Rising sea levels, DWI sentences, special-needs children, CD3 election flyers

Coastlines must survive climate shift

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico described the challenges facing shoreline communities on both sides of the Great South Bay as they grapple with climate change and rising sea levels “Taking a harder look at shoreline living,” Opinion, Jan. 30].

He articulated the need for solutions such as buyouts of flood-prone properties and returning selected wetland areas to their natural function to mitigate coastal flooding and property damage.

We should also recognize the critically important protective function of the chain of barrier islands (Coney, Long Beach, Jones, Fire and Westhampton) that lie between the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island. Without these islands, consequences for Long Island residents, their homes, businesses and services, would be dire.

Fire Island is one of the barrier beaches that protect South Shore communities from severe flooding and devastating damage. In just the past two months, the island has withstood three major storms that washed away beaches, damaged infrastructure and caused historic flooding from both bay and ocean.

Businesses, property owners and emergency services across the South Shore should understand the importance of strong dune and berm systems to mitigate the power of such events.

Fire Island communities tax themselves to pay the local share of beach restoration and maintenance. We are proud that our financial contribution helps keep these systems intact as a protective buffer for the mainland. We are also eager to join the regional partnership suggested by Panico to explore innovative approaches that will ensure that mainland and barrier coastlines continue to thrive in an era of climate change.

— Suzy Goldhirsch, Brightwaters

The writer is president of the Fire Island Association.

Sentences in fatal DWIs should be stiff

A man pleaded guilty to driving drunk and crashing his car into the back of another car, killing a 9-year-old boy in a booster seat “Plea deal in 2022 DWI crash that killed boy,” Long Island, Feb. 12]. The man also had ingested pot before driving at speeds up to 119 mph, and his driver’s license had been revoked at the time of the crash.

So, he pleads guilty and faces a sentence of 4 1⁄2 to 13 1⁄2 years in prison.

When are our politicians going to pass laws that provide enough of a deterrent that someone may think twice about driving drunk? If someone causes a death or a major injury while driving drunk, the perpetrator should be sentenced to at least 25 years. This won’t eliminate the problem, but it could save some lives.

— Rich Levens, Lynbrook

Use Nassau funds to help kids in need

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says New York State needs to shoulder more of the costs to provide our children with the aid that they need to overcome developmental issues they were born with [“Pre-K therapies ‘crisis,’ ” News, Feb. 11].

Yet Blakeman said at a business breakfast in January that the state should stay out of Nassau County’s affairs [“Blakeman, Hochul get heated,” News, Jan. 6].

Well, sir, you can’t have it both ways.

The county has failed to provide the necessary tools and funds to help prepare our children, and the county health department is in dire need of funds to rectify this situation.

Nassau County Legis. Siela Bynoe said some of the money from the American Rescue Plan Act should support the providers of these services.

The powers that be should rethink using some of the $10 million of federal money targeted for the county’s 125th anniversary party, putting the funds into the general fund. Use these funds to help our children.

These services are legally mandated. By not providing them, the government is only hurting the innocent and helpless children for whom these mandates were created to help.

Please — do the right thing.

— Thomas Melia, Oak Beach

I was inundated with Feb. 13 election ‘stuff’

As a voter in the 3rd Congressional District, I could not believe how inundated I became with “stuff” for the Feb. 13 special election “3rd District down to wire,” News, Feb. 13].

Every day I found three or four flyers in my mailbox as well as ads on my TV and computer and texts on my cellphone. And this is for an election in which the winner will serve less than a year.

The flyers — for both parties — went directly into my recycle bag, and the phone texts were immediately deleted. Thank goodness this finally stopped on Tuesday.

I had made up my mind already and voted early. I can only imagine what it is going to be like when the contests for the November general election kick off.

— Gary Aronowitz, Plainview