'Decency' in beaches, parks, affordable rentals, kids' birthday parties

Public decency is a relative term

Bruce Bennett wrote an interesting opinion on public decency at beaches and parks. However, we should all agree that when we use terms like “decency and order,” often we have no idea what that means.

Only a generation or so ago long hair and blue jeans were considered degenerate. Rock and roll music was going to rot our brain and Elvis’ dancing was indecent.

Today, in many societies, public nudity is considered a norm, as in Japanese onsen or bathhouses. Breastfeeding in public is also the norm in many cultures.

In fact, deep farewell kissing in public at airports by westerners draws admonition from older Asian residents there, because they think that’s “indecent.”

Let’s not go overboard with connecting beachwear on women and girls to sanctity of life. In countries where women are covered from head to toe by burqa I don’t think life is considered more sacred there than here. Historically, what women wear and how they wear it has been scrutinized and controlled under the pretense of decency and morality. Let’s not perpetuate it.

— Song Yu, Glen Head

As a Christian woman, mother, grandmother, and Long Island resident, I am deeply concerned about the normalization of rear nudity in our public parks and beaches.

Families should be able to enjoy these public spaces without being exposed to nudity or sexually suggestive behavior. Children deserve to be protected from unnecessary exposure to adult content in places intended for recreation and family gatherings.

This is not about hatred or judging others. It is about maintaining reasonable standards of public decency and respecting the many families who use these spaces every day.

In a culture already saturated with pornography, sexual content, amid rising concerns about exploitation and sex crimes, we should be working to protect innocence rather than continuing to push boundaries in public settings.

Public beaches and parks belong to everyone, including parents who simply want a safe, family-friendly environment for their children and grandchildren.

I urge local and state leaders to consider the concerns of families and residents who believe public decency still matters.

— Denise Schwabe, Holtsville

Long Island needs affordable rentals

Long Island’s housing problem is affordable rentals “State sending $7M to build modular homes as affordable housing,” Our Towns, May 27]. The solution: micro-manufactured rentals costing $600 a month for a studio, perhaps $900 a month for a one-bedroom and $1,200 a month for a two-bedroom unit. Now, add a police station, fire station, medical clinic, and commercial zone. This can be an affordable, safe, and healthy community for seniors, veterans, young people, the homeless, the handicapped and the poor where they can afford to remain and prosper on Long Island. This should not be too hard. Add accessory housing rights, so homeowners with proper permits can legally rent out a bedroom or extra apartment. No, Long Island will not become Queens. Long Island will be better, cleaner, safer, and more affordable. As you increase affordable housing, you make Long Island the paradise that it can be for all. Why not?

— Alan H. Cohn, Nesconset

Rein in children’s birthday parties

Reading the article about children’s birthday parties had me shocked [“Parents’ race to keep up,” LI Business, May 24]. Why would these parents do this? Go into their retirement savings for a party that these kids will likely not even remember. College costs, yes, but birthday parties, no.

What message are you sending to your children? What are you teaching them? Credit card debt right now in America is in the trillions because too many are not considering needs vs. wants.

I’m a parent of three boys and they all had birthday parties every year. My two boys, born in June and September, had their parties in our backyard that included soccer, basketball, a movie with snacks, pizza or barbecued burgers and cake or cupcakes that I made, not bought, often with added ice cream. For my one son born in January, we couldn’t host in the backyard, so often he had a bowling party with pizza and cake I made.

They had some friends who had extravagant parties and when we explained why we didn’t, they understood. It is called living within your means.

— Barbara Diamond, Port Jefferson Station