Hard part is sorting Nassau lab errors

Well, it's about time.

After years of deficiencies and months of mounting evidence, Nassau County officials finally shut down what threatened to become one of the most notorious drug testing labs in America.

But that's the easy part.

Now, prosecutors, defense attorneys and competent forensic scientists must go back and catalog whatever terrible injustices might have already been done.

The dark possibilities are too difficult to ignore, and the questions are disturbing: Are people sitting in prison on false positives from the Nassau police lab? Are kids doing felony time on what should have been misdemeanors? The truth is, nobody knows how many victims this incompetence may have created. But the numbers might be large and the price high. And the officials responsible must be held accountable. But here's an idea for the Nassau County justice system: Let's use honest evidence against them. We'll even give them a fair day in court.

VALENTINE'S EXCUSES

1. It's a made-up Hallmark holiday.

2. Those V-Day restaurant specials are mostly ripoffs.

3. You have any idea how oppressed diamond miners are?

4. Candy causes cavities.

5. St. Valentine's background remains highly mysterious.

ASKED AND UNANSWERED:

How about we all agree we'll hang up immediately the next time some warm-weather relative calls and says: "Well, it's 80 degrees down here"? Just shut up, will you? . . . How tough a bacterium must MRSA be to pin Nick Mauriello? How tough a wrestler must Nick be to pull himself up from the mat? . . . Was Nassau cop Mike Califano, hit by a truck during a traffic stop on the Long Island Expressway, really as great a guy as everyone is saying now? Yes, apparently he was . . . Will other faiths try to one-up the Catholics' iPhone Confession app? If so, with what? A Zen app ("the sound of one hand clapping digitally") or a holy-city app ("GPS to Mecca") . . . Suffolk prosecutors say convicted Ponzi schemer Steven Diaz spent $48,000 on Christmas lights and decorations for his Mount Sinai house. Holiday spirit, or tacky criminal excess?

HELP FOR OTHERS: She wants the job? She'd better show up for the interview looking sharp and professional. That's the concept behind the Junior League of Long Island's First Step Program - and it's a proven success. You donate gently worn (or new) women's suits, dresses, shoes, briefcases and accessories. The professional attire gives a needed boost to local women transitioning back into the workforce. You clear your closet. She gets the job. Drop stuff off at the JLLI Thrift Shop, 1395 Old Northern Blvd. in Roslyn.

LONG ISLANDER OF THE WEEK: Brian Rosenberg

Even back in his Ballenger's days at the Garden City Hotel, Brian Rosenberg was convinced, especially after his assistant's niece was hit and killed by a drunken driver, that bar owners and restaurateurs ought to be part of the DWI solution.

These days, Brian owns Sugar Dining Den and Social Club in Carle Place and is working to build RADD, Restaurants Against Drunk Driving. He just had a major tough-times breakthrough: "We're teaming up with the Long Island chapter of the Restaurant Association. That includes their members, their expertise, their lobbyist, all their resources. We're going to raise some money together."

Watch out for new designated-driver programs, maybe even Breathalyzers behind the bar. And new voices repeating some important old words: "Don't be greedy and serve people when they've had too much to drink."
E-mail ellis@henican.com

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