Leaving Long Island, wind farms, Nassau University Medical Center financial woes

How to view more people exiting LI

Historically, the shifting demographics of Long Island’s younger population has led business groups to favor policies that loosen restrictions on economic development [“More residents leaving LI,” News, Feb. 29].

While there is no denying that our region’s escalating costs hurt our economic potential, countless metrics point to still ample demand for the quality of life that our region offers young and growing families, as evidenced by the post-pandemic pricing of residential real estate.

As always, the vexing question is: How do we as a region preserve the attributes that newcomers continue to seek from Long Island while pushing for additional growth? For decades, planners have grappled with that question, arguing for holistic policies that balance social, economic and environmental needs.

Unfortunately, our patchwork of local governments limits our ability to craft cohesive regional solutions, but the picture isn’t bleak.

While still failing to diversify housing inventory, key successes continue in areas such as open-space protection, securing key investments in transit, and decreasing our economy’s reliance on a singular sector or skill set.

We must continue making our region more economically viable. But by accepting the limitations of growth, we can avoid policy overcorrections that erode what makes our region special in the first place.

— Richard Murdocco, Commack

The writer is an adjunct professor in Stony Brook University’s public policy master’s program.

Long Island lost more than 110,000 residents from 2017 to 2022? You wouldn’t know it from the traffic. Matthew Cohen, president of the Long Island Association said, “ . . . if we’re not growing, we’re dying.” I’d like to know how. The economy seems fine to me.

Many restaurants seem to be packed. Long Island has limited land. Why do we want to try to shovel more people into a finite space? Our water supply is less than perfect, the roads are jammed, house prices are ridiculously high, and property taxes are out of control.

Let other areas of the country enjoy the fine people who leave our island. There are many other excellent places to live in our country.

— Robert Cheeseman, Wantagh

Wind farms a boost for now and future

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has awarded new wind contracts despite higher costs than the projects’ bids were before the post-pandemic inflation hit [“2 wind farms’ rebids OK,” News, March 1]. I’m OK with that.

The long-term costs of not having wind energy to replace fossil fuels will be far higher than making these investments now. Imagine the disaster relief costs and property destruction from more frequent superstorms like Sandy.

In the short term, the projects will create hundreds of jobs and boost New York’s economy. Paying only $2.09 more per month for clean electricity from new offshore wind farms is well worth it.

— Asad Naqvi, Jericho

I’m a Long Beach resident. I want offshore wind. I want to view faint offshore wind turbines, which will fight sea-level rises as compared with E.F. Barrett’s fossil fuel plant in Island Park [“Wind projects get federal OK,” News, Feb. 23].

I want to view what will protect marine life from coral reef bleaching and ocean acidification, what will preserve bird habitats, and what will save our budgets right off our shore.

My friends who live on Lincoln Boulevard have expressed their desire for this project and no resistance to cable equivalents because they want this place to be better for their grandchildren.

Having a community outreach package is nice for a city with a school budget deficit. I want these offshore wind turbines built yesterday.

— Joseph Naham, Long Beach

The writer is a Long Beach Environmental Advisory Board co-chair.

Here are two ideas to solve NUMC woes

Nassau University Medical Center is evidently in deep financial trouble, and no one has come up with a good solution [“NUMC needs an overhaul,” Editorial, March 3].

Veterans Affairs has a clinic on the NUMC grounds. How about having the VA take over NUMC, with the understanding that it still must serve the local community? The Northport VA Medical Center is overwhelmed and in disrepair, so NUMC would take much of the pressure off it.

Another solution would be to have either NYU Langone or Northwell Health take over the management of NUMC. They are experienced medical operators that have the necessary procedures in place to run a hospital.

— Matthew Seinberg, Wantagh