LETTERS: State budget cuts, abortion debate and more
Cut giveaways
to businesses
Before we cut school aid in midyear, as Gov. David A. Paterson proposes, let us stop giveaways by state, county and town government leaders in long-term property tax abatements, sales-tax eliminations and other perks ["Guv: Give me power to cut spending," News, Nov. 25].
Instead, have the State Legislature propose a five-year moratorium on giveaways to business and ask businesses to be creative and innovative with their finances.
They certainly aren't doing that now, even after getting tax breaks, in terms of creating and maintaining jobs.
Elected officials need to focus on the right choices in their policy-making decisions by opening up government to issues about finances that are far too often left under the radar screen.
Peter Quinn
West IslipSeniors need
Legal Aid help
In these dire economic times, the most vulnerable of our citizens are being targeted by the Suffolk County Legislature, which is withdrawing funds from the Legal Aid Society's senior citizens division ["Legal Aid loses funding for seniors," News, Nov. 24].
The poor and the elderly have accessed these services for many years, being given access to attorneys with experience in elder law. The program and funding have been turned over to Touro Law School. Seniors will have to seek advice from less qualified law students.
Helping to balance the budget on the backs of seniors is a non-starter. Do the right thing: Restore the funding to the Legal Aid Society senior citizens division.
Shirley Beja
West IslipEditor's note: The writer is secretary of the Gray Panthers, Suffolk County chapter.
Kennedy shouldn't
be taking Communion
As a practicing Roman Catholic, I am in full support of Bishop Thomas Tobin's asking Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) not to take Communion because of Kennedy's support of abortion rights ["Communion flap reveals 'gray' areas," News, Nov. 24]. More bishops in this country should be following his example.
At a young age we are taught as Catholics, "thou shall not kill," one of the Ten Commandments. As our religious education expands, we are given detailed examples of why killing is wrong by the readings in the Holy Gospel.
A few Catholics who hold high political office feel they can cherry-pick the teachings, morals and ethics that do not meet their agenda and still call themselves "good Catholics." They should get in line with the practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church and the readings of the Holy Gospel, and vote on bills that are favorable to their religion and the church.
Sean P. Kelly
FarmingdaleTV can be a medium
for great learning
It is not outrageous that preschoolers are watching television in day care ["Too much TV at day care?" News, Nov. 24]. TV is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. In fact, watching TV can be beneficial for preschoolers.
One of the benefits is exposure to language. Television exposes young children to spoken language that is richer and more varied than that which their day care providers alone could offer. Television also introduces preschoolers to a world beyond the confines of their home or day care center.
"Captain Kangaroo," "The Mickey Mouse Club," "The Ed Sullivan Show" and many, many other TV shows enriched my childhood.
"Sesame Street," "Mr. Rogers," "Fraggle Rock" and countless others enriched the childhoods of my daughter, nieces and nephews. Watching TV together gave us shared experiences and sparked new topics to talk and read about.
I would never want to see preschoolers spending the bulk of their time sitting in front of a television set. And I do not like to see them eating in front of the TV.
But there are many hours in a day and television has a place as one part of a varied diet of indoor and outdoor activities. Perhaps research and regulations should focus more on what those preschoolers are doing when they are not watching TV.
Heidi Reichel
HuntingtonEditor's note: The writer is an educational consultant.
The real reason
to rush to grandma's
In light of the disastrous health care bill about to be forced upon the American public, your front-page headline on Nov. 24 should not have read "Go See Grandma (It's Good for the Economy)" but "Go See Grandma Before It's Too Late."
Camille DelSavio
Bayville
The Huntington vote on council districts
If the measure introducing councilmanic districts in Huntington passes next month, we will be unable to accomplish what we have in the past. I fear that certain areas will be casualties because of the designated commitments that the council members will have. Access to one representative versus four is not an improvement.
It seems a shame to change a logical and fair representation of our community to one with less representation. My only conclusion is that there is some political motivation.
I realize that this vote comes at a most inconvenient time of the year, but I urge everyone to consider this matter and to vote to maintain our current system of equal representation.
Christine G. Ballow
Eatons Neck
Editor's note: The writer is a board member of Property Owners of Eaton's Neck.
