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OPINION
RITA CIOLLI
Editor Editor
"Where there is no vision, DEBORAH HENLEY AUEEN BARBER
the people perish," Managing Editor Deputy Editor

DEBBY KRENEK
Managing Editor

Hempstead Walt Handelsman's view VISIT HWOaSMAN'S BLOC AT WWW.NEWSOAY.COM/WAtT

keeps it going
Town deserves some praise for moving
the Lighthouse Project to next level
The review of any large-scale building project on Long Is-
land usually occurs at such a numbingly giacial pace — as-
suming any consideration at all — that it's worth noting
when the process is timely and supportive.
The Hempstead Town board voted unanimously last
week to start the environmental scruti-
ny of the Lighthouse Project, the $2 bil-
lion housing and commercial center for
Nassau County that would also remake
the aged Coliseum into a top arena for
sports, entertainment and conventions.
The review will look at the plan's im-
pact on traffic, sewage, air quality and
water, as well as the economic benefits
of the sweeping proposal.
Supervisor Kate Murray and the
board understand that sophisticated
data and analysis are needed so the com-
munity and its representatives can LETTERS
Dorothy Goosby make an intelligent determination on
the best way to proceed. Dorothy Goos-
by, the lone Democrat on the board — and whose district en-
compasses most of the site — says her residents have con- discussing possibilities with an- derstatement. I have watched
cerns that must be addressed but want development as well. Garden City other company. over the past months as the Re-
"If you stand in the way of everything, nothing gets done," Robert Fetrsen publican majority systematical-
said Goosby. Clearly, this is not Oyster Bay. wants TV time Garden City ly subverted and corrupted the
For Charles Wang, whose persistent demands for a better The Board of Education of electoral process. Each council
arena for his Islanders hockey team led him to propose the Garden City Public Schools Editor's note: The writer is member was elected to repre-
controversial and transformative project in 2003, no process views interscholastic athletics as superintendent of Garden sent a distinct council district
will be fast enough. And there are still big steps and big hur- an integral part of the school dis- City Public Schools. in Brookhaven. None ran for
dles for Wang and building partner Scott Rechler. However, trict's program and believes that town wide office as did Supervi-
on our "Fantasy Island," where most bold ideas only be- the achievements of the many sor Brian Foley. None has a
come faded dreams, a new realization may be dawning that students and staff involved in Priestly celibacy mandate to dismantle his re-
suburbia can't stand still and survive. USD athletics are a source of pride for form agenda or to strip the su-
the entire community. The a financial choice pervisor of the duties and re-
board is delighted when team In response to the letter re- sponsibilities of his office.
and individual accomplishments garding Catholic priesthood and Supervisor Foley chose quali-
21st-centuryjustice are covered by the media, and it
is always interested in identify-
celibacy, although the truth may
have been revealed by Jesus
fied managers who were doing
excellent work in their depart-
ing ways in which special events Christ to his apostles 2,000 ments. To have these individu-
Videoconferencing could save taxpayers may be made accessible to those years ago, church doctrine has als replaced for political reasons
who cannot attend. evolved and changed over the is an insult to the electorate that
The board and administration years ["Catholics speak out on will not be forgotten.
The old-fashioned gears of criminal justice could grind a were therefore quite surprised doctrine," Letters, April 14]. Pamela 1C. Ban
little bit more smoothly, and at less cost to the taxpayers, if with the story "Board of educa- During the early years of the Patchogue
attorneys who practice in Suffolk were more willing to take tion pulls game from MSG" church, priests were permitted
a chance on some 21st-century technology. [Sports, April 7]. The situation to marry. However, when the
The technology in question is a pair of videoconferencing to which the article refers, the po- popes realized that the priests College bound?
booths: one at the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip tential to broadcast on cable tele- were bequeathing their estates I am a high school freshman
and the other in the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead. Any vision this year's Woodstick to their families, instead of to the and a potential college applicant.
attorney can sit in the Central Islip booth and talk to his or Classic, represents the kind of church, they eventually decreed The article about low college ad-
her client, sitting in a booth at the jail. Potentially, that can event that the board believes that priests remain celibate. missions rates makes me ques-
save the attorney a trip to Riverhead. It can also save the tax- would bring honor and recogni- Like many other papal deci- tion whether the upcoming
payers — at least on some occasions — the cost of shuttling tion to the school district and sions, celibacy only emerged as years of hard work and over-
inmates from Riverhead to Central Islip. would receive a warm welcome a solution to financial issues en- scheduling will be of any impor-
So far, however, in the month or so that the booths have in the broad community. countered by the church. tance in the end ["Princeton re-
been available, only a few probation officers have actually The board did not in any way Regina Rochford ports record low admission
used them. Attorneys have stayed away in droves. act to "pull" or prevent the la- Malverne rate," newsday.com, April 2].
This is not good news to Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, crosse program from reaching In a society where colleges un-
whose deputies handle the transport of inmates. He says his the air. MSG changed its pro- fortunately measure the academ-
office transports anywhere from 80 to 100 inmates a day to gram choice before the contract Bad firings ic credibility of applicants more
Central Islip, but as many as 35 percent of them don't actual- could be finalized. The district by their never-ending list of ex-
ly get a court hearing. To him, that's a waste of money. remains interested in having the in Brookhaven tracurricular activities and less
It's possible that DeMarco overestimates the potential game broadcast this year and is As someone who has served by their personality and ambi-
savings. But we'll never know unless more attorneys try it as a parks commissioner, I have tion, the pressure to embody a
Judge H. Patrick Leis III, Suffolk's administrative judge, got keenly followed the initiatives of prodigious facade on their appli-
a grant for the booth in Central Islip, and DeMarco got one Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba, cations leaves teens exhausted
Send mail to letters@news-
for Riverhead. So both are willing to innovate — and to iron day .com. Letters become the
recently fired by the Brook- and stressed. To what extent
out the wrinkles, to make the new system work. property of Newsday. They
haven Town Board Republican will students continue to go to
Now it's up to the attorneys themselves — perhaps with a will be edited and may be majority ["Brookhaven fires two compete with one another?
nudge from judges in Central Islip — to give the 21st centu- republisbed in all media. top officials," News, April 9]. Jackie Sale
ry a try and taxpayers a break. [JS\ To say I am outraged is an un- East Northport