New Face of Nassau GOP?

So have you seen the new GOP ad? They've bought time all over the cable channels. You can't miss it.
If you haven't see it, think of the worst production values possible and the most idiotic script and that is the ad. To top it off, the actor they use is a wild-eyed nut job. The type of person who if he was your co-worker, you'd be afraid he'd show up to work one day with years worth of repressed anger and a high-caliber rifle.
The ad is all a bunch of bull too. The angry, wild-eyed republican goes on and on about taxes forgetting that the only tax increases in the past 3 years have been Town and School taxes. County taxes are only 20% of the total tax bill, so as usual, the republicans are trying to decieve voters. The ad says that Nassau taxes were raised by 42%. Hmm... 2 years ago Schmitt was saying taxes were raised 58% and 60% (a lie we detailed 2 years ago.) Now the number is 42%. And that's still a lie.
The best thing about the whole ad is that they don't mention Greg Peterson once. Not Once.

Your new angry Nassau GOP:


Where did they get this guy? How hard did the casting agent work?
Maybe it's a good thing Peterson kept his name off of this.

Our friends over at Community Alliance have a post up about this ad too.

Oyster Bay Pays and Pays

For the number of lawyers Venditto hires, you'd expect the Town of Oyster Bay would make out a little better. Instead TOBAY has to pay Verizon $3.4million.
According to Newsday "The Town of Oyster Bay has been ordered to repay millions in taxes its garbage districts collected from Verizon Communications in a decision that could balloon the tax burden on homeowners and businesses from Nassau County to upstate New York, observers said."
"The sad thing is the burden will be borne by already overburdened taxpayers, primarily homeowners," said Anthony LaMarca, the Syosset-based attorney representing Oyster Bay."
Yup, the Town screws up and we have to pay. When will Venditto and the republican dominated Town Board get its act together?
The lawsuit is because of garbage taxes. "The court ruled that Verizon did not have to pay garbage taxes because its properties didn't generate any garbage."
"In the narrow 4-3 ruling, the court concluded that taxes collected by Oyster Bay's Garbage District 1 on telephone lines, wires, cables, poles and enclosures for electrical apparatus owned by Verizon should not have been collected."
The Town couldn't get it's act together enough to realize they were taxing poles for garbage pick-up????

A Great Website Covering Town of Hempstead

Check out The Community Alliance blog. They are insightful and funny.
The site is all over the ridiculous and costly sanitation districts and point out the following:

"From what we hear from the Commissioners, the District Managers and the folks at Town Hall (including Town Councilman Anthony Santino), the services provided by the Special Sanitary Districts (as opposed to the TOH Sanitation Department) are sooooo good that we're fortunate to have the privilege to pay double the going rate paid by those serviced directly by the Town.

Interestingly, Levittown, home to TOH Supervisor Kate Murray, and East Meadow, the stomping grounds of former TOH Supervisor and County Exec wannabe Greg Peterson, are both served directly by the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department. Shucks! Kate and Greg miss out on the sheer enjoyment of paying double the tax to have their garbage collected. And what a shame that neither Kate nor Greg have "local control" over their sanitation services. Hey Tony, can we take up a collection for these poor, unfortunate souls?

Truth is, sanitary service in the areas serviced directly by the Town of Hempstead - East Meadow, Levittown, Merrick, Bellmore, Seaford, Wantagh, Lido Beach, Point Lookout and parts of Uniondale - is every bit as good as the trash collection in Sanitary 2 and 6. Geez, it's garbage, stupid. How good can it get? And just how deep do we have to keep digging into our pockets, not only to pay for trash pick-up, but worse, to support an entrenched system of party patronage?

