Stop deriding doctors on LI
The Empire Center's website, empirecenter.org, features the "What They Make 2026: Long Island" report. Credit: Empire Center
Stop shaming doctors who have chosen to stay on this affluent island and share their talent [“$1M-plus pay at LI nonprofits,” News, Oct. 25].
I, for one, am happy that the facilities are willing to search for and compensate doctors and surgeons with these specialty skills. It is one of the main reasons I am not moving off Long Island upon retirement. The excellent healthcare here is expensive but absolutely a great choice.
I owe my life to the expertise of one of the surgeons on your list, Dr. David Rivadeneira. Without him, my life would be very different or even over at this point. Highlight all the terrific work they are doing saving and protecting the quality of people’s lives.
— Karen Dennis, Smithtown
Regardless of the Internal Revenue Service designation, doctors, nurses and teachers should be the highest-paid occupations while athletes, actors and politicians placed at the lower end of the scale. Three of the doctors on the list are responsible for saving and keeping my wife and me alive today. No words or amount of money could thank them enough. The grueling hours they work, the complete loss of never being totally “off” their jobs and the weight of their responsibilities, make me wonder how they can get any sleep at night.
For the IRS to include country clubs in the same “nonprofit” category as hospitals, would make Noah Webster roll over in his grave.
— Howie Weinick, Woodmere
The chief of police in Northport’s salary is $485,632 [“LIers lead way in pay among state’s government workers,” News, Oct. 23]. How does this happen? Who approved this outrageous salary?
I truly believe people should be paid for their level of responsibility and commensurate with their experience. But seriously, almost a half million dollars? Doesn’t the governor make $250,000?
I think we Northport residents are being taken for a very expensive ride.
— Judith Hanson, Northport
Politics aside, should any public employee make more than the president or governor of their state?
— Charles Greco, Eastport
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