Letter: Tax break, layoffs at related companies

In May, Nestlé Waters, the largest bottled-water company in the country, won a 10-year extension of a tax abatement for its distribution facility in Syosset from the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency [“More tax aid for Nestle,” Business, May 23]. Nestlé said it would add 15 jobs to its employment commitment of 101 workers there.

This week, we learned that a related company, Nestlé USA, said in a state filing that it will close a frozen pizza and ice cream distribution facility in Farmingdale and lay off 39 employees [“Nestlé USA layoffs,” News, Aug. 27].

So one division gets a tax break for promising increased employment of local residents, while a related division is laying off workers?

This is wrong and must be brought to the attention of all officials who watch our public funds.

Arthur Adelman,

  Sea Cliff

Scammed widow getting no help

I am concerned about scams against senior citizens [“Stopping senior scams,” News, Aug. 22]. You can create commissions, form groups, host community meetings, develop presentations and issue all the warnings on social media you like, but in my experience, politicians and law enforcement are doing very little to help victims.

About two years ago, I was contacted by a senior citizen, a 9/11 widow who was defrauded out of $18,035 in a timeshare scam. She asked for help, and I contacted local police, New York State officials, members of Congress, federal and private agencies.

I sent them documents, names, numbers and addresses of all involved. I received responses to my letters telling me they would look into this scam and get back to me. I am still waiting to hear from them.

Kevin McCabe,

  Bethpage

Add countdown clocks to red lights

It amazes me that $250,000 was paid to a consultant to determine whether to continue Suffolk County’s red-light camera program [“Red-light greenlight?,” News, Aug. 27].

I believe countdown displays should be installed at all intersections with cameras in both Suffolk and Nassau counties. While they would reduce the revenue produced for the counties, they likely would reduce the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities. Shouldn’t that be the priority?

Robert Biancardi,

  Rockville Centre

Stony Brook U’s program a big plus

I was surprised that your article about senior citizens attending classes did not mention one of the largest programs on Long Island, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University [“School’s back in session,” Act 2, Aug. 25].

I have participated in this program for 20 years and thoroughly enjoy it. Some participants even teach or facilitate the courses.

Stuart Koenig,

  East Northport

Commit mentally ill to curb mass shootings

Since New York State closed many of its mental hospitals, society has had to deal with sick people living in group homes, where they do not always get proper treatment. All around us every day, we see people who before the 1980s were housed in places where they could receive treatment and not cause problems for society.

President Donald Trump is right that we should open more institutions to house the mentally ill [“Trump’s new idea,” News, Aug. 26]. I do not know anyone who does not say after tragic mass shootings, “The guy had to be crazy.”

Mentally ill people should be confined if it is determined they could harm themselves or the public. When will the states wake up and put such people in hospitals? Until they do, and until laws for background checks are improved, we will never solve these tragic killings.

Bob Southard,

  South Setauket

Visit to WGBB helped to inspire a career

Thanks to David North of the Press Club of Long Island and others, there is a marker at the founding site of Long Island’s first and oldest radio station [“Marking LI’s first splash on airwaves,” News, Aug. 21].

In the early 1970s, WGBB broadcast programs from a building on Broadcast Plaza across from the train station in Merrick, my home community. Several students majoring in radio and television at the New York Institute of Technology visited to see how on-air personalities reached thousands of listeners. I recall listening to DJ Bob Ottone in the evening, and I remember the contests, especially when I won tickets to a soccer game at the Nassau Coliseum.

The opportunity to witness operations at WGBB helped me pursue my dream of getting a job. I worked for 29 years in broadcast operations at CBS TV in Manhattan. I will be sure to check out the marker in Freeport!

Lorraine A. Davis,

  Wantagh