Newsday letters to the editor for Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018

Huntington right to adopt term limits

Kudos to newly elected Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci and the entire town board for voting for term limits, a measure sponsored by Councilman Gene Cook [“Board approves term limits,” News, Jan. 25].

Elected officials in every jurisdiction at the local, state and federal levels should be allowed no more than 12 years total.

Many of the Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, argued for term limits instead of having officials make long careers out of their privileged positions with unlimited re-elections.

There are many examples of elected officials staying in their positions for more than 40 years, which in some cases breeds complacency, abuse and corruption.

It’s high time that we return our government that was designed to be “Of the people, by the people, and for the people” back to the people.

Leo Farrell, St. James

Oyster Bay is cutting costs

The article “$734G in pay hikes” [News, Jan. 29] failed to mention that the Town of Oyster Bay is saving nearly $4 million from the reduction of 42 employees this year alone. Similar reductions and efficiencies allowed us to cut property taxes by $1.3 million this year.

We are also reorganizing the responsibilities of our employees.

The public has demanded greater efficiency from every level of government, and that’s exactly what we’re providing. We’re doing more with less, ensuring women receive equal pay for equal work, cutting taxes and reducing labor costs for this and future generations.

Joseph Saladino,Massapequa

Editor’s note: The writer is Oyster Bay Town supervisor.

Sears mural is well worth saving

The historical Long Island map in the Hicksville Sears store aptly depicts aspects of our history and some of our famous men [“Post-Sears ideas for beloved mural,” News, Jan. 26].

In the 1930s and early ’40s, Works Progress Administration muralists interpreted local history in roughly 50 murals they painted in post offices, schools and other public buildings from Floral Park to Westhampton Beach. Almost all of these New Deal murals have survived.

Eight were moved from their original locations when threatened. The murals are usually painted on canvas, and an expert could carefully remove the Sears mural from the wall.

Its large size does present challenges in finding a new site. Moreover, funds would be needed for the costs of removal, relocation and conservation.

I hope the Sears mural can be saved so future generations can learn from and enjoy its depiction of Long Island history.

Natalie A. Naylor, Uniondale

Editor’s note: The writer is a professor emerita of Hofstra University and president of the Nassau County Historical Society.

Retirees need help to cut federal taxes, too

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is taking a proactive stance for New Yorkers by proposing a law that would change state income taxes for working New Yorkers into a payroll tax [“Bill to protect taxpayers OKd,” News, Jan. 24].

If the idea passes, and helps people pay less in federal taxes, then great for New York’s working people!

However, what about retirees? I’m a retiree and depend on a yearly withdrawal from my 401(k) account. I haven’t heard talk about how we retirees can reduce our taxes under the 2018 tax laws.

Also to be noted is the fact that a lot of retirees were leaving New York State even before the new tax law. With the new law, the outflow will probably increase.

Tom Wingenfeld, Lynbrook

Don’t call these cowards alphas

I take some exception to the description of sexual harassers as alpha males [“New Yorkers pay for sins of alpha males,” Letters, Jan. 25].

Alphas are supposed to be protectors, defenders and role models, not creeps and felons. They should, of course, be made to pay for their offenses out of their own pockets, not the government’s, and their offenses also should be made public, as should the names of the people who enable them.

These men aren’t alphas; they’re cowards. I can’t begin to imagine the pain, humiliation and powerlessness that women (and men) feel as victims of sexual predators. But I share their outrage, as I believe most right-thinking men do. Even us alphas.

Stan Bratskeir, Sands Point

President in danger of a heart attack?

Presidential physician Ronny Jackson claims that President Donald Trump is in excellent cardiac health [“First presidential physical,” News, Jan. 13]. This despite little exercise and a diet of junk food.

Trump is overweight and has an LDL (bad cholesterol) level of 143, well above the desired level of 100 or less.

Some cardiologists say that such a high LDL puts a patient in danger of a heart attack. Is Jackson practicing Voodoo medicine? Trump should get a second opinion.

Jack Ostrager, Bellmore