Viral video reaction, Hochul standing up to Texas, Putin's Ukraine demands
In the Texas State Capitol in Austin, with empty chairs belonging to the 12 House Democrats remain empty Aug. 5 during a session convocation. The Democrats are protesting the 25 Republicans’ attempt to redistrict the state electoral map. Credit: AP/Rodolfo Gonzalez
Work together to keep others strong
The viral video capturing a first responder shouting and cursing as a 10-year-old girl was wheeled into an ambulance has raised concerns in the community about conduct and accountability [“Mom: Fire chief ‘failed’ daughter,” News, Aug. 7].
When members of the public call for help, they deserve to be treated with competent and dignified care. If there is ever a violation of this, the parties involved must be held accountable.
How the behavior of Peter Alt, chief of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, is addressed is one matter that will garner public attention. I hope we will also focus on how to ensure that first responders give the highest quality of care at each and every call.
Recognizing that first responders’ exposure to trauma, grief, and death increases their risk for burnout and compassion fatigue, we must ensure that the departments have tools, resources, and a culture to build resiliency in their personnel.
A shared belief in a collective responsibility for each other’s behavioral wellness, encouraging help in seeking and assuring that support is available. It can increase the likelihood that first responders are at their best on someone else’s worst day.
— Colleen Merlo, Ronkonkoma
The writer is CEO of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness.
The fire chief cursing and verbally abusing a child is symptomatic of a general decline in today’s standards and civility. Those who use profanity to express themselves in daily life show a lack of refinement, a lack of articulate expression, and a lack of basic decency.
— Howard E. Sayetta, Syosset
Hochul standing up to Texas GOP a must
I am proud of Gov. Kathy Hochul for boldly supporting Texas Democratic lawmakers to block the Texas Republican redistricting plan that was proposed to satisfy President Donald Trump [“NY needn’t take Texas’ low road,” Editorial, Aug. 5].
To see Hochul take a strong and principled stand against this scheme is the type of leadership we want to see in our elected officials.
Hochul has said that we can’t keep playing by old rules when the other side has torn up the rule book, but she is not calling for chaos. She has legal and constitutional tools available to her as governor to push back and protect our democracy.
This redistricting scheme is an attack on representative democracy. It will not only distort the voices of Texans but will impact New Yorkers — and all Americans — by moving Congress further from the will of the people. It will erode voters’ faith in our democratic process.
Texas Republicans have time to abandon this scheme, and the Texans I know want them to abandon it. Protecting democracy matters whether you call yourself a Texan or a New Yorker.
— Veronica Lurvey, Great Neck
There is something wrong in this country when the nation’s president publicly calls for unlawful adding five GOP Texas House seats in the 2026 general election — and the GOP state Legislature jumps to do it [“Calif. lawmakers stand with Texas Democrats,” Nation, Aug. 9].
We have laws for a reason, to keep society civilized and to protect us. This blatant cheating by the president and the GOP is a huge blow to what’s left of democracy.
All Americans, if they love this country, must oppose these undemocratic Republican moves with this in mind: to cheat, stack the deck, and win when it knows their policies are unpopular.
If this attempt at rigging indeed succeeds, can any future U.S. election ever be considered fair again?
— Michelle Urso, West Babylon
Don’t give in to Putin’s Ukraine demands
In 1938, German dictator Adolf Hitler demanded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia from Britain, France, and Italy. The Allies gave him what he wanted at the infamous Munich Conference, thinking that it would mean peace in our time. Emboldened, six months later, Hitler took over the rest of the country, and when he next invaded Poland in September 1939, that act is widely considered what started World War II.
Fast-forward to today, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, waging a brutal three-year war. President Donald Trump, rightly so, wants peace for Ukraine, but at what price? Putin apparently demands land in eastern Ukraine to stop the fighting [“Trump: I’ll meet Putin in Alaska to discuss Ukraine,” News, Aug. 11]. If we give in to his demands, we invite Putin to attack more countries, such as Poland.
A lasting peace can only come through strength. Trump must take a strong stand against Putin’s demands.
— Bob Howells, Levittown
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