Letters To The Editor

Is This O.K.?

To The Editor:

I was shocked to read in the September 7 th edition of Newsday (p. B7) that the Posh Lounge in the Garden City Hotel was advertising their "COVER ME" opening of POSH 2006 with "complimentary admission & Cocktails 'til midnight w/ad." (In other words, free booze for all!) Furthermore, the ad states that this is "the 3 rd annual charity event benefiting the P.B.A. widows fund." Do we, the residents of Garden City, really think this is okay?

We have to date put up with excessive noise, traffic congestion, shootings, stabbings and various skirmishes as a result of some patrons being inebriated and out of control, some others just behaving badly. My concern is that some patrons may be leaving the lounge not fit to drive their cars. Somehow, I do not think that any P.B.A. would be in support of what is occurring.

I read in this newspaper that the Posh Lounge would have to be closed in order for the hotel to receive its c/o for conversion to condominiums. Do we really want to wait? What has to happen to shake us up enough to demand immediate closure of Posh? I am truly at a loss.

Gail Levinson

Not What It Seems

To the Editor:

It is often said, "Things aren't always what they seem." The same can be said of this election-year's gimmick of a STAR rebate check to be given to property owners to offset 2006-07 school taxes.

When I first learned that the Senate was working on providing homeowners with additional STAR money, I was delighted. However, as the plan evolved I discovered that the final version of the STAR Property Tax Rebate Check program had a number of significant flaws that should have been addressed.

Not only will the STAR Rebate Check cost $3-5 million dollars in postage to mail 3.4 million checks, thousands of former property owners who have relocated to other states earlier this year will receive rebate checks even though they are not responsible for paying school property taxes in 2006-07. In addition, Westchester homeowners will be given higher tax rebates averaging $390 for Basic STAR and $650 for Enhanced STAR - compared to a Basic and Enhanced STAR tax rebate of only $167 and $278 to Garden City homeowners: a fact ignored in a recent Senate pre-election update.

Most galling is the fact that Westchester's Briarcliff Manor and Hasting on Hudson will receive Enhanced STAR Rebate Checks totaling $928 and $941 respectively, compared to Garden City's paltry $278!

Last, the rebates are a taxable event for those who itemize deductions.

Had the Senate leadership followed my proposal, the rebates could have been given homeowners by simply increasing the amount of their annual STAR credit. The effect would have been immediate and not cost taxpayers the millions of dollars in postage. The tax relief would also be given to hardworking taxpayers who are paying this year's school tax bill - not to those sunning themselves on the beaches of Florida.

The bottom line is that our state lawmakers decided to take the costly approach to mail the rebates so that each legislator could get credit for returning money back to taxpayers in an election-year.

It is time that our state delegation fix the STAR formulas that have shortchanged Nassau homeowners for nearly a decade. Only then will we receive the property tax relief we deserve.

Harvey B. Levinson

Chairman,Board of Assessors

"Make A Difference Day"

To the Editor:

If you or your organization supports volunteer community service, the Garden City Bird Sanctuary wants you! The 9 acre nature preserve is an official site for the 2006 national "Make A Difference Day" program which we have scheduled for Sunday October 29th noon to 5PM at our site on Tanners Pond Road. Last year over 150 volunteers participated at Garden City's community nature preserve during this event.

We welcome volunteers of all ages and experience in helping "spruce up" the site. Activities include pruning, painting, litter pick-up, bulb planting, nest box clean-outs, trail maintenance, digging, and weeding.

This is our fifth year participating in Make A Difference Day, and we've made a considerable impact in demonstrating environmental stewardship in the community. If you cannot physically participate, can you help sponsor the event by funding a donation for bulbs, tools or drinking water for the volunteers? We are very much in need of supplies for this event, which also includes construction of wood trellises and a solar powered pond. The Garden City Bird Sanctuary is a certified non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible. Please send donations to the Garden City Bird Sanctuary, P.O. Box 7507, Garden City, NY 11530-7507.

We ask younger volunteers and groups to supply spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils and dutch iris. To make them easier to plant, Chaminade High School volunteers were at the site Saturday September 16th to prepare planting beds for easier digging. If your group cannot make it on October 29th but would like to participate, please let us know and we'll try to coordinate an earlier date.

If you've got ambition, new bird houses are also needed, and if you want to sponsor one for $15 or supply some, let us know and we can send approved design plans.

We welcome individuals, families and groups. To sign up, please contact us at 326-1720 or via email at gcbirdsanctuary@aol.com. If you can donate even a portion of the time, that's fine.

The main gate to the Bird Sanctuary is located opposite 181 Tanners Pond Road in northwest Garden City. It is normally open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 5 PM between March and November.

Rob Alvey,

President, Garden City Bird Sanctuary