Letters to the Editor -- Nov. 19-25

A very special young man

To the Editor:

A young man named Matthew Tinkleman walked up to me in the Hewlett High School gym to personally welcome me, one of the Stardust Singers from the Five Towns Senior Center in Hewlett, to the Hewlett-Woodmere Community Friend-Raiser (“Making music, forming bonds,” Oct. 22-28). He also welcomed all of our performers.

I could hardly believe this cordial 16-year-old young man had coordinated and directed this great music and art community friendship gathering of several schools and music groups from the area. It made me hope he would have a wonderful future doing things connected with music and art. It is simply wonderful to see and hear about good feats that young people are capable of doing, and not just the bad things we hear about too much. I wanted to thank this special young man from the bottom of my heart.

Once again, the New York State Legislature clearly demonstrated why it is one of the most dysfunctional governing bodies in the nation. Being called into special session by the governor, the two Democratic majorities in their respective houses failed to reach agreements that would do what needed to be done — close our $3.7 billion budget hole, and enact comprehensive property tax reform.

Taxing and spending our way out of a fiscal recession isn’t going to work, but rather than addressing the problems they created with their irresponsible fiscal policies, legislative leaders continue to ignore them. Adding insult to injury, we are wasting $71,000 a day reconvening legislative sessions, which only adds to the state deficit.

We need to come together in agreement and make smart state spending cuts that will ease the burdens placed on every municipality, school, business and family on Long Island and across the Empire State.

This special session was a missed opportunity to tackle our fiscal challenges. If only those in leadership positions would get off their behinds and lead.

Bob Barra, State Assemblyman, 14th District