Of course, don't fret for Kate and Greg, for life outside the Sanitary Districts isn't quite as bad as they would have us believe. In fact, in Kate Murray's own words, "The Town of Hempstead Sanitation service is excellent... just as good as Sanitation District number 2."* No wonder Kate and Greg always have those big grins on their faces. They're getting the same sanitation services as those who live in the "special" Districts, and at half the cost!Assuming we use our noggins and count the nickels and dimes, elimination of the Sanitary Districts, with consolidation of services under TOH Sanitation, is a no-brainer. The jobs of the rank-and-file at the Sanitary Districts are safe. Hey, they actually work for a living. Does the Town of Hempstead really need to operate (and don't let them hoodwink you, these are, for all intents and purposes, TOH operations) 5 separate Sanitary Districts (in addition to its own Sanitation Department), each with, give or take, 6 Commissioners, 17 Supervisors and a Manager? Okay, by a show of hands (or a "no-show" of hands, as the case may be), who is in favor of eliminating the "special" Sanitary Districts and consolidating them under the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department? Just as we thought!

Given the crock we are spoon-fed by the Town as to the "benefits" of the Special Districts, is it any wonder Kate Murray is always smiling? After all, you can't possibly put this malarkey over on the public with a straight face!

A Great Letter

We know you just can't please the Nassau republicans. The county is back from the brink of bankruptcy, the formerly bloated county government is being fixed and things are so much better but for Peterson, Schmitt and thier cronies, it just isn't good enough, Consider though that thier party is at fault for screwing up the county in the past but they seem to ignore that. Here is a great letter pointing out how ridiculous they are:

Newsday July 24, 2005

Suozzi has to be the real deal

After reading Newsday's series on Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi ["Big, bold ideas come readily to Suozzi," Editorials, July 19], I can't help but think: What more can an executive do? When one balances the budget, we complain that we are being taxed too much. When one offers a bold visionary plan for Long Island's future, we call him egotistical, and when one recognizes a variety of serious governmental problems and proposes solutions, we call him idealistic and say he is over-reaching. Unfortunately, too many of us have turned our back on politicians who are seeking positive change, assuming they are too good to be true.It seems that Suozzi and the county legislature's reversal of Nassau's deep financial crisis is not enough. It seems that the Suozzi "Fix Albany" campaign, which helped highlight our state government's failings, instigate reform and pass the first on-time budget in 20 years, is not enough. It even seems that three years in a row of no county tax increases and a $19-million budget surplus is not enough. What more do we want?

B.M.
Sea Cliff

EXCLUSIVE!!! Schmitt off of Conservative Line?

According to well-placed sources, the Conservative Party ballots which contained Schmitt's name was walked and witnessed by a Republican Party member not a Conservative Party member as required by election law.
As of now, Schmitt is off of the "C" line.
More to come....

Local Republican is a Jerk

Massapequa resident, registered republican in Nassau, and FOX News anchor Brian Kilmeade stepped waaaaayyyy over the line the day after the July 7th bombings in London.
On his show, Kilmeade said "I think that works to our advantage, in the Western world's advantage, for people to experience something like this together, just 500 miles from where the attacks have happened."
Should ANYONE have to experience a terrorist attack? Does it really work "to our advantage" for 50 people to die and hundreds injured?
Why do republicans think like this?
Kilmeade's congressman Peter King has the same cavalier attitude just like the Bush administration.

Back from Vacation

Been away for 10 days and we missed alot. We have a backlog of stories to post and we'll be playing catch-up for the rest of the week.

It's the Little Things

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto showed up at the Breakfast in the Park at Brady Park in Massapequa Park this morning. $3 adults and $2 children. Venditto heads through the back way and to the outdoor kitchen where other local republicans are volunteering handing out food and having thier pictures taken.
Venditto couldn't spare the $3?
Why couldn't Venditto PAY the small sum of $3 ?????
Was he not going to eat? Well, he did eat. And he didn't pay.
County Executive Tom Suozzi arrived through the front gate and paid his $3. As did Town Council Woman Mary McCaffery and a host of other Democrats.

