The following letter was sent to US Congressman Peter King by the Village of Farmingdale, and was sent by the village to the Observer for publication:

On behalf of the 30,000 residents of the Farmingdale area, we again request your assistance in persuading the Farmingdale Post Office to maintain its retail offices on Main Street. Your intercession is necessary in light of the post office's renewed interest to relocate its operations outside the central business district.

Its present location of Main Street complements Farmingdale's highest concentration of pedestrian traffic and serves as an anchor for over 100 retail stores. Farmingdale's Main Street has historically served as a center for growth and commerce in the region for over 150 years. An ornamental pedestal clock stands on Main Street commemorating their 150th Anniversary of Service.

The Village has begun the second phase of an effort to revitalize Main Street by improving lighting, sidewalks and parking to lure additional shoppers from large malls; a difficult task in today's economy. Main Street has already sorely missed the patronage from 25,000 who were left jobless from the closing of nearby Grumman and Republic Fairchild over the last decade.

Relocating this institution from Main Street will sadly impact the business and residential community. Parallel to the community support of the post office, the post office also attracts potential new patrons that support the central business district. If relocated, the start of the demise of Main Street will occur as a result of store closings and eventual blight. Our residential taxpayers will be left holding the burden of paying for tax refunds to commercial property owners of vacant stores, and also pay to make up the shortfall of these tax revenues.

We recognize that the Farmingdale Post Office needs to seek larger facilities for mail sorting purposes, and appreciate the postmaster's concern and efforts to accommodate our situation. Their real estate department is reviewing a potential location at the corner of Motor Avenue and So. Main St.

Therefore, we suggest that if compelled to relocate, the Farmingdale Post Office should maintain the existing retail office on Main Street, while relocating their mail sorting to the Motor Avenue location.

The concept, originally suggested by the postmaster, would be suitable to the community while being consistent with President Clinton's executive order of May 21, 1996 reaffirming the commitment set forth in Executive Order No. 12072 discouraging the relocation of federal facilities from central business district.

We feel that this concept is sensible and compatible with the post office's objective while providing the maximum benefit to society.

Only with your help, Congressman King, can we achieve this goal. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Joseph M. Trudden, Mayor