One highlight Rinn can point to is the five-year battle, and victory, for height restrictions along Maple Avenue, which is considered the buffer zone between the commercial and residential sections of the village. That doesn¹t mean that Rinn isn¹t for careful development of the downtown. He believes, as do we, that multi-family dwellings in the downtown, within reason, will keep our village strong and vibrant. Not only does it mean a broader tax base, it will also keep the shopping district vital and our merchants, and all the goods and services they provide, in business.
Rinn is particularly concerned about the inevitable burst in the housing bubble, which could trigger a domino effect of less revenue for the village from mortgage taxes and building permits. Traffic and parking in the village is another of Rinn¹s concerns, especially some ³hot spots² where potential accidents could be lurking.
Rinn acts as liaison to a variety of the village¹s agencies. He often rides patrol with the cops, is keeping a watchful eye on what¹s best for the residents of the RVC Housing Authority in the face of mounting fiscal trouble and less state aid, and is a regular at the Sandel Senior Center. He is troubled that many of the village¹s seniors could be forced from their homes because they won¹t be able to afford their taxes. He believes that spending has to be controlled and the tax base broadened to ease the burden on the individual tax payer in light of less New York state dollars.
A down to earth person who answers complex questions with complex answers, not sound bytes, Rinn works well with people of all political, religious and civic persuasions. Greg Rinn has earned the right to continue to serve all the residents of the village.
Oppenheimer has earned our support
Ed Oppenheimer¹s entire life has been a testament to community service. A 26-year veteran of the fire department, the Home Rule party candidate is also an EMT who is often the first on the scene when there is an emergency anywhere in the village.
If there¹s a negative to Oppenheimer, it could be his abrasiveness. There is no place for arrogance on the village Board of Trustees, and if Oppenheimer can reign in his self-perceived know-it-all-ness and learn to reserve comment while listening and learning respectfully from others, he will serve the village well.
A CPA with a business in town, he has served on the RVC Budget Advisory Committee and is a current member of the RVC Planning Board. As a member of the board of the Chamber of Commerce, he has a finger on the pulse of the community¹s merchants and business owners. Regarding his role on the planning board, when a 349-unit apartment complex was proposed, he opposed the project at that size and approved the project only at a substantially reduced size. A former Nassau County legislator and RVC library board trustee, Oppenheimer has a proven record with community service and politics. We would be hard pressed to find another candidate with as much demonstrated commitment and devotion to this village and its people.
As for the Residents¹ Voice candidates, Andrew Karamouzis, an attorney with a practice in town, is Ivy-league educated, but not well versed enough in all the issues facing Rockville Centre. Karamouzis is focused on one issue and one issue only‹overdevelopment. A likable man, Karamouzis is lacking in areas of civic involvement in the community and could better serve the residents of Rockville Centre in a lesser capacity until he gets up to speed. He may one day make a fine trustee, but now is not the time.
Jeanne Mulry has attended many briefing sessions and board meetings, but she, too, is a one issue candidate who has played on people¹s fears. Mulry talks about a ³master plan² and claims she¹s not antidevelopment, but her myopic activism is focused only in that direction. Contrary to her belief, the sky is not falling‹at least not in Rockville Centre. She has not immersed herself enough in other aspects of village life, or proven her ability to work in a group setting and build a consensus, to make her a viable candidate.
Vote Yannelli and yes to fire referendum
Frank Yannelli is running unopposed for another term as village justice. Yannelli has been cross-endorsed by all the major political parties in the village. The village court, which handles thousands of cases a year, runs seamlessly, and under Yannelli¹s tenure, was one of the first in Nassau County to be fully computerized. An affable man with a deep understanding of the law and this village, Yannelli has earned this newspaper¹s backing.
Support Fire Service Awards referendum
Don¹t forget to pull the ³yes² lever in the voting booth for the increase in the Fire Service Awards program. If this referendum passes, our volunteer firefighters would
realize an increase from $480 to $700 annually in their individual retirement accounts. The money would come from a budget surplus and would not increase taxes. This no-brainer would help the Rockville Centre Fire Department maintain and recruit firefighters that work to keep our community safe from the ravages of fire and other emergencies.
