Letter: Why Is The Town In The Real Estate Business?

Dear Editor,

I was a witness to the exchange between Supervisor Petrone, Councilman Cuthbertson, and SD B.O.E. president Rogan at the last Town Board meeting. To say I am disappointed in our Town’s leadership is an understatement.

I do not need to defend Ms. Rogan, she is clearly capable of doing that herself. But when I hear our elected officials “talk down” to another elected official, and declare it is the SD 3 way or the highway, I must take exception to that.

Why is the Town of Huntington in the real estate business in the first place? The Town CDA owns almost a dozen properties around Jack Abrams Stem school that they rent out to section 8 recipients, many who have children in SD3, and pay no taxes. Same for Gateway Gardens, 43 children, no taxes. And how many homeless shelters are across from a public school, also Town owned, on Long Island? I will bet we have the only one. Rotondo, Tilden brake, Northridge, houses along Gateway Park, the Columbia St project, and even Breezy Park, all former privately owned properties the Town has removed from SD 3 tax rolls. Some stolen through Eminent Domain. By my estimate, over $400,000 a year in lost tax revenue in just the last 10 years!

According to Mr. Polansky at the last B.O.E. meeting, a whopping 7% drop in assessments in SD 3 since the 90’s! The resident homeowners of SD 3 have no recourse but to pay the difference. And with a 2% tax cap in place. And while SD 3 is losing tax revenue because of the Town of Huntington’s revitalization efforts, they protect other school districts such as Northport/ East Northport by fighting the Matinicock housing project and trying to stop the LIPA tax reduction (it is NOT a tax increase) on the Northport power station.

Providing a $250,000 P.I.L.O.T. to Canon USA to relocate in the HHH school district and bringing in hundreds of high paying jobs is just not the same as a $2.5 million tax reduction over 15 years in SD 3 for a hotel that will only bring 20 or so low paying service jobs.

Residents of SD3, please wake up and see what Town policies are doing to our school district!

Mr. Petrone, it is YOUR way or the highway, not the other way around!

Sincerely,

Matt Harris
Huntington Station Resident