A detail of a rendering of the proposed NYU Langone Health hospital, which would have approximately 500 beds on 45 acres in Melville. Credit: NYU Langone/Ennead Architects
Kudos to Suffolk County’s leadership and NYU Langone Health on their plans to develop the Melville quadrangle with a major hospital [“NYU Langone Health plans to build new LI hospital,” News, June 3]. It takes strategic, forward thinking and creative minds to get to a development plan that is practical and can realistically serve the needs of the community and solve problems.
Nassau County can learn from this. For decades, it has shamefully failed at addressing the ailing Nassau University Medical Center and Nassau Coliseum and all the space around it that is wasting away.
Years ago, Charles Wang proposed a Lighthouse Project, which brought creativity and forward thinking to the area, but the politicians raised obstacles to the idea until it died.
To this day, there is nothing but slow and spotty add-ons to the area and nothing of substance serving the community and enhancing its future. Nassau County’s leadership in recent decades seems to prioritize holding onto power rather than focusing on the community and its future.
Having resided in Nassau County for more than 50 years, I hope the Melville plan will spark Nassau County leadership to bring creative thinkers and cooperative partners on board.
A roundup of highlights from Newsday's Opinion Department.
By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.
— Stuart Schneider, East Meadow
I am so pleased that NYU Langone Health has made a transformative decision to create a major state-of-the-art medical center in the heart of Long Island.
As a retired physician, I ran my own private practice for many years, and I have also worked as an employee of the major healthcare systems in the New York metropolitan area. The aging demographics of the Island, with approximately 520,000 of its residents at least 65 years of age, needs more healthcare options to meet their needs.
Furthermore, the strategic location of this hospital allows easy access from most parts of Suffolk and Nassau counties.
I hope the competition for patients that no doubt will ensue among Northwell, Catholic Health, Stony Brook Medicine and Mount Sinai will benefit and optimize patient care. I also hope that the regulators pave the way for this bold initiative without delay.
— Dr. Joel Reiter, Woodbury
Isn’t it a cardinal rule that you don’t carry a loaded gun in your bag onto an airplane?
Gaetano “Guy” Savia, a volunteer Nassau County sheriff’s deputy, exhibited poor judgment or a serious lapse of awareness [“Nassau exec defends citizen deputy arrested at JFK,” News, May 30].
How does Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, though, let him continue to carry a gun in the name of Nassau County?
What’s next, Savia leaving his gun in his bag at the gym or on a bus?
Blakeman needs to show better judgment about who gets chosen as county volunteer deputies.
— Jim Baumert, West Islip
I support the state allocating $200 million to incentivize rooftop and community solar energy [“State lawmakers OK ‘balcony solar’ panels measure,” News, June 2].
I live in a condo community that does not allow solar panels. However, the state’s community solar plan allows me to subscribe to a solar farm that connects to a utility grid. Energy generated by the solar farm in my name is reported to the utility, which then applies credits to my utility account.
All my electrical power continues to be provided by the utility, but with my credits, my utility bill is reduced. I pay the solar farm separately for those credits at a lower rate.
My current total power expenses — utility and the solar farm — are lower than my pre-solar expenses. No other charges are associated with this plan.
— Bill Domjan, Melville
I have read both this year’s and last year’s reports on the examinations that Dr. Sean Barbabella performed on President Donald Trump [“Trump doc: President is in ‘excellent health,’ ” News, May 31].
Many media have reported on Trump’s bruises and ankle swelling, which may be seen as exaggerations and can be explained by common conditions seen in the elderly. But one issue stands out as false — the president’s reported weight of 238 pounds.
I have practiced adult medicine and geriatrics for 50 years and weighed patients of all shapes and sizes. I have never seen a 6-foot-3 male with broad shoulders and a heavy midsection and frame — as seen in some of Trump’s golf and tennis photos — tip the scales at less than 260 pounds, and likely much more.
It would be nice for these exams to be reported accurately. Perhaps a solution could be a weigh-in just before the Ultimate Fighting Championship extravaganza at the White House, which is scheduled for June 14.
— Dr. William Bennett, Huntington
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Just go to newsday.com/submitaletter and follow the prompts. Or email your opinion to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone number and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.
The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in.
Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months
Terms of service | Subscription terms | Privacy Policy | California Privacy Rights | About Us | Contact Newsday | Reprints & permissions | Advertise with Newsday | Help | AI policy | 
Your Privacy Choices
Copyright ©2026 Newsday. All rights reserved.
