Bitcoin mining, school shootings, 9/11 and George Santos

Don’t pay bitcoin miners salary

What is wrong with this picture?

Newsday’s recent investigation into the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office into illegal bitcoin mining turns up an employee doing this with the county funding the resources [“Records: Suffolk had suspected bitcoin mining,” News, April 9].

The employee, Christopher Naples, is still on the county payroll and has been suspended with pay?

He has apparently already received more than $230,000 while suspended for using the devices on county property.

How does this make sense?

County officials must do better. Corruption can contribute to the county’s decline if we allow it.

-Thomas Melia, Oak Beach

A Suffolk County deputy chief information technology officer admitted to installing bitcoin mining equipment in the county’s data center in the county clerk’s computer system and stealing at least $6,477 in electricity.

He has been suspended but was paid $149,721 last year alone. Why do we allow this? If we can’t fire him, his pay should be suspended. It is no wonder that the county has a huge deficit.

– John Condon, Huntington Station

School shootings – “only in America”

From the writing of the Constitution until 2008, the Second Amendment referred to a state militia. The National Rifle Association convinced Americans that the Second Amendment gave individuals the right to bear arms. Not so.

It wasn’t until 2008, in District of Columbia v. Heller, that the Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, that the Second Amendment protects a personal right to bear arms for self-defense: “like most rights . . . the second amendment is not unlimited. [It’s] not a right to keep and bear any weapon whatsoever in any manner and for any purpose.”

There have been nearly 400 school shootings in the United States since Columbine High School in 1999 [“The gun insanity: When will it stop?” Letters, April 2]. Mexico is the second highest country with eight. More than twice as many Americans own guns per capita as the next highest country, Yemen.

The AR-15 is the weapon of choice for mass murderers. During the 10-year ban on assault weapons, school shootings decreased. Mass shootings have increased dramatically since the ban expired in 2004.

Guns are one of the leading causes of death for children in this country.

Congress must end this uniquely American crisis that is causing our children to fear for their lives.

— Claudia Borecky, Merrick

Honor 9/11 deaths and Pearl Harbor as well

If our lawmakers are considering making 9/11 a federal holiday, I have a proposal “Lawmakers: 9/11 should be federal holiday,” News, April 10].

It’s unfortunate that memorial days like Memorial Day and Veterans Day have turned into shopping opportunities as well as a time to honor those who gave their lives.

Perhaps they should consider spending a few hours on the anniversaries of both of these horrific days to read the names of the more than 2,400 American personnel who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

Nearly 3,000 died at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and of course they should also be remembered.

— Irma Gurman, Smithtown

Start weekly town meetings with Santos

Rep. George Santos (R-Nassau/Queens) shows neither shame nor decency in remaining in office [“As Santos basks in spotlight, issues persist,” News, April 7]. So if he’s going to stay, let’s make him work.

Former Representative Steve Israel, who represented the same Congressional District 3, explained that a large part of the job is constituent proceedings: helping veterans get benefits, delaying a foreclosure, etc. “With Santos in the seat, CD3 lacks representation,” Opinion, 17th of March]. To do that, you have to be here and interact with constituents. Santos clearly hasn’t. Maybe he can’t do the job.

Let’s help him by inviting him to weekly town meetings in communities across CD3 via the “Request an Appearance” button on the government website. That way our representative can hear our problems and concerns and then respond and act – like a real working politician. If he doesn’t show up, a standing cardboard picture of him will do about as well. We can email the minutes of the meeting to his office.

We could finally confirm that Santos is legally employed. He’s paid $174,000 a year plus health insurance and travel and personal expenses. For this we should make him do something he has shown no appetite for: work for a living. That might be the best way to get rid of him.

— Roger Mummert, Syosset