Teaching students, job applications, GOP on migrants, utility bills, Barbie 

Teach our students how to succeed

The cover headline relating to the poll of Long Island CEOs should have read “Job applicants not properly prepared” instead of “Job applicants not qualified” News, Jan. 26].

I could not help but wonder if this is a result of no testing in schools, no formal dress code requirements, no training in job search techniques (like interviewing, resume writing, sending thank you notes, etc.), and no social skills development, such as how to communicate in person, how to effectively listen, how courtesy is important, how to participate in team development, etc.

Top these off with a lack of emphasis on good writing and grammar skills and an inability to limit cellphone usage, and I am not surprised at the conclusion drawn by the panel of experts. What the article misses is that remediation is available. Perhaps not enough schools have this preparation in mind?

I worked as a human resources administrator for over 35 years with all forms of responsibilities, including recruitment, training, and employee development. Many Long Island companies offer seminars and workshops on subjects of job preparation. This could only help.

— Charles Guder, Valley Stream

GOP’s complaints on migrants hollow

Republicans and conservatives have claimed for years that the influx of undocumented immigrants is ruining our country. Yet as the Senate proposes legislation to address this issue, along with aid for Ukraine and Israel, House Speaker Mike Johnson said this is not the right time for comprehensive immigration reform [“Johnson warns Senate against border deal,” News, Jan. 27]. And former President Donald Trump decries the legislation as a gift to Democrats.

Clearly, the defeat of President Joe Biden is more important to the GOP than resolving the immigration issue.

— Michael Cooney, Massapequa Park

Congressional Republicans are playing a dangerous political game with possibly dire consequences.

They are not voting to fund Ukraine and Israel without southern border concessions. Imagine Ukraine losing the war and Russian President Vladimir Putin gaining the confidence to overrun Europe, knowing full well that America will not support European democracy. How long before Russian forces are at that same southern border? Then what?

This is not a game. Ukraine funding stands between democracy and worldwide authoritarian rule.

— Michael Zisner, Bethpage

Hochul should put cap on utility bills

By New York State policy, gas use was encouraged as a public good. How times have changed [“Seeking to end ‘100-foot-rule,’ ” News, Jan. 22].

Discouraging use of natural gas that is overheating and polluting the air and ocean must be a priority for Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature.

Simply put, one reason our gas bills keep rising is because gas companies profit from the service fees they charge for their investment in new hookups and related infrastructure. As more homes are built all-electric or retrofit electric, fewer people will need these hookups, leaving the rest of us to pay for them. It’s not fair.

Hochul has sensibly included in her budget the end of the rules that guarantee these profits for gas companies. She must go one step further and help our neediest community members, those on limited incomes like the elderly, for whom living on Long Island is a painful financial stretch.

A cap on their utility bills would not be at all painful for the rest of us if those service fees stopped skyrocketing. That cap was part of the original NY Heat Act, and it should not be discarded.

— Alexa Marinos, North Babylon

This ‘Barbie’ message isn’t Mom’s favorite

I am not enamored with the “Barbie” movie, as most audiences and some award nominators seem to be [“Diving into Oscars numbers,” exploreLI, Jan. 26]. I certainly support the empowerment message, and I cheer America Ferrara’s description of how a woman is perceived.

However, did no one else’s jaw drop when, after that beautiful speech, Ferrara’s character then asked Will Ferrell’s character to create a Barbie that was not a senator or a lawyer, but “just a mom” — I thought we retired that phrase many years ago — and it would be called “Ordinary Barbie”?

“Just” a mom? Ordinary? Did this not contradict a main point of the story? If a woman doesn’t have an “important” occupation, she is ordinary? Funny, I thought “mom” was a pretty powerful, important, impactful job, just with lousy pay.

As with many progress reports about women’s lives, it seems to be one step forward, two steps back.

— Roberta Comerchero, Commack