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Who is best to lead Oyster Bay into the future? Supervisor John Venditto, who has spent his entire life in the Town of Oyster Bay, has been busy creating a vision for Oyster Bay and a plan to ensure its integrity. He calls his vision for the Town's future, Vision 20/20. The Democrats call it blurry at best. "He speaks out of both sides of his mouth," said Democrat Keith Scalia, a Massapequa resident and teacher who's running for Town board. "His vision is only as far as the next election." He added pointing out that the Town recently passed on a plan for a housing development in Plainview. "How long is it going to take to get things done." "Vision 20/20 is more like a living, breathing guideline that changes all the time," said Venditto defending his plan. "It'll never be done." pie-in-the-sky and now many of our goals are in sight," said Venditto. "The supervisor is proud of saying that Oyster Bay is the best place to work and live, and I agree with him," said Cherlin. "But the demographics are changing, and we have to be ready for what the future holds. Cherlin said that the federal census shows that young people and senior citizens are leaving the Town, and that the reason is two fold: taxes and the lack of affordable housing. "Unless we do something now, the future is not going to be as bright." Scalia agreed. It has become obvious by the number of for sale signs, cars on the streets and illegal apartments that homeowners have to struggle to stay afloat and younger people cannot afford to buy a home. Things are changing in this Town and Team Venditto refuses to address that change." Venditto said he acknowledges change and believes his administration is addressing it in major ways. But he added, "we don't want to become the sixth borough of the City of New York." During his administration, Venditto has worked to improve the environment, preserve open space, expand recreational programs and build new facilities such as the Field of Dreams in Massapequa, John Walker Memorial Park in Hicksville and Borella Field in Bethpage. His vision of the Town ten years from now is providing residents with even more and preserving the quality of life. Part of the 20/20 Vision also includes smart growth initiatives such as affordable residential housing, senior housing and sensible commercial development. Another step in Vision 20/20 is a 6-month moratorium, or temporary here in the Town of Oyster Bay. This move shows a lack of good leadership," challenged McCormack. "We just can't build everywhere," said Labriola. "We want to make sure everything fits into the style of every neighborhood and maintains our quality of life." Another piece of the Town's future is the environmental SEA Fund III (Save Environmental Assets), which will put $30-million towards the purchase of additional open space and another $30-million toward parks improvements. That fund, if approved by voters in November, will be the third such fund that Venditto has instituted, showing, he said, his commitment to residents not only today, but tomorrow as well. "Everywhere you look you see the fruits of the first two SEA bonds (which cost $60-million combined), from Mill Pond in Oyster Bay to the
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