Just Sayin': Public invited to Nassau hearings

Public invited to Nassau hearings

Every 10 years, Nassau County’s legislative districts must be redrawn to reflect change in communities and ensure that all residents are fairly represented. The Nassau County Temporary Districting Advisory Commission is tasked with submitting redistricting recommendations and all plans for dividing the county Legislature into 19 districts.

The commission will publish its proposed mapping plan Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. and deliver it to the Legislature 3½ hours later. Unlike the process used to draw congressional and our state Senate and Assembly districts this year, this allows little time for communities to evaluate their maps and deliver comments.

It’s important that before then that the public -- residents, community organizations and leaders -- express their views regarding how the districts should be configured, either at meetings or by emailing a statement to LegPublicComment@nassaucountyny.gov.

All county residents are encouraged to attend one of the remaining hearings and provide comments and input on how your community should be represented. All hearings begin at 6 p.m.; check for locations TBA: Sept. 28 at Long Beach City Hall, 1 W. Chester St.; Oct. 13 at Freeport TBA; Oct. 18 at Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen St.; Oct. 20 at Albany Avenue Community Center, 214 N. Albany Ave., North Massapequa; Oct. 25 at Elmont TBA; TBA at Hicksville.

A map of current districts is at nassaucountyny.gov/503/District-Map. Contact us at lwvofnassaucounty.org.

Michele C. Lamberti, Port Washington

The writer is a co-chair of the Redistricting Committee of the League of Women Voters of Nassau County.

Plastic pollution a threat to beaches

We've all heard the warnings about pollution, but it's easy to think that it's a distant problem. Here on Long Island, plastic pollution affects us directly. Not only does it make a mess of our beaches, but it also threatens marine ecosystems.

Long Island acts as a breeding ground for marine life all over the world. But many people lead wasteful lifestyles leading to plastic pollution, threatening marine ecosystems. Plastic takes thousands of years to degrade and ends up in oceans. Plastic pollution has detrimental effects on wildlife, from shrimp ingesting deadly microplastics to seals getting caught in fishing nets. This has the potential to collapse marine ecosystems, driving away animals we are seeing on the island for the first time in years.

Although it's easy to feel helpless, we can get involved. We can make easy sustainable lifestyle changes, like opting for plastic-free alternatives. Long Islanders can get involved with New York Marine Rescue Center, a nonprofit rescue and release organization that treats animals suffering the consequences of plastic pollution. Volunteers help the center try to prevent plastic pollution from destroying our beaches.

Ava Merced, Shoreham

Why is the left obsessed with Trump?

I was surprised that Newsday would print "Send migrants' buses to Mar-a-Lago instead" [Just Sayin', Sept. 3]. he reader and others seem to have an obsession with former President Donald Trump. What are these people afraid of? The reader also writes that if migrants are sent to Mar-a-Lago, they could do jobs such as housekeeping, landscaping and maintenance. I find that insulting, racist and condescending, words that Democrats use when describing Republicans. This reader apparently leans to the left. Imagine if the letter was written by a Republican.

Michael Appice, Westbury

Still waiting for our tax system fixes

I am also exasperated about Nassau County's property taxes ["It's time to fix broken property tax system," Just Sayin', Sept. 10]. We voted for Bruce Blakeman for county executive because he promised to lower our taxes, so why hasn’t he taken action on that? Under the previous county executive, our taxes went through the roof and many of us homeowners were forced to consider selling our beloved homes. Blakeman was supposed to offer relief. When?

Angelo Vetrano, Village of Floral Park