Letters: Nasssau leaders, find a compromise
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano. (March 15, 2012) Credit: Howard Schnapp
I am writing with the hope that my fellow Newsday readers can encourage compromise in Nassau County government on the issues of bond authority and funding of youth and drug programs, which have unfortunately been linked ["Tough balance of cuts, revenue," News, July 24].
Earlier this year, Democratic legislators refused to allow further bond authority unless certain unrelated redistricting issues were addressed, and Republican legislators promptly selected county drug treatment and youth programs for the chopping block, apparently because they were deemed "Democratic" concerns. As of July 5, drastic cuts in those programs have begun to be implemented.
I have been practicing family law for more than a decade, and I see a constant stream of families in crisis in Nassau County -- not just poor families but middle-class families, county employees' families -- dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, mental illness, separation and divorce. At any given moment there are thousands of such families in Nassau County in need of crisis intervention.
In the middle of these crises, I have watched the teens in these families, on their own, instinctively knowing they need help and finding their way to the various youth and counseling programs at issue. Because of these programs, most of these young people find their way and go on to become productive citizens. Without these programs, many would have troubled lives, and many would end up having their problems addressed at a much more expensive level by police, hospitals and courts.
Randall Malone, Great Neck
Nassau County is a financial train wreck. Nassau spends more than it takes in. In private industry, companies would lay off workers and cut other expenses, while looking for ways to grow the business.
Unlike when layoffs are announced for private industry, layoffs to state, county or municipal workers are met with union opposition saying it's an assault on the middle class. The fact that union members are not contributing to their health care costs is the real assault.
