By Jason Scheer
While most of the debate over the districts has revolved around the impact taxes have on residents, Levinson said that businesses are also hampered by high taxes and would be better served if the Town of Hempstead handled all garbage pick up in the area.
Business owners, sayid Levinson, must be made aware of the disparity of the taxes paid by people throughout the Town.
"No business or homeowner gets another person's bill. So everyone presumes that everyone is paying the same," Levinson said. "But they're not."
For example, the Pilot Shop, 2789 Milburn Avenue in Baldwin, pays about $1,576 to Sanitary District No. 2, which encompasses Baldwin, South Hempstead, Roosevelt and parts of Oceanside and Rockville Centre. According to Levinson, if their sanitation services were providced by the town, they would pay $705, less than half the amount. Just like with homeowners, businesses pay taxes based on their assessed value.
Sandy Scherner-Leddy, the owner of the Pilot Shop, said she wasn't aware of the discrepancies.
"Wow," she said when told of the difference. "That's a lot [of money]."
Levinson, challenging Kate Murray for the office of Town of Hempstead Supervisor, has been running on a platform that includes disbanding special districts and consolidating them into one centrally-run, municipally-operated district run by the Town of Hempstead.
Scherner-Leddy said she would be in favor of any move that saves her money.
Levinson believes high taxes are keeping businesses out of Baldwin.
"The Baldwn business community is hurting and it's hurting badly," he said. "...If you lower the taxes, the business people are savvy and once they see a lower tax bill, they will consider going to Baldwin."
Levinson made these statements in response to questions raised at the Baldwin Town Meeting held on June 14 where residents raised concerns over the quality of businesses coming into the area.
Levinson urged the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce to inform business owners in the area of the disparities.
"The chamber of commerce must speak up on behalf on the business owners," he said. "If the [business owners] have no complaint about paying higher taxes, so be it."
Chamber co-president Doris Duffy said she thinks Levinson is using the sanitation issue for political gain and that the chamber won't put itself in the middle of a race for public office.
"We're a private organization and we promote business but we don't generally become involved in issues that are partisan and political," she said.
Levinson said the problem isn't limited to Baldwin and Sanitation District No. 2. National Liquors, 125 Hempstead Turnpike, in West Hempstead pays $2,838 to Sanitary District No. 6, which includes Elmont, Lakeview, Franklin Square, portions of Valley Stream and West Hempstead. Levinson said that owner Sanjay Salwan would pay only $1,174 if the same business was under the jurisdiction of the Town of Hempstead Refuse and Garbage District.
Sanitary District No. 2 Commissioner Jerry Brown released a statement in defense of the districts.
"Bigger government is not necessarily better government," said Brown. He continued, saying that local control and attention afforded by the sanitation district is a plus for the community it serves.
Martin Caroll, secretary to the board of Sanitation District No. 6, said that residents and businesses within the district get better service for their money.
"We provide the residents and commercial businesses with outstanding service and I don't think they would get it anywhere else."
He pointed to the districts six-day-a-week pickup schedule, compost removal, rubbish removal and special pickup services as evidence.
How could it happen?
At the Town meeting, Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino and a Baldwin resident engaged in a heated exchange over the appropriate way to dissolve Sanitary District No. 2.
The resident contended that the Town of Hempstead should close the district because it is in the public's interest.
According to New York State law, the Town of Hempstead has no such authority and in order for the district to be dissolved, a petition must be signed by a majority of the homeowners in the district.
As for closure in the public interest, New York State Law precludes dissolution in the case of any district that has provided a service at any time. Sanitary District No. 2 has been serving the Baldwin, South Hempstead and Roosevelt areas for about 75 years.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or 569-4000 ext. 282.
