Rockville Centre letters to the editor

Your service is greatly appreciated

The following is an open letter to members of the Baldwin, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead and Freeport fire departments.

Dear chiefs and members:

I would like to congratulate you and each and every member of the department on your outstanding heroism the night of May 3, as you fought and contained the serious fire on Merrick Avenue in Baldwin. It is commendable that you are willing to make such a commitment to serving your community, and I am sure that I speak for the people of Nassau County when I say your service is greatly appreciated. You are truly role models to the community. I want you to know how proud I am of the courage you summon to save lives, and the wisdom you call upon to perform in the face of life-and-death situations.

I am humbled by your service to us all, and grateful that you came through this safely.

Joe Scannell

Nassau County legislator

District 5

Nassau can do better than a casino

To the Editor:

Nassau County once embodied the American dream — single-family homes on quiet, tree-lined streets, with friendly neighbors, good schools and low crime. If County Executive Ed Mangano is allowed to move forward with his proposal to build a casino in the center of the county, he will officially kill that dream for so many of us here.

A casino is not the answer to what ails us. In these difficult economic times, a quick-fix solution such as a casino is not what Nassau needs for our long-term sustainable growth.

While many will be awed by the glitz, glam, blinking lights and money generated by a casino, the rest of us will watch our dream turn into a nightmare as we are left to deal with traffic congestion, increased crime and the deterioration of our suburban quality of life that a casino in the heart of our county would bring. And imagine the negative impact a casino would have on the small businesses and downtown economies of places like Rockville Centre.

Development at the Coliseum property is critical to the future of Nassau County, but I would favor a mixed-use development such as the Lighthouse project, which will positively impact and grow our county. I'm sure there are many residents like me who would prefer not to raise our families in the shadow of a casino. Nassau can do better than that!

Mike Florio

Rockville Centre

Save our libraries

To the Editor:

One of the most important services any community enjoys is its public library. You wouldn't think so judging by the actions Gov. David Paterson and the state Assembly have taken on funding libraries in the state's 2010-11 budget plans. The governor has recommended that state aid to library systems and their member libraries be reduced by $4.2 million. The Senate rejected this recommendation, but the Assembly is still debating it.

If the cut is approved, it would be the fifth in the last two years, and it would reduce library aid to below 1998 levels. The cut would also result in further losses in federal funds for library service. Earlier state aid cuts have already cost New York libraries more than $2 million in federal aid.

Library trustees and administrators are sympathetic to the state's budget crisis, but want fairness from the governor and Legislature. Total state aid to libraries amounts to less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the state budget. No other state-funded program serves so many people — 75 percent of New York households, and growing —- with so little state funding. Libraries and library systems are the backbone of our information structure. They have been role models for regional cooperation, resource-sharing and providing services in a cost-effective and efficient manner that saves taxpayers money.

Libraries are still the place to get a book or do research. But they offer much more than this. Computers are available for public use. DVDs and CDs may be borrowed without charge (saving rental costs). Educational, informational and cultural programs are offered, including instruction on using computers and other new technologies. Community groups can meet at their local libraries on a space-available basis. Library web pages offer access to online information, homework help, tutors and professional librarians to answer questions even when the libraries aren't open.

In times of recession, library use goes up. More people borrow books and media than purchase or rent them. More families participate in library programs that are offered without any admission charge. And many more use library resources, especially free computer access, for job hunting.

Now is the time for library users and supporters to stand up for their libraries and library systems. Call or write to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and your representative in the Assembly, Bob Barra. Urge that no further cuts be made to libraries. You can also quickly and easily send a fax or e-mail via www.protectnylibraries.org.

Maureen Chiofalo

Director, Rockville Centre Public Library

Jackie Thresher

Director, Nassau Library System

Repave our sidewalks? No way, no how!

To the Editor:

It's my understanding that the Greystone area will be repaved over the summer. If you ask me, I think this is a huge waste of money, especially when we have blocks like Harvard and Maple that actually need the work, but who's asking me? I'm just a middle class, overtaxed resident who funds these little projects throughout the county and village.

I guess it'll be a long summer of dust, dirt and parking blocks away, which I will learn to deal with. What I cannot deal with is the village telling us that we have to replace damaged or defective sidewalks or driveway aprons on our own dime within 30 days of their notice. Not only do we have to do that, but of course we need to obtain a permit from the Department of Public Works in order to do this work! Cha ching, cha ching! Also stated at the bottom of the village letter is the fact that the village will impose a $275 surcharge for not getting the work done within the allotted 30-day time frame. Cha ching, cha ching!

Are they serious? I'm all for a good joke, but please tell me this is just a middle class taxpayer's nightmare, and that I'll wake up from it soon.

I have six pieces of sidewalk that need to be replaced. My neighbor across the street has seven, and the neighbor next to me has eight. How do you expect us to pay for this little project? Middle class stimulus money from the government? I don't think so! I'm still waiting on that one. I don't think that train ever pulled into the Rockville Centre station, if you know what I mean.

We need to face facts, and realize that people don't have money lying around for nonsense like this. You want to pave the streets, fine, do it on your dime (or should I say ours, since it's all coming from us taxpayers anyway?), but don't expect us to pay for sidewalks that, in my eyes, are in fine shape. I'd love for you all to come out and take a look at them, and while you're here I'll show you what the construction company did to my grass while replacing the hydrant in front of my house. Where do I send that bill? Village Hall? By the way, you have 30 days to pay for my grass!

Patrick Greenfield

Rockville Centre

Randi's wrong about dead wood

To the Editor:

The following is a response to Randi Kreiss's "Bounce dead wood from the rubber room," April 22-28.

No one wants dead wood, except those who may need kindling. I usually agree with Randi's point of view, but on this I must take exception. Many of the teachers in the New York City "rubber rooms" have been wrongfully placed there and languish for months.

I don't know if Ms. Kreiss read a recent letter to the editor that appeared in The New York Times. A principal lamented the fact that many young teachers were unprepared in their content area and did not read.

Of course teachers should be accountable, but their accountability should not depend on student test scores. A very good teacher may have students who perform badly for many reasons other than the inadequacy of the teacher. Lack of support at home, poor attendance, past failures — so much may contribute to lack of success.

Tenure is important to ensure freedom of speech in the classroom as well as freedom to oppose the views of the administration. School staff has three years to evaluate teachers before granting tenure. Teachers with tenure can be dismissed if they are no longer performing as they should. Merit pay is dangerous — it could open a Pandora's box of favoritism.

I taught for 31 years in the Lawrence public school district. I had diverse students, thrived on their successes and rued their failures. I think there would be a serious lack of balance if students knew their performance could affect the status of their teachers.

Much of the dead wood Randi referred to might just be kindlers of creativity and imagination. When many senior teachers leave a school at the same time as a result of incentives, there may be a vacuum. Young teachers need mentors.

Barbara Aronowitz

Rockville Centre