Letters to the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Editor (Feb. 7-13)

Posted

This election is dividing the community

To the Editor:

Lynbrook has been my home for my entire life. I try to give back to the community as best I can. When I met my wife and she asked me where I would like to raise our daughter, I said there was no better place than Lynbrook. I would like to believe that again.
The current mayoral race seems to be testing all our faiths in the goodness of our community. I have nothing negative to say about Mayor Alan Beach, the trustees, Deputy Mayor Hilary Becker or any candidates. I will not talk about what I am for or against. I will not talk about what I have heard. I will only talk about what I know.

I have known Becker since we played on the Lynbrook Titans lacrosse team in third grade. I played lacrosse and wrestled with him through high school. After college, he asked me if I would help him coach in the Titans Wrestling Program. Three decades later, we are still at it. In that time, I have seen Titan wrestlers when we coached come back and coach their children in the program. I have seen Becker help multiple Titans wrestlers get into top colleges, as well as the military.
college, he asked me if I would help him coach in the Titans Wrestling Program. Three decades later, we are still at it. In that time, I have seen Titan wrestlers when we coached come back and coach their children in the program. I have seen Becker help multiple Titans wrestlers get into top colleges, as well as the military.
Every year, I see former Titans come back with their military uniforms on to teach our children about the honor and pride they received from the program. I have never seen Becker treat one parent or child without dignity and respect. As a realtor, he also sold my home with professionalism and integrity.
I support strengthening our community and bringing it together. I cannot vote for Lynbrook’s mayor because I am an East Rockaway resident in the Lynbrook School District. But it has saddened me to witness the unsubstantiated attacks back and forth. The only way that we can be proud of our community is to focus on what we are for, and not what we are against. We can agree to disagree, and that is OK. But at least we will share our views with dignity and respect. How we treat one another as adults is the message that we send to our children. Let’s be vigilant with that message.

Kevin Murphy, East Rockaway

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The Hilary hoax?

To the Editor:

I recently saw a news conference at Village Hall at which mayoral candidate Hilary Becker claimed that a Facebook post posed a physical threat to him.
At first, I was concerned that something like this could happen in Lynbrook. That concern then turned to curiosity, then to anger. An investigation into this incident by Lynbrook police revealed that the post, which showed a man holding an assault weapon, pointed at the camera, was not directed at Becker. It had a caption that read, “This is the resident that claims to be bullied.” In fact, Becker was not even mentioned or referenced.
For Becker to host a news conference and allege that it was directed at him was equivalent, to me, of opening a sportsman magazine and seeing a rifle or pistol advertisement and claiming I felt threatened by the person in the ad.
The police investigated and determined that no credible threat was made toward Becker. After months of watching board meetings at which Becker provided evasive and non-responsive answers to questions from residents about his business dealings and refusal to answer a financial disclosure, something feels off.
Mayor Alan Beach called it a political stunt, and if true, shame on Becker for dragging down Lynbrook’s reputation as a safe, welcoming community for political gain.

Joseph Neve, former Lynbrook Police chief