Ballroom costs, congestion pricing, battery storage, corruption, economy

Breaches benefit the administration

The editorial “Strip ballroom down to size” [Opinion, May 20] makes its point at the end: “Bypassing established processes is not just a breach of laws and protocol — it undermines the principle that presidents are custodians, not owners, of this national symbol.” This statement made me laugh and feel sad at the same time. President Donald Trump, along with his complicit administration and members of Congress, seem to thrive on bypassing established procedures while breaching existing laws and principles, thus benefiting only themselves. — Jeff Kupferman, Long Beach

Congestion pricing is gouging, too

I am not a lawyer, so perhaps state Attorney General Letitia James can explain the difference between ride-share price gouging during the Long Island Rail Road strike and congestion pricing on a regular commute into the city “AG warns of ride-sharing firms price gouging,” News, May 19].

— Howie Weinick, Woodmere

Battery storage systems needed

Michael Dobie is right: We need to prepare for El Niño [“Underestimating El Niño at our peril,” Opinion, May 17].

One outcome of hotter summer weather is the effect on our electric grid, which is already under stress. The latest New York Independent System Operator report forecasts capacity deficiencies in electricity during peak hours, from 3 to 7 p.m., as early as 2027. How do we prepare for this?

BESS, or battery energy storage systems, add power to the grid when it is needed. BESS also mitigate voltage spikes and frequency variations that are the major cause of electric disruptions. They do this instantly — something peaker plants cannot, even if they are repowered at great cost to ratepayers. BESS also are quicker and cheaper to build. They will keep power more affordable.

Moratoria were put in place while BESS safety was improved with better fire codes. We have them now. Moratoria are no longer needed.

Opposing BESS on principle is shortsighted. It exposes every Long Island Power Authority ratepayer to power outages. Sites must be chosen carefully and focused in energy-constraint areas. These locations are most vulnerable to potential brownouts and blackouts.

Rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater, let each proposed BESS project be evaluated on its own merits. We need BESS now.

— Billii Roberti, Huntington Station

The author is a renewable energy consultant and regular attendee at LIPA meetings.

Are we normalizing corruption?

Are we living in the “Upside Down”? [“DOJ to create $1.7B fund for probes,” News, May 19.] Are we really normalizing the administration’s outright corruption?

The announcement of the creation of a fund to compensate allies of the president who believed they were mistreated by the Justice Department under the Biden administration is mind-boggling for those who see things how they actually happened and not through the lens of a con man who wants to be a dictator.

Really? The Jan. 6 rioters were mistreated? Many police officers were badly wounded during the attacks on our Capitol on that day. One officer died after battling the mob, with his death ruled to be from natural causes.

Members of Congress had to run and hide for their lives.

The administration is actually claiming the rioters were “right” all along since the election was really stolen, although it has been proved time and again that it was one of the fairest and most accurate elections in our history.

It is the Trump administration that is blatantly using its Department of Justice as a personal legal team for Trump to avenge his perceived enemies. What hypocrisy! When will our local and national political leaders from both sides of the aisle step up and demand accountability from this totally corrupt administration? This is unacceptable.

— Robert Battipaglia, Woodbury

Economy not meeting Americans’ needs

Debris falls on the George Washington Bridge. Fire in a LIRR tunnel. No trains from Penn Station to Jamaica. A sinkhole on the Long Island Expressway in Melville.

The transportation infrastructure on Long Island and throughout the country is in need of massive repair.

But there’s $29 billion for the war in Iran. And there are cuts in food stamps, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

We have a war economy that is not meeting the needs of the American people and Long Islanders.

— Margaret Melkonian, Uniondale