Dear editor,
It was disappointing to read that the Bronx Times Reporter espouses identity politics and race-based appointments in regard to Dermot Shea’s ascendancy to the position of Police Commissioner. No longer do we look for the best and brightest – now it’s necessary to have a person who “looks like us.” What does that even mean?
Whom is he supposed to look like – black, Latino, Dominican, Albanian, Greek – or any of the other hundreds of ethnic immigrant groups in this city.
Should the population of every precinct reflect the exact demographics of the precincts? That would be virtually impossible, but I am sure some people would think it’s a great idea. As a matter of fact, Dermot Shea isn’t from the county in Ireland where my ancestors came from. Should I be miffed?
We celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King every year for his profound words – that people be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. I often wonder when we decided to discard that message.
Marion M. Cronin
