‘A Nervous-Unexpected Shock’

To the Editor:

Few days ago, I received the School tax bill. It showed a huge cube in ‘blood-red’ background with the dollar amount due plus the percentage increase on the top. Both, in brilliant black numbers. Such a scaring drawing just before Halloween - I asked myself. Any hidden message...? I like to believe that it is just a mere coincidence or...perhaps intentional..? The vivid red color similar to the blood that feed my heart, gave me a strong, unexpected and dare say, dangerous shock. For those of us with a weak heart, a cardiac condition, such surprises could indeed be dangerous.

I would very respectfully suggest that two things be taken into consideration in the mailing of future bills. First, that such intense bloody color be eliminated, changed for a more harmonious, softer one and second, that a warning notice be send to the property owners prior to the mailing of such bill. Adoption of those steps would prepare us and mitigate the severe shock and aftershocks. It would be a charitable act. The truth of the matter is that the tax burden is becoming uncontrollable and unbearable. More and more homes are on the market. An ever increasing number even have the ‘For Sale’ sign on the front lawn and lots and lots of others, have been in the market for a long, long period of time and substantially reduced in price. The tremendous amount of homes for sale advertised in the local press continues to grow every week. Living in Garden City was a pleasurable experience indeed but unfortunately, it is now becoming a rather painful and extravagant ‘privilege’. Our School District is aggressively marketing, pushing and urging the property owners their agreement and unconditional ‘YES’ vote on the proposed $30 million plus bond for their so called ‘urgently’ needed repairs and upgrades throughout the School buildings. In order to convince the public of these immediately urgent and critical need, the District has been recently publishing in the local press many, many pictures showing some discolored steps, uneven brick facade, some cranks on a concrete floor, a portion of a leaking roof and even an outside stone statue’s hair as needing crucial and intense repair. Frankly, from those pictures and which I very carefully viewed through a magnifying glass to be sure that my eyes were not lying and reading the accompanying written description of the ‘considerable damage’, anybody will draw the simple conclusion that a couple of well trained handymen could easily do those repairs at a fraction of the proposed cost of over $30 million. I feel this tactic to be an outrage toward the intelligence of the residents considering that we are going through an extremely serious, profound economic crisis and that a lot of homeowners, cannot afford any more additional taxes. Such ‘estimate’ for the supposedly serious damage shown on those published photos, is laughable as well as sad. I am aware that even mentioning this ‘satire’ is not a popular tactic on my part. Most people would prefer to remain silent, abstain from voting rather than to publicly express opposition or even the most tactfully skepticism to such ‘unbelievably’ proposal. Of course, we all want the best education, welfare and safety for our children. That is and should always be our first priority but we should also be firm and be able to disagree when we don’t believe on a program or unclear, exaggerated proposals that are not cost efficient in their context such as the proposed huge bond. Year after year, after year, we have consistently approved the budget proposals of our School District regardless of the increases but perhaps the time has finally arrived to wonder and to ask if our School Board should not try especially in such difficult times, to be more innovative, to do more with the same or even with less. But of course, that would be a quixotic dream. Somewhere, somehow, there seem to be a very serious memory lapse. If these imperfect infrastructures for such a long time as mentioned, why now, why the wasted time, who is responsible...? Perhaps they could have been fixed two, three, four years ago...? I guess we will never know. Will this ‘affair’ become another St. Paul..? I hope not!

Antonio Moreno

Cell Phone Collection

To the Editor:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month which means it’s an ideal time to look at what each one of us can do to bring the serious subject of domestic violence to light.

Domestic violence does not discriminate. It’s an epidemic that affects individuals in every community, regardless of age, gender, economic status, race, religion, or educational background. While men are not immune to this issue, statistics show that 23.6% of women report at least one lifetime episode of intimate-partner violence. That’s a sister, a mother, or a daughter you may know who is a victim or who has been affected by domestic violence.

Although we can’t stop domestic violence overnight, we can work to shift the statistics in a positive direction. Major social change starts small. It’s as simple as an individual deciding to take action because good deeds are contagious.

All it takes is ONE! One person to donate his or her old wireless phone to HopeLine(r), Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program. The no-longer used phone - quite possibly stored and forgotten - not only represents an opportunity to help give a victim a connection to support or emergency services but also a link to friends, family and potential employers.

Donating phones is simple. HopeLine collects old wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail using postage-paid labels available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel

If every person reading this gave just one phone, imagine the positive impact we could make in the lives of domestic violence survivors.

