Rockville Centre Letters to the Editor

Local is the way to go

To the Editor:

I wanted to write about an experience I just had to show why residents of Rockville Centre should patronize local businesses.

This morning I had to go to our local podiatrist, Dr. Howard Kessler, for a minor issue. He knew me and fit me early into his busy schedule. Then I drove to Anton’s car care and said hello to Kevin, who has been servicing my car for years. I was able to drop the car with him and take the short walk to work.

I stopped at Freshark for a smoothie, and it started to rain very hard. The guys at Freshark were nice enough to lend me a large umbrella that saved me and my clothes for the rest of my walk back to work. It’s really nice when everyone knows your name!

Bruce Mirkin

Owner, Accent on Eyes

D’Amato was right on Newsday

To the Editor:

Kudos to Sen. Alfonse D’Amato for calling out Newsday on its blatant hypocrisy regarding free speech in his column last week (“Newsday’s double standard is shocking”). How can Long Island’s only daily newspaper decry those who fly the Confederate flag as “hateful,” and its display an “erosion of decency,” yet just weeks later demonize Hempstead Town’s push for Albany to further regulate public displays of the Nazi swastika as a “dangerous and improper attack on free speech”?

Do Newsday’s editors truly believe that not all hate symbols are created equal, or are they so utterly blinded by political bias and self-interest that they reflexively reject and denigrate any position put forth by a Republican, regardless of the extent to which they would otherwise agree.

New York state already categorizes the display of a burning cross or a hangman’s noose in a public place as “hate speech.” But the State Legislature must update its current laws as they apply to the swastika. Currently, only etching, painting, drawing or placing a swastika on public or private property without the owner’s permission is a hate crime.

I encourage Newsday and the Herald to stand with me and Supervisor Kate Murray in support of legislation proposed by Assemblyman Brian Curran, and many legislative colleagues, to amend New York State Penal Law 240.31 to include flying or displaying the swastika as aggravated harassment in the first degree, a felony offense.

It would be refreshing if Newsday’s editorial board would heed Senator D’Amato’s call and reject the lure of partisanship and prejudice so commonly seen on its editorial pages.

Anthony Santino

Town of Hempstead Councilman