LETTERS: Gang violence, troops and ballots, cost of living

Public safety concerns magnify

I listened with disgust to the testimony of East Patchogue resident Catherine Donnelly at a meeting of the Suffolk Legislature's Public Safety Committee ["A fearful mom's plea," News, Oct. 10]. No citizen should have to refrain from playing with her children or enjoying a barbecue for fear of being shot.

Donnelly's frustration and anger are emblematic. As the influence of gangs grows, fueled by drug dealing, the lack of jobs, dysfunctional families and an inability on the part of our education system to captivate, motivate and inspire some young people, communities are truly at risk.

The legislature and others responsible for public safety need to work together to provide innovative, effective service with admittedly limited resources.

Tom Cilmi

Bay Shore

Editor's note: The writer is a Suffolk County legislator.

While I sympathize with this woman and her family, you can't blame Habitat for Humanity for the neighborhood. The responsibility for figuring out what the neighborhood is like lies with the homeowner.

Matthew A. Seifman

Baldwin

Ballot blunder reveals ignorance

So someone at the New York State Board of Elections forgot to send absentee ballots to our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. The board has now joined the rest of America in forgetting the 9-year war there and the war-weary soldiers facing bullets everyday.

Frances Harwood

Seaford

Tea party's appeal is at the grass roots

In response to last Saturday's editorial-page cartoon, why can't the mainstream media understand that the tea party thrives because it is not beholden to anyone? We are a grassroots organization decentralized in every state. Although there may be common themes - such as opposition to high taxes, large federal government, bailouts and out-of-control spending - each group has dedicated itself to local issues.

Barbara McAdam

Cutchogue

Social Security freeze isn't fair

I am furious that bureaucrats in Washington can say that because of low inflation, 58 million older Americans will have to make do with what they have again in 2011 ["Social Security in perspective,'' Editorial, Oct. 13].

Don't they know about our rising property taxes, or that New York reinstated sales taxes on clothing? Gasoline prices are once again creeping upward, heating oil costs are exploding, and there's an 8 percent increase in the cost of prescription drugs.

Now I'm mad as hell and will do my part to not take it anymore when I go to vote.

Michael Polansky

Plainview