GOP senators on Brown, community fridges, more
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets up at the conclusion of her confirmation before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. Credit: AP
GOP panel tough on Brown? Of course
The media is making it sound as if Republicans are being too hard on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson at her Senate confirmation hearings [“Sentencing scrutinized,” News, March 24].
Little was said about the nearly 20 hours of tough questioning by 22 members of the Judiciary Committee experienced by Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Democrats were especially hard on Barrett, who acted calm throughout the hearings.
Tough questioning is expected when you are being considered to sit on the Supreme Court.
Rosemary D’Antoni, Sayville
Planned cuts at VA hospital appalling
I am appalled at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to discontinue services at the Northport VA Hospital [“LI vets pan plan to slash VA services,” News, March 24].
As a daughter of a veteran and relative to quite a few other veterans who have served and are currently serving and protecting our country, I cannot process this disrespect. Yet we wave our flags on the Fourth of July and cheer our veterans when convenient or when it serves a political agenda.
Our beloved veterans do not ask for much when they return home, yet they need care. How about we put as much effort and financing into saving the VA hospital as we do for strangers in foreign countries. How about a Go Fund Me page or, better yet, a telethon with rock stars and/or the Hollywood “elite.”
Donna Skjeveland, Holbrook
Cut back number of LI superintendents
The March 24 cover headline “LI’s average school tax hike: 1.9%” suggests that the LI school tax is acceptable [News, March 24]. It is not. I believe it is driving families away from Long Island.
We can have quality public education and lower the school tax rate by simply reducing the number of Long Island school districts to one per each town and major locale. Say, five for Nassau County and 10 for Suffolk County.
Think of the savings by reducing the number of high-paid superintendents by nearly 90%. Each superintendent position would come with a well-paid staff. The system needs to, and can, become more efficient without reducing the quality of education.
Jose Femenia, Oakdale
Third Track progress misses the track
Just when recalcitrant Long Island government officials finally find a way to work together and put the Long Island Rail Road Third Track closer to completion, the pandemic has changed things [“LIRR Third Track is finally on track,” Opinion, March 23]. The central business districts that the Third Track project was supposed to serve may be in the last gasp of an old industrial age. The problem is that it’s possible that not enough people want to work in those business districts anymore. It’s time for the city and its suburbs to reinvent themselves once again.
Laura Schultz, Syosset
Why are women swimming upstream?
Intolerance? Let me tell you about intolerance [“Transgender swimmer stokes controversy,” Opinion, March 24]. Women are being cheated out of competition. A biological male does not deserve to compete against females.
Where are the feminists? Why are they so quiet? Why aren’t they outraged? This is an infringement on women’s sports, and should not be tolerated.
Lance Moeller, Massapequa
Community fridges, gardens help many
The community fridge is a recent trend spreading across the country [“Church hosts community fridge,” Our Towns, March 21].
The urgency to feed Long Island residents indeed has intensified during the pandemic as have increased demand for food donations and food banks.
Access to refrigerated, perishable items alongside pantries helps contribute to nutrition security, and we hope to see food sites that distribute quality foods multiply. Creating more community gardens will provide much needed nourishment as consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs increases.
Creating Healthy Schools and Communities is a five-year public health initiative that implements a comprehensive, equitable, community-based participatory approach to increasing access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.
We look forward to working with the community fridges and other food venues serving the community.
Karyn Kirschbaum, Wheatley Heights
The writer is a community wellness coordinator for the Student Support Services Center at Western Suffolk BOCES.
