Steve Levy's departure from Suffolk County

Before Steve Levy exits the Suffolk County Executive position to "pursue other interests," perhaps he can right two wrongs that he has bestowed upon my community ["I won't run again," News, March 25]. Seeing as he no longer has to be concerned with re-election, I implore him to close the Suffolk County Trap and Skeet Range in Southaven Park and abandon the outrageous proposition of Legacy Village.

He has all of the necessary documentation and reason to close the range. The recent arrest of range operator Mark Wroobel ["Yaphank: County probe of skeet range," News, Feb. 22] on charges of illegal weapons distribution is just icing on the cake. Please return the local residents and park-goers a noise-free and lead-free environment.

Legacy Village is an absurdly grandiose proposition. If he is so concerned with the housing needs of Long Islanders, he should subsidize low-interest mortgages and construction loans.

Christopher Broszeit

Yaphank
 

I will be sad to see Steve Levy go, after 26 years of service. Hardest working politician I've ever seen. Willing to stand up to special interests for the hard working, tax paying, honest citizens of Suffolk. Refused raises himself multiple times. Lived a modest life and expected his peers not to bilk the public.

Shame on the police, teachers and legislators who have gone after him in self-interest, sometimes even at the expense of their own co-workers.

Best of luck to the best public servant we've seen in our time. Pitty us left behind to endure county management by necessarily inferior officials.

Gary Wohlberg

Northport
 

In his first year or two as county executive, Steve Levy's cost saving measures were reasonable and held the line on some unnecessary expeditures by the county. However, in later years Levy's mindless and shortsighted manatra of "position control" has resulted in the dismantling of county government and essential services that protect Long Island's groundwater and drinking water.

It will fall to his successor to restore the technician and scientist positions, people who conducted such work for the prior four decades in order to protect this island's most undervalued resource, our groundwater.

Unless sales tax revenues rebound, it will be necessary for the next county executive to increase the nearly nonexistent county property tax rate to insure protection of this resource and the future health of Suffolk's residents.

Martin Trent

Orient

Editor's note: The writer recently retired as the chief public health sanitarian for the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and director of the Peconic Estuary Program.