Junk Justice

I know many people in our community who thought that Nicholas &#8220Fat Nick” Minucci got a raw deal by our judicial system when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In my opinion, this young man (unlike William Z. Scott who had a violent rap sheet since 1995) should have been given a lighter sentence coupled with community service once he was released from prison.
How could a convicted criminal (for assault and robbery, etc.) and known racist against &#8220whites” like Scott be allowed by our judicial system to be free to roam our streets and murder Carmine Randazzo?
Are we talking about the same judicial system that wasted no time to put Minucci behind bars simply because he used a racial epithet during an altercation with someone he believed was about to commit a robbery?
Something is wrong with this picture.
If our judicial system had concentrated their efforts in keeping a known racist and violent criminal like Scott behind bars for a very long time, perhaps Randazzo would still be alive today.
This could have been one of our parents.
Ciro Di Donna
Whitestone

Queens GOP Faces Extinction
I had a great laugh reading your September 28 editorial page cartoon concerning the November Elections and our local Queens County Republicans.
Once again, the Queens Republicans have abandoned the field in providing voters with any alternatives to the Queens Democratic Party Machine monopoly.
There are no GOP candidates on the ballot for four out of six Congressional races. Democratic Congressmember Gary Ackerman (5th), Gregory Meeks (6th), Anthony Weiner (9th) and Carolyn Maloney (14th) have a free ride to another two-year term.
There are no GOP candidates on the ballot for four out of seven State Senate races. Democratic State Senators George Onorato (12th), John Sabini (13th), Malcolm Smith (14th) and Toby Stavisky (16th) also have a free pass to another two-year term.
There are no GOP candidates on the ballot for 13 out of 18 State Assembly races. Democratic State Assemblymembers Mark Weprin (24th); Ann-Margaret Carrozza (26th), Nettie Mayersohn (27th), William Scarborough (29th), Margaret Markey (30th), Michele Titus (31st), Vivian Cook (32nd); Barbara Clark (33rd); Ivan Lafayette (34th); Jeffrion Aubry (35th), Michael Gianaris (36th), Catherine Nolan (37th) and Jose Peralta (39th) can all be declared winners now.
Both GOP State Senators Frank Padavan and Serf Maltese continue to honor their unofficial nonaggression pack with Queens County Democrats. It is common knowledge for years that the Queens GOP takes a dive in virtually all other electoral contests. In exchange, Democrats seldom run any well-funded candidate against either Padavan or Maltese election after election.
In Queens, winning the September Democratic Party primary is a sure bet in November. Queens Republicans are on the way to political extinction like the dinosaurs!
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Putting A Smile Where It Belongs
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every year more than 5 million people become victims of domestic violence in the United States alone. Of those abused, seventy-five percent receive battering to the head and face area. Once a victim makes the transition into survivor internally, they often need financial help to heal on the outside.
Helping people in need and giving back to the community is why the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) developed its Charitable Foundation's Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program in 1999. GBAS helps restore the smiles and lives of domestic abuse survivors at no cost.
One GBAS patient recalls visiting her daughter after her smile was restored. &#8220At the end of the weekend she (daughter) said she had not seen me smile or laugh so much in her whole life.”
To date, the GBAS program has more than 900 AACD volunteer dentists, dental laboratories and other dental professionals donating their time and expertise, over 450 domestic abuse cases have been treated for a total dollar value of $3.5 million and there are currently 360 applicants being treated through the U.S.
Domestic Violence survivors who have suffered dental injuries from abuse can call the Give Back A Smile national toll-free number, 800-773-GBAS (4227) or visit www.givebackasmile.com
If you are a survivor of domestic violence, Give Back A Smile may be able to help. Please contact us today.
Dr. K. Scott Danoff
AACD Member and Give Back A Smile volunteer