Letters

Playing softball with politics

To the Editor:

In your interviews in the Oct. 13-19 issue of the Herald, “Incumbent Todd Kaminksy vs. challenger Chris McGrath in the 9th Senate Districtt,” the Herald threw what I believe were softball questions, especially to Kaminsky.  

In answer to two of your questions, Kaminsky said he wants to “clean up the mess of corruption in Albany,” and “we must be aggressive in our fight to clean up Albany, and I have a plan to do it.” 

The Herald didn’t follow up these answers to ask Kaminsky about the $50,000 donation he had received from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s during the April campaign — which is under city, state and federal investigation. It is alleged that additional money was also funneled by de Blasio to the Nassau County Democratic Committee, and de Blasio illegally funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in secret funds to affect the outcome of the Kaminsky/McGrath race last April, as well as other New York Senate races.  

Kaminsky claims to be a corruption fighter, but both he and the Democratic party refuse to return the tainted money. Everyone is just trying to make believe this never happened, including the Herald.

Steve Grogan

Lynbrook

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Vote for Wendy Long

To the Editor:

On Election Day, Nov. 8, New Yorkers can continue business as usual or opt for a fresh, energetic outlook of honesty and hope by electing Wendy Long U.S. senator.

Long has no ties to foreign and corporate interests compared to her opponent, Sen. Charles Schumer. On Election Day, we can reject the corrupt, pay-for-play system that caters to private equity firms, hedge funds, big pharmaceutical companies, Wall Street banks and special interests profiting from trade in certain visas and benefiting from illegal immigration.

As a proud American and Jew, I am aghast at the choices Schumer makes for the safety of our country and Israel. The foreign and military policies of the past eight years have left America and our allies weaker and less secure, and have created instability in the world. Our military power and personnel have been drastically diminished to the size and strength of almost a century ago; our weaponry is out of date and virtually unusable. This is unacceptable and horrifying. 

For the past several years in my position in the Federation of Republican Women in New York State, I have seen the devastation and sadness throughout our state. I join fellow New Yorkers of all political persuasions who are sick and tired of bleak Main Streets, choking off small business, college graduates unable to find jobs and families desperate to hold on to their homes.

It’s time to reject the policies that have caused these outcomes and cast our votes for Long, an accomplished wife, mother, attorney, and former home-school teacher who raised her children while working, paying off college tuition loans and struggling to comply with a universe of government regulation and taxes, unlike Schumer, who went from law school to cushy government posts he’s held for more than 40 years.

Long is the person we need in office as our next senator. To learn more about her, visit wendylong.com.

Ann Schockett

Woodmere

National Federation of Republican Women Executive Committee member

at large, immediate past president,

NYS Federation of Republican Women