Professor Jason Arday's death and more: Letters to the Editor -- Aug. 23, 2026

This “Letters to the Editor” column, dated Aug. 23, 2026, gathers multiple readers’ responses to recent news items. One letter questions whether people are still being vetted for work in an era of AI, referencing the death of Professor Jason Arday and arguing he needed mental help. Another criticizes an Upper East Side trash-can proposal and mocks the relevance of promised improvements. A writer reacts to a Central Synagogue attack, describing ongoing antisemitic conditions in New York City and challenging a common portrayal of perpetrators as mentally unwell. The column also includes a rebuttal to claims blaming animals for housing affordability, and comments on a lawsuit involving Meta, noting differences in how state attorneys general pursue cases versus private-sector litigation.