Heuermann sentencing, Juneteenth in Nassau, bus camera tickets, Tooth Fairy

Proving a crime is what matters

Newsday’s editorial following the sentencing of serial murderer Rex Heuermann unfairly took the words of Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney out of context in such a way as to misstate what Tierney said [“Don’t close book on Gilgo murders,” Opinion, June 18].

When asked if he believed Heuermann had killed more than the eight young women, Tierney responded, “It doesn’t matter what I think.” Newsday criticized that response.

As Tierney has stated repeatedly over the past three years while prosecuting this case, “It matters what I can prove in court.” That is how a district attorney should reply. District attorneys have the power to bring life-altering charges, and it would be wrong and unfair for a prosecutor to simply accuse someone of a crime without proof.

Newsday also ignored the answer Tierney gave just before the answer they took out of context. Tierney said “. . . we’ve got a lot of work to do on other cases, and we’re going to continue to work on those cases. The nice thing about this is all the talented people and all the resources can be dedicated to those other cases.”

— Jesse Garcia, Ridge

The writer is chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Party.

Juneteenth fight for Nassau workers

Last week, members of the Nassau County Legislature’s majority caucus wrote that Juneteenth “marks the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience, and progress” and that we should continue “the ongoing work of building stronger, more inclusive communities for future generations.”

I agree. Which is why I find it difficult to understand why Nassau County continues to refuse to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday for its own employees [“Union backs Juneteenth bill,” News, June 10].

For the fourth consecutive year, Nassau County employees spent Juneteenth at work, while federal, New York State, and other employees in Nassau County observed the holiday.

If Juneteenth is important enough to celebrate, it should be important enough to recognize.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman has argued that Nassau County already provides 13 holidays and that recognizing Juneteenth would put the county out of step with other governments. The facts tell a different story. Across New York, many counties represented by the Civil Service Employees Association recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday. Other unions provide 13.5, 14, or even 15 paid holidays each year.

Juneteenth deserves more than annual statements, proclamations, and social media posts. It deserves meaningful recognition.

— Kris Kalender, Mineola

The writer is president of Nassau CSEA Local 830.

Stop for the buses and save the kids

I am in utter disbelief about how many people totally disregard the safety of our children [“Hempstead’s ‘troubling’ tickets,” News, June 16]. I drove a school bus for 32 years, from 1979 to 2011. In that time, I think maybe four drivers passed my bus illegally.

One was an elderly woman driver. Driving toward me, she passed as the kids were crossing in front of the bus, honked her horn and kept driving. Her horn got the attention of a police officer in a car behind me. He made a U-turn and stopped her.

Another incident, which for a time happened every morning, was a male driver heading toward and passing me as I turned on the red lights. So, I complained to the Locust Valley Police Department. A couple of days later, a police officer followed my bus. He saw the driver pass me, made a U-turn, and stopped the driver.

This article and previous ones are talking about over 80,000 drivers being ticketed in a two-year period, let alone 36,000 in 2025. What is wrong with people? One day, their child may be hit and then we’ll hear about these bad drivers.

— Steven Furlong, Holbrook

Teach local students about William Floyd

I was pleased to see the article about William Floyd [“LI’s Founding Father,” LI Life, June 21].

I had driven on the William Floyd Parkway for years before I was told that he was a signer of the greatest document that this country was founded on, the Declaration of Independence. We heard about Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock, but why don’t our schools teach us about one of the greatest patriots who risked his life right here in Suffolk County?

— Gail Kellner, Calverton

Lattes and luxury for a loose tooth?

I’m old, so I get it. We used to pay a babysitter $1 an hour and leave 25 cents under the pillow for a lost tooth. Prices have gone up [“The Tooth Fairy payday,” exploreLI, June 16].

But $60 for a lost tooth? Parents, get a grip. Losing a tooth is not an accomplishment! Maybe $5, perhaps $10, but not even a celebrity’s nepo baby deserves $60.

And what’s with the Starbucks gift card? A kid who still has baby teeth should not be drinking coffee. Perspective is needed here.

— Richard Posner, Ridge