Even more amusing than Venditto's cheapskate move, is him trying to help hand out food.
Between CE Suozzi, State Senator Fushillo, Massapequa Park Mayor James Altadonna, TOBAY Receiver of Taxes Jim Stefanich, Legislator Peter Schmitt and TOBAY Town Clerk Steve Labriola, Venditto had nowhere to stand.
So what does Venditto do? He actually "taps out" Stefanich. A tap on the shoulder and a whisper and Stefanich is handing over his apron and spot at the serving line.
Stefanich learned fast to step aside for the new boss.

What Stefanich still has to get used to is the "call of the camera." Early on, Stefanich was not around for the obligatory photo-op of local republicans serving food. He was across the kitchen area from the photo-op and didn't get into those early pictures. He has to learn that when a camera is present, all republicans MUST run (not walk) to the location of the photo-op and pose.
He'll learn thier ways soon enough.

Letter in Today's Newsday

Points out how nassau republican leaders have such a weak message they have to attack New York City. Too bad they don't realize that many Nassau voters are originally from NYC and still love the city.


Nassau GOP Attack on City
As a New York City resident, I am offended by Nassau County Republican elected officials attacking my great city for political advantage. Politicians like Peter Schmitt and Gregory Peterson attack New York City residents who work in Nassau County because of where they come from. No one in the city says anything about Nassau residents applying and getting jobs in the city police and fire departments. The city changed its rules to allow non-city residents to work for the city.
If Schmitt, Peterson and their associates don't like New York City and believe as they say the city is a horrible place, they shouldn't bother coming here. We aren't a scare tactic to be used to get votes. Everyone else is welcome with open arms.
Charlie Monsanto
Brooklyn

Principles? What Principles?

In the past 6 months, two TOBAY (Town of Oyster Bay) Democrats have left the party and joined the republicans. It would be one thing if they left on principle but that isn't the case. They both left for selfish, sour-grapes reasons.
Let's talk about TOBAY Reciever of Taxes Jim Stefinach. Back in December 2004, he jumped ship to the republican party. Stefanich won re-election as a Democrat in November 2003. Why did Stefanich jump parties? To hear him tell it, "Since becoming Receiver of Taxes five years ago I have worked side-by-side with Supervisor John Venditto and the Republican members of the town administration and found, without question, that the Republican Party represents the right vision for the future of the Town of Oyster Bay, and, quite frankly, all of Nassau County.....
“John Venditto is the best kind of public official. He works hard. He cares. And he truly wants to make sure that the town that our children and grandchildren inherit is the best that it can be. I am proud to join his team and to pledge that I will do all that I can do to make sure that the Republican Party, and the vision that John Venditto so ably represents in its name, remains at the forefront of community life in our town and county for many years to come.”
Really Jim? Is that your story?
'Cause we know you were kinda upset that the Democratic Party didn't give you all the help you wanted and expected. You used alot of your own money and didn't like that one bit. Do we have to go into what you say NOW about Venditto and the republicans and compare it to what you said in the past about them? The comments certainly aren't consistant. There were some choice words and none of them nice. Now you say the party represents the vision for TOBAY? That's not what you said before. So Stefanich says it's about "vision."
Actually it's about job security.
The GOP almost swept TOBAY in the 2003 elections. Stefanich had a wafer thin margin of victory - 454 votes. He sees the writing on the wall. He could very well lose his well-paid job in the next election. He joined the team that will give him money and a slate that has been winning.
Where are Stefinach's principles? Seems he has none.
Guess he's a perfect fit for the Nassau GOP.
At the press conference to announce the switch, GOP Boss Joe Mondello said "From his first election in 1999, Jim has established a reputation as a dedicated and caring public official with an unwavering commitment to excellence."
Even Venditto chimed in with praise.“Working with Jim Stefanich has been a pleasure. As it became clear, over the years, that Jim shared my commitment to making government as responsive as it can be, my commitment to running government efficiently and like a business, and my commitment to doing everything possible to hold down property taxes so that we can keep Oyster Bay an affordable place to live..."
So why did the republicans run John Canning against Stefanich in 2003 if Stefanich was doing such a fantastic job?
It boggles the mind.

