Wants Justice for Jason Shein
Dear Editor:
One of the reasons that convicted drunk drivers continue to drive drunk in Nassau is that government officials like [former] Nassau County Attorney Lorna Goodman are never themselves prosecuted for failing to enforce the law (i.e. do the job they are paid to do) [“Messed Up,” Dec. 17]. Due to her failure to seize Persi Esquivel’s death-car SUV, she should be treated as an accessory-before-the-fact in the preventable vehicular death of Jason Shein.
Richard Siegelman | Plainview
Teen Pregnancy: Still Scary, But Clarified
To the Editor:
I applaud you for addressing the increase in teen pregnancy in Suffolk County [“Teen Pregnancy in Suffolk is a Growing Problem,” Jan 7]. Nevertheless, I wish to clarify a misleading statement.
The article states that “according to the most recent figures from the New York State (NYS) Department of Health, Suffolk County had the highest rate of teen pregnancies among females between the ages of 15 and 19 in the state in 2007…among counties outside New York City.” In fact, Suffolk does not have the highest rate of teen pregnancies.
To be accurate, Suffolk’s number of teen pregnancies was highest among counties outside of New York City due to the county’s dense population. But, Suffolk’s 38.3 rate of teenage pregnancies per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 was the 24th lowest rate out of the 57 counties outside New York City. Suffolk’s rate was 20 less pregnancies per 1,000 below the state average of 58.4.
Any teen pregnancy is too high. Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic looks forward to working with county leaders and other organizations to advance the dialogue and resources to reduce teen pregnancy in Suffolk County.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Witzenburg
Director, Education & Training
Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic
Smithtown
Dems to Blame for Brown Victory
Dear Editor:
When Democrats are all done wringing their hands over Martha Coakley’s loss to Scott Brown in Massachusetts, may they remember that it’s the Pied Piper in the White House, along with his minions Reid and Pelosi, that are to blame [“In Epic Upset, GOP’s Brown Wins Mass. Senate Race,” Jan. 20]. They are leading both their party and their country down the path of self-destruction.
This election is a sign of things to come.
Mike Marsala | Hauppauge
