Letters to the Editor: Zeldin 10.06.16

Serving East Hampton

Springs

October 3, 2016

Dear David:

I note with interest the increasing number of letters that you have been getting in support of Ms. Anna Throne-Holst running against our incumbent congressman, Lee Zeldin, here in the First Congressional District. The letters are all nice and glowing and there is a lot of touchy-feely rhetoric, but they are a bit short on facts. Unfortunately, in terms of accomplishments for Ms. Throne-Holst, they can’t note what hasn’t happened. Yet, you have to hand it to the local Democratic operatives. They sure know how to organize a letter-writing bee! Kinda like getting together to make a quilt. You say this, and I’ll write that.

 Of course, they never point out what Ms. Throne-Holst failed to do, which is help the people of East Hampton when we needed it. Where was she on the airport and the noise issue, when she knew full well that much of that traffic serves wealthy Southampton residents who are her friends and donors? What did she do for our war vets, or local farmers, and our fishermen? No, Anna was busy planning political footsy with her developer friends over in the other township.

But Lee Zeldin (although not from around here —- he’s from UpIsland) was busy serving East Hampton and its residents, and he did do a lot of things to help all of us. Such as:

He oversaw the opening of a new health care clinic in Manorville for all East End vets. 

Three bills Lee sponsored (providing adult day health care to disabled vets at no cost, requiring the government to pay all accrued benefits to the estate of deceased veterans, and eliminating the loan limit the V.A. can guarantee for a military vet) all passed the House.

His “Safe Bridges” proposal passed and was signed into law.

Lee led the effort to save Plum Island with passage of H.R. 1887.

He opposes Connecticut dumping dredge into Long Island Sound.

He helped secure $27 million in funding for the National Estuary Program (which includes the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound). 

A fully funded, five-year transportation bill Lee supported also passed.

Lee was instrumental in getting the Zadroga Act (which benefits Sept. 11 victims with health problems) permanently reauthorized, so this issue of worry to many is now laid to rest

Helped pass legislation on tick-borne disease control.

Lee also helped stop the medical device tax.

Lee introduced a proposal that was passed and signed into law ensuring that states choosing to opt out of Common Core may do so and not lose federal funding.

As the only Jewish Republican in Congress, Lee plays an important role co-chairing the House Republican Israel Caucus.

Lee further serves all of us East Enders by holding a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He also sits on seven  subcommittees and also serves as vice chairman of the subcommittee on aviation, where he has done more to help the entire East End than Anna can only dream about. 

And, lastly, as a New York State senator, Lee successfully led the effort to repeal permanently the saltwater Fishing license fee.

I could go on but you get the idea. 

Lee Zeldin works for the entire East End and not just his local friends, cronies, and political financial backers.

 Read more about him at his website: ZeldinforCongress.com.

Sincerely,

DON CIRILLO

Not Worth Rebutting

Springs

October 2, 2016

To The Editor:

A Star editorial of two weeks ago finds penumbras of racism in a one-line tweet from Lee Zeldin about a football player and declares that Congressman Zeldin’s support of Donald Trump disqualifies him from returning to Congress. Unless you’re like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and believe that deep down we’re all racists, this charge of racism against both men is pure leftist ad hominem hooey and not worth rebutting.

But let’s look at the other side of the presidential coin toss. What does it say about Anna Throne-Holst that she supports Hillary Clinton? It says she believes it’s okay for Hillary to viciously attack women who have been molested or raped by her husband, even while claiming to be a champion for women’s rights. It says it’s okay to display “extreme negligence” in handling classified information, even if it might lead to the deaths of agents or informants. 

Does it mean that Ms. Throne-Holst is happy with Hillary’s record of failures at the State Department? With the results achieved in Libya, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, the South China Sea, North Korea? Does she support the illegal and suicidal deal with Iran, and the billions handed over to this number-one sponsor of terror? Hillary does. Will she favor taking in hundreds of thousands of refugees from terrorist hotbeds in the Middle East? Hillary does.

Will Ms. Throne-Holst be able to look the parents of the dead and wounded at Benghazi in the eye and say that Hillary told them the truth about their sons and daughters? Does she think it’s okay that the slush fund known as the Clinton Foundation took millions from countries hat Hillary was negotiating with as secretary of state?

The Star should ask Ms. Throne-Holst these and many similar questions before deciding who is fit to be our representative in Congress. Compared to the moral and policy hurdles Ms. Throne-Holst must clear in order to support Hillary Clinton, Lee Zeldin’s decision to endorse Mr. Trump was an easy one.

Sincerely,

REG CORNELIA

Plenty to Say

Springs

October 1, 2016

David,

I’m writing this letter in reference to your editorial “Thanks, Lee Zeldin.” 

Anything you write about Congressman Zeldin, you refer to his backing of Donald Trump. This is his right; living in the U.S.A. states so. It’s called freedom. As to his remarks about Colin Kaepernick, it might be Colin’s right to sit out the national anthem. It seems Kaepernick is using his freedom to make a statement, but where in the national anthem does it say cops killing blacks or anyone is wrong? Mr. Kaepernick should take a lot of his salary of $100 million and do something for the inner cities — build a building, have community people meet with law enforcement, put his money where his mouth is. And by the way, where does he live? Does he live in the inner city or top of the hill in a mansion? When he was on top of his game kissing his tattoos, he had nothing to say, now he is a benched quarterback he has plenty to say.

It’s not about him, it’s about all who fought for this country, were lamed or died. Thank George Soros for this movement. Colin, do something for the communities and thank all who served, including Congressman Lee Zeldin.

In God and country,

BEA DERRICO

Doing It Well

East Hampton

October 2, 2016

Dear Editor:

Lee Zeldin did a fine job representing us in the State Senate and is doing an excellent job in the First Congressional District. He deserves to be returned to Congress in November.

As a state senator, didn’t he help repeal that usurious Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll tax that was actually reaching into the pockets of the M.T.A.’s competition like the Hampton Jitney? And didn’t he take on the outrageous saltwater fishing fee that was imposed on residents and tourists alike? Major Zeldin also created the statewide Private First Class Joseph Dwyer program for vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and he wrote the law that prevents obscene and disrespectful political protests at military burials.

I respect Anna Throne-Holst for her involvement with local schools. I know she held the position of Southampton Town supervisor. I just don’t think her credentials come close to outweighing Mr. Zeldin’s credentials and accomplishments. 

In a time when the Islamic State is savaging people around the globe, I want a representative who spent four years on active duty, was a military intelligence officer, federal prosecutor, and military magistrate. I want someone who has had the invaluable experience of being deployed to Iraq to protect me and my loved ones. 

Even though he is only in his first term in Congress, Mr. Zeldin serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is doing his job and doing it well. Why would I not vote to re-elect him?

LYNNE W. SCANLON