Nepotism, MTA oversight, adding LIRR spur, rich people going to space
Billionaire Jared Isaacman of New Jersey, exiting a SpaceX capsule after it landed in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 15. He became the first nonprofessional astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Credit: AP
Champion a bill against nepotism
Nepotism and related cronyism are natural, familiar tendencies [“Experts: Political patronage, nepotism flourishes,” News, Sept. 30]. We understand. But we also understand the many ways they corrupt and especially damage democratic government.
Sadly, we depend upon the beneficiaries, the politicians, to overcome the inertia of self-interest to serve the public interest by legislating constraints on such personal urges. But to leave it at “it’s always been with us” is to be complicit. It need not be so — limits have been imposed and more can be.
Having these examples thrust in our faces should be sufficient insult for Nassau County voters to demand additional limitations. It is, after all, election season for several candidates.
Have we a champion among the candidates to compose a bill? Shall we not challenge each at their upcoming events? It’s in our faces now. Shall we turn away?
— Brian Kelly, Rockville Centre
Need MTA oversight by control board
Kudos to Steve Levy for his op-ed on mismanagement by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority [“MTA woes cry out for control board,” Opinion, Sept. 24].
This seemingly incompetent use of public funds has gone on for years, and the only solution ever offered is increasing the budget and raising fares. This puts a heavy burden on the commuters and the taxpayers.
The idea of a state-authorized financial control board is a realistic approach to help rein in the out-of-control costs and to restore public confidence in a runaway fiscal sinkhole. The state should seriously consider this proposal because nothing the MTA has done has controlled a spiraling budget.
— Louis Lupinacci, St. James
The MTA board is permitted to police itself [“MTA board approves record $68.4B spending,” News, Sept. 26]. How is that allowed to happen?
The MTA, which is mismanaged and does not seem to police its employees, is an abomination. Of course they approve money. Why not? We, the taxpayers, provide an endless supply of revenue.
Why don’t we have a fiscal control board? After all, it is our money. Just who makes these rules?
— Barbara Hansen, Smithtown
Adding LIRR spur would help all of LI
The article “Warehouses multiply on LI” [LI Business, Sept. 29] was excellent. Now, build a freight rail spur if commercially feasible. The location at the former Computer Associates headquarters in progressive, pro-business Islandia is close to the electrified tracks of the Long Island Railroad, which would love the traffic and revenue from the rail spur.
The rail spur would decrease truck traffic, improve efficiency, and increase profits and tax revenue, points made about other rail spurs pitched for various places on Long Island. Efficiency must be championed to benefit all Long Islanders.
This concept should be discussed all around Long Island, utilizing a partnership of business, local government and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Shouldn’t a Nassau-Suffolk bus be waiting for every rush hour train?
Long Island can become “heaven on Earth” for most of us if we work for a common benefit. NIMBYism must give way for a mutual benefit for all.
We are choking on traffic. We must think ahead for the mutual benefit of our beautiful Long Island.
— Alan H. Cohn, Nesconset
Very rich help many when spending bucks
There have always been the uber-rich and the very poor [“Spacewalk spectacle is a disquieting sight,” Opinion, Sept. 15]. Today’s poor, though, live better than the poor did in the past.
When the uber-rich spend their money, it goes round and round. How many employees at SpaceX were involved in this flight? How many people did they employ when they spent their money? Does SpaceX use this money to further its development? Didn’t Christopher Columbus get his funding from the uber-rich Queen Isabella of Spain?
What would be preferable, that the rich not spend their money? Would it be preferable that they did not make the money they do? Don’t the innovations that the companies created and the products they provide benefit us all?
As a working musician, I was enabled by the money spent by the rich for me to live a better life. It enabled many others to do the same.
I applaud those who have been so very successful and encourage them to spend more and more of their fortune.
— Roy Sperrazza, Northport
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