Anti-vaxxers, PPP fraud, SALT deduction cap, affordable housing, potholes, lithium battery storage

Discredited anti-vax studies still sway

In 1998, British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield published a bogus study stating that the MMR combination vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella diseases causes autism. He was paid a lot of money by a law firm that was suing a vaccine manufacturer to come to that conclusion. In 2002, he published another flawed study.

His articles convinced many parents in Britain and the United States to become anti-vaxxers in an effort to protect their children.

After intense investigations, Wakefield’s research was proven false, and he lost his medical license. Unfortunately, the damage was done. Incredibly, people today still believe Wakefield’s lies.

Jeanette Breen, owner of Baldwin Midwifery, was fined for faking vaccination records, and Julie DeVuono, owner of an Amityville pediatric practice who was convicted of falsifying COVID-19 records last year, aren’t much better [“670 LI students linked to midwife,” News, Jan. 19]. They preyed on parents’ devotion to their children for illicit monetary gains.

These two women and others like them are perpetuating the lies about vaccines and jeopardizing children’s health. Stiff punishment should be meted out to stop this nefarious and dangerous behavior.

— Phyliss Grodofsky, Merrick

Jailing fraudsters is good for society

I think it is important to realize that this was a “good news” story [“A perfect storm for fraud,” LI Business, Feb. 4]. It should not be about failing to verify Paycheck Protection Program applicants, but rather it is evidence that those who exploited the rest of us are being held accountable.

Putting those convicted in jail is a good thing, regardless of what was gained back. If all we get back is the amount used to prosecute the crime, so be it. Let those individuals stay in jail and, we hope, find it difficult to get a job again, and they might be denied any of society’s benefits.

PPP was a good idea, with a low barrier for entry because of the exceptional economic stress. Throwing the “bad guys” in jail for lying is what good government should be doing.

If some of us do not have the ethical behavior required to live in a democratic society in a responsible way, perhaps it’s time to take away these people’s right to do so.

— Andrew Koff, Westbury

Raising SALT cap isn’t good if you’re single

The proposed cap relief bill for state and local taxes is only for married couples, thereby discriminating against single homeowners [“House panel advances SALT cap relief,” News, Feb. 2]. Many are seniors, a good number of whom are retired and living on fixed incomes.

Long Island Reps. Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito and Andrew Garbarino are lobbying for this bill. Why exclude single homeowners who need the relief as much, if not more, than married couples? Single homeowners are being penalized just for being single.

— Joan Pellaton, Port Washington

Idea: State park staff can live on premises

A great example of one way to address housing scarcity is our state parks, including the Connetquot River State Park Preserve [“Housing scarcity biggest ‘detriment’ on LI,” News, Jan. 26].

Maintenance of the pristine environment, historic buildings, trout hatchery and preserve headwaters within the 3,473 acres is a 24/7 job. But other than a night watchman, the staff all leave at the end of the day.

A vacant on-site residential building could be restored to provide no fewer than four apartments for park staff. The building seems structurally sound. The Friends of Connetquot are raising funds to make this happen, and we hope Gov. Kathy Hochul will focus on this and other vacant residential state park buildings, too.

— Janet Marie Soley, Oakdale

The writer is president of Friends of Connetquot.

Imagine the potholes if winters were bad

For three years running, we have had relatively mild winters that have mitigated the naturally damaging impact and potential repair, renovation and maintenance expenses for crumbling local roadways [“Pothole problems: Half of metro roads poor, fair,” News, Feb. 2]. Yet so little progress has resulted in improving road infrastructure. How can that be?

— Andrew Malekoff, Long Beach

Battery storage prompts a memory

Gov. Kathy Hochul tells us there is no air pollution or environmental concerns regarding lithium battery storage facilities that catch fire [“Residents knock NYS battery storage report,” News, Jan. 31].

It reminds me of when Christine Todd Whitman, then head of the Environmental Protection Agency, after 9/11 told the public the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe. She later admitted she was wrong.

— Frank Grabinski, Williston Park