CPS should keep kids safe. Does it?

Another child has died after Child Protective Services decided reports were unfounded [“CPS dismissed complaints before crash killed boy,” News, March 9].

There were supposed to be reforms to the system after Thomas Valva died for the same reason. There is no excuse for this continuing loss of life from an agency that is supposed to protect children.

I find it appalling that none of the executives involved in positions of responsibility for these reforms agreed to be interviewed by Newsday. Maybe they don’t want to admit that the reforms were a failure? Do they even know what the problem is?

The public does not have access to unfounded complaints, but the people in charge do. Pore over all those reports for both cases and determine where the workers made the mistakes and hold them and their supervisors accountable.

And CPS should not promote the workers involved as it did in the Valva case. CPS should accept that it screwed up and must fix it. If CPS wants a citizen committee to help, I’ll gladly join.

 — Linda Durnan, Wading River

The writer, a retired social worker, was a mandated CPS reporter.

Forget the $9 tolls — fine fare beaters

I find it concerning that Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to convince New Yorkers to think that congestion pricing is a good thing, something that we want and are willing to fight for [“Gov vows ‘orderly resistance,’  ” News, Feb. 27]. Is any New Yorker happy to pay an additional $9 every time upon entering Manhattan to enjoy the wonderful restaurants, museums, and Broadway shows the city offers?

Hochul would like us to believe that President Donald Trump is forcing his will upon us by ending congestion pricing. No, our president knows in these tough times every dollar counts and one thing we don’t need is an entrance fee to “our city.”

If Hochul wants to raise money for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, why doesn’t she finally do what she and Mayor Eric Adams should have been doing all along, arrest every single fare beater and make them pay a substantial fine. In addition to raising money, it will eliminate fare beating and probably make subway riding safer.

 — Angelo Vetrano, Floral Park

Admit confirmation hearings are a sham

Lee Zeldin, the new Environmental Protection Agency administrator, is just one of the the latest in a long list of people who have been confirmed by the Senate and then do the opposite of what they said “under oath” in their confirmation hearings [“Zeldin’s planned EPA cuts assailed,” Letters, March 5].

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, one of many other examples, told the Senate in 2018 that he considered Roe v. Wade the law of the land and would respect it, then helped overturn that “law.”

These are just two of several cases where nominees testified about contrary beliefs in numerous writings and speeches — because they needed to get the votes for confirmation.

When confirmed, they return to their previously stated beliefs. Isn’t it perjury to lie under oath? Shouldn’t there be some way to hold these people accountable to their statements during the confirmation process? Otherwise, the process is a sham and should be abolished. Just let the new administration appoint whom-ever they want and save Americans a lot of money by not having these sham hearings.

 — Allan Brenner, Atlantic Beach

Caregivers deserve to make a living wage

People who have no connection with the special needs population seem to be unable to relate to them or their world. For example, a friend, while shopping with her special needs daughter, was told randomly by another patron on one trip that she should not take her daughter out in public.

Direct support professionals’ pay rate, even with the proposed increase, does not sustain a living wage [“Aides helping disabled LIers rally for raises,” Long Island & NYC, March 8]. Many of these devoted caretakers have second jobs to make ends meet. I have often said to caregivers that the work that they do is not a job but rather a calling.

Their salaries are not commensurate with what they do. The residential programs, daily programs, and recreational activities offer the special needs population a quality of life that would not exist without these caregivers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal of a 2.1% increase for DSPs does not begin to help sustain them or provide a wage they deserve. I hope that this proposal will be reconsidered.

 — Susan Broderick, Westhampton