I want to make our residents aware that this Nov. 8th election ballot includes a proposition for taxpayers to approve spending $2.9 billion on a "Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act 2005" (Proposal Two) as part of the state's overall five year $35.9 billion transportation program.

In the year 2000 voters rejected a similarly proposed $3.8 billion transportation bond act partly because its supporters could not tell the public what the taxpayers' money would be spent on. This year's bond issue is more revealing and includes a laundry list of potentially worthy transportation projects spread across the state, although none of them are located in Floral Park. The Bond Act will provide investments in components of New York's transportation network, including highways and bridges, railroads and port facilities, mass transit and airports, canals and trails.

If the bond is passed the money will be funneled to the MTA/LIRR and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT). Unfortunately, neither the MTA nor the DOT projects include the elimination of any local grade crossing on the LIRR Main Line or Hempstead Line. Moreover, among the big-ticket projects on Long Island is the construction of an inter-modal freight train yard in Brentwood, which, if funded, will result in a potentially dramatic increase in freight train traffic on the LIRR's Main Line rumbling through the heart of our village. While the LIRR continues to insist that its strongly opposed additional track will not facilitate freight traffic, the proposed funding of this 20-acre freight yard project at the former Pilgrim Hospital site strongly suggests otherwise.

Opponents of the proposed $2.9 billion bond act assert that Albany borrows and spends too much. The Citizen Budget Commission, for example, is opposing the "Transportation Bond Act" because "it is the only way voters have to protest against New York's exorbitant and unaffordable debt levels." A plausible objection, for sure, although living beyond one's means and saddling these burdens on future generations is a way of life in New York politics.

"Proposal One" is the other statewide ballot and relates to a state constitutional amendment that would change the process for the yearly enactment of the state budget. Under this proposal, the enhanced budgetary powers of the legislative branch only go into effect once the budget is late. This means that the implementation of this statute would remove the incentive for legislators to pass an on-time budget. If you want the state budget to be passed on time you should vote against this amendment.

I plan to vote against "Proposal One." Most local governments, including our own, regularly meet their legal obligation to enact local budgets on time. It seems only right that our state legislature should operate under the same obligation.

In addition to the bond issue and amendment there are many important elections taking place this year, including selecting our elected representatives in Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead. Fortunately, in Floral Park, we have a sophisticated constituency so I urge every resident to closely examine the candidates and issues for themselves and then exercise your right to vote.

Without any prior notice or even providing the courtesy of informing the affected communities before its public announcement, the MTA/LIRR has ordered the re-opening of the public comment period on the "Third Track Scoping Document," which expired Aug. 31. The village board, along with numerous other public officials from our sister villages, worked tirelessly with the Citizens Against Rail Expansion (C.A.R.E.) Committee over the hot summer months to meet the MTA/LIRR's Aug. 31 imposed deadline.

These grassroots efforts included gathering thousands of petition signatures, networking with our local, county and state elected officials and providing public comments strongly opposing the construction of an additional 10.5 miles of electrified track running through communities from eastern Queens to Hicksville. Our task force also submitted a 23-page fact sheet that challenged some of the MTA/LIRR's infatuated propaganda justifying the need for this massive project such as meeting a non-existent need for a reverse commute to eastern Long Island. While some had pleaded that the Aug. 31 deadline be extended, the MTA/LIRR flatly refused to grant an extension of the deadline before it expired.

I find it interesting that the MTA/LIRR waited until the middle of October to spring upon us the announcement that it will permit additional comments concerning its scoping document to be considered during the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. But why the change of heart?

A review of the submitted record, with its preponderantly resounding public opposition and the unprecedented decision by the all-important "Capital Review Board," who did not, as in every previous occasion, rubber stamp the MTA/LIRR requested funding but demanded they come back and show their plans (at the six public hearings we waited for details and didn't even hear generalities) clearly demonstrates that their pet project was seriously hemorrhaging from a series of unexpected blows administered at the public meetings and in the public testimonies later submitted into the record.

We dislike being cynical, but to suddenly re-open testimony after closing it for more than six weeks can only be an attempt to resurrect efforts of special interest groups and high paid lobbyists and supporters to massage the record of support (up to now virtually mute) not only to their liking but the Capital Review Board.

Having been comfortably cocooned from accountability all these years, this massive bureaucracy was not used to being spanked and shell-shocked from a public and ridership, whose tolerance and good manners they have continuously insulted with neglect and indifference. Relying on public apathy, however, turned out to be for the MTA/LIRR a Galactic miscalculation. Something had to be done to stem the uncontrolled bleeding.

Their problem was that on Aug. 31 the minutes ... the seconds... had run out. The clock, according to the MTA's own rules, had struck midnight. So what do you do? Well, if you're the MTA/LIRR you simply tinker with the fairytale. You change the story. Cinderella does not have to come home from the ball after all. As if by magic the MTA/LIRR has pulled out of a hat the furriest, plumpest rabbit yet - they have put time on the clock long after time had expired.

Our task force, however, did not achieve unprecedented gains by just hoping for the best. Hopes can be savored but never nourished. Be assured that upon hearing this news our task force is springing into action as we tilt our lances and gallop fearlessly into the fray. Stay tuned.