I disagree with just about everything Jeff Robbins writes (except his support of Israel), but I want to thank him for a wonderful column on Charlie the Golden, Head of Social Support.  It’s refreshing that the entire political spectrum shares a common love of dogs.  Thanks, Jeff

Brian Miller
Boston

I have been following the news concerning the redistricting map created by nine city councilors and was not at all surprised that when this case made it into federal court, it would be shot down (“Judge tosses redistricting map,” Boston Herald, May 9). While the nine councilors who proposed and supported the gerrymandered map stated it did not violate the Voting Right Act, it clearly appeared to me to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

As US District Court Judge Patti Saris ruled the proposed map likely was unconstitutional and has been thrown out. A new map must be drawn by the Boston City Council that doesn’t use race as a reason to gerrymander districts. District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker stated correctly, “Gerrymandering is gerrymandering whether in pursuit of progressive or conservative goals.. The court saw that an unfair map would deprive the residents of District 3 and the citizens of Boston of their time-honored role and stature.”

Everything is now back in the council’s court and time is of the essence as nomination papers are already out there for this fall’s city council elections. The time is now for all 13 members to return to the table and create a new redistricting map that passes constitutional muster. Stop playing politics and consider the rights of all Bostonians first. Political agendas and name-calling do not serve the citizens of Boston well. Just do your job.

Sal Giarratani

East Boston

While making fentanyl test kits available to drug users is admirable, why doesn’t Sen. Markey do something really bold and attack the source of the problem?  U.S. officials have identified two Mexican drug cartels as the main transporters of the drug into this country.  Mexican authorities are apparently unable to stop them.  As a result, the United States has suffered over 70,000 overdose deaths annually.

Because the senator is such a first-level thinker, he naturally gravitates toward a photo op and a statement about “making all the tools available to understand current trends in the opioid epidemic…and provide people the care they need.”  The only way to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths is to attack the source of distribution of the drug.  The U.S. has substantial military resources.  We should coordinate with Mexican officials and destroy the fentanyl traffickers.  If we could train a team to go in and eliminate Osama Bin-Laden, we should be able to take care of the cartels.

Sean F. Flaherty

Charlestown