Regulators aren't serving the public
The terms of three of the five public service commissioners expired Feb. 1, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not replaced any of the "industry experts" with knowledgeable consumer activists. The cable, phone and utilities industries determine who are appointed commissioners; the public is ignored.
Since October, I have been trying to get test results for ground beef samples taken at an A&P in Bronxville and a Stop & Shop in Yonkers. For nine months, at least, the Agriculture Department has refused to send me the test results, legally requested under the Freedom of Information Law.
CVS has its milk imported from Massachusetts so the Agriculture Department hasn't tested it for fat content. In January, the Department advised me that CVS milk sample results would be sent within 10 days.
As of June 20, the records access officer was still searching the files for the ground beef and milk sampling test results. This commissioner is also appointed by the governor, with industry approval.
Charles Roda
Mount Vernon
Vote 'none of the above' on Election Day
With election time less than four months away, another voting option comes to mind, in case neither candidate appeals to we, the American voters. How about: "None of the above." This would (might) get our message through of, "Can't we do better than this?", that we are the voice of America, that we all want and deserve better in life, for one and for all.
America wouldn't be what is, and could be, without us, "we, the Americans." We all want and need to vote for a better tomorrow ... power to the people, for which it stands.
Danny Gillingham
Maryland
