Nassau border plans, faith voices lift hope up, more

Nassau border plans bad for pocketbook

In an apparent attempt to enhance his credentials for his likely run for governor, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman plans to increase electronic surveillance and put more police officers at the Nassau-Queens border [“Exec: Nassau boosting security on NYC border,” Long Island & NYC, Nov. 26].

What a terrific way to boost ticket sales at the border-hugging UBS Arena, especially this winter when several popular Latino acts have scheduled concerts. The Supreme Court has permitted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, with Blakeman’s endorsement, to stop anyone at any time based on their looks. So, will Latino concertgoers be happy to deal with inconveniences if ICE makes a mistake and detains people?

I hope already overtaxed Nassau residents don’t suffer the loss of too much tax revenue at UBS Arena and Belmont Park that will likely ensue from this political stunt.

 — Phyllis Lader, Blue Point

Bruce Blakeman’s plan to identify New Yorkers entering Nassau County is a big “no” for me. I have lived in Queens, just two miles from the border, for over 40 years. I have shopped and dined in nearby Nassau County for decades. If this plan goes through, Nassau will lose my tax money and local businesses there will lose any revenue they get from me and, I hope, other city residents. I am not going to be screened as if I am coming from another country.

 — Linda Silverman, Queens Village

Faith voices unite to lift up hope for all

In the past few weeks, I have attended several interfaith vigils on behalf of immigrants [“Spotlight on holidays at ICE protest,” Long Island & NYC, Nov.  24]. I have listened to rabbis, priests, ministers, pastors, and nuns speak from their hearts about love and compassion and the messages in the Bible about the foreigner and stranger.

I applaud Pope Leo XIV’s November statement, “We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts. There’s a system of justice.”

I acknowledge that we need to fix our broken immigration system. Yes, there are legal ways to do this. We are a country with a Constitution and laws that are not being followed because of a fake national crisis declared by President Donald Trump.

We have seen the horrifying images of mass deportation:

Children crying as their parents are dragged away.

Asylum seekers blindsided by ICE agents at courthouses.

Beloved community members suddenly gone without a trace.

People of all immigration statuses and even American citizens are targeted for the color of their skin and/or the languages they speak.

It is my hope that more faith and community leaders will add their voices to stop the immoral actions taken by this administration. Most of us are likely familiar with the saying that “all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

 — Barbara Kurek, East Islip

Silence about Trump’s mockery is harmful

No matter what side of the political spectrum we are on, I’m sure I am not alone in feeling not only appalled at the many disparaging and insulting remarks made by the president of the United States but by the lack of any real response by anyone or any one group to these insults.

To respond to any question he doesn’t like with comments like “Quiet, quiet piggy” or “Are you stupid?” or referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as “retarded” should be shocking to all of us. Not to mention the recent derogatory remarks about the Somalis [“Trump says he doesn’t want Somalis in U.S.,” Nation, Dec. 3].

What would our response be if a child’s teacher or a local politician made such insulting references? More important, how do we justify to our children that this type of behavior, be it bullying or personal insults to others, is hurtful and wrong — yet they see and hear this country’s president behaving this way time and time again?

The silence about this is not only deafening but allows a warped level of acceptance.

— Steve Pampinella, Holbrook

Aid-in-dying bill would help the helpless

Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states and the District of Columbia [“Aid-in-dying heads bills for Hochul to sign,” News, Dec. 2]. The MAID legislation is a compassionate and humane option that permits people with terminal illnesses to choose to end their lives in a legal manner should they be experiencing unbearable suffering resulting in markedly diminished quality of life.

MAID has some powerful opponents whose arguments about “slippery slopes” and abuse of patients are fallacious.

With the states’ total experience of nearly 30 years with MAID in the United States, there have been no documented cases of abuse because the laws provide more than adequate safeguards to prevent abuse of terminally ill people.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, for the sake of the numerous, terminally ill New Yorkers who are suffering despite all medical and palliative interventions, should sign this legislation immediately.

— Dr. Yale Rosen, Jericho