Herald doesn't embrace change

To the Editor:

First, I congratulate your newspaper on the new design of your Web site. It is intuitive, well-designed, and much improved over the previous version.

After reading some of the endorsements for the 2009 elections, it is evident that the majority of the endorsements, and the editors’ reasoning in those endorsements, are demonstrative of the larger problems currently facing Nassau County. All of the endorsements currently available on the Herald Web site are in favor of the incumbent, even when the incumbent has a long track record of underachieving for their district or actively works to obstruct innovative ideas like the Nassau Hub and Lighthouse projects.

In the Fifth Legislative District endorsement, the Herald is absolutely correct that at this moment, with the numerous problems Nassau County faces, it is unacceptable to have an impasse or stalemate in the government. We currently see this stalemate in the Lighthouse project as the Republican majority in the Town of Hempstead sits on its hands waiting for the developers to abandon this project. We also see it in the County Legislature as the Republican minority reacts to every new idea or proposal with kneejerk opposition. By definition, improvement requires a change of the status quo. In supporting incumbents without ideas, opposed to progress, and who piggyback on the achievements of others for their own credit, the Herald is complicit in the declining tax revenues, the increasing brain-drain of young, talented Long Islanders, and the deterioration of our downtowns that threaten to continue destroying Nassau County.

In the endorsements for county clerk and the 3rd, 6th, and 8th county legislative districts, the Herald describes the innovative ideas and energy that the challengers bring to the race, and expresses hope that the established, stale incumbents will implement those changes and ideas. History shows that this will most likely not be the case. In those races, Carrie Solages, Nina Petraro, Vincent Grasso, and Gaspare Tumminello will bring new energy, new ideas, new enthusiasm, and a new desire to implement good ideas into county government. Those who believe that Nassau County must be better will wisely disregard the Herald endorsements and vote for these new candidates.

Although excellent for local news, it is a shame that the Herald editors and publishers are too established, or maybe too afraid, to embrace the change Nassau County desperately needs.

Omar Jorge

Valley Stream