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Public Commentary Reader agrees Little East Neck Road needs a lot of attention from Town Dear Editor: In response to your editorial of June 12, ILittle East Neck Road needs a little attention," I have been trying to bring this to the Town of Babylon's attention for several months. In the beginning of the school year I went to Babylon Town Hall to show them the area in need of repair on their computer since there was some discrepancy on who owned and was responsible for the property, after pointing out that it was clearly the Town's property I made several phone calls requesting sidewalks and a clean up. I have witnessed children forced to walk directly on Little East Neck Road due to shabby conditions and filth strewn on the side of the road. I wrote to Supervisor Bellone, no response. I approached Supervisor Bellone at our homecoming parade, introduced myself and pointed out the area to him as he was standing directly in front of it. He assured me he was looking into it and would contact me, again nothing. Early this spring Girl Scout Troop 3812, recent recipients of the Silver Award wrote personal letters to Supervisor Bellone about their concerns for their peers who are forcfed to walk in such hazardous conditions. They mentioned that in the recent past three students had been hit by cars, two on Little East Neck Road, one ending in a fatality. They pointed out that this area should not be overlooked due to its close proximity to the West Babylon Junior High School. These five girls got no response. Maybe now that this issue is in view of the public eye, we can get a response. Shame on you Mr. Bellone or not acknowledging the girls of Troop 3812 and for putting the students and adult members of the surrounding community at risk. Karen Watt Babylon Stillborn children deserve to be recognized with birth certificates For the past five years, a bill (A8960) has been before the New York State Government that would allow parents of stillborn babies to request and pay for a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. The Senate has passed this bill by an overwhelming majority in each of the last two sessions, while the Assembly has continued to hold it in, of all places, the Ways & Means committee. Currently, New York State does not issue any certificate to legally acknowledge stillborns- nearly 2,000 every year. The issue of stillbirth has always been a well-kept secret. Mothers and fathers have been denied the acknowledgment, comfort and dignity that is due them. This is not a complex issue- it should not fall victim to anyone's political agenda. Parents are required by the state to bury or cremate their baby. Recognizing the process of childbirth these parents endured is the psychologically humane, medically appropriate and the logical thing to do.Assembly bill 8960 would be a Public Heath law and has been approved by the Assembly Health Committee. Why hasn't the Ways and Means Committee approved it? There is no financial cost to the state. In fact, the attached fee for the certificate would be revenue generating. It is time for New York legislators to act upon what is right. It is what families want. It is pro-woman. It is pro-family. It is pro-choice. The choice of a Certificate of Birth resulting from a stillbirth is what is right. Danielle Leacock,
North Babylon The writer is the mother to a stillborn baby girl, Kailen Marie, born Feb. 13, 2007.
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