Ending NY Clean Pass, GOP and Dems, federal shutdown, Mets' loss
A sign indicates last month that Clean Pass vehicles were allowed in the Long Island Expressway HOV lanes. That program ended Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Ending Clean Pass clogs lanes for all
The Clean Pass program needs to be extended [“LIE slowdown predicted as Clean Pass program ends for HOV lanes,” News, Sept. 30]. On Wednesday morning, it took me almost an hour to commute to work from Medford to Hauppauge because the program ended a day earlier. I have a Clean Pass vehicle, and it used to take me just about half an hour.
The program benefited those who do not have a Clean Pass vehicle, too. It freed up congestion on the main lanes by allowing cars that would normally be there to drive in the HOV lane. The program also encouraged those who commute during normal business hours to buy or lease cleaner vehicles, and that helps the environment.
When I used the HOV lane with my Clean Pass vehicle, traffic always moved well, and the main lanes also moved better.
— Scott Puma, Medford
Parties stake claims on who serves all
Joe Cairo, Nassau County Republican Party chairman, claims the GOP is now “the party of the people” [“LI minority voters leaving Democratic Party behind,” News, Sept. 30]. Nothing could be further from the truth — even with the continuing and stunning silence of Jay Jacobs, the state Democratic Party chair. Cairo’s party is not the party of the people; it’s the party of President Donald Trump.
The Democrats need to reclaim their reputation as the party of the people.
— Beth Abrahams, Oyster Bay
The article omits an important point — the ability to vote in primaries. New York is one of many states that has a “closed” primary system. Many states have open primaries that allow voters to vote in any primary election regardless of party registration. In New York, however, a voter must be a registered party member as of Feb. 14 in order to vote in that year’s primary election.
By choosing to be unaffiliated or independent, the voters have disqualified themselves from voting in any primary that determines who the candidates will be. I believe this is not made clear to new voters.
Indeed, primary campaigns can often make a critical difference, especially in a district that consistently tends to favor one party over the other. Just look at the result of this year’s New York City Democratic mayoral primary. Voters are still free to choose whoever they wish in the general election, but primary voters play a pivotal role in the choice of candidates who will be in it.
— Michael Steuer, Smithtown
Gridlock hurts us till both sides yield
The only solution to our government shutdown is negotiations, not blame, fake AI videos, or outright lies [“Prolonged federal shutdown could take toll on Island residents, services,” News, Oct. 1]. Asking the Democrats to sign off on a “clean bill” now and negotiate over the next seven weeks is like asking someone to pay sticker price of a new vehicle and then negotiate a new price after taking possession of the vehicle.
The reality is that the Democrats have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We’re still a democracy. Threats by President Donald Trump to fire people are only telegraphing what he is likely to do anyway. A hard line by congressional Republicans likely will end with them losing face.
Real negotiations mean that each side has to give a little to walk away with at least part of what they want.
— William Lapof, East Islip
Why aren’t our elected representatives subject to the government shutdown? I can’t imagine a more appropriate group to not be paid during the shutdown. On both sides of the aisle. If they were not getting paid, there would be no issue, would there?
— John Napolitano, Williston Park
Winning matters more than promotions
If the Mets are truly sorry about this season’s failure, they’ll clean house [“Sorry excuses aren’t enough from the prez,” Sports, Sept. 30]. The first guy to go should be Jake Bye, the senior vice president of sales and marketing, who thinks that his fan-friendly programs increase attendance and that the game’s result almost doesn’t matter because fans often “don’t even remember details of what happened on the field” [“How Mets boosted attendance 38% at Citi Field this season,” News, Sept. 28]. Talk about out of touch.
The fan experience starts with winning, which puts people in the seats more than anything else. Real fans don’t care about mascot races, loud music and sushi.
— Michael Tuthill, Huntington
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