Somehow the answer didn’t surprise me.
Camilla Hanson
Orleans, Mass.
To the Editor:
Yes, a lovely reminiscence about Lord & Taylor, an eternal place of comfort and familiarity. This was a go-to place for my mom in the 1940s. She would grab my hand and say, “Come on, dear, we’re heading uptown to shop at L.&T.”
Of course, that event was usually followed by a short walk to the Oyster Bar, another childhood haunt that I visit each time I fly in from San Francisco.
I am surprised that Sarah M. Seltzer made no mention of the store’s stunning Christmas windows that were displayed each December. The lines along Fifth Avenue could be daunting, but it was always worth the wait. When L.&T.’s wintry scenes appeared, the holidays could officially begin.
Wallace Watson
Kentfield, Calif.
An Idea for Bloomberg About Florida
To the Editor:
Re “In Reversal, Appeals Court Deals Blow to Felons’ Voting Rights in Florida” (news article, Sept. 12) and “$100 Million by Bloomberg to Aid Biden in Florida” (news article, Sept. 14):
This past week brought excellent news and dreadful news for Democrats in the coming Florida elections. On the plus side was Michael Bloomberg’s commitment to spend $100 million to help Joe Biden. On the negative side was a federal appeals court decision rendering upward of 750,000 former felons unable to vote without first paying off their court fines and fees.
The most effective use of Mr. Bloomberg’s funds would be to pay all the outstanding fees and provide the individuals whatever additional assistance they need to become registered voters.
Marcia Kramer Mayer
Laurel Hollow, N.Y.
Holding the Police Accountable
To the Editor:
Re “For Police Reform, Defund the Politicians,” by Miriam Pawel (Sunday Review, Sept. 13):
Certainly, police officers who are fired for cause should not be rehired by other police departments. Preventing such hirings requires a national database of rogue officers to which all police departments are required to report.
But accountability requires additional measures.
First, independent citizen complaint review boards headed by a representative from the state’s attorney general’s office must be established. Most such boards are tainted by police unions and police brass.
Public service announcements should be used to alert the public that their reports of police misconduct will be fairly and thoroughly investigated. Sustained charges must be prosecuted by an independent prosecutor, not the local prosecutor who has close ties with the police.
Finally, incentives should be established for police conduct that promote recognized best practices, including use of the least amount of force during the course of police operations, the treatment of civilians with respect and dignity, and the reporting of police misconduct by other police officers.
Michael B. Greene
Montclair, N.J.
The writer is a senior fellow at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice.
To the Editor:
“When Algorithms Do the Grading,” by Meredith Broussard (Op-Ed, Sept. 9), left me near tears of rage and frustration.
The arrogance of the technocrats who increasingly dominate our lives is beyond toleration. The idea that algorithms can “predict” our abilities, ambitions, desires and accomplishments based on “teacher estimates” and past performance of other students and deliver “imaginary grades” is a concoction of pure intellectual irresponsibility.
We need to look the whole concept of artificial intelligence square in the face: After all, some human being has to formulate the algorithm. Who is he/she to tell me what my humanity consists of?
Jocelyn Deprez
Winter Park, Fla.
Trump’s Record on Hostages
To the Editor:
Re “President Trump, Don’t Leave My Brother Behind,” by Charlene Cakora (Op-Ed, Aug. 31):
My heart aches for Ms. Cakora. She says she voted for Donald Trump and wishes that the president had included her brother, Mark Frerichs, when he recently boasted of his success at bringing home hostages. How very sad.
Mr. Trump is a man who has no understanding of what truth is or even of what a promise is. He will promise anything to get elected, and has no remorse about lying to get what he wants.
My advice to Ms. Cakora: You have a real chance this November with an honest, compassionate man, Joe Biden. If he can’t help, he won’t lie to you. If he can help, he will.
Ruth Sussman
Amityville, N.Y.