Does vaccine order put children at risk?
President Donald Trump, by executive order, has encouraged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to risk the health of some American children, the most vulnerable among us [“Trump signs exec order on vax schedule,” News, Aug. 11].
If his lead is followed, Trump’s arbitrary decision to make vaccinations harder to get — backed by no science or evidence — could result in some deaths. We’ve already seen children dying of measles because of baseless fears of vaccines. Trump’s order must be resisted.
Congress should act to stop this horrifying attack on America’s health before it gets out of hand.
— Carl Fink, Greenlawn
A teacher’s warning on hidden bullying
For many years, I taught in my home district, which was listed as having only two bullying incidents in an entire year. That is laughable and clearly was underreported [“LI bullying may be bigger issue,” News, Aug. 10].
As a teacher, I am required by law to report bullying incidents, or I could lose my job.
In one incident, a group of elementary-age girls was bullying a newly enrolled girl from Russia, who spoke limited English, during recess on the field. I found out and made the group lose the last 15 minutes of recess, standing along a wall by the door. It was handled well, or so I thought.
One girl, who happened to be my next-door neighbor, admitted she was wrong, and apologized to the girl. Yet she told her mother that I had “punished her for no reason.” The mother never asked me what happened and apparently just assumed I had it in for her daughter. Many years later, we still have no interaction.
Parents, take responsibility and teach your children to be kind to others.
— Barbara Obstgarten, Port Jefferson Station
Stricter lending could tame prices
The ever-escalating, inflationary house prices are a little too close to home, a reminder of the runaway prices of the mid-2000s “Record prices slow sales of existing U.S. homes by 1.7%,” LI Business, Aug. 12].
There is only one way to curtail this upward spiral. Lenders must adhere to strict lending practices and ensure that the minimum 20% down payment is made and mortgage/escrow payments do not crush the monthly household income.
I bought my first home on Long Island in 1975. Those were the standards that lenders followed. To those who might say those qualifications don’t apply here or elsewhere in 2026, that’s simply because housing prices have become inflated.
It’s easier to fall within those guidelines if the overheated price of $750,000 were a more realistic $550,000.
— Michael Genzale, Shoreham
Private water firm shut out of grants
The war on Iran has not only driven up worldwide gas prices but also heightened cybersecurity threats to our most essential resource — water [“LI to get $4M for water systems defense,” News, Aug. 3].
Public water districts on Long Island are eligible for millions of dollars in grants from Gov. Kathy Hochul to strengthen cybersecurity. Liberty Utilities is not eligible for grants. Because it is a for-profit utility, Liberty must fund its $6 million cybersecurity investment by raising its water rates. In addition to rising town and county property taxes, Liberty’s customers will bear that cost, as part of the company’s 37% rate increase proposed to take effect in April.
How much longer will the South Nassau Water Authority’s town- and county- appointed commissioners delay the public acquisition of Liberty Water? How many more millions of dollars will Liberty’s ratepayers be forced to pay for investments that municipal water systems are receiving through state grants?
— Claudia Borecky, Merrick
The writer is co-director of LI Clean Air Water & Soil.
More hearings raise more open questions
Immigration advocates have not made a compelling case that mega master court hearings raise due process concerns [“How mass hearings accelerate LI immigrant cases,” News, Aug. 12]. An increase in hearings will likely coincide with an increase in deportations, but far more empirical evidence is needed to draw a statistical connection between the pace and deportations.
— Adam Fisher, Massapequa
Illegal ticket fees deserve refunds, now
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman should do the right thing by convincing the Nassau County Legislature to refund illegal red light camera fees and show voters that he really is for the people [“Nassau should pay for ticket fee grab,” Editorial, Aug. 12].
When drivers face penalties, registration holds, vehicle booting and towing, civil judgments, and possible liens, ticket payment no longer becomes “voluntary.” This is tantamount to extortion.
If Blakeman wants votes for governor, he must not pass the buck. Take the bull by the horns.
— Michael Zisner, Bethpage
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