(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Chairman Hodges of the Town of Hempstead's Zoning Board of Appeals and is printed here at the author's request.)

Today I feel obligated to write this letter to implore you not to grant the owners of Roosevelt Field Mall the right to construct additional space. As a resident of Garden City and a taxpayer, I am very upset with what is happening at the mall. For years now, we have permitted Roosevelt Field to develop without interfering with their right to make a profit. All we are getting in return is a blatant disregard of our wishes. The mall has expanded and expanded, now beyond reasonable limits.

I am especially upset when I see that the mall has already started their expansion, prior to approval. This is a totaldisregard for the wishes of the neighboring towns. This is telling us that they don't care what we want -- they will go ahead with whatever they want. This is a slap in the face, and I (don't want to), but feel that the decision has already been made to let them do whatever they want at the Town level.

Also, I must tell you that as a concerned citizen of Garden City and a taxpayer, I feel betrayed by the Town for scheduling a meeting on such an important issue on a weeday morning when most of us are at work, and cannot possibly take a day off to come and voice our concerns. Please prove me wrong. Let the Town rule in favor of the citizens who live in the neighboring town, not in favor of a mall which has only its own interests at heart.

P.S. I would like to add that I am a frequent Saks Fifth Avenue shopper in Garden City. I believe that Saks also has not made every effort to keep their store up-to-date. They have had every opportunity to expand and make the store a "flagship" store at their present location. They have had many talks with the Village, and they have chosen to also ignore our wishes. Going to the mall is not going to make their store a "flagship" store. Only the people of Garden City and surrounding towns will help make Saks thrive, as does Lord & Taylor. We will do that in Garden City.