Latest news with #Cokinos
Los Angeles Times
02-05-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: The government might want to prioritize Earth over investing in space-related pursuits
To the editor: With all due respect to guest contributor Christopher Cokinos, our country can continue funding NASA at its current levels or we can continue funding SpaceX at its ever-increasing levels, but we cannot do both ('To dumbly go where no space budget has gone before,' April 29). Cokinos quotes Casey Dreier of the Pasadena-based Planetary Society as saying, 'This is an extinction-level event for the Earth- and space-science communities ...' And he would probably be correct. However, right now I am more concerned with the already present extinction-level events happening to our Earth's science and its scientists. Yes, I do believe humans yearn for connection to the universe, but right now most are probably yearning for a habitable home base. Paula Del, Los Angeles .. To the editor: When I was about 9 years old, my father took me to an open house at the former Rockwell International plant in Downey, where we got to view parts of NASA's space shuttle. I was in awe of the idea of space travel and was told in order to pursue a career in that field, I would need to have a strong math background. As a result, math became my favorite subject. A few years later, I earned a degree in mathematics and had a rewarding career as a high school math teacher. I often wonder about how many other children my age were inspired to pursue a career in math and science because of the work of NASA. The decision to not invest in NASA hurts economically and does not serve our interests in developing the next generation of STEM professionals. Jason Y. Calizar, Torrance
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: The government might want to prioritize Earth over investing in space-related pursuits
To the editor: With all due respect to guest contributor Christopher Cokinos, our country can continue funding NASA at its current levels or we can continue funding SpaceX at its ever-increasing levels, but we cannot do both ('To dumbly go where no space budget has gone before,' April 29). Cokinos quotes Casey Dreier of the Pasadena-based Planetary Society as saying, "This is an extinction-level event for the Earth- and space-science communities ..." And he would probably be correct. However, right now I am more concerned with the already present extinction-level events happening to our Earth's science and its scientists. Yes, I do believe humans yearn for connection to the universe, but right now most are probably yearning for a habitable home base. Paula Del, Los Angeles .. To the editor: When I was about 9 years old, my father took me to an open house at the former Rockwell International plant in Downey, where we got to view parts of NASA's space shuttle. I was in awe of the idea of space travel and was told in order to pursue a career in that field, I would need to have a strong math background. As a result, math became my favorite subject. A few years later, I earned a degree in mathematics and had a rewarding career as a high school math teacher. I often wonder about how many other children my age were inspired to pursue a career in math and science because of the work of NASA. The decision to not invest in NASA hurts economically and does not serve our interests in developing the next generation of STEM professionals. Jason Y. Calizar, Torrance This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Montgomery County police: Violent crime down in Silver Spring
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () – Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) Third District Commander Jason Cokinos said many categories of violent crimes are down in Silver Spring compared to this time in 2024. Although the year is off to a great start, he said there is still work to do. 'Robberies down 30% compared to 2024,' Cokinos said. 'We've had no contact shootings in downtown Silver Spring, no homicides in downtown Silver Spring. Our carjackings, which were already significantly reduced, are even further reduced.' Chief Justice Roberts pauses deadline for return of Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador Cokinos credits several departments and county initiatives for the decline in violent crime. 'The Late Night Safety Bill,' he said. 'We've had very little late-night violence. Our Drone as a First Responder has been huge for downtown Silver Spring. The amount of calls that it has responded to in such short times.' One Silver Spring neighbor told DC News Now said that it's a good start. 'They're encouraging for sure,' he said. 'With the weather starting to get nicer again, my biggest fear is that those statistics might change.' Not all crime is down. Cokinos said car break-ins and car thefts are on the rise but they are working to tackle that trend. 'We are having extra police officer patrols in a lot of these garages,' Cokinos said. 'Both in our evening hours for folks to come to dinner to do stuff, but also in the overnight hours.' MCPD is reminding everyone to lock their car doors and make sure not to leave any valuables in plain sight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Crime down in Downtown Silver Spring, police say
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () — Crime in Downtown Silver Spring has decreased by nearly 8% over the past year, the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said Friday. MCPD said that, according to statistics from 2023 to 2024, there has been a 68% decrease in carjackings throughout the Downtown Silver Spring Business District, dropping from 19 to 6. Additionally, since 2023, robberies have fallen by 24%, and homicides have fallen by 25%. The police department credits increased patrol and community engagement initiatives with the decrease, explicitly citing the and as measures that have helped combat crime. 'We've worked hard to make this community safer, and the numbers show that we're making progress,' said 3rd District Commander Jason Cokinos. 'But we're not stopping here. Our officers are out every day, focusing on preventing crime before it happens.' Earlier this month, that MCPD's Drone as First Responder Program, which entails law enforcement using drones to respond to calls for service, is expanding to Bethesda. MCPD hosts catalytic converter anti-theft event in Wheaton, Silver Spring Cokinos said one challenge the department faces is that most of the crime in the area is committed 'by people who don't live in Montgomery County.' 'That's why we're being proactive, using every tool we have to deter crime and hold offenders accountable. We appreciate the support from our residents and encourage everyone to stay aware and continue reporting suspicious activity. It makes a difference,' he added. In a post on X, Cokinos said MCPD aims to continue driving down violent crime, getting illegal guns off the street, combatting retail theft and reducing car break-ins. 'We will be deploying various strategies over the coming months as we keep working to make our communities safer,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
