LIRR, trans swimmer, retiring as a teacher, and assault rifles 

LIRR’s moves ignore elderly and disabled

I am amazed at the arrogance of Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Rail Road officials [“Changes for LIRR B’klyn-bound riders,” News, June 19].

After $11.2 billion dollars were spent on this project, the commuters from Long Island to Atlantic Terminal are left to suffer for the benefit of the many.

The LIRR is cutting daily rail service from Long Island to Atlantic Terminal from 20 to four trains. To justify this change, the LIRR chief service planning officer says that it will affect only 2% of the 60,000 daily commuters. The 2% figure doesn’t account for these riders spending $2 million to $3 million a year in LIRR revenue.

The one minute that is allowed to switch platforms disregards the elderly and commuters with disabilities. Consider that rail car toilets were redesigned to accommodate handicapped commuters under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and stations had to be made easily accessible for these individuals.

Maybe it’s time to outsource the whole system and get fresh thinkers whose performance is always under review.

 — Adolfo Nappi, Massapequa

We objected to the heavy-handed, bureaucratic approach the LIRR took to East Side Access. It proposed eliminating valuable parking without addressing issues that plague the Port Washington commuter.

The editorial board is correct that the public’s attitude toward new development and officials’ lack of foresight hamper growth and progress for our region [“Cautionary tale about saying no,” Editorial, June 17].

However, commuters and town officials prevented a poorly managed agency from needlessly taking away a limited public resource. Commuters are open to alternatives and welcome dialogue with the LIRR for increased service and improving station quality.

We now know that we don’t need as much parking due to remote work. There is a lack of safe pedestrian crossings, cracking foundations in overpasses, poor drainage, and limited station services (e.g., restrooms, food, bike parking). The plan addressed none of these issues.

NIMBY is a convenient excuse but simply not one based in fact. The lack of adequate express service to Grand Central Terminal is unrelated. There is a single track between Port Washington and Great Neck.

It’s unfortunate that the editorial board lays blame on the residents and town officials while a poorly run agency continues to mistreat its customers.

 — Matthew Alevy, Port Washington

The writer organized in 2015 a group of commuters that has expanded to 546 members.

Trans swimmer ban helps level things

Finally, it appears that common sense, science and sanity are returning to women’s sports [“Transgender women barred,” Sports, June 20].

FINA’s new “gender inclusion policy” bans biologically male athletes from competing as women in international swimming meets, if their transitioning began after puberty. It seems to bring back fairness for biological women.

The decision was not made on a spur of the moment; FINA consulted with both the medical and legal professions, as well as athletes themselves.

The decision recognizes that once a male reaches puberty, tremendous physiological and biological differences give the trans athlete a distinct advantage.

FINA’s working to develop an “open” category for competition defuses the argument that this decision is discriminatory, harmful and unscientific. If anything, permitting trans athletes to compete against biological women was discriminatory against those women. Especially considering Title IX, which women fought so hard for 50 years ago, FINA’s decision is the start of getting back to a level playing field.

 — Gary Aronowitz, Plainview

Retiring as a teacher just became easier

As a teacher soon to enter my 25th year and wanting to leave the classroom in June 2023, I read with interest the feature on retirement [“Retirement: Is it time?” act2, June 19].

The words of Phyllis Diamond, a licensed clinical social worker, resonated with me. She said, “Part of the benefit of work is to feel valued . . . so you want to leave when your self-esteem is at its height.”

I just completed one of the most challenging years of my career.

I dealt with entitled students; an administration siding with the students, not the teachers; and a lack of connections with my students. All are helping to make my decision easy. Let’s stay positive.

 — Monica Klein, Deer Park

No armor vests, but assault rifles are OK

What does it say about a state where you’re prevented from buying certain bullet-resistant vests, but pistols and assault rifles can be easily purchased [“Vest in Buffalo shooting not banned in NY,” News, June 21]?

Is that the indicator that someone’s a criminal? That they’re buying body armor?

Someone had to really go out of their way to come up with this law, to avoid dealing with gun regulations.

 — Robert Shepard, Lynbrook