The black community seems outraged with the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. Zimmerman was acquitted of murder when jurors agreed that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, a young unarmed black teenager. Let’s go back to the O.J. Simpson trial ... here ,despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt, Simpson was acquitted of the premeditated murders of his former wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman by a sympathetic black jury. After the verdict , there were news reels of black people rejoicing in the streets across America. And, although the majority of the white populace thought Simpson had gotten away with murder,there were no marches and very little protest. After the verdict in the Zimmerman case, blacks are marching all over America, saying the verdict was unjust. Let us ask ourselves, which verdict was more unjust?
 Giulio Meneo
New Haven

Regarding Dr. Steven Wolfson’s thoughtful New Haven Register "Forum" item Sunday, July 21, I was much interested as a longtime healthcare provider.
The heading “All people have stories - health care providers should learn them” reminds me of a cherished University of Massachusetts professor’s maxim “Older people are our history books. We should read them well.”
We are all part of the human connection; establishing trust, assuring confidentiality and acknowledging one another as valuable contributors as the sure/enduring structure is made. Dr. Wolfson’s shared perspective reinforces this so well.
I always enjoy reading the New Haven Register on my summer holiday.
Cynthia Duryee
Boston, Massachusetts

I am writing you in support of the proposed ban on the sale of puppy mill dogs in the town of Branford. As the co-chairman of the Legislators for Animal Advocacy caucus in the Connecticut General Assembly, I applaud the efforts of those who are supporting this initiative. This is something we took a big step toward to doing this past session when we voted to undertake a study on this issue because there is a problem finding homes for some of the most innocent and sweetest dogs you would ever want to see due to the many dogs languishing in shelters around the state. I also believe this would benefit pet shop owners who would then have a plethora of dogs they could sell, all coming from the shelters, which would be a win-win situation.
In the end, if we continue to turn our heads to this problem, the only ones who will suffer will be the ones who truly have no voice and are without fault ... the dogs. It also becomes a strain on municipal budgets when animal control and law enforcement officials have to deal with homeless dogs and the problems that creates.
Thanks for your time and consideration on this important issue. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and or would like more information.
Fred Camillo
Greenwich
State Representative - 151st District

I read with interest the full page ad in Wednesday, July 24, paper about seniors getting easy to use cell phones for “free.” There is nothing free in this ad. All cell phone companies are required to allow all emergency calls to 911 no matter what plan you have. The $97 start up fee is a tip-off also.
All senior citizens and people with disabilities are eligible for free phones and 250 minutes of service per month - with no start-up fee. The only requirement is you must be on the food stamp program SNAP or any other number of government programs.
Two companies I know of is Safelink and Assurance. All one has to do is call 211 and ask about these wonderful programs.
Charles R. Hopkins
New Haven

On June 16, the New Haven Register published a special section titled “The Most Influential People in Connecticut History” a piece I found to be most fascinating and informative; thank you!
The piece raised two questions for me which I would like to comment on. First, I was curious as to why former Gov. Abraham Ribicoff was omitted, a person who was not only influential in our state, but certainly on the national stage as well. His encounter at the Chicago National Democratic Convention made glaring headlines. He served as senator and cabinet member as well.
In addition, in reading through the backgrounds of the individuals, I picked up on an error in the write-up of Paul Newman. The article sites his role in some of his more famous movies, one of which was “Some Like it Hot” with Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. However, he was not in the movie; the other actor who played opposite Curtis and Monroe was Jack Lemmon, not Newman.
Nick Maiorino
Orange

