Newsday letters to the editor for Monday, Feb. 19, 2018

A suspicion of political bias at FBI

For more than a year, we’ve read and heard a steady stream of Russian collusion tidbits that keeps the “Trump in bed with Russians” story going [“Dem memo cleared,” News, Feb. 6].

So far, not one story shows that President Donald Trump himself colluded with the Russians.

I’m retired from the NYPD, but when I was active, I prided myself on looking at the facts in proving guilt. I never rushed to a judgment.

I believe that if we are ever allowed to see that application for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, it will show very bad behavior by the upper ranks of the Justice Department and the FBI — bias.

When you look at the anti-Trump texts from FBI agent Peter Strzok, who later worked with special counsel Robert Mueller and was dismissed, there’s a bias.

The FBI is a great agency, but I believe in the last 15 years, it has become politicized. In my job, you couldn’t be biased or you would be thrown off an investigation.

John Gelormino, Hicksville

Eating-disorders home needed on LI

I commend the Newsday editorial board for its support of a proposed eating-disorder facility [“In Glen Cove, a place to heal,” Editorial, Feb. 6].

I was taken aback by the anger and hostility of residents at a Feb. 7 meeting at City Hall. I’m an older adult who has been in recovery for many years from an eating disorder, and I advocate for people to get qualified help.

Adults with eating disorders in Nassau County have no residential resources and, when needed, have to leave Long Island to get treatment. This means leaving their children, significant others and friends behind, which is a tremendous burden on all and adds to the stress of getting well, let alone financial sacrifices.

Having loved ones close by makes a world of difference. Being connected with family and friends is part of the treatment. Look at all the facts. Take a look at residential facilities across the country, and you will see that having this in the community would not be a burden.

Irene Schlagman, East Meadow

Thumb-thing wrong with what we think

When I read “One for the thumb,” about baseball player Todd Frazier’s 2017 thumbs-down rallying cry [Sports, Feb. 8], it reminded me of the observation that if something is said repeatedly, it is believed to be true.

This is evidenced in what is now associated with the thumbs-up signal, compliments of the misconception propagated by Hollywood, following the erroneous belief of someone who did not know his ancient history.

In ancient Rome, when the emperor gave the thumbs-up signal to the winning gladiator, it meant, “Slit his throat,” according to scholar Anthony Corbeill.

Conversely, when the emperor gave a thumbs-down, it meant, “Bury your sword, and let your opponent live.”

L. John Friia, Northport

How far will Israel venture into Syria?

For years, Israel has been a proxy supporter of factions aimed at destabilizing Syrian President Bashar Assad [“Israel strikes in Syria,” News, Feb. 11].

It is groups including Hezbollah in Syria that Israel has identified as the enemies. We can expect Israel to launch further attacks in Syria, which, along with Iran and Lebanon, is a home to refugees who fled Palestine after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The bitter fate of a country once as beautiful and multilayered as Syria has been sealed by the destabilizing effect of Israel’s dominating and incendiary presence in the region and the radicalization of stateless Palestinian refugees who have found sympathetic hosts in Syria.

The question now is, how far is Israel prepared to go into Syria? This global confrontation looms on the horizon.

Harry Katz,Southold

Get Port Authority money for the LIRR

When the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to declare the Pulaski Skyway a Lincoln Tunnel access road so it could use bi-state funds for its reconstruction, it was a theft of those funds by New Jersey [“Trump plan won’t rebuild America,” Editorial, Feb. 13].

When the Port Authority was created, its rules permitted it to finance access-road projects that lead to the agency’s facilities.

Now is the time to recoup those funds. We simply need the resolve to have roads such as the Long Island Expressway declared access roads to the very same Lincoln Tunnel, or the Long Island Rail Road as an access line to trans-Hudson railway tubes.

Problem solved.

Leonard Cohen, Wantagh