State Attorney General Letitia James laments that the federal government’s freezing $463 million in funding for the 2025-26 school year [“NY joins suit over education funding freeze,” News, July 15]. While this level of funding is certainly a huge amount, it is less than 0.02% of the state’s astronomical overall budget of over $250 billion.

If this funding were in fact frozen and not forwarded to the state, would it be possible to cut spending in other areas of the government by just .02% to make up the shortfall?

So, please, enough theatrics. If this federal funding does not materialize, do something that we taxpayers almost never hear mentioned — cut spending.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has amended his “no-mask” law to allow police officers, aiding in the federal mandate to whisk our neighbors away without due process, to wear masks [“Exec allows masks for police,” News, July 12]. When he instituted his no-mask law for the county, he apparently was trying to latch on to President Donald Trump’s bandwagon, decrying the right for pro-Palestinian protesters to hide their faces.

I am an Israeli citizen and a U.S. citizen and was appalled at the protests. But Blakeman implied that his new law would somehow make constituents safer.

Shortly after the original ban went into effect, I was publicly humiliated in two settings for wearing a mask. I am a cancer patient being treated for a compromised immune system and must wear a mask everywhere outside my home.

The original law allows me to do that, but those who follow the atmosphere of vitriol enjoyed singling me out. I wrote to Blakeman inquiring how his mask ban benefits county residents and what he’d do to protect people like me from public humiliation. He did not answer.

But now, he is allowing police officers who are taking away our neighbors to wear masks. Again, I ask how does this make his constituents safer?

Many years ago when I was in college, I took a course in geology. Besides learning fascinating things about our wonderful Earth, I received practical advice from my professor. I have never forgotten his telling us to never build on a flood plain.

He said if water has flooded once, it will do it again. This is what happened in the tragedy at Camp Mystic in Texas “Texas camp buildings cut from flood zones,” News, July 13]. Not only was this concept not heeded, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted exemptions from flood regulations for this area so further construction could take place, increasing damage from a flood.

I doubt that the idea that this kind of flood would likely happen only once in 100 years brings any comfort to the families who have lost their loved ones.

I was dismayed that Matt Bai seems to chide CVS for locking up its wares to prevent massive loss due to organized shoplifting as if the fault lies with the company [“CVS was so worried that it stole its own soul,” Opinion, July 13]. It’s easy to blame the evil capitalists these days.

Choosing to open a store is a risk/reward decision, and most chain retailers like CVS do not operate on huge margins. It is a risk for CVS to establish a store somewhere for years only to suddenly incur huge losses from these thefts. Once the risks outweigh the reward, it ends the viability of keeping a store open. The stores that choose to remain must take steps to minimize these losses.

Bai suggests hiring security guards, but these gangs can be violent, and staff are often instructed to ignore the theft lest someone gets hurt. Rather than being critical about these protective measures, Bai should appreciate that there is still a place to make purchases.

I agree with Matt Bai. Shopping in CVS for at least the past year has become so unpleasant. Its sole convenience is that I can fill a prescription in other states when traveling. It has become a chore to shop in my local CVS.

Shelves are often empty and those with merchandise are often under lock and key. I know of no other store in my community locking up vitamins and reflux medications.

CVS should go back to just handling prescriptions.

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