Supports United Community Party

To the Editor:

Before I was the assemblyman for Valley Stream, I spent seven years in village government. The level can be very challenging because of the burden of mandates the higher levels of government place on the villages. We need good people who can get the job done and not cost the people a lot of money in the process.

United Community candidates Ed Fare, Vincent Grasso, Dermond Thomas and Robert Bogle, represent a solid, can-do team. They will continue to stabilize village taxes, revitalize our parks system, repair our roads and work with other levels of government to improve our quality of life.

I represented the 14th Assembly District for 10 years. My district included five incorporated villages, including Valley Stream. I know the challenges this level of government faces. I have worked with virtually every member of the United Community Party team over the years to keep Valley Stream a great village. For the past several years the village, with Ed Fare as trustee, embarked upon a challenging revitalization campaign to restore the downtown district. While the process is long, arduous and intricate, Fare and his team have embraced this challenge, and they are the ones who will see this project through. Changes have already been made. We worked together to get the infamous “adult store” on Rockaway and Sunrise torn down, and that is just the beginning for the Fare team, going forward.

It is worth mentioning that the New York Police Chiefs’ Benevolent Association endorses Ed Fare’s candidacy for mayor of Valley Stream in this election. His 30 year commitment to public safety was noted as a major factor in choosing him as the most qualified candidate to lead Valley Stream.

I know the team of Fare for Mayor, Grasso and Thomas for Trustees and Bob Bogle, an experienced, respected jurist for Village Justice, are the best candidates to represent the people of Valley Stream. Please join me in support of the United Community Party candidates.

Bob Barra

Former New York State assemblyman