Letter: Cracking down on bars over-serving

Each time the topic of a bartender's role in preventing drunken driving is raised, I find myself in conflict ["Crackdown on bars over DWI," News, May 24].

We have all heard terms like happy drunk, angry drunk, fall-down drunk and more. It is clear that different individuals behave differently under the influence of alcohol. How can a bartender know, except in extreme cases of inebriation, that a customer is sufficiently intoxicated to compromise his or her judgment or reaction time?

How many drinks has the customer had? Did he drink at a different location before entering a particular bar? Many inebriated individuals are capable of pleasant banter at the bar. Unless the bartender is required to administer and interpret a field sobriety test, it is unrealistic to expect a server to make such determinations with surety.

Having acknowledged that, we might then take the position to err on the side of caution and refuse service when intoxication is suspected. Perhaps we need to give bartenders the tools to make such determinations if we are going to require servers to make them. Individual rights must be considered along with the greater good.

Stan Feinberg, Plainview

Editor's note: The writer is a retired alcoholism and substance abuse counselor.

Sterling to benefit from Clippers sale

It now appears that Donald Sterling's "reward" for his offensive remarks might very well result in a billion-dollar price tag from the potentially mandated sale of the Los Angeles Clippers ["Wife to sell team," News, May 24].

Let's hope that much of his windfall profits are designated for donations to worthwhile charitable organizations.

Bob Buscavage, Moriches

Plenty of Walmarts in Patchogue area

As a Patchogue resident, I'm writing to express my concern that a Walmart store almost as big as two football fields is proposed for Hospital Road in East Patchogue ["Concern over Walmart," News, May 20].

Walmart faces various charges of trade and labor violations. While that behavior is reason enough not to allow this employer in our community, Brookhaven and East Patchogue do not need another Walmart. There are five Walmart stores within 15 miles of this site.

The environmental and community effects of this project would be devastating. Hundreds of trees would be torn down, and East Patchogue is ill-equipped to deal with the traffic.

Proponents argue that the project would revitalize East Patchogue's downtown. It would do just the opposite. Walmart would be in direct competition with the small businesses that are the heart and soul of this town. What East Patchogue needs is economic assistance to stimulate local businesses, not a corporation to take their customers away.

Ed Adams, Patchogue

Endorsement choices won't ease corruption

Please do not be naive. By disbanding the Moreland Commission to get his budget passed, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has conclusively demonstrated that he has no desire to fight corruption ["A step Cuomo, Astorino can take to fix NY politics," Editorial, May 23]. The commission was investigating Albany ethics.

I know nothing about Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, but given the track record of Albany Republicans, I suspect he is little different from his cohorts. Second party, third party, nth party endorsements have nothing to do with it. Our New York political establishment is a corrupt ethical joke.

History reminds us of the good old days of Tammany Hall, Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago, and my personal hero, Gov. Huey Long of Louisiana. Corrupt to the core, they returned to their constituents goods and services that otherwise would not have been available. They at least had some sense of obligation to those they did indeed serve. This is far beyond anything that the current political establishment of self-serving hacks can understand.

Until and unless some wealthy individual is willing to fund a campaign outside of the existing establishment, we are but lemmings in the process.

Richard M. Frauenglass, Huntington

Erase No. 7 line graffiti eyesores

I am glad that someone in authority is finally taking on the graffiti eyesores of New York City and Long Island ["Bratton to crack down on LIE graffiti," News, May 22]. But the Long Island Expressway is not the only area with graffiti.

I strongly recommend the police commissioner drive over the landmark Manhattan Bridge and take the No. 7 subway train to Flushing. That graffiti is really out of control.

Linda Hall, Freeport

VA problems and Obamacare issues

The brave veterans have health care coverage and various benefits, but of course much of that is not properly administered, and we all read about the unforgettable consequences ["Vets scandal is a disgrace," Editorial, May 26].

This failed health care program is a small example of what Obamacare will be. Perhaps this Veterans Affairs debacle is a godsend if it alerts us to potential problems after all.

John Herman, North Babylon