By Mike Russo
Nassau County legislators Joe Scannell, Kevan Abrahams, Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, state Assemblyman Bob Barra, and representatives from the offices of state Sen. Charles Fuschillo, Sen. Dean Skelos and U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy were present to field questions from community members at Baldwin High School on Feb. 26.
Goosby and Santino recapped the state of the Grand Avenue project, for which a developer had planned to create a downtown area with nationally-recognized businesses before the downturn in the economy forced many interested retailers to back out at the last minute. Despite the setback, Santino said, town officials are in the process of negotiating with another developer, the Blumenfeld Group, which the town says is interested in bringing in one or two national chain businesses.
"It's a tough economic environment, but there are some companies out there that are making money," said Santino. "[The project] will go forward in one way or another. We're going to persevere, and we're not going to do anything less than the best for Baldwin."
Santino briefly discussed the proposed Toyota dealership, saying that the dealer has downgraded its proposal from a full dealership to car storage as a result of its own economic troubles. While Santino said he could not comment further, as the case is still being heard by the town board of appeals, he said the dealer has offered to make the site - proposed for the corner of Sunrise Highway and Harrison Avenue -visually appealing, and left open the possibility of constructing a showroom if economic conditions improve in the future.
Santino and Goosby also announced that the town is working to renovate storefronts on Merrick Road, just east of Grand Avenue. The town has entered into agreements with three stores and is currently negotiating with another three.
Representing the county, Scannell and Abrahams explained County Executive Tom Suozzi's three-point plan to close an expected $130-million budget gap that could become even larger if county sales-tax revenue continues falling. Abrahams said that Nassau is very different from other counties, even neighboring Suffolk, because the county has been developed so much, and there is really nowhere else to spread out the tax base.
"We've gotta find ways to revitalize our tax base because Nassau can't expand anymore," said Abrahams.
Scannell said that the county is still negotiating with the Rosen family on moving the First Precinct into the Rosen Shopping Center on Grand Avenue, just steps from Baldwin High School.
Barra said that fast-tracking projects such as the Lighthouse Project and the Belmont revitalization would bring Long Island the commerce necessary for economic growth. While Barra said he reluctantly supports Suozzi's proposed revenue enhancers such as a cigarette tax and traffic ticket surcharges, which must be approved by the state - calling them "sin-taxes" but better than raising property taxes - Barra said he feels that more needs to be done to curtail government spending and not put the state's problems on the backs of taxpayers.
"We can't tax our way out of this," said Barra. "We have to grow out of it."
Barra suggested planning for spending over a five-year period, while prioritizing necessary expenses such as education. Speaking generally, Barra said there are definitely situations in which government is running ineffectively, such as the state still paying a capital defender when there is no death penalty and keeping open the office of lieutenant governor while the position is vacant. Hard times are ahead in Albany, Barra said, and tough choices will have to be made.
"The next few weeks," Barra said, pausing briefly, "the battle line is drawn."
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
