NYC congestion pricing, busing migrants, illegal guns, and Manganos

Congestion pricing: Plan for the future

The objectives of New York City’s congestion pricing plan are to reduce traffic congestion, encourage mass transit use, and help fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s mass transit services [“For-hire drivers: Congestion pricing painful,” News, Sept. 5].

Bridges, tunnels and highways were built with insufficient future planning. The Brooklyn Bridge was built before cars were invented and, because of poor planning, the Long Island Expressway has created traffic rather than alleviated it.

Who planned or even thought about life in the 21st century with its congestion, air pollution and climate change problems?

Maybe this new pricing plan should consider the rapidly changing technological advances in the fields of transportation and communication. The future likely will include self-driving electric cars, privately owned and operating in a Lyft or Uber mode. They would move at high speed near other vehicles, reducing delays, increasing highway capacity and minimizing pollution.

Also, with communication advances in virtual office technology, more folks will be working from home. And that will reduce the requirement for an everyday commute to a central office. However, these will be gradual changes and although the future is difficult to predict, we should try to plan for it with a minimum of surprises.

— Bill Domjan, Melville

Number of migrants should be limited

The article begins, “Immigration advocates and religious leaders, outraged by the busing from Texas to New York City of migrants detained at the Mexico border, say they are gearing up to help any who arrive on Long Island” [“Assisting migrants,” News, Sept. 5]. So I am guessing that all the immigration advocates and religious leaders have unlimited resources that will make this happen.

How many is “any who arrive on Long Island”? Is there no limit? If 10,000 or more arrive, will we find places for them to sleep, go to school and supply anything else they need? This is madness. It would be great if we could do that, but that’s not the case.

The migrants should come with entry documents, and a few at a time, please.

— Edward Tardibuono, Levittown

Texas and Florida’s governors are sending thousands of immigrants to the Northeast like cattle to market [“GOP governors escalate migrant relocations,” News, Sept. 16]. I hope these people become successful Americans like those before them.

I also hope they remember the treatment they received from politicians like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has sent buses of migrants to New York City, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has sent planeloads of migrants to Massachusetts.

— Gene Reynolds, Ridge

More diplomas won’t make better learning

We all know where this is going. Instead of raising the bar, the Board of Regents (and its team) will figure out how to hand out diplomas at a higher rate [“Graduation advisory body,” News, Sept. 14].

In the short term, they will pat themselves on the back when “graduation” rates improve. In the long term, this is not helping anyone.

— Anthony Bordano, Middle Village

Crack down on illegal, not legal, guns

Disregarding and defying the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding guns, Gov. Kathy Hochul has cracked down on those who carry guns legally “Dislike new gun laws? Then dump all laws?” Letters, Sept. 7].

She has made most of New York City, and much of the rest of the state, off-limits for legal carry. Conspicuously absent from her speech was any mention of cracking down on the illegal carrying of firearms by criminals. Does she really think a criminal with an illegal gun will care about her sensitive-areas nonsense?

— Robert Mangi, Huntington

Too much coverage of Mangano’s moves

I have become a little uncomfortable with the incessant coverage of former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano’s corruption trial and appeals [“Mangano starts sentence,” News, Sept. 15].

With the same old pictures, including the recurring one of his wife looking weary, Newsday surely could come up with a better, fresher front-page picture of him. I feel bad for what he, his wife and his family have been through.

While he committed crimes, he is no threat to the public. His sentence should be reduced, and he should be required to do — in lieu of jail time — compulsory public service, besides paying back what he can.

Mangano was a moderate Republican, certainly not on the extremist fringe.

— Harry Katz, Southold