Letters: Foul decision on air quality

President Barack Obama has caved in to big polluters ["Obama drops smog rule after GOP pressure," News, Sept. 3]. After all the years of clean air legislation, we are moving backwards.

Doesn't the president know that more people, not fewer, are suffering from asthma and other lung and respiratory diseases? Aren't we trying to reduce the cost of health care?

How can you speak of one without thought to what the consequences will be to everyone's health if we step backwards on environmental control?

Janet Lehmbeck-Morgan, Valley Stream
 

President Obama is taking a Republican wrong position on the environment. If he does not update smog standards, he will not get my vote in the next Democratic primary, as I am sure there will be another person opposing him.

I am 82 years old, and all of a sudden, I am having all kinds of breathing problems. But, I am mainly concerned about my young grandchildren.

Robert E. Tolimieri, Seaford
 

Why did President Obama back away from a recommendation to update smog standards? Studies have shown that raising the standards would save thousands of people with asthma and other lung ailments.

I'm concerned that the president is slowly backing off from the proposals he ran for in the last election. He should stop trying to make everyone happy, especially the Republicans in Congress, and do what is right!

Although it would cost some industries money to upgrade, it would also create jobs making clean-air products. I urge all my fellow Long Islanders to contact the president, the EPA and our congressional leaders to support the recommended clean-air initiatives.

Nick VanAtter, Centereach