Glen Cove ferry funds, pet health care
The Glen Cove Ferry terminal was built to serve the Garvies Point development as well as the surrounding community. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Ferry funds should be returned
Failure to initiate new ferry service will require the City of Glen Cove to pay back the Federal Highway Administration for $16.6 million in grant funding [“Ferry plan shelved; funds could be clawed back,” Long Island, July 15]. These dollars were approved in 2003 for construction of a new ferry terminal to support service from Glen Cove to Manhattan’s financial district.
Ferry service was to begin before the end of 2023. This date came and went. It should have taken several years to complete construction of a terminal. Service should have started years ago. Based on the agreement between Glen Cove and the FHA, Washington has no choice but to ask for its money back if the investment does not go into transit service. The federal Office of Inspector General should monitor the FHA to insure it enforces this stipulation.
— Larry Penner, Great Neck
The writer is retired from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.
Check alternatives for pet health care
The article “Paying premium, for pets” [LI Business, July 14] highlights how inflation has affected the veterinary industry, making it increasingly challenging for pet owners to meet their pets’ health care needs. While providing valuable insights into pet health insurance, it does not give equal weight to possible downsides of purchasing such policies.
Several drawbacks of pet insurance deserve more attention such as escalating premiums as pets age, high deductibles, and potential difficulties in claim payments. These suggest that the economics of pet insurance may not always favor pet owners.
It’s worth exploring alternatives like dedicated pet health savings accounts for pet health care expenses, veterinary discount plans (ask your veterinarian), and membership-based veterinary services offering regular care for a set fee. These alternatives may offer a more cost-effective approach to managing pet health care expenses.
— Michael Scaturro, Garden City South
The writer is a volunteer in a cat rescue organization.
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