I read with great interest Carisa Keane's Dec. 16, 2004 story about the final HUB meeting to be announced early this year. There was one essential question left unanswered by her report...where is the public support?

This is a proposal that is traveling through Nassau County government without any discernible public support. There is one significant reason - most residents oppose the urbanization of our county.

There is also missing any evidence that the creation of a rail system (either elevated or ground based) will measurably alleviate the anticipated increase in traffic in and around the residential communities that abut the HUB.

Why is this proposal moving forward without any public support? Why has Congresswoman McCarthy joined forces with other Democrats driving this proposal ahead? Why are tax dollars being spent on a project that the public has near unanimously opposed?

The answer lies in the fact that the only support for this effort is from real estate developers who have contributed significant dollars to these same elected officials.

The public must be suspect of projects that proceed without any local support. The communities most affected by this project must stand together to ensure that our elected officials do not sell our communities out in exchange for campaign contributions.

Frank Moroney

A very sincere thank you to everyone who gave the gift of life at the Athletes for Life blood drive, held at the Melville Marriott Dec. 19. Various running and bicycle clubs, under the auspices of Long Island Blood Services, with Gina Gelman of the Greater Long Island Running Club serving as drive coordinator, co-hosted the drive.

Special mention should be made to Mike Bassano of Garden City, a colon cancer and chemotherapy survivor. This was the first time he was eligible to give blood, five years after his recovery, and he took advantage of the opportunity.

Thanks to all the donors: Mark Abrahams, Jim Abrams, Vic Alfieri, Sharla Ali, Michele Arena, Rich Barkan, Michael Bassano, John Bell, Ira Bellach, Paul Bonanni, Margaret Boorstein, Dennis Boyd, Christine Brakel, Alfred Brando, Kate Breen, Jay Byrne, Dan Cacace, Rosemary Camilleri, Mary Ann Cotroneo, Howard Cragg, Kristin Daly, Marie Daly, Mindy Davidson, Kathy Diveglio, Ric Diveglio, Frank Drost, Jack Dwyer, Pam Dye, Howard Ebert, Bob Elsener, Alan End, Sharon End, Frederic Erskine, Paul Falvey, Michael Farrelly, Sue Fitzpatrick, Alex Flyntz, Steven Forster, Rob Frankl, Amy Goldstein, Chuck M. Gross, Carl Grossbard, Bill Healy, Bob Heiberg, Eileen Hession, Paul Holt, John Hooper, Sheldon Horowitz, Dennis Howe, Allen Huggins, Joe Kanzenberg, Michael Kaye, Susan Kaye, Bob Kersatbaum, Sue Kretzmer, Dawn Krol, Robert Kueper, Larry Kurtzman, Ed Langhulz, Gene Leahy, Paul Letosky, Alan Lewis, Scott Lewis, Roy Lockwood, Paula MacCulloch, Christine Martin, Kevin McQuillan, Sheila Meisner, William Meisner, Jen Mendelson, Afshin Milani, Ilene Milman, Jeanette Mitchell, Ellen Moore, Ross Moore, Tom Moore, John Mulvey, Susan Murray, Maria Garcia Newland, Mary Nolde, Juan Oliveras, Susan Padovano, Debra Pedraita, William Pedraita, Allan Pelikow, Jirene Petrsoric, Paul Petrsoric, Tom Pettinato, Mike Polansky, Rosemary Reinis, Larry Reiter, Scott Rubin, Michael Salerno, Tanya Sarlanis, Cindy Savoia, Karnik Seferian, Ellen Shapiro, Bob Sherman, Robin Sitzer, Ann Sommers, Bob Spina, John Stauber, Ron Stepnowski, Ron Strain, Joe Tartaglia, Kathy Thompson, Kevin Thompson, Suzanne Vasata, Pierre Vavoules, Ray Vigueras, Fred von der Heydt, John Wallace, Colleen Warkala, Ed Warkala, Richard Waters, Laura Weill, George Westlake, Steve Winkler, Lori Whitiach Post, James Williams and Bruce Zimmerman.

Mike Polansky