Shame on town board for raises

To the Editor:

At the recent Hempstead Town Board meeting, I attended to express my opinion on the salary increases they gave themselves. The manner and timing of the increases was disingenuous at best, showing a lack of regard for the poor economy.

My comments were heard without a response by the board.

Another speaker, protesting the crafty way they gave themselves a raise and its timing, collected 1,000 signatures protesting the board’s act. A board member gave the man the third degree, asked if he was a Democrat, a committee member and why didn’t he identify himself as such when he spoke? The victim asked the board member if he was a Republican and why he didn’t say as much before the inquisition. The member said they deserved a raise. The board did not bend and no one else made a comment.

Others came to express their thoughts on Charles Wang’s Lighthouse project. I wondered why a decision is so long in the making. Is it to protect the public interest? I remember how the public interest was cast aside when the Roosevelt Field deal was made. The Nassau Coliseum, too, was not a deal where public interest was served. One wonders if the town has monkey wrenches or due diligence in the Wang project.

Richard Creeron

Valley Stream