By Anthony Santino
At this point, no concrete plan has been proposed for incorporation beyond some give-and-take at two informational meetings held by Oceanside's Democratic county legislators. No actual boundaries for the new village have been suggested, nor has a delineation of what services a village would or would not provide to the residents of Oceanside been promulgated. Nor has any concrete analysis of the tax implications of incorporation for Oceanside taxpayers been put forward. Accordingly, it would be difficult to offer a reasoned opinion on this very important issue, since Mr. Toback has yet to come forward with a detailed plan.
In fact, to date, the information provided by Mr. Toback raises more questions than answers.
What are the actual benefits to be derived from incorporation? If it is determined that there are benefits to incorporating, are they worth the additional tax bill that would come with a new village government? And is another layer of government what the people of Oceanside really need in the face of the 40 percent increase in Nassau County property taxes enacted over the past three years?
Accordingly, I believe that whether or not to incorporate is a decision that must be made by the people of Oceanside after they've had a chance to review a real proposal, consider all the facts, and determine for themselves the best course for the future of this great community.
While Mr. Toback, as an Oceanside resident, certainly has standing to take part in this important debate, I question whether Legislator Michael Zapson, who hails from Long Beach, or any other non-Oceansider should be seeking to influence a decision that is as important to the people of Oceanside as is incorporation. As a neighbor from East Rockaway it would, in my view, be wrong of me to try to influence a decision that should depend solely on the votes of a majority of Oceanside's residents.
It appears that there are those who, in advancing of their own partisan political agendas, want to make the question of incorporation a Democrat vs. Republican issue, or have the matter decided by unfairly denigrating town services. Oceanside receives outstanding municipal services from the Town of Hempstead at very affordable cost. And incorporation should have nothing to do with political parties, personalities or partisanship.
Finally, and most important, as a town councilman I must represent all the people of Oceanside. Whether the community chooses to establish a village government or not, the fact that I represent the community on the Hempstead Town Board would not change at all, since Oceanside would remain a part of the Town of Hempstead even if it becomes a village. I would represent the Village of Oceanside on the town board just as I currently represent the villages of Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, East Rockaway, Island Park, Hewlett Neck, Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Bay Park.
The question of incorporation is one of the most important decisions that Oceansiders will ever make about the future of their community, and it should be made by Oceansiders free from outside influences and partisan political agendas. And, most decidedly, the issue should not be used as a vehicle to boost the electoral fortunes of any politician, whether he or she lives in Oceanside or not.
I love Oceanside and have worked very hard to improve the quality of life enjoyed by all who call it home. It will be my pleasure to continue to represent all the residents of Oceanside whether the decision is made to become a village or to remain unincorporated.