Up Next: Martha Offerman - She's so mad, she won't take it any more.

Suddenly Silence

There have been complaints about Suozzi hiring firms from outside Nassau to do work for the county or for his campaign. The complaints are from the usual suspects plus a few new shrill voices.
You would expect some sort of consistancy from a campaign message but for the Nassau GOP, there is no such thing as consistancy.
From one yammering know-nothing GOP hack we get this "One wonders exactly how much money these firms are being payed, and how much of that money could instead have gone to boost the anemic Long Island Economy." The aforementioned hack(s) is employed by the Town of Hempstead.
Why do we bring this up?
It seems that TOH Supervisor Kate Murray is (after 10 years) trying to close a flop-house hotel in West Hempstead. What caught our attention in the Newsday story was "The town has commissioned a so-called blight study by a Westchester firm on the hotel, which Murray said would be completed "in a few weeks." She said the study, if it showed the property to be a blight, would allow the town to close the hotel."
Yes dear reader, Murray is hiring an firm based outside Hempstead and Nassau County to do the work.
Where are the complaints for that?
There aren't any.
Why should the republicans be consistant?

The HOT selling Bumper Sticker now a T-shirt

Take off that tie

The classic photo-op is the politician standing with volunteers cleaning up a park or a beach and the politician is wearing a suit or a dress shirt, tie and slacks. The LEAST the politician can do is get his or her hands dirty before they take the picture. We pointed out the classic Peter Schmitt pose on our other blog. Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Chris Coschignano continued the tradition two weeks ago at a photo-op.
The caption to the photo says "Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Chris J. Coschignano supported employees from The Home Depot of Syosset with their volunteer effort to help clean-up TOBAY beach. Home Depot is another community group that has joined Councilman Coschignano’s call for clean-up efforts throughout the Town of Oyster Bay."
The Home Depot volunteers do a great service for the community. If Coschignano is serious about his "call for clean-up efforts," he should take off his tie and get to work too. Posing with a rake isn't the way to go.

What's up with Joe Girardi?

Joe Girardi, republican candidate against Judy Jacobs has a website. Not much of one but a website none the less. On this website, Girardi types up the usual Nassau Republican talking-points of the day. He also writes "Please feel free to contact me any time."
So we left a comment in a section marked "Comments." The comments pointed out a few things and did not contain profanity.
What happend? The comments section was deleted.
Why? Because on Girardi's website there is no place for the truth.

More Kate Murray because there can never be enough

Why is Kate Murray taking credit for something she is not responsible for? Because she can and no one will call her on it.
Verizon, the telephone company is expanding its internet offerings with hi-speed access and moving into home entertainment. The home entertainment fiber-optic television FiOS TV will compete with cable. The Verizon Television service is still in its infancy but the company is actively seeking to compete with Cablevision on Long Island. Verizon has been approaching municipalities, which grant franchise agreements, for the better part of a year.
Enter Kate Murray. In the Anton News paper "Floral Park Dispatch", the story describes Murray's involvement thusly; "Other quality of life issues Murray mentioned included her recent efforts to bring another cable television provider to the Town, "so that neighbors can have a cable TV choice."
Murray is taking credit for a company that approached the Town of Hempstead. Murray didn't seek them out, they sought to get a franchise agreement in place for a launch later this year or early next. Murray makes it sound like she had the initiative to seek out Verizon FiOS.
Don't be fooled.

Kate Murray

KatMurray KateMurray KateMurray, KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray. KateMurray, KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray - KateMurray - KateMurray KateMurray. KateMurray! KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray. KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray KateMurray?
KateMurray.

