NUMC, technical trades, honor guard for Xi, Nassau red-light camera fees, Mets' woes

Nassau County not to blame for NUMC

The latest attacks on Nassau County over Nassau University Medical Center rely on a convenient fiction: that the county controlled the hospital’s operations, finances or management. It never did. Nassau County was not involved in NUMC’s day-to-day decision-making, a fact omitted from recent letters accusing the county of “sitting on the sidelines” [“Put NUMC ahead of partisan politics,” Letters, Sept. 25].

Since 2020, total state funding is down $400 million compared with one-time highs in 2017 at Nassau County’s only safety net hospital, placing enormous financial strain on its ability to serve thousands of vulnerable residents. Meanwhile, Albany has directed billions toward distressed safety net hospitals in New York City and services for illegal migrants.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York State Democrats created the financial crisis that ultimately justified restructuring NUMC’s board with Democrat appointees. No appointee I can name will have influence over the decisions this board will make.

The Nassau County Republican majority has called on the governor to restore funding and opposed the state takeover, warning it would threaten access to care. Following the takeover, one of the board’s first major decisions was closing NUMC’s maternity ward, another blow to women and families.

This is yet another example of Albany shortchanging Nassau County and its hardworking taxpayers.

— Legis. Howard Kopel, Lawrence

The writer is the presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Students need to see all paths

A teenager can’t aim for a career if they’ve never heard of it. That is the lesson of “Trading a degree for a trade” News, Sept. 27]. College, apprenticeships, technical training, and the skilled trades all belong in Long Island’s conversations about life after high school. Too many students are introduced to very few paths. Career Day Inc. brings working professionals into Suffolk and Nassau high schools so students can learn directly about careers, training requirements and real world opportunities. One example shows the lasting impact of those introductions.

Timothy Shisko, founder, chairman, and CEO of Standard Group, a mechanical and fire protection services company in New York, participated as a Career Day Inc. speaker and shared his experiences in the skill trades. One student connected with him after the program. After graduating from Hicksville High School, the student reached out, applied for a position with this company and was hired, receiving the hands-on training needed to begin building a career.

That is what Career Day Inc. can do when students are inspired through career choice awareness. One classroom conversation can lead to a mentor, an opportunity, and sometimes a job. Students deserve to understand the range of paths available. Our programs open doors. The choice is theirs.

— Beth Bucheister, Oyster Bay

The writer is the executive director of Career Day Inc.

Refund red light camera fees

If Republican gubernatorial candidate and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is serious about cutting taxes, he should start by refunding the red light camera fees that were tacked onto traffic tickets, which were ruled illegal by a state appeals court [“Blakeman touts plan to cut income tax,” State, Sept. 30].

— Ethell Smith, Freeport

Sloppy showing to welcome China

I was disappointed to see that Joint Base Andrews couldn’t put on a more impressive Honor Guard to welcome President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping “Trump disputes wanting to sell arms to China,” News, Sept. 29].

The troops lined up are holding three different types of rifle, in different finishes, with different bayonets. They couldn’t even agree what shade of wood the stocks should be. Given that none of these arms are current military issue, it shouldn’t be too difficult for all the services to agree on a common ceremonial rifle. I’ve seen more consistency at military funerals.

Equally disappointing is the apparent lack of drill instructors shown by the sloppy way the rifles are being held. Surely we can do better for a VIP escort.

— Jim Policke, Selden

Mets’ woes recall old Brooklyn pain

The Mets’ summer of discontent has, mercifully, come to an end [“Lindor hits 300th homer in Mets’ season finale,” Sports, Sept. 28]. There were a few rays of sunshine, but, overall, it brought back memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers fans’ mantra of my childhood: “Wait till next year.”

Still, one highlight of this season was reading Laura Albanese’s beat coverage. Her well-written columns and game stories were informative and entertaining.

— Richard E. Nussbaum, Syosset