LI potholes, Suffolk taillight vouchers, and cops' pay

I have read the various articles and op-eds on the state of Long Island’s roadways and can say that I, too, have been affected by them ["New York roads are an obstacle course," Opinion, April 25]. Within a three-week period in February and March, I blew out two tires, one on the eastbound Long Island Expressway between Exits 57 and 58 and one on the westbound Northern State Parkway approaching Exit 39. That cost me a total of more than $1,000.

I was told I could make a small claim with the state for reimbursement, but the form said that a highway law states that "the state shall not be liable for damages suffered by any person from defects in state highways, except between the first day of May and the fifteenth day of November, subject to limitations."

This exception is egregious. I emailed all of my federal, state and county politicians, who all claimed they could do nothing, as this law has been in effect for the past 30 years, causing motorists like me thousands of dollars and effectively making it a “road tax.” Shame on them for hiding behind it instead of doing something about it.

The law should be repealed by legislation. Attach it to Long Island’s $157 million infrastructure grant.

David E. Green, Old Bethpage

Why I donated to Lights On! program

Forget about giving out the broken taillight vouchers. What Long Islanders need is a voucher to replace tires and rims destroyed by the deplorable condition of the LIE.

Last Sunday, I was driving westbound between Exit 68 and 53 and saw at least 10 cars on the side of the road with flat tires or busted rims. It's nice that the state is not responsible for pothole damage from mid-November through April, but that should be for a normal number of potholes.

The condition of the expressway in Suffolk County is a result of gross negligence, and the state should pay for vehicle damage. I am a professional engineer, and no public highway maintenance official should have allowed the roadway surface to deteriorate to its present condition. This is not one winter of freeze-thaw damage, but multiple years of neglect.

There should be an investigation into how the road was allowed to deteriorate like this, and those who are responsible should be fired, going all the way to the top.

Kevin McGrath, Northport

I donated the $15,000 to start the Lights On! program in Suffolk County and am responding to the several letters published about it in the past few days [“Fixed light vouchers stir readers,” Opinion, April 28].

Years ago, I got a summons for a broken taillight. Back then, it was also pop a bulb out and pop a new one in. My father died in an accident before my third birthday, so I know what it’s like to have to choose between fixing a car and putting food on the table.

Of the millions of U.S. traffic accidents occurring each year, about one-third involve rear-end collisions. Of these, about 1,700 people die and another 500,000 are injured in the crashes. These numbers constitute a significant portion of highway accidents, injuries and fatalities.

My stepfather was a Suffolk County police officer for 29 years. He taught me about doing what’s right, so when I became very successful, I decided to support those who have less and especially support veterans and police officers and their families.

When then-acting county Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron, a close friend, asked me to help get funding for the program, I wrote the check myself.

After Rodney Harrison became police commissioner, he asked me if I was still on board, and I said 100%. This program will foster a great interaction between police and motorists.

Those who think I am a liberal may be surprised that I helped raise more than $50 million for Republicans and have raised millions of dollars to support fallen police officers and firemen. A year ago, I donated $100,000 to LI Cares to feed veterans and their families during the holidays, and some people complained to me about it, wanting to know why I didn’t donate to other causes.

One of my first mentors said, “If you are [annoying] people, you are doing something right.” I guess I’m doing something right.

Steven A. Castleton, West Islip

What's wrong with this picture?

Your editorial “No breaks for friends of cops” [April 27] notes that Suffolk County Police Officer Michael Althouse retired at age 54 with an annual pension of $136,131, possibly inflated by hours of overtime. Teachers, with required advanced degrees who work for at least 30 years and who put in untold hours of uncompensated time, rarely attain annual salaries equal to Althouse’s pension and certainly not similar pensions.

Isn’t something out of whack here?

Eric Jurist, Wantagh