An Open Letter To Mr. William Farrell:
If you truly had been motivated by a desire to rescue and restore the Thomas Sanford/ David Bristol House, at 111-113 North Street, Milford, Connecticut, when you’d purchased it this past January, as you’d recently claimed before the Milford Historic District Commission, then I respectfully implore you to honor your original intentions, and not demolish this unique historic home.
As an owner and restorer of two 18th century homes, each likewise suffering from damage and varying degrees of deferred maintenance, I fully understand how daunting and resource-intensive this process can be. But you’re certainly not alone in this, and there are many of us in the local preservation community who’d be more than willing to listen, and even assist where possible, if you’d only reach out to us.
On the other hand, if you’re unable or unwilling to restore the home, then I request you still remain true to your intentions by seeking out a new owner for the Sanford/Bristol House who’s indeed willing to pursue this path. Once again, there are many of us who could assist you in this process. And, if that seems unacceptable to you, then at the very least, consider an alternative to outright demolition, such as possibly donating the home to a nonprofit willing to relocate it elsewhere. There’s no doubt that finding an alternative to demolition takes time and determination, but a good many others have accomplished this before.
As the great William Morris once observed: “These old buildings do not belong to us only…they have belonged to our forefathers and they will belong to our descendants, unless we play them false. They are not in any sense our property, to do as we like with. We are only trustees for those that come after us”. More than anything else, I want my personal legacy to someday reflect that I’d been a worthy trustee of my built heritage. And I’m quite sure you want precisely the same for yourself, as well.
John Poole
Architectural Historian
Derby-Ansonia

Another pro-Democratic New Haven Register editorial. Is there any other? Thank God for the two-party system and a Constitution in place. When things don't go his way, Harry Reid wants to change the rules, in this case, the filibuster. If the Register and the Democratics would have their way, that would change.
The "nuclear option" changing the rules governing filibusters would give the minority party even less of a voice in the Senate. It takes 60 votes to end a filibuster, but Reid wants to change this to a simple majority in order to push through his liberal agenda more quickly. The filibuster, part of the democratic process, is in place to keep the majority from simply enacting everything it wants, making the Senate a more deliberating chamber.
The tiring pro-liberal editorials that the Register keeps spewing out gives pause to reflect - is this newspaper really worth the paper it's printed on?
Patricia Driscoll
Branford

The Connecticut shoreline is filled with wonderful resources, views, foods and culture. One spectacular feature are the dramatic productions of the Clinton Park and Rec playhouse under the direction of Mr John Lampe. His most recent production was the musical version of “Young Frankenstein.” The production was a joy with ordinary folks singing and acting as good as what you’d see at Long Wharf Theatre or the Yale Dramat.
I have seen several of Lampe’s works in Clinton and he is a theatre wizard. If you want to see personal transformations of people like you and me. Please go to see ANY production directed my Mr. Lampe. He’s gifted ... so are the players.
James Monahan
Madison

I went to the pharmacy the other day to get three prescription eye drops that I needed to use prior to a complicated eye surgery. These bottles are no bigger than the end of your index finger. Just one of them was $178. I wondered at the time why it was so expensive.
Well, I’ve found out the answer and it’s pure corporate greed. This would not be a revelation if this were just one corporation but the level of complicity within the entire industry is staggering.
What we have here is basically a conglomerate monopoly and here’s how it works: brand-name drug companies are paying off generic drug companies to not make or delay making specific drugs thereby eliminating the competition that could bring down the cost 85 to 90 percent. For example, brand name Plavix costs about $205 for a 30-day supply but generic costs about $13. This practice is called “pay for delay” and costs us $3.5 billion in higher drug costs annually. Drug companies spend more on lobbying than any other industry and what they count on is that most people don’t know what they’re up to or simply don’t know what to do about it.
Here’s what we can do about it: Call or write your state Senator and Representative and urge them to draft legislation that will put an end to this practice which although not quite illegal is simply wrong. You can also contact the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (CONNPIRG) at 198 Park Rd., 2nd fl., West Hartford, Connecticut 06119, 860-233-7554.
Matthew J. Schons
New Haven

Cute and catchy but highly inaccurate. Such is the slogan, “Jesus is my Prozac,” at St. Paul’s UAME bulletin board on Dwight Street.
New Haven is blessed (as the pastor would say) with Yale-New Haven Hospital’s psychiatric facilities on both the York Streeet and Street Raphael’s campuses. The Elm City is also fortunate to be home-base for the Connecticut Mental Health Center at 34 Park St.
Indeed, the scriptures were meant to alloy mental illness ... not to induce it. There is, however, no substitute for the first-rate psychiatric care - insured or not - in this city.
We are “doubly blessed” in that CMHC is a teaching adjunct to Yale Medical School and the Department of Psychiatry. To wit: clergy is clergy - medical professsionals are precisely that: professionals in mental health care issues.
Francis P. Shannon
New Haven