Tax Breaks Warranted

To the Editor:

Nassau Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson stated in his June 6th letter to the editor that he opposed incentives that were being considered by the Hempstead Industrial Development Agency related to the sale of the Garden City Hotel.

While the assessor protests that a "multi-million dollar developer" should not be considered for tax incentives, there are a host of important factors that need to be weighed surrounding the purchase and refurbishment of Long Island's only four-star hotel:

* Numerous construction jobs as well as over two dozen new full and part-time permanent hotel positions will be created as a result of this project.

* In order to remain competitive in the luxury hotel industry and to reverse a trend of multi-million dollar annual losses, incentives were warranted.

* The alternative to the hotel transaction, which hinged on IDA benefits, would almost certainly have been condominiums. Condos would generate lower taxes and could create a greater demand for village services, including an increase in the school district's student populations.

* The tax incentives that are being conferred in this project will terminate after a fixed period of time, and in the long term, the many improvements to the hotel will translate into higher rateables that generate tax dollars for the village, school district and the county.

Long-term Garden City residents will recall that the site of the current hotel was once a vacant, undeveloped community eyesore due to the fiscal distress of a developer who could not meet the financial demands of developing a project of significant magnitude. Moreover, even financially robust developers require tax incentives to make certain projects economically feasible.

In the end, Long Island's only four-star hotel will be saved and the people of Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead and, especially, Garden City will have been well served preserving this regional icon.

Fred Parola

Executive Director/CEO

Town of Hempstead IDA

Discussion Needed

To the Editor:

In response to Dennis Donnelly's letter (Garden City News Letters 6/13/08) stating that the EPOA opposes any mass transit alternatives, an open, fact-based discussion as to the impact on the entire village is required.

There is no valid concrete financial or environmental information on the potential impact to the Village of any of the alternatives. Simply, that is what is being requested before any rational discussion or decisions can be made.

Jim Bauer

A Special Date

To The Editor:

I know your desk is filled with more pressing issues, but I thought you might find this a bit light, interesting and humorous.

My son Christopher is excited to be celebrating his birthday this year. I know you're thinking that all children look forward to their special day. Yes, that's true, but... Christopher will be celebrating his in August (the 8 th month) on the 8 th, in the year 2008. And yes, he'll be 8 years old as well. 8/8/08 and turning 8. He's calling it the crazy 8's.

I wonder if someone out there is turning 80?

Thanks for your time and I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Michael Donohue

(Chris' dad)

Code Needs Work

To The Editor:

On June 12, the current Code of Ethics was made available to me by the Village Clerk, after I filed a Freedom of Information Law (Foil) request.

This Code of Ethics was promised to me by the Western Property Owners' Association (WPOA) several months ago when I gave them Lynbrook's Code of Ethics to work through the system. Even a further telephone request was ignored. Why should I pay dues to such an organization? Why should it be part of your government when it is not subject to Foil and holds secret meetings with the other POAs?

The current Code of Ethics is excellent in the areas it covers. However, it is silent with respect to nepotism, favoritism and a Code of Ethics Committee with full powers to make recommendations to the Mayor, trustees and other persons in authority. Nor does it provide for publication of decisions by the Code of Ethics Committee.

It is my understanding from the Village Clerk that Village Counsel is presently studying the Code of Ethics of Nassau County to possibly make recommendations to adopt some of the county provisions.

I trust that this study will recommend filling the gaps in our current code.

Joseph A. Calamari

A Giveaway

To The Editor:

The voters of Garden City have loyally, if mindlessly, supported the Republican machine which has run the Town of Hempstead since the mind of man runneth not to the contrary are about to receive a major shafting. In order to finance the purchase of the Garden City Hotel by one of their cronies, the Town Board has engineered a massive giveaway of our tax dollars through an entity called the Industrial Development Authority, which is reliably estimated to cost us taxpayers $854,000 in Village taxes over the next 10 years and a mind-boggling $2,800,000 in school taxes over that same period.

Isn't this an inspiring use of our tax dollars - subsidizing some developer to buy the hotel? Are we really going to take this lying down?

James A. Gray