Letter: Dissolution groups ignoring results

Regarding "Dumping a special district isn't easy" [Editorial, Feb. 2], two special-interest groups called the Long Island Progressive Coalition and Residents for Efficient Special Districts are engaged in a self-serving crusade to dissolve Sanitary District No. 2, which effectively serves about 55,000 schools, businesses and residents in the hamlets of Baldwin, Roosevelt and South Hempstead, as well as those in parts of Uniondale, Rockville Centre and Freeport.

This shortsighted campaign ostensibly seeks to streamline government and lessen the tax burden on business and homeowners in these areas, but their disingenuous drive to solicit local support and force a special election is based on faulty premises and suppositions.

For example, the idea that the 68 Civil Service Employees Association members currently working for the district would not lose their jobs, but would instead be absorbed into the Town of Hempstead workforce, ignores the realities of the situation.

Why? The town currently employs hundreds of part-time workers with a contractual right to assume full-time capacity when such a position becomes available. It is unlikely that a displaced sanitation worker would move to the front of that lengthy line.

Also, any tax savings realized by the dissolution of the district would probably be offset by extra fees from the town, needed to cover the nearly 17,000 additional weekly stops. Town residents in other areas could see fee increases and perhaps a less efficient level of service if the workforce is suddenly stretched beyond its limits.

There is also the issue of local control. Sanitary District No. 2 works with school districts, business owners and residents to address any issues.

These are some of the complex concerns blissfully neglected by the pro-dissolution groups.

Rich Impagliazzo, Commack

Editor's note: The writer represents the CSEA Long Island Region.