Got that?
So what's this all about? It's all about Kate Murray, Town of Hempstead Supervisor and self-promoter extraordinaire! Murray can be found on every mailing TOH sends out, in every commercial about TOH and in every ad about any event taking place with TOH sponsorship. Local grassroots organization Community Alliance started the "Murray-Mail-Meter" which has estimated mailings from Murray this year until June 22nd as $194,400.00. The organization describes their tabulations; "As a convenience to Town of Hempstead residents, The Community Alliance will keep a running tab on mail sent by TOH Supervisor, Kate Murray. No, not the Parks & Recreation Summer Schedule, or other useful material, at least tangentially related to Town business, but rather, the “this would be campaign literature paid for at my own expense if I wasn’t Town Supervisor” stuff we find in our mailboxes on a weekly (we’re being conservative) basis.
In the interest of fairness, we’ll just go back to May 1, 2005. The Murray-Mail-Meter will show only the cost to TOH taxpayers in terms of postage, calculated at 16.2 cents per mailing to approximately 200,000 households. [We leave to the imagination – attempts to FOIL documentation having been stonewalled – the costs associated with either material (just how much is a sheet of 8 ½ by 11 ½ glossy paper these days?) or production (God bless those elves who work so tirelessly for a mere $100,000 a year in that hollow tree buried deep beneath Town Hall)."

In the recent Long Island Press story Politicos Gone Postal about this, Community Allince President Seth Bykofsky calls thier estimate "conservative."

There is more to come on this with FOIL requests flying and questions about in-house operations to churn out purely political mailings on the taxpayers dime.

Coming Up Soon

We're working on a wonderful Greg Peterson expose'. It would have been up today but we posted the YR letters scandal first.
Also, some comments on Legislator Dave Dennenbergs republican opponent Steve Rhoads.

They Write Letters Part 3

Darn-it! We had so many other things to go over today but our dear friends at the Nassau County Young Republicans are keeping up their streak of deceit in our newspapers.
Alex P. Vassallo, Executive Vice President of the group wrote the first letter to Newsday which we dissected a week ago. Then came the letter from Micheal R. Kaplan, Nassau YR's First Vice President to Newsday which we took care of a couple of days ago. Now comes ANOTHER letter by Vassallo this time in this weeks Long Island Press. The letter is a carbon copy of what he wrote to Newsday with an extra paragraph or so added. We won't go through the entire letter again and point out the obvious failures of Vassallo's arguments but we will take on the extra bonus footage he added for this new addition.
First off, it's not really the content that bothers us. Of course they are both so factually wrong, it's just plain funny but that's not it. It's the fact that Vassallo and Kaplan both refuse to identify themselves as being elected officers in the Republican party and committee-men in thier districts. Newspapers prefer that when writing, the writer identify their affiliations. The letter immediately following Vassallo's letter in the Long Island Press is written by a person who identified himself as being "a 2004 Democratic candidate for New York State Senate, District 3." The letter was not a political one but the writer identified his affiliation. Vassallo should have told both newspapers who he was. Not to do this is deceptive. He isn't an average citizen writing a letter to the editor, he is a party officer who has an agenda. Let's hope both papers keep an eye out for deceptions like this in the future.
Below are the two letters side-by-side. The left is from Newsday and the right is from Long Island Press. The new stuff is hi-lited in red. Following this We dissect Vassallo's new comments. His in red, ours in black.




He supported large tax increases.

There was a 19.4% tax increase his first year and hasn't been one since. Why was there a tax increase? Because Vassallo's party almost bankrupted the county. There was no more money. The county's Bond rating was almost JUNK status. Nassau was chosen as "The Worst Run County in the Country" by the Maxwell School of Public Policy at Syracuse University. The state had to come to the rescue of Gullotta and the republicans. After NIFA was formed, the county needed to perform well or NIFA would take over the county finances. THAT is what the Republicans left Suozzi to deal with.
Since then we have at six bond rating increases and NIFA has looked favorably on the Suozzi budgets.
FYI the COUNTY portion of a homeowners tax bill is only about 20%. The increase for the county was an average of $150 per year per household.


