Statement On PBA Contract Vote

To the Editor:

Last Thursday evening I voted against the proposed PBA contract, which increased their wages 8.5 percent from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009.The Mayor and my fellow Trustees voted for it.

I told the Mayor and the Trustees at the executive meeting held on January 8th when this contract was considered that I opposed it, because of the unprecedented economic crisis. While this contract was comparable to other Village PBA contracts, which had been negotiated, in different times, it was the wrong time for this contract.

Since January 8th, economic conditions have worsened. The County Executive, the Governor and the Mayor of the City of New York have all called for unions to forego wage increases that already have been negotiated. How can this Village approve a new contract with an 8.5 percent wage increase?

We face an extraordinary budget crisis. The preliminary budget calls for a 20 percent tax increase. Moreover, the future is bleak. Village revenues are expected to fall next year by about $3,000,000. The State Comptroller has forecast that our employees' pension contribution may rise from 14.5% to 19.5% of gross payroll. Housing prices continue to decline, reducing the Village assessment roll, which will require higher taxes even if expenses are frozen.

The Mayor and my fellow Trustees argue that if this contract was not approved, the next step is binding arbitration and the arbitrator may award a higher wage increase. I do not share that view. Arbitrators are not blind to unprecedented economic crises or the agreement that was being proposed. Moreover, not to have tried has serious negative consequences. Our firefighters are in negotiations with the Village. They will seek to match the PBA wage increases as a uniformed service and history shows that their wage increases are comparable. The spiral will never stop.

Now was the time to stand up and send the message that we won't take it anymore. The Mayor and my fellow Trustees disagree. Their message is wait until the next contract. Why not now? The crisis is at hand. Next year is too late. Many of our residents have lost jobs. Prospects of employment are bleak. Those employed have their wages frozen. Retirement savings are reduced by over 40%.

Rejecting this contract would have brought both the PBA and the firefighters to the table now to negotiate contracts that reflect today's crisis. An arbitration would not have occurred for several months. Sadly that opportunity has been lost.

Thomas Lamberti

Respect Public's Wishes

To the Editor:

What a horrible, despicable fiasco this St. Paul's affair has become. What is wrong with the people of this village? Such an inordinate, extravagant and costly time spent for nothing. In my letters of July 25, 2008; August, 8 2008 and October 24th under the titles "St. Paul's Is Dormant", 'The St. Paul's Nightmare" and "Vote Must Count", I pointed out the prevailing bickering, finger point, name calling, conflicts of interest, politics etc.. Subsequently, after the overwhelming popular vote 'pro-demolition'. I finally thought that this sordid episode was finished. Again, I was wrong. As I said in my letter of October 24th, perhaps someone's secret agenda was to divert our attention from other more important, critical issues. If that is the case he, she, or they, have partly succeeded and I say 'partly' because this tragic-comedy is not yet finished. More nauseating chapters will be written.

Let's now proceed with the people decision and desire: demolish the old building. Our undivided attention should now be directed toward some constructive solutions, plans, action toward the huge problems facing us, collectively. Nassau County has a huge budget deficit. Hundreds of garden city residents have lost their jobs, business are not doing well. Home prices, sales, have taken a tumble. The economic crisis has, is and will cause untold stories of desperation. We are living in a very tumultuous time indeed and the economic crisis is here to stay. A reduction in the number of public employees is a very strong possibility. What is urgently needed are new ideas, team work, new plans to offset as much as possible the fast growing disaster. Instead, after reading some of the articles published in the local press, I get the impression that some residents as well as some trustees, continue to be more concerned with the St. Paul's preservation at any cost.

Recently, a member of a small but powerful group pro-preservation recently tried to upset Mr. Donnelly's nomination as trustee by presenting her own candidacy at the last moment. Although she failed in her attempt, she subsequently and very clearly stated her candidacy for president of POA, trustee and/or even mayor. In the affirmative, we can expect another 15 years of intense fighting, bickering, power struggles and definitely, a considerable tax increase. Unfortunately, a sad spectacle.

This 'disequilibrium in our government' must end once and for all and the vote and wish of the people respected and honored. For the sake of the people and the village. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Antonio Moreno

Lost Dog

To The Editor:

On Monday evening February 9 th our black Labrador Retriever named "Coal" went missing. We just got the dog at Christmas and its only 3 months old. He got loose in the vicinity of Tenth St. and Hilton Avenue. Later that evening an eyewitness saw the dog in traffic on Hilton Avenue at Ninth Street. She claims a black Lexus stopped and picked up the dog. The two young men in the vehicle did check with people in a house nearby and then drove off with our dog.

Unfortunately, the dog has no identification on his red harness. However, anyone who knows anything about this situation and where the dog is now please contact us at 248-1329.

Pam and Joe Griffith