May 2: Age divide, adopted kids, driving age, Brookhaven politics

May 2, 2008

Thanks for helicopter quiet

A great big "Thank you" to Sen. Charles Schumer for his successful efforts to reduce the noise from low-flying Hamptons-bound helicopters, which have been tormenting the Island for the past several years ["Hotlines to take off for rogue choppers," News, April 28].

I live under one of the popular flight paths and did notice this past weekend that they were flying at a much higher altitude, which did not cause windows to rattle as they have in the past. Again, thank you so much, on behalf of my family and my neighbors, for helping to solve this problem and restore some tranquility to our summer weekends.

Mary Leming Conner

Stony Brook

Age divide most apparent in '08

It's destructive and divisive to overemphasize race in this election when there are many other demographic forces at work .

Sen. Barack Obama continues to overwhelmingly win the vote of America's future - our young people. His overwhelming loss is in one category: among people 65 or older. I'm troubled that the press continues to focus on class and race when the generational divide is much more telling about this election and the direction of our country. That people under 40 are voting for a politics of unity and hope instead of a politics of fear, hate and divisiveness makes me optimistic that our future is in good hands, if only we will listen.

Sue Hornik

Bellport

Town arrogance

All Brookhaven residents who believe they voted Brian Foley as their town supervisor are mistaken. Timothy Mazzei and board members Keith Romaine and Jane Bonner have decided to strip the supervisor of authority. They are in the process of changing the town's structure, replacing mostly all of his selected commissioners who have for the past two years lifted the proficiency of services. Mazzei has reduced Foley to a town clerk with a gavel. The arrogance of Mazzei and his cronies to infringe on the public's choice of a supervisor is something all Democrats and Republicans should not permit, for if it is sanctioned without recourse, future elections will be simply motions and our votes meaningless.

Mario Cappello

Ridge

Editor's Note: The writer is president of Leisure Village Democratic Club.

Make driving a no-no till 18

The best way to keep teenagers off the road at lunchtime or any other time is to raise the driving age to 18 again ["Car safety lesson," Letters, April 20]. Has the state Department of Motor Vehicles taken a good look at the 16-year-olds they place behind the wheel of a potentially lethal weapon?

Lucy Fois

North Merrick

'Real' parenting is in the heart