As a lifetime resident of Farmingdale, I give full support to Cathleen Callahan's letter of June 23, wherein she expresses concern about the Village of Famingdale's plan to exercise the power of eminent domain on the property north of Conklin Street and immediately west of Secatogue Ave. containing apartment buildings. Her concern about the potential for homelessness is right on target. Would we not also face the distinct possibility of an increase of invisible substandard housing - e.g. basement apartments?

True the buildings under attack do not have equal appearance to most of the well kept houses and buildings in the village. It is also true that car congestion exists as it does in many parts of the area. Let's face it: we live in the part of the world where that standard is just about one car per person for anyone over the age of 18. The price - congestion.

Is the village getting so carried away with its present focus on gentrification it is losing all sense of what is basically right and what is wrong?

Clare J. Rose