NYS teachers union, SNAP and homelessness, Greenway, AI controls

Weighing value of NY teachers union

David Griffith’s excellent piece about the unholy union between the massive money of the New York State United Teachers union (NYSUT) and the condition of public school education in our state cannot be overstated [“Giving in to teachers unions, at a cost,” Opinion, Sept. 18]. As a retired public schoolteacher of 31 years, I’ve seen how this state spends more money per pupil than any other state yet ranks between 25th and 30th in various test-score rankings.

It’s not just the excessive number of school districts on Long Island, with their cadre of administrators and excessively low teacher-to-student ratios, but the constant drumbeat from NYSUT and the legislators they handsomely donate to under the premise that the kids need more money from taxpayers.

The kids apparently don’t benefit from NYSUT employees getting better salaries and pensions. It is well past time that state legislators craft school choice legislation that 26 other states already have, giving public schools the only thing that will make them better for our children — competition.

— Bruce Bennett, Centereach

I am a retired president of the Hewlett-Woodmere Faculty Association and a former member of the NYSUT board of directors. David Griffith ignores the ticking school budget time bomb that the original 2012 provisions of Tier 6 had established.

The oldest Tier 6 teachers are now in their late 30s. Without the reduction in retirement age to 58, these teachers, many of whom will undoubtedly be earning $200,000-plus salaries in 20 years, would remain on district payrolls to at least age 63. In my former district, these five extra years would cost $1.2 million per teacher. You can argue about the influence of teacher unions. You cannot argue with arithmetic.

— Ric Stark, Oceanside

Fix home problems before funding war

I don’t understand: Our government so far has spent $38 billion on a war that may go on and on, yet we have millions of homeless and hungry people in our country that we don’t help [“Iran war has cost $38B,” News, Sept. 16].

Benefits for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, have been cut, and so many services are no longer available because they’re not cost-effective. But this war isn’t cost-effective in the eyes of most Americans.

How I wish the government would take care of all our people rather than frivolously waste taxpayer dollars on this war and all the other wasteful causes in Washington, such as the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the golden arch, and the ballroom.

Let’s help our people and stop all the wasteful spending, and stop this war.

— Barbara Gilman, Old Bethpage

Greenway proposal offers safer path

Until now, the proposed Long Island Greenway project has largely flown under the radar [“Greenway gets the green light,” News, Aug. 30]. For years, Long Island has been shortchanged when it comes to off-road recreational paths that encourage walkers, runners, cyclists, skaters, and anyone else trying to avoid traffic-clogged streets.

Our streets and highways have become increasingly dangerous as distracted and reckless drivers often don’t see or ignore people who are on foot or riding a bicycle.

As a former road cyclist who switched to mountain bicycles just to get away from the madness of competing for space with 3-ton trucks and SUVs, these paths present a nice third option: a smooth surface where you can often pedal along for a few miles before you have to stop and cross a major road.

Experiencing the North Shore Rail Trail that runs from the edge of Port Jefferson to Wading River has been a pleasure compared with riding along Route 25A.

For many years, I dreamed of such a route and explored the idea of running a path along utility lines. I only hope that the project can get nearly as much support in Nassau County as it has in Suffolk.

— Denis Byrne, Belle Terre

Proper AI controls require real experts

I think many people have the same concerns as I do about not having proper controls on the development of AI.

Tech leaders, who both have firsthand knowledge and expertise in this fast-growing technology, have fears about the dangers it could pose long term and in the near future.

This makes it reasonable and necessary to look deeper into the safety and speed with which it is advancing.

President Donald Trump posted that he is the only guardrail needed because of how “STRONG AND SMART” he is [“Trump decries ‘SICK conspiracy’ against AI,” Nation, Sept. 15].

I would rather listen to the experts in AI than to someone who once said, “I alone can fix it.”

— Brenda Ferrante, Lindenhurst