Trumps wicked smart Dr. Oz pick and more: Letters to the Editor Nov. 24, 2024

Wizard of healthPresident-elect Donald Trump nominated Dr.Mehmet Oz to serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator (“Dr.

Oz will head up Medicare, Medicaid,” Nov.20).America is facing a health-care crisis, and there may be no physician more qualified and capable than Oz to make America healthy again.

He is an eminent physician, heart surgeon, inventor and world-class communicator who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades.Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.Overtime overkillWhen I was a precinct commander, every month I received two overtime print-outs (“NYPD’S top pay $400K — at desk,” Nov.17).One report listed anyone who was or was soon to be retirement eligible, who earned over 20 hours of overtime for the previous month.

You had to do an “exception report” explaining how the overtime was earned and what steps you were taking to curtail it.The other overtime report listed the top 200 overtime earners, and if anyone under your command was on that list, you had to do an analysis of how the it was earned (usually via arrests) and how you were going to lower those hours.Often, this meant taking your proactive officers off patrol and putting them in admin positions.That was over 20 years ago.Is anyone minding the store anymore?Thomas Mullen, YonkersHollywood hateKudos on the powerful story about Justine Bateman (“ ‘Family Ties’ star Justine Bateman getting guff over Trump victory ‘relief,’ ” Nov.

17).Her willingness to speak out is a rare act of courage.In a world where expressing any opinion outside the “permitted positions” is met with mob mentality, Bateman’s defiance is both refreshing and necessary.Her battle cry exposes the chilling reality of our time, and coverage of it amplifies her brave stand against a suffocating culture of silence.Greg Rickabaugh, Fort Mill, SC‘The Empty State’New York is headed for massive shrinkage — thanks to its repellant progressive agenda (“T...