Patch Comments: 'This Is About Making Sure We Never Become a Newtown ...'

Heads Up: Saturday Mail Delivery to End

"the Postal service is a govt service and should not be required to turn a profit. how many govt services are profitable anyway? While I personally dont use the mail very much I still realize the next step up from them is FedEx at $10 for 2 day delivery and after the PO drops down, watch them and others raise rates." -- mark

"My daughter is a former Fox Lane student and this kind of threat is nothing new and local press covering these matters is nothing new. Over her years at the MS and HS, she faced many evacuations due to a variety of threats to the schools. One year she had as many as 3 or 4 evacuations. I would rather have them evacuate and investigate no matter how small the threat appears to be, rather than have Fox Lane become famous for all the wrong reasons. This is not about Newtown. This is about making sure we never become a Newtown or Columbine and protecting students." -- iloveny10506

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"Since this was another (thank God or whoever) false alarm which takes up much time, education and money. I was just wondering if the school should just add another day to the school year, maybe, just maybe the prankster's would hesitate from doing this again. Has the schools had any ideas to help stop this?" -- Dan

... and ...

"Since this was another (thank God or whoever) false alarm which takes up much time, education and money. I was just wondering if the school should just add another day to the school year, maybe, just maybe the prankster's would hesitate from doing this again. Has the schools had any ideas to help stop this?" -- Dan

Look: Costs Rise Exponentially for New TZ Bridge Over the Decades

"Too bad tunnels weren't favored back then. So odd they never considered a bridge crossing just north of Nyack and over to vacant (at the time) area at Philipse Manor, then down what became Saw Mill. By today it would have simply meant 287 was north a bit and save Tarrytown the headache. Nonetheless, as you say, some things never change. No forethought, no planning -- that is our motto in the U.S. Fast, furious, move on and never look back. This new hideous thing stretched across the Hudson will cost $1 trillion in the end, the mob will get its share, and the best part of all, it will not be maintained and need to be replaced in 20 years. I'll be dead then, as will most of those planning the bridge now. Maybe that is why folks simply don't care?" -- JM

Clarkstown Hires Eight New Police Officers

"I love Clarkstown and do not begrudge the police salaries. They keep us safe and our property values high. I don't have a problem with the salaries of the public sector employees when those in the private sector still do far better. The declaration of war against public employee unions and public employee salaries and benefits is disgraceful." -- Don Luisi

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"An open letter to Chief Sullivan - Chief, I have been managing manpower and budgets for almost 30 years now, and would like to sit down with you in an effort to make the CPD more cost efficient. For starters I would give overtime preference to the lowest paid members of the force. You have my number." -- Mike Hirsch

[UPDATE] Port Chester OKs New Fire Protection Deal with Rye Brook

"Mayor Pilla & members of the PC Board of Trustees... If you are reading this, consider playing hardball with Rye Brook for once. Is approx $1M enough to charge for this service so there is substantial "profit" in it for PC? Let Rye Brook shop their fire protection around again. RuralMetro backfired on them, Purchase & Harrison don't have the volunteer power PC does. Apply some pressure because this area of fire protection services is probably the only place PC can leverage our clout compared to the legal & fiscally savvy Rye Brook that continues to beat PC on every other contentious topic. Thank you." -- PC Native

Nothing to Fear But Fear (of Tyranny) Itself

"what dont you understand about the american constitution.. im sick of your blow hard rhetoric" -- arnold ziffle

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"Many of us adhere to the Constitution written by the Framers not the framers of the NRA." -- Ann Fanizzi

"It's a parents' choice to send their children to private schools, but personally I am very much against the concept. As a tax payer I am against any idea of a voucher system to subsidize people who believe that the public school system isn't adequate for their children. Conservative politicians tout out the voucher plan every two years precisely to garner votes from people who send their children to religious private schools. If everyone sent their children to public schools then everyone would be invested in the success of their local schools. As for the expensive private day care schools, I have no pity whatsoever. These schools only serve to further create a two-tiered society where a few relatively privileged individuals get to circumvent the entire system simply by writing a check. It's your choice, but I certainly don't have to be for it." -- Racman63

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"I hope they get the aid they need for their children. If they feel their child is not getting what they need good for them for seeking alternatives and being involved in doing what is right for their kids." -- lynn