Traffic stops, White House reconstruction, Jan. 6 riots, Santos

Traffic stops judged by facts, not race

The article “Study: Latinos in Suffolk pulled over disproportionately” [News, Oct. 15] incorrectly suggests that findings from a study by LatinoJustice PRLDEF and Millbank LLP differ from those in a separate report prepared by Stonewall Analytics for the Suffolk County Police Department. Simply put, the most critical conclusions are the same.

Both reports found no evidence of bias in traffic stops based on the “veil of darkness” test. Only 1.3% of traffic stops led to vehicle/person searches, with only one-third of those searches involving Hispanic drivers or their vehicles — fewer than two searches per day.

It’s worth noting that Newsday’s “Dangerous Roads” series rightly highlights the high number of unlicensed drivers, unregistered vehicles, and serious crash locations across the county. These are the very issues that guide our enforcement efforts.

Traffic enforcement is driven by crash patterns, officer deployment, and other operational factors — not population demographics. Using census data as a benchmark ignores these realities. However, to address potential disparities in “stop” outcomes, I assigned a leadership team from the commissioner’s office to review hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage.

The review determined that enforcement actions were more likely when drivers were unlicensed, driving unregistered vehicles, speeding, or committing multiple infractions, especially in high-crash areas. This is a concern for law enforcement that cannot be minimized, as it creates unsafe driving conditions for the public and challenges for officers.

The SCPD’s role in traffic safety is paramount, and our department remains committed to ensuring equitable and effective enforcement.

Suggesting that either report found bias in traffic enforcement not only undermines the trust we’ve built with the Latino community but also detracts from the shared goal of safer roads in every single community in this county.

— Kevin Catalina, Yaphank

The writer is the Suffolk County police commissioner.

Nothing good about ruining White House

In most years, when a new president is elected, he makes changes to the White House. They may rearrange furniture, buy new dishes, or paint the walls, but President Donald Trump felt the need to put gold leaf on practically everything, turning our beautiful and elegant White House and Oval Office into something gaudy and cheap. But that wasn’t enough. Next, he paved over the Rose Garden lawn, turning it into what looks like an Applebee’s patio.

Now, most shocking and appalling of all is the construction of the new ballroom, which includes ripping up an exterior wall of the White House [“Demolition starts for WH ballroom,” State & Nation, Oct. 22].

This is not his house. This is my house. This is your house. This is the people’s house! The White House exterior should be restored to its original grandeur.

— Doreen Andersson, Islip Terrace

Donald Trump said of the ballroom construction, “It won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it but not touching it. And pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite.”

I was sad and horrified to see the East Wing being torn down. Isn’t it a historic building, preventing this from happening? Were permits filed? Who approved this?

This is beyond disgraceful.

— Mary McKenna, North Bellmore

Since when does the president own the White House? Donald Trump is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on renovations for the ballroom, claiming it will cost the taxpayers nothing. Well, he should put the money up himself since he claims to be so rich. He also said it will be done before he leaves office. When will that be, if ever?

— Gene Reynolds, Ridge

Now, Donald Trump has gone too far. Why are we letting a temporary tenant desecrate the White House?

— John Eastlund, Wantagh

‘Hate America Day’ was on different date

To all those Republican members of Congress who called the “No Kings” rallies on Saturday the “Hate America Day,” I have a correction [“LI ‘No Kings’ rallies draw thousands,” News, Oct. 19]. The hate day was Jan. 6, 2021, when many of you were hiding behind your desks. Remember?

— Mark Snider, Massapequa

Keep Santos’ thoughts out of the media

I was deeply disturbed to see the article “Santos backs Cuomo” boldly featured on the top half of Page A5 [News, Oct. 22]. Who would have any interest in what or who this ex-convict and self-admitted liar and con man endorses?

I think one of the media’s problems is that it gives too much attention to people like Santos who should be shunned and despised and not have a spotlight shone on them like they are some kind of celebrity.

— Robert Sapir, Dix Hills