Letters: LI economy needs repair

Now that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced his Long Island Regional Economic Council ["Teamwork can bring jobs to LI," Editorial, Aug. 1], it is time that they start planning for Long Island's future. The federal and state governments are in fiscal turmoil. There needs to be some creative thinking. One idea that has been talked about are public-private partnerships.

Long Island has a population of nearly 3 million. Its infrastructure is failing, construction jobs are at record lows. One way to address both these issues is for the new economic council to consider a public-private partnership regional infrastructure bank for Long Island.

Sen. Chuck Fuschillo (R-Merrick) has introduced legislation to permit such partnerships. Long Island's building trades pension funds would be the perfect partner for state and local governments in creating a regional infrastructure bank to handle the island's infrastructure needs.

One thing is certain, we cannot continue to do business as usual. The time for action is now -- before we get any deeper into a hole.

Marty Glennon, Great Neck

Editor's note: The writer is a partner with the Long Island labor law firm, Archer, Byington, Glennon & Levine.
 

Regarding "Suffolk gets sensible on sewer fund" [Editorial, Aug. 2], in March 2010, as founder of Concerned Citizens for Sewers, I testified before the Suffolk County Legislature Public Works Committee about the desperate need for sewers in areas relatively easy to hook up due to their proximity to the Southwest Sewer District. I stated that, in addition to capital improvement fund money, we need to look into the use of quarter-cent sales tax monies to put pipe in the street in North Babylon, Deer Park, West Babylon and Wyandanch residential areas.

Rather than using the sewer reserve fund to balance the budget, our elected officials should cut spending and use the quarter-cent sales tax monies to put pipe in the street.

Ninety-four entities outside the Southwest Sewer District have been hooked up or approved for hookup while homeowners wait. Septic systems are backing up into toilets and bathtubs, and hardworking blue-collar residents cannot afford to pump cesspools four or five times a year. Nitrates are poisoning the rivers and bays. We need sewers now.

William "Matt" Groh, North Babylon

Editor's note: The writer is a candidate for Babylon Town Council.