Rockville Centre letters to the editor

Parades are great, but tragedies aren't

To the Editor:

I'm writing in response to the letter "St. Pat's parade helps people" (April 22-28).

Yes, a parade is great and yes, it provides emotional, financial and spiritual support for charities, but I submit that the letter misses the point.

After the parade is over, chaos follows. If you'd read the story "Large police presence kept village from boiling over" (March 25-31), you would know that Rockville Centre had extra police and police assistance. Why? Because of numerous arrests due to disorderly conduct, property damage and, more importantly, because two people were critically injured after having been thrown through two glass windows in two separate buildings.

All of this stems from the fact that the bars and restaurants are open from noon to 4 a.m. on the day of the parade. I think that they should be open from noon to midnight and they would make more than enough money.

It's up to the New York State Liquor Authority to change the law and make a ruling that cuts the hours down.

When you mix booze with anger it can only result in a tragedy. Next year and in future years on the day of the parade, something could happen — someone could get killed. That's when action will be taken.

Do we want a tragedy to take place in Rockville Centre because of the chaos after the parade is over? If we care about the village, we should make our voices heard to the liquor authority.

Parades are great, but tragedies aren't. Let your voices be heard. If you don't speak out, you're opening the door for tragedy to enter. Is that what you really want?

Julie Molesse

Rockville Centre

Don't target teachers

To the Editor:

As a reader who has appreciated Randi Kreiss's columns in the Herald, I am responding to "Bounce dead wood from the rubber room" (April 22-28).

I regret that Kreiss has fallen victim to incomplete and inaccurate information and outrageous union-bashing. I urge her to try to recall a bit of history and remember why unions were formed in the first place. She should also reflect on the benefits most workers enjoy even today as a result of union pressure in the past — try the five-day work week for starters.