By:Anne Marie Allocca
After opening remarks by Joyce Conte, vice president of the council, the legislators were each given a few moments to speak. Legislators attending the breakfast included Assemblymen Robert Barra and Thomas Alfano, Senator Dean Skelos and county Legislator John Ciotti. Kelly Brown represented U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, and Andrew Mastromarino represented Town Councilmen James Darcy and Edward Ambrosino. Guido Cirenza, deputy mayor of Valley Stream, stood in for Mayor Edward Cahill. Anthony Iadevaio, president of the Central High School District board and member of the District 24 Board of Education, spoke on behalf of the school board. Lawrence Goldrick, superintendent of District 30, spoke on behalf of the school administrators. Kate Freeman, council president, was the PTA spokeswoman.
Alfano assured the audience that he and his fellow legislators planned to fight just as hard for the education budget this year as they have in the past. We are working very hard to see that state dollars go to the right district, namely our district, Alfano said. Last year was a panic struggle, which many of you realize and remember. We-re prepared to fight this year, and we-ll settle for nothing less than victory.
Skelos explained that Medicaid is a very important issue in Governor Pataki-s budget this year. The state will absorb some of the costs, and he assured voters that there is no Robin Hood approach.
We are not going to take from our so-called wealthy school districts to fund another problem, Skelos said.
When it came time for audience comments, the community was far from shy. Ian Wraith, a District 24 father, said his school taxes increased 25 percent. He remarked that the talk about Robin Hood sounded good, but he felt there was a reverse Robin Hood effect taking place. The homeowners are paying a much greater share, but the utilities and corporations are getting the tax break, he said. It doesn-t seem fair. It-s time to address the inequity between wealthy properties.
Karin Waslo, co-president of the Wheeler Avenue School PTA, stressed that parents were motivated to pass the school budget last year, but they will not be motivated this year if they can-t afford to live here. She encouraged the politicians to help re-enact the 2 percent cap that regulated the increase caused by the county-s reassessment, last year.
Waslo, a 20-year resident of Valley Stream, spoke of the changes she has seen in the town during her time here. When I first moved here, there was always one parent who could stay at home and help with improving the educational opportunity outside of school, she said. As PTA president, I find most of the parents cannot make the time to come to meetings, or volunteer to coach their kids, because they-re all working. This community is in danger of eroding. What I found so appealing about this community 20 years ago is not going to be here much longer. I find that more upsetting than anything else. I-m an endangered species I-m still a stay-at-home mother. It-s not going to last much longer if my property taxes are going up.
Cathy Subbiondo, a board member in District 13, said that her school tax bill went up 33 percent in one year. She told the legislators that any efforts they could make on behalf of the residents would be appreciated.
The legislators pledged their support for Valley Stream residents, and said they will share residents- concerns with the governor.
Besides the school budgets, the elected officials took the opportunity to share their thoughts on quality-of-life issues and inform the community about improvements being made in Valley Stream. Ciotti, a resident of Valley Stream since 1964, revealed that his home had been burglarized three weeks ago while his college-age son was inside. He wasn-t hurt, and thanks to the Fifth Precinct forensics team and detectives, the perpetrator was arrested in Brooklyn two weeks ago. Ciotti pledged to make sure this is a very safe environment.
I have been dealing with Dr. [Marc] Bernstein [superintendent of the high school district] regarding the potential violence issue in the community, Ciotti said.
Cirenza told the crowd that the new parking field under the Long Island Rail Road would have 82 spots and metered parking for both residents and non-residents. He also noted that the newly renovated pool complex in Hendrickson Park is expected to open in time for the summer season. On the topic of roads, which have taken a severe beating this winter, $5 million has been allocated for the future. Cirenza said that a one-mile stretch of street, including new curbs and handicap corners, costs $1 million.
