Assault on cops, human rights law, franchise tax and more

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January 6? No more cops attacked in 2020

Unfortunately the cops are going to have a bad day [” ‘This is how I’m going to die,’ ” News, July 28]. This is the nature of police work. I feel bad for what the Capitol and Metro police encountered on January 6th.

But the incident only lasted a day and, make no mistake, it was a bad day. Do you remember the riots of 2020? What about the NYPD, Seattle, Portland, and Chicago police departments, and those in other cities? Police in some of these towns supported the protesters for weeks. In Seattle, it was months.

Officers in 2020 faced a lot more abuse – assaults, looting, arson, throwing stones and bottles, burning police cars. Why does Congress not have these officers testify? Why doesn’t Newsday devote a page to these officers?

– John Fallon, Kings Park

The writer has served as a lieutenant in the Nassau County Police Department for the last 20 years of a 37-year career.

Police should be within human rights law

The proposal to include the police in the Nassau County human rights law comes at a time when police morale is at an all-time low, living in an atmosphere where their lives have been trivialized [“Bill would let police seek damages,” News, July 31].

The hateful “copophobic” opposition to this idea demonstrates the very reason it is so vital.

– Kevin Lowry, Rockville Center

The writer retired as head of the Nassau County Police Department.

Blame the franchise tax for high water tariffs

Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch recently wrote a guest essay that misleads our country’s leaders by blocking private sector participation in improving water services and infrastructure. [“Nassau’s water lesson for the nation,” Opinion, July 26].

Weltman argued that private ownership of New York American Water increased costs to taxpayers. The point is, taxes represent 31-55% of the total water bill paid by Long Island water company customers. These taxes, including the special franchise tax, are set by the government and not by the water companies. This unfair franchise tax has a huge impact on water costs, not New York American Water.

Weltman fails to recognize the strategic and growing investments of water companies that help ensure greater compliance with drinking water standards and better quality water for customers.

As our country faces a growing water infrastructure crisis, an “all the above” strategy will be needed, as the needs are too great for a single sector to cope on its own. It is shortsighted to think that only the federal government should employ resources and capabilities to come up with solutions.

– Robert Powelson, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

The writer is President and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies.

Renewable energy will help our portfolios

Electricity tariffs are understandably important for tariff-weary Long Islanders [“Full rate impact of all-green energy unclear,” News, July 26]. But it’s important to realize that we’ll be saving a lot of money by switching from fossil fuels to renewables. Burning fossil fuels is creating our climate crisis, forcing us to pay for massive disaster relief and skyrocketing insurance in areas prone to flooding and wildfires. There is also a price to pay in health care, especially heart and respiratory problems.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo knows what he is doing by pushing for more renewable energy. Consider the total cost to all of us, not just the electricity rates.

– Alden J. Pearl, Valley Stream

Act now to stop reckless driving

We can all write countless letters about reckless driving, but something must be done [“Fed up with LI’s reckless, bad drivers,” Letters, Aug. 1]. Who reads these letters next to Newsday customers? Why is nothing being done? This terrible behavior has been going on for a long time. Why don’t I ever see the police on the Southern State Parkway? It is time for the police to act.

– Maureen Savin, Lindenhurst

LIRR misses non-withdrawn tickets

On a recent trip on the Long Island Rail Road from Jamaica to Islip, the driver checked tickets immediately after leaving Jamaica and we did not see her for the entire trip.

During this 12-stop trip, at least a dozen people got into our car – no more tickets were collected. It was only one in probably ten cars on that particular train.

This is a considerable loss of income, especially if it is a common practice [“LIRR fare hikes put off,” News, July 21].

– John C. Mayer, Bay Shore

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