Letters to the Editor

From:    Claire  Goad
4/14/2011

This  is a copy of a Landfill letter sent to the Long Island Advance

Dear Supervisor Lesko:
     My husband and I have lived in South Haven since 1968. Our
sons grew up here and went to the South Haven Elementary
School, kindergarten through 6th grade, and graduated
from Bellport High School. I taught 5th grade at Frank P.
Long Intermediate School for 20 years – 1981 through 2001.
During this time I taught 5th grade science for 15 years to
approximately 100 to 120 students each year. That included
environmental education; how can we keep our environment
clean for future generations – recycling of papers, cans and
glass, don’t throw things out of car windows, turn off the
water when brushing your teeth, etc. We were the first school
in the district to start recycling – paper and cardboard.
     Over the years the smell from the landfill rolled down to
the school hundreds of times. When the smell got really bad
the PTA bought each classroom a fan. I took two from home
and bought another besides. There we were – 28 students,
four fans and their teacher sitting in 90-degree heat when
we can’t open the windows because of the smell. Believe
me when I tell you education does not happen under those
circumstances. Brookhaven Town finally took notice when
our school was on the cover of Newsday.
     Of course we were told the famous words, “The liner will
not leak, it’s state of the art”. We told them many times that
it would leak – it could easily be punctured. But officials said
we didn’t know what we were talking about and they did;
we have been dealing with the leachate plume for years now.
As president of Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
and a teacher at Frank P. Long I have probably been on every
landfill committee the town has formed and others when the
town was not a participant.
     We know the “smell” is not toxic or hazardous. But it
is a disgusting smell – it’s an irritant – it activates allergies,
asthma and nausea. It keeps children in school and families
inside when it’s a beautiful day outside. I truly don’t care that
you may have to raise taxes because of no more sludge – the
fact is Brookhaven Town has been balancing the budget on
our backs ever since the landfill was first put there.
I have been telling people how the management of the
landfill has changed under Ed Hubbard – he answers every
question we ask, he is honest in his answers and he does what
he can to ameliorate the smells. Other commissioners have
beat around the bush instead of giving us direct answers and
in some cases have not given us correct answers. Add to the
mix Long Island Compost which the Town decided to move
here 10 years ago – it smells, our cars and outdoor furniture
are continually dirty looking from blowing compost – and
that means we are breathing it in too.
 

Claire Goad
South Haven

From:        Del Havens
3/11/2011            7:42 AM

This  is a copy of a letter I sent to the News Press here in Florida a few weeks back.
 I am very concerned and believe all Unions,  Public and Private have to united in this fight.

   Our beloved Democracy is under attack and has been for some time.  This attack comes from within.  Corporate America is using its abundant wealth to undermine and abuse the democratic principles this Country was founded on. We are suppose to be a nation of the people, by the people and for the people but those cherished ideal has been subverted to the point where middle class and the poor in America are second class citizens.
   The greed of Wall Street and Banking Industry caused this terrible recession we find ourselves in and yet spineless politicians urged on by massive Corporate campaign contributions have found a scapegoat to blame our economic woes on, Unions, specifically Public Unions.
This attack is taking place in States across the country.  As a result of the recession brought on us by Wall Street greed,  State budgets have huge deficits in their day to day operations.  The deficits were not caused by the benefits they pay out to the employees but by the recession.  Now, however , at the urging and financial pressure exerted by big money, bought politicians are waging war against Public Unions.
   The bought politicians are out to strip Unions of all the benefits they have achieved over the years through the democratic process of negotiations. The fact that we have safe working conditions, a living wage, fair labor practices, and yes, pensions is a direct result of our democratic right to bargain with Management.  Now , however, that democratic right is about to be taken away by Legislative fiat.  Democracy in this country is becoming a Plutocracy.
   It is time for all workers in this country to realize we are involved in class warfare. The campaign against Public Unions is distorted with lies, half truths and deceitfully contrived statistics designed tho divide and conquer the working class.  We did not cause this recession but we are getting blamed for it. It the old ploy, the guilty find some one vulnerable they can pass the blame along too.
   I have been contacting as many people that I can to join the fight.  I have made good contact with Police and Sherrif's Associations  in Florida and they not only have assured me they are with us in this fight but they keep me informed of latest legislative activities.  We are all in this battle together and I hope my brief sharing with you might help galvanize more support in this desperate struggle.

                                                                                                                                                                   Sincerely,

    Andrew Havens
   Retired Adm. South Country

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