FBI's Mar-a-Lago search, beach water, and food relief

Trump and the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago

Following the Aug. 8 search at Mar-a-Lago, the reaction has been dangerous. Just days later, a man identified as Ricky Shiffer arrived heavily armed at the Cincinnati FBI office; he was subsequently killed in a gun battle with police [“Gunman’s social media examined,” News, Aug. 13].

Various Republican congressmen and congresswomen have vilified the FBI and agents’ home addresses have been posted on social media. The FBI is on high alert as agents fear for their lives and their families’ lives.

Former President Donald Trump has to go on television channels, social media platforms, radio, and interviews to quell the impending, as well as the present, violence. He needs to admit to his mistakes, and he needs to unequivocally tell his supporters that he may have violated the law, and that he will accept the legal consequences, whatever they may be. Further, he needs to clearly let his supporters know that attacks on any and all law enforcement are wrong and unacceptable to him. They will listen to him. No “Stand down and stand by.” No “We love you.” Just courage and common sense.

— Steven J. Blasko, Ridge

Yes, I see the need for consistency in the support of law enforcement — for repeat criminals, for illegal immigration, for city riots posing as civil rights activism. Do you?

— James Carollo, Amagansett

Several members of my family are police officers or otherwise involved in law enforcement, and I have worked in the court system myself in many venues, and have friends and neighbors who are police officers. If any harm came to them, I wouldn’t hesitate to speak out about it.

The reason I mention this is because there seems to be a lack of response by former President Donald Trump regarding the attack in his name on the FBI office, either criticizing it, decrying it, stating that this is not the answer, or asking his followers to not seek violence against others.

While we hear a lot about “Back the Blue” in response to “Defund the Police,” I cannot understand why a former president would not take a moment out of his day to speak out for those many people who serve this country in the FBI.

Politics should not and cannot be a valid excuse for violence in this country.

— Robert J. Pollack, Bellmore

Interesting that the FBI circus surrounding former President Donald Trump’s supposed violation of the Espionage Act comes when Joe Biden’s son has been shown to have received millions in payments from a Chinese energy company.

— Michael Quane, South Hempstead

Find a way to keep beach water safe

During my lifetime we have put a man on the moon, built instant global communication, and developed mind-boggling technology, and yet after every major rainstorm we continue to have to close area beaches to swimming due to unsafe bacteria levels [“11 more beaches in Suffolk are closed,” News, Aug. 14].

As a lifelong Long Islander, I find this unacceptable and I challenge our elected officials to solve this long-standing unhealthy issue.

— Philip Kirk, Sea Cliff

More LI families need food assistance

The number of Black and Hispanic families impacted by inflation and visiting the five emergency food pantries that Long Island Cares operates in Nassau and Suffolk counties has increased dramatically “People of Color Hit Hardest by Food Prices,” LI Business, Aug. 15].

We have seen a total increase — July 2021 versus July 2022 — of 67% to our pantries in Freeport, Lindenhurst, Bethpage, Huntington Station and Hampton Bays. Those numbers equate to 80,000 meals served last month versus the 47,000 meals served in July 2021.

Long Island is one of the hardest-hit areas in the metropolitan New York region. The number of food-insecure Long Islanders stands at 229,000 — 74% of whom are people of color. What is causing this massive wave of visitors to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other locations offering emergency food?

Inflation, for sure. But other serious problems include unemployment, underemployment, poverty and federal guidelines for receiving SNAP benefits that shut out thousands of needy people who make too much money to qualify but not enough to feed their families three nutritious meals a day.

Food pantries on Long Island have become a vital part of the lives of Long Islanders of color.

— Paule Pachter, Hauppauge

The writer is chief executive of Long Island Cares — The Harry Chapin Food Bank.