"His proposals to build high rises and urban style light rails threaten all we worked for."

Where are the "high rise" proposals? No where. The only "high-rise" is Wang's plane for the rebuilding of the Nassau Coliseum area. And the light rail system is a limited one which copies what many other suburban areas are doing.

"His hostile relations with state lawmakers have left us without needed state aid."

No state aid? Take that up with the State Senators and Assemby-persons whose responsibility is to represent Nassau in Albany. Is Vassallo saying they are not doing thier jobs? No, actually they are helping get funds for the County. The 2005-2006 state budget includes funds for an Empire Zone. Suozzi worked to get this and it is the first one in Nassau County. There is also a plan to get help for Museum Row at Mitchel Field.

"This county executive represents a threat to Nassau's environment,lifestyle and reputation."

With SIX bond rating increases, NIFA approval of county finances and more people looking to live in Nassau County, Suozzi isn't threatening anything.

"Should Tom Suozzi be reelected this year, you can expect: a tax increase in 2006;"

Doesn't seem to be one in the works. More scare tactices from Vassallo.

"low-income housing dispersed throughout the County;"

Please see Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Supervisor John Venditto of Republican of Oyster Bay who both support affordable housing plans.

"fewer police;"

Actually the police academy has been graduating new officers and are filled to capacity. Why would Vassallo lie?

"plummeting state aid due to Albany's disdain for Mr. Suozzi;"

Doesn't seem to be the case at all. Since the "Fix Albany" campaign began the word "reform" has been found of the lips of Albany legislators.

"disappearing open space;"

Actually under Suozzi and the Democrats there has been an increased effort to save open space. For development in the County Suozzi has said "We must focus on recycling formerly productive or underproductive properties instead of assaulting our last acres of open space,"

The County Legislature passed an Open Space Fund that would set aside 5% of funds from the sale of County-owned real estate property to be used for the acquisition, rehabilitation and maintenance of open space.

Also, Vassallo should know that it is the LOCAL TOWN zoning boards that decide what gets built and where. If Vassallo has a problem, he should take it up with Supervisor Kate Murray and the republican controlled Town of Hempstead where he lives.

"and an empty county executive's chair next year, as a run for governor is in his sights.
Tom Suozzi has an agenda to obtain power at our expense. Let us reject that agenda in November."

More hyperbole from a repulican hack supporting a candidate (Peterson) who quit his job as Town of Hempstead Supervisor two months after getting re-elected to take a higher paying job at OTB.

Alex P. Vassallo, Merrick

who forgot to mention he is the Executive VP of the Nassau Young Republicans, currently works for the Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes, and is as a Co-Commiteeperson for the Merrick Republican Committee.

The truth shall set you free, Alex.

They Write Letters Part 2

Why do Nassau County Young Republicans continue to misrepresent themselves? Once again, an officer of the group, one Micheal R. Kaplan of Freeport, writing a letter to "support" the expansion of Republic Airport uses the letter to bash Democrats. This is just like the Alex P. Vassallo incident we exposed here two weeks ago. It is amusing that they are so cowardly that they are unwilling to let readers of Newsday know thier partisan positions. Micheal R. Kaplan is the First Vice-President of the Nassau County Young Republicans. Kaplan continues the grand tradition set by Vassallo of not knowing what he is talking about.

The letter follows in RED with my comments in BLACK

Airport expansion is right for Nassau

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, I was a student pilot flying out of Farmingdale's Republic Airport.

Why did Kaplan stop? Flight Schools still operate out of Republic.

"Recently I read about Nassau County Legis. David Mejias' opposition to the proposed expansion project."

