LETTERS: Pros, cons to privatization, stop on red, and more

There are pros, cons to privatization

There are pros and cons to privatization . The pro is the supposed efficiency of the free market. The con is that price becomes what the traffic will bear - with profits for stockholders a necessary consideration.

Public utilities and services cannot raise their rates without external review and scrutiny. A bus line cannot be eliminated simply because a chief executive deems it is not cost effective. While nothing is perfect, a public utility can, at least, be held accountable for service and rates.

There are also environmental issues. Recall the converting of New York City taxis to hybrids. While significantly reducing pollution, as well as being more cost effective in the long term, this measure was opposed by taxi drivers who saw only a narrow horizon of immediate profit.

Public services such as transportation don't simply provide a service for a fee.

James Peters

Hicksville

Here's an idea:

Let's all stop on red

I have a wonderful idea to solve any problems with the red-light cameras "Red-light hazards?" Letters, Sept. 30]. Prepare to stop at yellow lights unless you are really close to the corner and when the light turns red, STOP.

If everybody obeys these simple rules, which I do believe are already in existence, there will be no accidents and no one will get a ticket.

Marsha Elowsky

Plainview

Reaching out to

parents of bullies

The writer of "School bus ripe with potential for bullying" gives fine suggestions for schools, bus drivers and parents of children who may be bullied.

What about the parents of the children doing the bullying? Don't these parents realize that the moral, civic and religious values and the insight, compassion, dignity and self-respect they were role-modeling are not getting through to their children?

Chris Welch

Wantagh

Election-year concern for Bethpage site?

Is it a coincidence that six weeks before Election Day lawmakers are calling for an aggressive cleanup for the toxins at the former Grumman site in Bethpage using a dedicated fund ?

I have lived in Bethpage for 44 years and have heard the same declaration every decade. When our community park was closed, a cleanup was supposedly done. It is now reopened and we are told of a discovery of an additional, even more dangerous, plume of contamination.

Elected officials like their names in print, especially this time of year. Who suffers? The residents of Bethpage, who pay their taxes and their bills for contaminated water, in fear of their health and their home values decreasing.

We don't need another investigation and another 30 years without answers. We need action now.

Maia Gaiti

Bethpage