Superstorm Sandy, NIFA, and suicide

Time to return after superstorm

Ten years ago, Superstorm Sandy began as a tropical depression in the Caribbean Sea. In its journey north, it gathered strength and size. In the Atlantic Ocean, it merged with other storms, becoming a “Frankenstorm” and made landfall in New Jersey.

Pictures of its destruction are seared into our memories “LI’s roads still vulnerable to flooding,” News, Oct. 27]. My house was flooded, and my family was homeless for three weeks.

While most Long Islanders fully recovered, some have not. In doing research on Sandy for a book, I came across a woman who was still not in her home. Thinking that this was an anomaly, I learned that the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery reported a year ago that almost 500 homes were still being repaired.

While many people had moved back into their homes and were awaiting final inspection, many others were still not in their homes nine years later. As the inspector explained, many had personal or financial hardships, but it was hard to imagine the personal hell they have been living with. Isn’t it time that we got these people back into their homes?

Luciano Sabatini, Blue Point

For many, Sandy was a life-changing event

For the local networks, it’s a story, but if you were one of the thousands who got their butts kicked by Superstorm Sandy, it was not only a life-changing event [“Haunted by memories of superstorm,” News, Oct. 26]. It was a day that you certainly don’t need to be reminded of. Especially with 10-year anniversary TV specials . . . as if Sandy is something to be celebrated. And if, by chance, you were lucky enough to have been spared by Sandy, then you’re probably tired of hearing about it.

Sandy did more than destroy homes, businesses and property. Marriages were torn apart in the aftermath. The emotional scars left will be there for a lifetime. Post-traumatic stress disorder can rear its head anytime you hear there’s a possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm coming your way.

The news outlets might want to think about this the next time they shove a camera or microphone into the face of someone who lived through Sandy. Because unlike her name, Sandy was no day at the beach.

Chris Carman, Amityville

NIFA misrepresents Nassau’s condition

Nassau County’s financial condition again is misrepresented by the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority “Concerns about future Nassau finances,” News, Oct. 21]. NIFA uses its own formula to paint the bleakest possible picture of the county’s fiscal health, in stark contrast to the analyses of the world’s most respected rating agencies.

In May, the county’s rating was upgraded by S&P Global from A+ to AA- and by Moody’s from A2 to A1, both with a stable or positive outlook, and the state comptroller’s office designated the county as not susceptible to fiscal stress in its recent Fiscal Stress Monitoring System report.

NIFA board chairman Adam Barsky is quoted in the Oct. 21 article as saying the risks of the 2023 budget are manageable. However, the article then, like NIFA’s report, focuses on NIFA’s doomsday speculations. Barsky talks about “potential liabilities,” “longer-term concerns,” and an imaginary “fiscal cliff.”

Currently, Nassau County does not meet any of the five criteria required to maintain a NIFA control period and has consistently outperformed the dire and inaccurate multiyear NIFA projections as well as the more realistic estimates of the county comptroller’s office.

NIFA has resorted to theoretical questions and hypothetical scenarios to justify its control over Nassau County. No other government entity in New York State is judged based on such “what if” scenarios.

Instead of perpetuating its authority, NIFA should be working with the State Legislature on structural reform of the assessment system, including abolishing the county guarantee. Nassau is the only county in the state that is bound by this unreasonable burden.

Meanwhile, NIFA is a New York State public benefit corporation, funded each year by more than 2 million Nassau County taxpayer dollars, yet unaccountable to Nassau voters.

— Elaine Phillips, Manhasset

The writer is Nassau County comptroller.

Be more accepting of those around us

Thank you for publishing crucial information about suicide, based on the book about the late Anthony Bourdain [“Asking the wrong questions about suicide,” Opinion, Oct. 17].

The op-ed addresses the myths about suicide and creates greater awareness of them — particularly the idea that suicide is not preventable.

It also points out that we need to be aware of what individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts are dealing with.

The national suicide and life crisis hotline, 988, can let people recognize that they are not alone and help is out there.

Many have found that the pandemic has been unforgiving in its erosion of compassion for ourselves and each other.

With more than 100,000 overdose deaths in the nation in a recent 12-month period, we can do better to be more open and accepting of suffering and provide more empathic care for those around us.

— Cathy Carballeira, Smithtown