South Shore issues need to be addressed

When it comes to Town meetings I have to ask "what about us on the South Shore?" A concerned neighbor has alerted us in North Massapequa that a builder intends to build three houses on two lots. The builder is seeking a variance to wedge those three houses onto small lots making the block look congested. There is a planned hearing on this scheduled for March 3rd at 7pm in Oyster Bay. Here’s the problem, the meeting for a South Shore issue is taking place on the North Shore. For those of us (and there are many) that work in the city, a 7pm meeting 30-40 minutes from the neighborhood is impossible. Why isn’t this hearing being held where the residents that are affected live? We have a Town Hall South paid for by our taxes and that building should be utilized for hearings involving issues that concern us. I’m sure our esteemed elected officials can rattle off a myriad number of excuses for not having hearings down here but present them with a photo-op and they will fall over themselves to get here.

Supervisor Venditto is a resident of North Massapequa and most of the Town Board lives below the LIE. I would hope that Supervisor Venditto understands that his neighbors deserve the right to take part in local government. Why can’t residents of the South Shore have access to their government? Should we call in sick to make the drive? Leave work early? No. Local government should be responsive to its citizens and make sure that important hearings are accessible to those that are affected. Without South Shore issues being addressed where residents can conveniently voice their opinions, the Town of Oyster Bay is not accessible and this issue needs to be addressed soon or it is time to find new elected officials.

John Rennhack

N. Massapequa