Legislator Mejias is representing the interests of his constituents who have expressed safety and noise concerns.
Mejias is joined by Babylon Superviosor Steve Bellone, Farmingdale Mayor George Graf, Suffolk Legislator Elie Mystal, Amityville Mayor Peter Imbert various civic organizations and hundreds of residents.

I think Mejias (D-North Massapequa) does not have the interests of Nassau County at heart with his politically driven assault on the airport ["Pressure delays airport taxiway plan," News, June 15].

As I said, Mejias is representing his constituents. "Politically driven?" No, he's doing his job.
The only thing "politically driven" here is Kaplan's letter.
Now we know why Kaplan ceased flight training. He put Republic Airport in Nassau County. when it is actually in Suffolk County.

"Republic Airport has long needed an expansion. It would be very worthwhile for Long Island."

Does Kpalan live next to an airport or in the flight path of one? This is more than an economic issue, this is a quality of life issue.


"The increased revenue would help businesses afford the increased tax burden imposed on them by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and his rubberstamp legislators, including Mejias."

Ahhh... and there you go. Kaplan's real reason for writing the letter. It's not about Republc Airport at all... it's about attacking Suozzi and the Democrats. The airport stuff is just a McGuffin.
Two other things, again a Nassau County Young Republican just doesn't know how taxes work in the county. The County portion of the tax bill is 20%. The high taxes come from School and Town taxes and in the case of the Town of Hempstead, all the little special districts. And to call the Democrats "rubberstamps" just ignores the reality of the two parties. Only one party votes party-line every time and that is the Republicans. Votes by the Democrats have often gone against Suozzi and his plans. Kaplan probably knows this but is too dishonest to say it.

"Such an expansion should be welcomed with open arms."

Tell that to the Farmingdale residents that oppose any expansion of the airport. Maybe if Kaplan lived at the end of a runway he would sing a different tune.


Michael R. Kaplan
Freeport

Hey Michael, you forgot to mention you are the First Vice President of the Nassau County Young Republicans and a member of the Freeport Republican Committee.

See, apparantly Newsday has requirements for its letters and one is for letter writers to identify themselves if they belong to or are an officer in an organization that has direct interest in the topic.
If I were to write to Newsday, I would Identify myself as running this website. To try to come off as some concerned citizen and not a partisan elected officer of a political organization is just deceitful.
This is the second time in three weeks this has happend with officers from the Nassau County Young Republicans. Looks like honesty is not a virtue for them.

Harvey Levinson Fights Back

Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors and TOH Supervisor candidate Leveinson sets the record straight and takes on the GOP BS in Newsday.

Assessing property taxes
Property taxes throughout Nassau County are out of control. The Department of Assessment does not set municipal, school district or special district operating budgets or tax rates, mail out tax bills or collect taxes. But the department's property assessments are often blamed for the tax hikes in order to divert taxpayers' scrutiny from the budget increases and redirect their anger and frustration.
Since assuming office in January of 2004, I have never shied away from difficult issues - finding new ways to combat the growth of illegal and unsafe multifamily houses throughout the county or lobbying the State Legislature for a phase-in of assessment increases. With the knowledge that my assessment phase-in initiative was left to die in a State Senate committee, despite its overwhelming support by both parties in the Assembly, I introduced a resolution at the June 7 meeting of the Board of Assessors calling for the restoration of a 16-percent cap on assessment increases for residential properties for the 2007-08 tax year.
By passing this resolution, the Board of Assessors is complying with Article 18 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, which mandates a 6-percent cap for Nassau homeowners. This is the law. Unfortunately, when the previous administration agreed to the terms of a Supreme Court order in March 2000, no-one advocated that assessment increases be phased in. The lack of a phase-in resulted in tremendous shifts in school property tax increases for middle-class communities.
Until the State Senate agrees to cooperate with its colleagues in the Assembly and passes the initiatives I proposed in 2004, I have no option but to comply with existing state law.
Harvey B. Levinson