Motorcycle crashes, Jewish vote, Nassau County payroll

Young motorcyclists are not invincible

Last week, I drove two days on the Meadowbrook Parkway when traffic was moving slowly. On both days, motorcycles came shooting through between lanes. Obviously, the cyclists had no patience with the slow traffic [“Number of fatal LI motorcycle crashes surging,” News, July 31].

The article mentions the problems on our streets, with accidents occurring when drivers making turns don’t see cyclists.

I fortunately have never witnessed a motorcycle accident on a street, but I have witnessed several on the Meadowbrook and other highways, including cyclists being airlifted. Also, a neighbor was injured in a motorcycle crash and became a paraplegic.

Young people especially seem to think they are invincible. They should remember that all it takes is one accident or misjudgment to change their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

— Ruby Heiman, Lido Beach

I was surprised by the reckless driving by motorcyclists on the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. It’s surprising that the number of fatalities isn’t much higher. Daredevil actions by motorcyclists are frightening — driving in and out of the HOV lane, creating their own lanes between cars and excessive speed. It’s amazing I don’t see more accidents than those noted in the article.

— Ed Feinberg, Commack

I observe a tremendous amount of “lane splitting” by motorcyclists on all of Long Island, particularly the Southern State Parkway, and Belt Parkway, too. This action is illegal in New York State. We need more police cruising thoroughfares.

— Edward Marlatt, Mattituck

Jews don’t have a dilemma in ’24 vote

Randi F. Marshall says Jewish voters have a dilemma in this year’s presidential election [“Where do Jewish voters go in 2024?”, Opinion, July 31]. But they don’t have a dilemma.

A comparison between both candidates reveals clear differences. In December, former President Donald Trump used a quote from Adolf Hitler, referring to migrants “poisoning the blood of our country.” Hitler used that quote about Jews.

Lately, Trump has said Jews who support his opponent instead of him are stupid. Quoting Hitler’s antisemitic comment and insulting Jews’ intelligence are poor tactics to persuade Jewish voters.

Trump’s Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, didn’t attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Vice President Kamala Harris’ Jewish spouse, Doug Emhoff, and her stepchildren will attend the Democratic convention in Chicago to support her.

One similarity between the two candidates is that neither is Jewish.

— Josh Paul, Islip Terrace

I’ll agree that Jews are not a monolithic voting bloc. Punctuated by a lot of “mays” and “mights,” Randi F. Marshall concedes that Donald Trump has a point that many Jews are wary of Kamala Harris, untethered and unmoored.

I think her political crystal ball, though, needs a tune-up. “Many Jews” whom I know understand the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These Jews can empathize with Israel following the horrific, unprovoked Oct. 7 attack and still be aghast at the destruction rained upon many innocent men, women and children in Palestine.

Barring this one issue for Zionist voters, it’s clear to me that Harris and the Democratic Party platform would relieve any uncertainty about who has “our” backs, meaning the backs of all Americans.

— David Zimmerman, Huntington

Randi F. Marshall presented a simplistic column on whom Jews should vote for, Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. The antisemitic labeling of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is one of the problems of social media, spreading hatred and misinformation. However, one should not vote based on one issue.

Many important issues exist in this year’s election: climate change, especially rising sea levels; an assault weapons ban; America’s membership in NATO; a more progressive tax law to deal with our growing national debt; additional funding for Social Security and Medicare; campaign reform, and more aid to children living in poverty are important issues facing our nation.

One should vote based on how the candidates say they will deal with these issues.

— John Boughal, Bayport

Nassau’s payroll spike isn’t a surprise at all

No surprise here about how ludicrous Nassau County’s payroll has become under County Executive Bruce Blakeman [“Nassau’s payroll rises $74.7M, Suffolk up $15.7M,” News, July 28]. As is often the case, Republicans like Blakeman complain about “overspending” by prior administrations — until they get into office and spend our money on their friends and cronies as a reward for supporting their candidacies.

How much of that payroll went to Nassau employees constructing and hanging “Bruce A. Blakeman” signs throughout the county?

— Ira Checkla, Jericho