From Long Island Wins

There are some events in the news that are easy to track and follow what’s going on, for example, the NBA playoffs, or The Voice.

And then there are the debates in Washington. By the time the legislative maneuvering is underway and the rhetoric is streaming from both sides, it can be hard to figure out what’s happening, why it’s happening, who benefits from what’s happening, and whether what’s happening will be of any use.

But here’s one thing that should be clear to all of us: immigration reform will save us all money. Let me repeat that: immigration reform will save us all money.

Letter: Remembering Veterans

Every minute, of every hour, of every day, Americans enjoy the blessings of a peace-loving nation; blessings protected by the selfless service of men and women in uniform who, when necessary, stand fast against the forces of fear, tyranny and terrorism.  For more than two centuries untold numbers of Americans have answered the call to duty.  

From The Desk Of NY State Senator Jack Martins

Celebrating Moms 

When I became a new dad many years ago, I asked a friend whom I admired how to be a good father.  Without missing a beat, he responded simply, “Love their mother.”    

As husband to a mom of four and son to a mom of five, I live (you can already guess) in a mom-centric zone, and over time that lesson has become abundantly clear to me.  So I thought I’d take a break this week from the usual legislative topics and instead reflect upon the powerful love we celebrate in the middle of May each year.   

From The Desk Of NY State Senator Jack Martins

What’s GENDA?  

Most of us know that nothing is perfect. This includes government and more specifically, the laws it creates. Every elected official comes to this realization sooner or later, even if they don’t have the guts to tell you so. You could take any law on any given issue and there will always be pros and cons. What may be perfectly fair and just to some, may leave others feeling nothing but the negative impacts.

Yet there are plenty of people who believe that some form of utopian government can be achieved in which all of our most complex problems can be resolved through legislation and unfortunately, there are plenty of politicians who see no advantage in disagreeing.

Letter: Interesting Times Ahead In Westbury School District

Every year at this time residents in Westbury school district look forward to two obligatory procedures that are mandated to take place in order to ensure continuity of the process of educating our children. One is the preparation and adoption of the budget by the school board, which is voted on by the public, and the other is the election of trustees to the school board.

Letter: Stop Cyberbulling, Save Our children

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article “Teen Crusades against Cyber bullying” on April 19, 2013.  I am currently a resident of Westbury, Sherwood Gardens, for over twenty-five years with children who once attended the Westbury School District. As a mother and social worker graduate student I strongly believe that “bullying” in schools has escalated. This issue needs to be addressed aggressively. The negative impact of bullying has an effect on children’s psychological and physical well-being and interrupts the learning process. Children who are bullied may exhibit signs of depression, anxiety, and decrease in academic performance. Bullying is also associated to substance use and suicide. Bullying has an impact on those who are being bullied as well as those who actually witness bullying.  Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviors into adulthood.

Letter: Save Our Libraries

In today’s climate of ever-shrinking funding, hard decisions need to be made in order to balance the school budget. As you consider where to make cuts and what programs to eliminate, please consider the following information about school library programs and school librarians.

While all school libraries are important, we believe that school libraries, especially elementary school libraries, and certified school librarians to staff them, are needed now more than ever. As you know, elementary school provides the basis upon which all further education is built. A strong school library program in elementary school will result in the future success of your students as they move toward college and careers.

Letter: Giving Back (through “Mac & Cheese”)

A few weekends ago, my friend was looking to teach his 9-year old son about philanthropy.  He asked his son Benji to name the one thing he’d do to make his community better.  His son’s response was to build “mac & cheese” vending machines.  His reasoning was that “mac & cheese” is so good that people should be able to get some whenever they want.

Each of us gives back to our community in different ways.  I’d like to share with you an idea that works for me.

Nassau County Comptroller’s Report

Do-It-Yourself Grievance 

Homeowners who have not filed property assessment appeals in the last two years should file prior to May 1, 2013 deadline. 

Home prices fluctuate annually throughout Nassau County due to market conditions. In some cases, the price fluctuations may be uneven within the same area or amongst individual homes. The annual property re-assessment process, from the creation of the tentative roll to the end of the grievance process, is intended to deliver a final roll, which is as fair as possible, and free of errors. The grievance part of the process is intended to give homeowners the opportunity to point out and correct any errors in their individual assessment. 

Letter: The Case for Guidance Counselors

The recent issue of Anton Careers & Education (March 22, 2013) contained a good deal of constructive and helpful information for high school and college students.  One item to which I take exception was the piece entitled “College Planning: Call in a Consultant”.