While attending a luncheon with mourners at the Century Club, Andy Rooney’s lifelong friend Bob Ruthman suffered a heart attack, triggering a sense of helplessness and urgency in the room. The panic subsided when we saw how quickly the emergency rescue crews responded.
It was amazing to witness their professionalism and sense of duty. Their decisive action prevented the day from becoming a double tragedy.
As a lifelong Bostonian, a natural rivalry exists with New Yorkers. We may debate which of our sports teams is better, but we cannot question the incredible skill and dedication of our men and women who spend their lives saving others in both great cities.
George K. Regan, Chairman, Regan Communications Group, Boston
No pox on SIGA
“Just Another Bam Scandal” (Editorial, Dec. 6) wrongly suggests that SIGA’s smallpox antiviral drug contract is improper.
Stockpiling an easily stored and distributed and self-administered treatment like SIGA’s ST-246 is important for our national defense.
SIGA’s drug passed rigorous safety and efficacy tests, which no other drug can, and was not purchased through a “no-bid” contract. Career procurement officials using prescribed procedures openly solicited industry solutions, and only SIGA met the mandatory criteria.
SIGA’s profit in relation to production and years of development costs does not cary a 180% markup — indeed, senior procurement officials deemed the price “fair and reasonable” as regulations required.
At no time did Ronald Perelman, Andy Stern or any other SIGA representative ask any official to intervene in the procurement.
Eric A. Rose, CEO, SIGA Technologies, Manhattan
Resurrecting Newt
Peggy Noonan is wrong — it isn’t that we live in crazy times that makes it possible for Newt Gingrich to win the nomination, but rather that people are looking for somebody to lead them (“The Newt Thing,” PostScript, Dec. 4).
As a Christian nation, America loves redemption and comeback stories. F. Scott Fitzgerald was wrong — there are second acts in American lives. Hence, the return of Gingrich.
Gary Schwartz, Fort Lee, NJ
Why gangs rise
With violent crime against women on the rise in minority communities, what does a girl have to do these days to be safe (“Rise of the Girl Gangs,” PostScript, Brad Hamilton, Dec. 4)? Apparently, join a gang.
Crime is on the rise because there is little self-policing from cradle to grave. The fear that creates the atmosphere of crime has turned the victim into the predator.
And where are all the men?
Theodore Miraldi, The Bronx
OWS job fair
Wayne Kaufman hired Tracy Postert out of the OWS mob (Occupier Gets an Occupation,” Dec. 5).
While her hiring is a feel-good story, Kaufman made a mistake. Any girl who would hold up ideological signs like “Reagan sucks” and “I’ll vote after the revolution” is an enemy of capitalism.
She may be smart and studious, but her values are askew for someone entering Wall Street.
Why would she enter a place she wants to undermine?
David Lawrence, Manhattan