Letters to the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Editor

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Residents should have learned the facts about Cornerstone

To the Editor,

If anyone had stayed around long enough at the Lynbrook village board meeting on Nov. 19, they would have heard the correct answers to questions about the proposed Cornerstone apartment complex’s impact on Lynbrook. They would have heard about the PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes, program and the impact it would have had on the schools. The naysayers were giving out misguided information. All one had to do was ask.

If the public hearing took place as it should have before it was canceled, these questions would have been answered correctly. As for the perceived issues people have with workforce housing, my wife and I, along with many of our peers from the area and surrounding communities, live in the Avalon in Rockville Centre. They have a small percentage of apartments set aside for workforce housing. These apartments are not for people receiving public assistance, such as Section VIII housing.
For those who are opposed to workforce housing, tell that to the young student nurse who works at Mercy Medical Center, in Rockville Centre, or the young Marine who works at a recruitment center, or the young student finishing his degree to become a physical therapist. The only people receiving public assistance are the over 65 demographic on Social Security. People should check the “facts” they are receiving from the naysayers and research the issues for themselves.
Village officials have to think about the future, or they will be stuck in the past. If we do nothing, the surrounding communities will pass us by.

Harry Levitt, Lynbrook

Levitt is the owner of Mur-Lee’s Men’s & Boy’s Shop in Lynbrook and a former Chamber of Commerce president.


A response to Fran Becker

To the Editor,
It was very upsetting to read Fran Becker’s letter to the Editor in the Nov. 29-Dec. 5 issue. “Scare tactics are not how you ‘Keep Lynbrook, Lynbrook.” Over the years, I’ve spent many long hours with Fran smoking cigars with him in his backyard and mine. I’ve contributed an enormous amount of my personal time and money supporting all of his county Legislature and congressional races.
Our friendship has grown so strong that we consider each other family, and like as is the case with so many other families in our community, he has helped my family over the years, and for that I will always be grateful.
One can imagine the deep, deep sadness that I felt when reading his letter. My first question was why didn’t my dear friend call me first to find out why I made the robo call in support of Judy Griffin for assemblywoman? I would have told him that I reached out to Assemblyman Brian Curran on several occasions and even went to his office more than once to ask him to help us fight the no-bid, massive Cornerstone proposal, but Curran never returned my calls. That was all that I was asking. I felt he didn’t call because he supported the project.
What saddens me the most about Becker is that he is breaking away from his family’s legacy of political independence and fighting for the little guy to now choosing party loyalty over the concerns of the residents when it comes to the Cornerstone project. As a union worker, I’ve locked horns with Becker and other Republican friends over the years, but I always respected their opinions. However, I can assure you that his father, our beloved late Mayor Francis X. Becker, would never condone a no-bid contract and would have advised the village attorney not to have his property tied to the project.
I was never a member of the Lynbrook Community Alliance, but when I saw them carrying the mantle against this project, I wanted to join with them in their fight. They had nothing to do with my robo call, but I know that many of them and many on social media have applauded me for this effort while our local elected officials have threatened me. We will do what we can to stop this project, and with the support of the people we will prevail.

Alan Pawelsky, Lynbrook