It was discussed at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Board of Trustees' meeting that on Aug. 18 there's a hearing scheduled in the town on the proposed development of the Roosevelt Raceway.

Residents asked the trustees if they were planning to take a stand against further building in the east. The Board stated that they had only just received information about the hearing and had not yet seen the plans for development. Resident Eileen Murphy reported that she had gone over to the Town and requested all of the information herself. The question was then raised -- how is it that the Village didn't have the plans? It was suggested that a staff liaison position be created to monitor all development east of the Village as far as Merrick Ave. The Board said they would take the suggestion under advisement.

This seems like a reasonable request, and would be advisable in order to keep Garden City active in the pursuit of maintaining the quality of life in this county. Residents will also have to stay informed themselves as Eileen Murphy has. In order to stem the tide of urbanization of this county all residents will have to present a united front and vocalize their views.

This county has already become best known for horrific traffic and the push to create a metropolis, a.k.a., the HUB, in its midst. By changing attitudes about construction and the covering of open space, residents can save their quality of life. People need to forcefully oppose the further suffocation of our earth by covering it with resource depleting houses, hotels, offices, and industrial buildings. Residents need to object more to large housing projects like the one proposed for the Raceway, which "developers," the greatest misnomer in our vocabulary, argue provide more housing opportunities for Long Island's young adults. Young homebuyers will not be able to afford these new homes or condos. These are designed for people living in the city looking to move out here and share in the rapidly fading suburban dream.

Nassau County is at a critical point in its history, now 100 years after its creation. Despite what some county officials have stated in the recent past, soccer fields and schoolyards are not sufficient open space. The county has several committees and organizations whose sole purpose is to preserve the environment, but very few of these are actually activated. This has to change.

The time is now to make a difference. Residents need to organize and to act with the leadership of their local governments.

Amy Edel