Letters: Public pensions under scrutiny

Regarding "6-figure public pensions" [News, Oct. 24], it's time to reel in expenditures. We don't have the money, and past administrations gave away the store because they weren't going to be around for the next term to answer for it. Do workers deserve a pension? Absolutely. I'm not here to bash the hard and dangerous work our uniformed services perform, but let's be realistic.

Suffolk Police Benevolent Association president Jeff Frayler says his members earned their pensions. Yes, but he also said they dedicated their lives to the job. Serving the public for 20 years is hardly dedicating your life. The days of pensions after 20 or 25 years may be numbered. If you retire in your 40s, you could live to your 80s. The system in place cannot handle that, and we'll be broke.

I'm not saying the uniformed services have to work until they're 60, but we need some creative thinking that won't hurt the uniformed services or the taxpayers, some of whom don't have jobs.

Michael Appice, Westbury
 

Thank you, Newsday, for promoting class warfare. The middle class against the middle class. I just hope some of your readers managed to make it past the headlines to Page A4, where you inform them that the average civilian worker's pension is $29,300.

William Christiansen, Woodmere