Darcy, Rumelt face off for council seat

Three of the six seats on the Hempstead town board are up for election this year, including in the 3rd Council District which serves the southwest corner of the town. Jim Darcy, the incumbent and Republican, is running for his fourth term. He was first elected in 2000, when the town switched to council districts. Darcy was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.

He is being challenged by Owen Rumelt, a Democrat from West Hempstead. Rumelt has lived in the community for 23 years, and in the 3rd District for the past six years. He criticizes the current administration for not doing enough to encourage development.

The 3rd District includes Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, East Atlantic Beach, Inwood, Lawrence, Malverne, North Woodmere and Valley Stream, and parts of Elmont, Franklin Square, Hewlett, Lynbrook, North Valley Stream, West Hempstead and Woodmere.

Herald: Why are you running for this seat?

Darcy: Delivering the best municipal services to residents at the lowest possible cost is a driving motivation for me as a councilman. My desire to help people is at the heart of my calling to public service. I am enthusiastic that Supervisor Kate Murray and I are delivering a 2012 tax-freeze budget. The budget has earned top ratings from Wall Street credit rating agencies, and our spending plan funds a full array of life-enhancing services. We have achieved some important victories for residents during this term. Getting rid of West Hempstead’s Courtesy Hotel, providing approvals for beautiful train-commuter-friendly apartments will help retain our young workers. Another key victory came with the town board’s approval of the “toughest in the nation” cell tower law. The legislation is halting the proliferation of unneeded cell towers in residential neighborhoods. These are but a couple of examples of important priorities I’ve pursued. 

Rumelt: I am running because I believe that the current administration is unresponsive to the needs of our communities. It has failed to take the necessary actions to allow for growth and development and the increased economic and employment opportunities such growth would provide. One of the major responsibilities of the Town Council is to set zoning policy. However, the fear of density and change has precluded consideration of projects which can greatly benefit the residents of the town, such as the proposed Lighthouse Project. Moreover, I am running because I believe that the voters of the 3rd District deserve a strong advocate for their interests. As I have campaigned in the district, from West Hempstead, through Malverne and into the Five Towns, I have found that most voters simply do not know who their councilman is, notwithstanding his having served for many years in the position.

Herald: What issues are important to you in this election?

Darcy: Holding the line on taxes while helping to stimulate the economy and create jobs is at the top of my priority list. Simultaneously, I am committed to investing in our township’s future through a sound and sensible capital improvement program. Freezing taxes leaves more money in taxpayers’ wallets. That’s important during these tough economic times. We’ve been able to freeze taxes by aggressively controlling costs. For example, our government is holding salary and wage costs to a 1 percent increase in 2012 while total private sector compensation is up by 2.6 percent during this past year. Stimulating the economy and creating jobs are areas where our town excels. We’ve authorized three major, large scale development projects. They are pumping hundreds of millions of private sector dollars into the economy and creating hundreds, if not thousands, of construction and permanent jobs. The new commuter friendly homes at West Hempstead’s train station boast 285,000 square feet of construction and $95 million in private investment. Our government is stimulating the economy with a $50 million capital program that will repave roads, replace marine bulkheads and build a recreation center for children with special needs. We’re improving our town and creating real jobs. 

Rumelt: Important issues are combating the high rate of unemployment in the Town of Hempstead, determining how to maintain essential town services in a declining economy and ensuring efficient usage of taxpayer’s money. The town’s unemployment rate of 14 percent is higher than anywhere else on Long Island. We need to undertake and support programs that will attract new industry, improve job skills through training and increase possibilities for employment. We need to review our budget process, focusing on the expenditures of the Town’s numerous “special districts” and consider the savings which could result from consolidation of those districts. We need to cut down on the voluminous mailings which cost millions of dollars. Most of all, we need to ensure that the ability to live in the Town remains an economically viable possibility. When I moved to West Hempstead 23 years ago, I was optimistic about the life my wife and I would lead here. Nowadays, too many couples, young and old, are leaving the town because they simply cannot afford to live here. That is unacceptable and we must make the necessary changes to encourage the continued growth of our town.

Herald: What development and/or revitalization issues need to be addressed in the 3rd District in the next four years and how can you assist that process?

Darcy: Development and community revitalization are important to our township’s prosperity and that of the 3rd Council District. Beautifying Elmont’s downtown has started with streetscape work and a newly opened public-private senior co-op. The redevelopment of the former Argo Movie Theatre and an expanded revitalization plan for Hempstead Turnpike are priorities. The replacement of the tatty Courtesy Hotel is at the core of attracting new business development to West Hempstead. Seeking new opportunities to expand partnerships with businesses to upgrade storefront facades and streetscapes is on our agenda.

Rumelt: The biggest need facing the 3rd District, and the town as a whole, is to increase meaningful employment opportunities which pay a living wage and to reestablish our town’s business districts. We need business filling the all-too-many storefronts and buildings which remain vacant because the current administration is unwilling to make necessary changes in our zoning rules out of the baseless fear that our towns and villages will lose their suburban character. Tax breaks are given to developers without any effort made to ensure that they hire local workers or pay appropriate wages.

Herald: What are you thoughts on the issues at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter and how those have been addressed?

Darcy: Any time you are confronted with adversity, you are also presented with genuine opportunity. We’ve made real and measurable progress to make a good public shelter even better. We’ve worked with the Humane Society and animal rescue groups to find a new director and to review policies. Our shelter has a new top-notch director, we’ve instituted a volunteer program and we’re adding air conditioning to the building. All three kennels have been rebuilt, walking trails have been added and full-time vets are there. Come visit our improved shelter today. 

Rumelt: The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is one of the clearest examples of inefficient usage of taxpayers’ dollars and the effects of 110 years of one-party rule. The combined problems of a bloated budget fueled by excessive salaries to Republican loyalists have not been addressed at all. The proposed 2012 budget of $7.4 million, an increase of approximately $900,000 over the current year’s budget, is significantly higher than the budget of any other town on Long Island. Virtually the entire budget is attributable to unexplained “administrative charges” (approximately $3.5 million) and salaries (approximately $3.1 million.)

Herald: What should be done with the Coliseum site and how should that be accomplished?

Darcy: Nassau Coliseum is owned by Nassau County. To aid the county and prospective developers, our town board approved a dynamic new building and construction zone in June that will facilitate reasonable development and accommodate a refurbished Coliseum. The zone allows for business, hotel, convention, education, residential, technology, entertainment, sports and retail uses among other development. The zone we approved allows 5.5 million square feet of development (greater density tan RXR Towers) and will help the county to attract developers and provide for a refurbished building for the Islanders hockey team to call home.

Rumelt: The Mitchell Field Mixed Use Development District should be expanded to provide for development of the full 7.7 million square feet area. In addition to rebuilding the Coliseum, facilities should be constructed for research and development, and for industries which can provide not only long-term employment for town residents, but increase our tax base. As councilman, I would work closely with the members of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council to ensure that the necessary zoning changes be made to allow for full development of the site while taking into account the needs and concerns of the surrounding communities.