Pointing fingers for being in the red, questions linger after Valva trial

Pointing fingers for being in the red

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but I voted. Blue New York flipped several congressional districts to Republicans, particularly on Long Island, perhaps losing the House as a result ["LI's homegrown red wave," Editorial, Nov. 10]. I blame two Democrats for this result. Both have huge campaign funds and ran against minor Republican candidates who had little chance of winning. Chuck Schumer and Letitia James hoarded their money and wasted some of their campaign funds on vainglorious ads. If they had shared some of their funds with congressional candidates on Long Island and the state, perhaps Democrats would have won some of these races.

— Bob Fredericks, Shelter Island Heights

The results of the free and fair election are tallied ["Control of congress could shift after vote," News, Nov. 9]. Not all true Republicans won. Election deniers, or the "Party of Trump," won some government leadership positions. As it should be in a democracy, this is what the people want. However, election deniers in government leadership positions are a threat to democracy. It could be a warning of more truth-bending conspiracies in the future.

People view good and evil differently. Honor and disgrace are subjective. Nevertheless, an independent, peaceful society of the many must not be oppressed by the divisive words of the few. History proves that dignity and devotion to civility matter for a society to flourish in peace. This election wasn’t a full victory for the Trump party. Maybe there is hope for decency.

— Pete Scott, Centerport

I am proud of most of my fellow Long Islanders for voting Republican. Our Long Island Republican coalition will start a “red trickle” that will hopefully turn into a red wave. My wonderful Republican Party of Jefferson, Lincoln,Teddy Roosevelt and Reagan has been co-opted by the right-wing fanatics. The Republican Party blew a chance for significant victories nationwide. Can our Long Island Republican coalition lead the nation toward peace, prosperity, fairness and respect for all?

— Alan Cohn, Nesconset

This was my small act of rebellion: I did not vote for any of the cross-endorsed judges. It is an insult to both my intelligence and to American democracy to have these “candidates” on a ballot. “Choose six” and there are six choices; “choose three,” three choices. Only totalitarian governments hold these sorts of so-called elections. If you want my considered vote, give me something to consider.

— Barbara Graziano, Riverhead

Questions linger after Valva trial

Thank goodness! The jury got the verdict correct, and Michael Valva got what he deserved [“Jury finds Valva guilty of murdering son,” News, Nov. 5].

The questions remain, though — why did Thomas Valva fall through the cracks of a system that is supposed to protect him? According to school officials, Child Protective Services had been called numerous times. Not one CPS worker thought to remove Thomas from the inferno he was living in and place him in foster care? This monster of a dad had no one else to turn to? Where was his family? Cousins? His brothers in blue?

Why didn’t he and his sons go to a shelter, where the boys would have slept on cots, had access to the bathroom and received three square meals a day?

Above all, why wasn’t the biological mother granted custody at the onset? If she had been, Thomas would have been a thriving 10-year-old today. Too many people made the wrong decisions, and the system needs to be drastically revised and improved so this never happens again.

 — Chris Viola-Weiss, Oceanside

As we question the efficacy of our democracy and electoral process this voting season, the Valva trial and ensuing verdict are cause for optimism.

A defense attorney who admitted his client’s abusiveness and negligence while pleading in earnest for a conviction on a lesser crime. A prosecution team that, in clinical fashion, offered compelling evidence of a far more serious offense. A judge who comprehensively charged a jury, providing them with all the information they requested while making clear the legal restrictions placed on his disclosures.

A jury, after an initial split, deliberated without animus and came to a unanimous decision because they, in their own words, “wanted to get it right” [“Jurors in Valva trial were split initially,” News, Nov. 7]. After the trial, when some jurors were questioned about the verdict, they expressed concern for the care and well-being of the surviving brothers.

During these tumultuous times, the performance of all the parties in this case could well be defined as “our finest hour.”

 — Ed Weinert, Melville  

The jurors deserve a sincere, tremendous amount of gratitude for delivering swift, righteous justice. It is beyond my ability to ponder how a “parent” could subject an innocent little boy to such horrific torture and abuse.

I am a huge supporter of the police, and I do believe they are entitled to special consideration in some instances. However, anytime Michael Valva was confronted, I imagine he’d pull out his shield and say something like, “I’m on the job, and my wife is crazy.”

I take solace in knowing that his life is going to be horrific moving forward the moment he enters prison.  

— Terry McPherson, Bellmore

The jury got it right. No child should have to endure what happened at the hands of his father. Now, Thomas Valva can rest in peace.

 — Kathleen Teleglow, Holbrook  

We have read how Thomas and Anthony Valva were horribly mistreated by Michael Valva and Angela Pollina. At Michael Valva’s trial, teachers, the school principal and a school psychologist said they filed multiple reports to Child Protective Services. Why did caseworkers seem to ignore these reports?

If we are to avoid similar horrific situations, CPS should be investigated to get to the bottom of its failure to act.

 — Linda Feil, Long Beach

Another sad reality in this case is that Michael Valva will have better living conditions in prison than his sons Thomas and Anthony had in their own home.

 — Vincent Stephan, Sayville

The writer is a retired homicide detective in the Suffolk County Police Department.