Free bicycle share program, Shake a Paw settlement, Bay Shore teacher sexual abuse, shrinkflation

Free bicycle share plan the wheel deal

It was so good learning about the upcoming “Bike Borrow Program” in Wyandanch [“Free wheelin’,” Our Towns, March 13]. To help and encourage people to get to destinations by riding a bicycle is a great plan.

The program leaders, business owner and nonprofits making this program possible are smart and generous.

I hope this program takes off, inspiring other municipalities to follow this example.

All the driving on Long Island has a negative impact on the quality of life. If this program reduces the number of cars on the roads and increases active transportation, the public’s health and Long Island’s environmental health will improve.

— Angela King-Horne, Oakdale

Consequences to vets, breeders?

Congratulations to state Attorney General Letitia James for securing a favorable result in the Shake A Paw case [“Shake A Paw settlement,” News, March 9]. Animal lovers like me are thrilled with the outcome.

However, what I found concerning was that the health certificates of the litany of sick animals were signed off by the company’s contracted veterinarians.

Clearly, the veterinarians demonstrated loyalty to the company rather than prioritizing the welfare of the sick animals.

This misplaced allegiance seems ethically corrupt. Are there legal consequences for them, given that no transaction could have taken place without their seal of approval?

The contracted veterinarians should have their licenses revoked to teach them a profound lesson. Such a measure would underscore the gravity of their actions and serve as a deterrent against future misconduct.

And why are there no consequences for the illicit breeders and brokers, given that their identities are known? It raises concerns about accountability and enforcement of regulations.

Why buy from these people? Numerous animals are available for adoption at the North Shore Animal League and other shelters, eagerly awaiting a forever home.

— Michael Scaturro, Garden City South

The writer is a volunteer at a cat rescue organization.

Teacher’s actions were an accident: Really?

The horrible actions of this trusted teacher, Thomas Bernagozzi, are appalling [“Teacher kept job despite sexual abuse allegations,” News, March 10]. It is difficult to imagine a time when so many adults were willing to ignore his heinous behavior.

What is just as shocking is the statement by the Bay Shore school district in January stating that two of the cases were “accidental or incidental” touching of the victims’ genitals.

Never, in the course of my teaching thousands of elementary school students for over 30 years, have I ever experienced any situation where such an “accident” would occur. For Bernagozzi and the school district to claim that is what happened is ludicrous and insulting to his victims.

— Tiffanie Kempf, Remsenburg

My heart was broken reading about that teacher abusing children for years. I am a leader in a state survivors network of those abused by priests. It seems Thomas Bernagozzi groomed the children for years, such as taking them on trips.

The most popular priest in my parish turned out to be a prolific abuser later defrocked by the pope. He was my favorite priest. He followed the same pattern as Bernagozzi, becoming popular and well-liked.

Who is protecting the children? Many who were abused go on to live a life of drug and alcohol abuse to deal with this nightmare. We must put the children first and protect them.

— Mary McKenna, North Bellmore

Shrinking sizes are nothing new to us

I am a retired pharmacist who has dealt with “shrinkflation” starting at least 15 years ago [“LI shoppers rail at ‘shrinkflation,’ ” News, March 11].

Drug manufacturers began reducing the size of their bottles of 100 tablets down to 90 tablets and kept the average wholesale price to us pharmacists the same.

Shrinkflation is not new to me. It’s just a new name for sticking it to the public.

— Henry Wretzel, Lake Grove

I was amazed that the average consumer just became aware of “shrinkflation.” It has been going on for a long time.

Big business is nickel-and-diming us, and we just roll over. The consumer has the power to boycott companies and products. Do we really need potato chips and Ring Dings to sustain life?

Aren’t we tired of being financially exploited by big business?

— Carman Buscemi, Uniondale