PAGE A26 • TIMES HUNTINGTON & NORTHPORTS • SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
OpiniOn Editorial
Letters to the editor
Edwards is best candidate for supervisor
File photo by Phil Corso
Suffolk County Leg. Rob Trotta looking over a red-light camera report.
Risk and reward Suffolk County residents deserve full disclosure of the total number of fatal accidents occurring at intersections with red-light cameras. Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) was joined by legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) and Tom Muratore (R-Selden) in calling for an investigation into the county’s most recently released Red Light Safety Program report. Trotta claimed the county’s report fails to include any accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists in its statistics in order to paint a better picture of the program, a fact that was confirmed by the traffic engineer Nelson & Pope. Since the program’s start in July 2010, the county has installed more than 216 red-light cameras aimed at “enhancing the safety of motorists,” according to the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency on the Suffolk County website. These automated cameras resulted in more than 415,000 traffic citations being issued to drivers in 2016, generating nearly $31 million in revenue for the county. With a current budget deficit, these funds undoubtedly go a long way toward filling the shortfall. The real question is whether the ever-increasing number of red-light cameras and resulting tickets has increased the safety of our local roadways. Trotta pointed to a recent study that shows an increasing number of accidents at 46 of 100 intersections with cameras installed — and at 32 of those locations there has been a more than 100 percent increase. We wonder what these statistics would look like if adjusted to include those omitted accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Under New York State law, a driver is required to contact police and file an accident report for all cases where a person is either killed or injured within 10 days. The data needed to fully evaluate the Red Light Safety Program is available and can be obtained from the state. But elected officials are not making the information public for us to read and make an informed opinion as to whether the red-light cameras are having the intended effect — increasing the safety of our local roads. New York is one of 24 states across the country that allows red-light camera use to enforce speed and traffic laws, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, a nonprofit that represents states and agencies aiming to address behavioral highway issues to decrease the number of accident-related deaths. As Suffolk County’s red-light program comes up for renewal in 2019, and motions have been made to temporarily suspend it, taxpayers deserve to have all the facts presented. We have the right to know if it’s working before paying another fine or whether lives are being put at unnecessary risk for profit.
Letters …
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These past six months we have worked tirelessly to ensure that there be an unfettered democratic process in Huntington. We achieved our goal: the first Democratic primary for supervisor. Following our efforts to get on the ballot we ran an honest and civil campaign drawing attention to the central issues confronting our community while at the same time hearing from our neighbors and getting a better grasp of what was important to the people: the environment, public safety, and democratic reforms. Throughout the months leading up to the primary, we began to develop thoughtful positions on these issues, our base of support continued to grow and with it, we began a local movement dedicated to change in our town and beyond. The most inspiring and encouraging aspect of the campaign is that it led to a political awakening involving residents from all walks of life: veterans, teachers, lawyers, homemakers, writers, doctors, students, business leaders and civic activists. Individuals who would
have otherwise had no interest and no involvement with politics — especially at the local level — suddenly became actively and passionately engaged. I was both humbled and awed to have the privilege and honor to lead this diverse fellowship committed to such a noble and lofty cause. This primary was the beginning of a much larger and necessary campaign directed at working to cultivate an active and engaged citizenry. While we acknowledge with profound gratitude the thousands of residents that came out to vote, we must also understand that we have far more work to do in addressing the perennial problem of low voter turnout. Robust political involvement is a necessary requisite for a healthy democratic republic. The long-term goal must be to continue the political awakening of engaging more Americans in the democratic process. In the spirit of unity and the best interests of our town, Councilwoman Tracey Edwards and I met over the weekend to discuss key issues that were central during the
primary. I am pleased to report that we were able to find common ground on term limits, campaign finance reform, cultivating greater political involvement amongst the citizenry, a comprehensive review of the town’s master plan balancing growth with environmental considerations and working to aggressively combat the heroin/ opioid epidemic. After reflecting over the last week and having had the time to sit down and discuss at length all of the above with Councilwoman Edwards, I am absolutely convinced that Ms. Edwards is by far the best person in the race for town supervisor to lead Huntington down the right path to a bright and vibrant future. I wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy and I will work tirelessly over the next six weeks to ensure her victory. I ask all my supporters to join me in this effort. I think Tracey Edwards will be a great town supervisor.
Darryl St. George Centerport
Let’s prove that we are a united nation Why isn’t our federal government mobilizing the military and corporate forces that are readily at our disposal to begin to rebuild Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the way we rebuilt Europe after World War II? Step 1: Use our military’s engineering and transport capabilities to open up airfields and ports so they can bring in life-sustaining supplies. Step 2: Insist that all “debt” be temporarily suspended by
the huge corporate financial institutions that have interest in seeing Puerto Rico recover as soon as possible. Step 3: Bring in temporary military hospitals and personnel from the armed services and the National Guard to assist with stabilizing health care and restoring basic infrastructure and shelter reconstruction. The cost of such an intervention would be far less in the long run than allowing things to
continue to deteriorate. It could be quick and decisive and be a model of public/private partnership that we will undoubtedly continue to need into the future. Most of all, it would be a model of American compassion and collaboration that would signal to all the world that we are still a great and united nation.
Tom Lyon Mount Sinai
An open letter to the NFL Dear Commissioner Goodell: As one of many football fans who is extremely upset by political acts disrespecting our flag and national anthem, I seriously ask you to consider putting a stop to this behavior. If players have the right to political demonstrations on the field, then fans have the right to protest against them. Do you really want NFL games to turn into
political events or possible riots? You say you want unity, but how can there be unity on the field when millionaire players attack the symbols of American unity? I realize that you want to placate the NFLPA, but without fans there will be no income, salaries or players. Please stand up for the symbols over which millions of Americans have fought and died.
Just because an act of disrespect is legal does not make it proper or moral. You fine players for disrespectful or improper celebrations — what can be more improper than these ill-thought and divisive acts by so-called professionals? Please, please. We want football not politics.
Michael Zelenak East Setauket
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