LETTERS: Good development, marathon and more

This development isn't a bad example

A recent article spoke of Long Island Pine Barrens Society executive director Dick Amper's concern for Brookhaven's high density rezoning. I too feel that there's too often a high price paid by communities to satisfy a developer's big profit dreams.

There were two projects cited as "bad," and to my surprise one of them was the proposed 65-acre Vineyards at Blue Point. Our residential community, surrounding this site, was able to press for most of Amper's suggestions. We started with a nearly derelict movie theater, a proposal for over 400 units with 50 percent open to any age, no public land, a sewage plant and clearing 22 acres of forest. We were able to negotiate 280 senior units, a tax increase to our schools, half of the site preserved as town open space with two miles of trails, all sewage to Patchogue's renovated plant and much more.

There are many bad examples of high density rezoning, but the Vineyards at Blue Point isn't one.

Ed Silsbe

Blue Point

Editor's note: The writer is an architect and member of the Tuthills Creek Alliance.

Postpone marathon for a cooler day

When marathon runners are required to run with the heat index at 85 degrees, casualities are bound to occur ["This marathon ran hot," News, May 3]. Dehydration and heat exhaustion affected many runners. I find this situation totally inhumane.

Athletic events should be enjoyable to participate in and to observe. The Long Island Marathon was the very opposite of enjoyable because of the casualties incurred. This event should have been postponed until the weather was right for these individuals to run.

Leonore Brooks

Whitestone

Companies losing their survival skills

How can someone trust our economy if it keeps getting manipulated by the government ? Our taxpayer money has no business going into the hands of corporations and banks that made poor business choices. When a business isn't doing well, it makes changes - cutbacks, layoffs, etc. It adapts to survive. It will do this on its own if there is no interference. It will correct its mistakes, or fail.

An animal in the wild, like a business free from government intervention, uses its instincts to survive. When captured by a zoo that will shelter it, feed it and pamper it, the animal loses its survival instincts and becomes dependent on the zoo for the rest of its life. It cannot be put back into the wild.

The same thing is going to happen with corporations that the government keeps bailing out. I just hope they can remember their instincts when they are set free.

William John Anderson Jr.

Rocky Point