NY Clean Pass program, N. Babylon fire chief, census data, road repair, ICE

Debating extension of Clean Pass plan

The debate regarding the policy change allowing vehicles with the Clean Pass sticker vehicles in the HOV lane is off base [“Give Clean Pass time extension,” Editorial, Aug. 12]. Do we need the term “high occupancy vehicle” explained?

The original purpose of the Long Island Expressway HOV lanes was to address the overburdened roadway by encouraging ride-sharing. Dedicated parking lots at points along the LIE were set up to facilitate local drivers to share rides.

Aside from the obvious contradiction of the HOV’s intended purpose, arbitrary criteria were set up to include some hybrid vehicles. but excluding others.

Sure, solo drivers of these vehicles who have been allowed to drive in HOV lanes are up in arms about their loss, but it is a privilege they were never entitled to.

— Michael J. Genzale, Shoreham

The Clean Pass program has had multiple goals not limited to promoting electric vehicles. Congestion relief is a most important goal. In Suffolk County, owing to different commutes, carpooling alone is insufficient to provide congestion relief. The planned exclusion of Clean Pass vehicles from the HOV lanes will overburden the already congested regular lanes, compounding the problem for former HOV users and nonusers alike.

Extending the program, even updating it, would be wise.

— Charles Rothberg, Centerport

Firefighter’s misdeed shouldn’t cost us

A girl was yelled at by the chief of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company [“Mom: Fire chief ‘failed’ daughter,” News, Aug. 7]. How long will it be before the girl’s family files a multimillion-dollar lawsuit as compensation for her “trauma”? If the account is true, the firefighter should be disciplined or terminated, but it should end there. North Babylon residents should not be liable for the bad behavior of one person,

— Gerard Sewell, West Babylon

Census should not give a state an edge

There is a right way and a wrong way of doing things. The U.S. Census Bureau determines the number of seats in the House of Representatives and should be based upon people who are U.S. citizens and have the right to vote [“President seeks census data changes,” News, Aug. 8]. The misrepresentation of the census by counting immigrants who entered our country illegally affects federal policymaking and grants an unfair advantage to those states who don’t follow the law, such as sanctuary cities and states.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is ensuring that the laws of this country are enforced. It is enforcing the laws that provide safety and a proper assessment of the census so no one state has an unfair advantage in Congress.

— John Romano, Baldwin

Get the road fixed, then we can move on

The yearlong bickering between the Town of Brookhaven, Head of the Harbor village, and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization over the devastated Harbor Road is shameful [“Road repair remains stalled,” News, Aug. 12].

The town says it is not permitted by law to spend funds on a private road. This much took a year to figure out. OK. So, let’s find another solution.

Why doesn’t the Heritage Organization sell the land to one of the other entities? Or sell it to Avalon Nature Preserve. This destruction has affected thousands of visitors, residents, and wildlife in the area over the past year.

Then, everyone can start arguing about whether to fill up the pond. But let’s at least get the road fixed.

— Carole Trottere, Old Field

Has anyone contacted James Simons’ estate trustees? One of the richest men in America, he donated a great deal of money from the Paul Simons Foundation, named for his son, to Avalon Preserve Park.

The area residents are suffering because the pond has still not been repaired. The cost of road repairs is estimated between $4.5 million and $5 million.

— Irma Gurman, Smithtown

Encourage ICE to use town’s rifle range

We are residents of Islip Town, where we pay our real estate taxes that help support the town rifle range for use by members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I do not care what the rabble-rousers say [“Protest against ICE’s use of Islip Town shooting range,” News, Aug. 9].

Please continue to support town residents, and federal, state and Suffolk County law enforcement officers who are trying to maintain law and order. Encourage them to use our facility.

— Richard Dunne, West Islip