Letters to the editor

Rotating presidents is a bad idea

To the Editor:

A rotating six-month City Council presidency is a very bad idea for Long Beach. Although its proponents have framed it as an egalitarian approach to civic leadership, what it amounts to is an abdication of responsibility. It is the consistent exercise of authoritative decision-making over time, when one is faced with multiple challenges, that shapes an effective leader.

Serving in the role of City Council president for six months is barely enough time to get one’s feet wet as a leader, regardless of how daunting initial challenges might be. In this new move, difficult issues will be passed from one council president to another in an absurd game of musical chairs.

I recommend that the City Council seriously reconsider this idea. The public deserves better than a hot potato presidency.

Andrew Malekoff

Long Beach

Lido Boulevard is dangerous

To the Editor:

As one who has taught driver education for many years, I have a few thoughts about the tragic accident involving Long Beach Middle School student Abdul Bird on Lido Boulevard (“L.B. teen in critical condition,” June 21-27).

After spending thousands of dollars on reconstruction of Lido Boulevard, there was no thought given to a bicycle lane. There must be a lane for the safety of all on “small wheels.” The elimination of one driving lane in each direction would provide this safety, which should include a concrete barrier.

While I was driving east on Lido Boulevard on Tuesday, there was a girl on inline skates in the very narrow lane by the curb, and as she skated, she would extend outside the white lane line, creating an unsafe condition since cars had to swerve into the middle lane to avoid her.

In my travels from the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway to the Northern State Parkway, I noticed it was only two lanes. If the New York State Department of Transportation feels that driving at 50 miles per hour is safe, why can’t the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County have a three-mile stretch of road reconfigured to two lanes in each direction for the safety of non-motor vehicles? This would permit bicycles, skaters, skateboarders and joggers a safe environment, and they wouldn’t have to worry about cars and trucks.

Ralph A. Isaacs

Lido Beach