Each of us has an opportunity to take action and help break the cycle of violence. Remember the only activity too small is the act of doing nothing at all. Every phone counts. So grab your old phone, spread the word and visit a Verizon Wireless store or mail-in your old phone and make a difference this October!

Eileen Lambert

Associate Director-

Human Resources

Verizon Wireless

Unfair Parking Fees

To the Editor:

I moved my office from 1100 Franklin Avenue in Garden City, where I had been a tenant for 30 years, to 370 Old Country Road in Garden City in order to reduce my rent. Now the Incorporated Village of Garden City has decided to increase the Parking Permit Fee from zero to $150 per employee per year. With 12 employees, this is going to cost me $1,800 per year. If I hire a new employee and it doesn’t work out, or if a present employee leaves, I still have to pay the $150 - no refunds. I did some checking and found out that the Incorporated Village of Garden City is one of the richest towns on Long Island. As a tenant in Garden City, I have been paying my proportionate share of any increase in Town, School, and Village taxes for the past 33 years. These increases have been substantial, and I don’t even own a building.

My employees frequent restaurants and shop in Garden City on their lunch hours. We have been having our Christmas parties at a restaurant in Garden City. I have been doing my part to support Garden City and make it what it is, and now I am treated like this. Our present location has not been part of the beautification program of Garden City, but I am being hit with this charge.

I find it interesting that the Incorporated Village of Garden City selected only certain municipal parking lots for this charge. At a time when small businesses are struggling, the Incorporated Village of Garden City adds to the problems we are having. Apparently they don’t care.

Walter R. Sommer

New Parking Fee

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my shock and outrage over the new form of village taxation for certain businesses. It seems that since the village is unable to curb spending or tighten their own belts, they are imposing a tax on tenants of 520 Franklin Ave (Garden City Medical Center) and two other lots, requiring all requests for parking permits to pay $150 per year. We have been tenants since 1993 and although parking has never been easy in the attached lot, it was included in our rent. How is it that $150 was chosen as the assessed fee?

There are less than 100 spaces for over 300 permit holders to share, along with patients, postal workers from the Post Office on the next block, and church members of Saint Josephs, who all utilize the parking lot. The only difference is that the Post Office and the church (of which I am a member) do not pay taxes to the village, so we must foot the bill.

Many of the tenants have numerous employees who must all pay for a permit, even if they are only part time workers.

It is unfair to assume that doctors in the building can foot the bill for all of their employees especially when this cost cannot be passed on in the form of higher fees to patients due to managed care reimbursement. A retail business can raise prices if they wish- doctors cannot. Coupled with soaring malpractice insurance increases, health insurance cuts, and Medicare and Medicaid cuts, the Village Board is pouring salt in the wounds. Many of the offices also employ family members who live in the village. We pay our share of residential property taxes to the village and schools, and to think that we should give hundreds more each year to the village just to park our cars so we can go to work is unjust.

I know that commuters have long since paid to park in the lots near the train stations, and although I can sympathize, frankly the lack of commuting was a reason to choose to establish a business close to home. Tenants in 520 Franklin also pay their fair share of property tax increases every year in the form of specific increases in our rent. Why was this particular lot chosen? Why not the village hall lot, or other businesses along Franklin Ave? Why any parking lot at all?

When I called the village to ask why, I was told that Parking field #5 is “business driven”. What kind of double talk is that? There is not one lot in town that is not “business driven”. Do I take that to mean that if the parking field behind the grocery store on Seventh Street or Lord and Taylor became a $150 permit fee lot, that it would not affect their business? Or that cars parked in those lots are not customers of theirs?

The most important point I would like make is that my $150 fee does not even guarantee me a parking spot! Yes- that is right. How could it, when there are only 96 permit spaces available to over 300 permit users? I would like the members of the board to ask themselves if they would pay $150 for electricity, but not know if the lights would go on. Or pay $150 for food ahead of time, only to find out the grocery’s shelves were bare. This is a perfect example of taxation without representation, and to single out certain businesses in town for this egregious tax is wholly unfair and may even be illegal.

The medical center brings business and revenue to the village and is a valuable commodity in our downtown shopping district. We have for many years shared the little space allotted to us with the postal service and Church of which neither has ever had to pay for. I ask the board to reconsider this poorly thought out decision, and to cease alienating your neighbors.

Elizabeth Colantonio, RN