Kopel gets it wrong again

To the Editor:

In February, I wrote a letter to the Herald complaining about the Republican Legislature’s repeal of the 80-year-old county guarantee of grievances (“Kopel is wrong on refunds,” Feb. 24-March 2), which spread the cost of successful tax challenges over the entire county. I argued, “The extra burden Island Park residents may have paid for grievances in the past is peanuts compared to what we’ll be hit with if LIPA successfully challenges the Barrett Power Plant assessment.”

Under the heading, “Repealing guarantee was fair for everyone,” Legislator Howard Kopel responded (March 3-9), “I was disappointed to read Karen Fetty’s opinion that county guarantee repeal will hurt Island Park and cost its residents more money.  Actually, the opposite is true.” He concluded by saying, “I voted to repeal the county guarantee because it is unfair to the residents of Island Park and the 7th District. Residents will save money through a lower county tax burden.”

Really?

At a recent civic association meeting, Legislator Kopel got real (“Nassau County comes to Island Park,” May 12-18). “What’s going to happen here is going to be very difficult,” he said, according to the Herald. “I’m not going to soft-pedal it.” His solution? “We asked [LIPA] to consider the effects on this area, because it will be severe if there’s a large reduction.”

Let’s be clear: begging LIPA isn’t the answer. Legislator Kopel and his Republican colleagues can easily solve this problem by reinstating the longstanding county guarantee they so rashly repealed. If they care about the people of Island Park — and their own re-election — that’s what they will do.

Karen Fetty

Island Park