I am proudly supporting the re-election of Paul Pereira for Mineola Trustee in the Village Election to be held Tuesday, March 15.
I read with trepidation the rambling and non-factual letter to the editor by Artie Barnett last week. He is overcome with sadness over the village’s revival of our downtown area.However, he ignores the following facts:
• A committee of citizens, business owners and political leaders published in November 2005 after years of discussion a Comprehensive Master Plan for Mineola. A primary concern was the deterioration of our downtown area that was becoming a blemish to our village.
• He ignores the Regional Planning Association for downtown revitalization that recommended Mineola due to its mixed-use character, transit availability and its ability to accommodate additional growth.
• He ignores that this new construction has benefited both the village and school district through PILOT payments and that properties that were not even on the tax rolls are now making financial payments.
• He ignores that these new structures are replacing buildings that were eyesores.
• He ignores the fact that businesses and new residents are beginning to revitalize our downtown.
• He ignores the hard work Paul Pereira and the rest of the Village Board has worked to revitalize our downtown.
• He does not mention a Demographic Study paid for by the school board, concurred with the village’s new construction. Indeed I encourage the school board to release the entire study and post it on its website.
• And most importantly he ignores the Incentive Bonus Funds that the village has obtained and is currently using to make improvements to our parks, our infrastructure, capital equipment and much more.
Now he is supporting ex-Mayor John Colbert who while in office incurred so much bonding debt that the village bond rating was slashed and we were near bankruptcy. Monies that are normally part of the annual budget (example snow removal) were bonded. It was the norm to operate with an operational deficit under Mr. Colbert. That is no way to run a municipality.
I encourage residents to come on out on Election Day and support someone who cares about our community and vote for the re-election of Paul Pereira, New Line Party Candidate.
—Ed Savarese
