According to Senator Dean Skelos, co-chair of the Assembly Redistricting Plan Task Force, "The recrafting of district lines every 10 years is designed to ensure that citizens are appropriately represented by their elected officials." How is it possible the newly proposed 10th Assembly District in Suffolk County will embrace the issues and interests of the people of Farmingdale, Bethpage and Levittown without conflicts within that assembly district? Can an assembly district realistically represent the hard-working citizens of these Nassau communities when up against the interests of Suffolk's Lloyd Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, Melville and West Hills? A reasonable person knows the interests of economically unbalanced communities are not the same, and that homogenous communities aspire to achieve shared objectives. Moreover, a reasonable person knows the lobbying efforts of an assembly district will undoubtedly tilt toward the more affluent voices, voices that are often backed by influence and substantial campaign contributions.

Redistricting every ten years to guarantee equal representation for all citizens is a precious right protected by the Constitution. However, eliminating a republican seat only to add a democratic one, and merging middle class communities with upper class and wealthy communities, does not ensure appropriate representation for the people. Furthermore, communities that are governed solely in one county are inadequately served when forced to cross county lines; counties that many times strike different bargains for different agendas.

New York State Assemblyman Steve Labriola has been elected, and re-elected, by the residents of the Village of Farmingdale and South Farmingdale three times by overwhelming margins. It should be up to the people to decide their representation, not the Speaker of the Assembly for political reasons.

Assemblyman Steve Labriola is right when he said he would be pleased to represent the residents of two new communities. Those new communities are Seaford and Wantagh, and not dissimilar from his present district. When merged into flourishing Suffolk County Assembly District 10, how can Farmingdale and Levittown compete for the same state aid for its schools, roads and public services?

The proposed Assembly Redistricting Plan Task Force must ensure that all citizens are appropriately represented. The proposed plan ill serves the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale, as well as sizeable portions of Bethpage, Plainedge and Levittown. The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 10 a.m., at the Suffolk County Legislature auditorium, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway in Smithtown. The Village of Farmingdale encourages all to come and voice their concerns.

Marialyce Denauski

Trustee, Farmingdale Village