WCBS 880 signoff, nonprofit exec salaries, Supreme Court term limits, housing shortage
In September 1980, WCBS-AM's Ellen Mitchell, center in black slacks, and other reporters cover a protest against LILCO's building a nuclear power plant in Shoreham. Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Mitchell
Final Newsradio 88 signoff will be sad
On Monday, I celebrated my 86th birthday. The next day, I learned that the place where years ago I spent my long news reporting career, Newsradio 88, has lost its relevance and will close shop on Aug. 26 [“All-news station WCBS/880 AM will end its run,” News, Aug. 13].
Older readers may recall my signature signoff: “On Long Island, this is Ellen Mitchell.” If you tuned in to Newsradio 88, you heard it day and night. Those were indeed the glory days of radio news.
Today, young people access news from social media. Older generations get their news on television and computer, and a dwindling number read a newspaper. Some still catch it on car radios between songs.
So, it was sad indeed for me when I read of WCBS’ impending demise. I still have hundreds, maybe thousands of 6-by-9-inch steno pads packed away in steamer trunks, filled with notes from headline-grabbing stories such as the Long Island Rail Road massacre, the “Amityville Horror,” and the “Long Island Lolita,” Amy Fisher.
I covered protests, loud and long, over LILCO’s building a nuclear power plant at Shoreham. Carrying a large tape recorder and hand microphone, I reported at the nearest telephone booth or landline.
Mario Cuomo was lieutenant governor then, and at events I covered, he’d often ask me what was happening on Long Island. I told him about the Shoreham protests. The plant never opened.
— Ellen Mitchell, Huntington
Limit nonprofit pay, and exodus to start
New Suffolk County legislation would limit the county from funding a nonprofit if any employee is paid more than the New York State governor’s budgeted salary, currently $250,000 [“Nonprofit exec pay targeted,” News, Aug. 8].
While the intent to save taxpayer money might be understandable, it is unfeasible and carries unintended consequences both for nonprofits that operate in the county and the individuals they serve.
This bill would create a mass exodus of large, hardworking nonprofits from doing business with and within Suffolk County. It potentially would force Suffolk to contract only with smaller nonprofits that may not be equipped for the large population of Suffolk and its unique needs.
Long Island is known for having excellent nonprofits. This bill will show them the door and contribute to New York’s exodus of talent and leaders.
— Nicole Weingartner, Astoria
The writer co-chairs the Viscardi Advisory Council, a disabilities organization in Nassau County, and is a member of the AHRC Suffolk Foundation Board.
Justices are different from elected officials
A reader criticized President Joe Biden’s advocacy for Supreme Court term limits because of Biden’s own longtime government service “Biden suggests term limits — now?,” Letters, Aug. 13].
Apparently, the reader doesn’t appreciate the difference between standing for election every six years and being appointed for life.
Biden had to submit financial disclosure forms and face the electorate six times as a senator. He could have been removed had the voters chosen to do so. On the other hand, we have one Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas, who has accepted undeclared gifts valued at over $4 million, and Samuel Alito, who has accepted an unknown amount as well.
Both failed to disclose many of these gifts or to recuse themselves from decisions directly affecting these “friends.”
Despite these miscues, nothing can be done to hold the justices accountable. That is why term limits are needed.
— Cynthia Lovecchio, Remsenburg
Build more houses — and shortage ends
There wouldn’t be a shortage of homes if houses were built instead of apartments “Record LI home prices,” LI Business, July 25]. It’s not like there isn’t a market for homes.
Developers just get more profit from rentals. Bring this up the next time there’s a zoning change request.
— Steve Birkeland, Bayport
Where does Suffolk’s bus fine income go?
I was surprised to see how much money was pulled in fines from these so-called school bus camera offenses “School bus camera suit tossed,” News, Aug. 6]. What surprised me more was how much Suffolk County received — 55% of $46 million. That’s a lot of money. Where did it or does it go? Certainly not to lowering taxpayers’ bills.
Who is benefiting from this money? Where is the transparency when it comes time to questioning money that the county receives?
— Camille Morselli, Islip Terrace
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