I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the letter from reader Carol Casserta. Ms. Casserta complains that none of the three elected Democrats on the town council are from "anywhere around this area." I would like to point out that if the Republicans controlling our town government had chosen to accept the New York State Court rulings regarding the illegality of the current at-large council system, and replaced the current system with councilmanic districts there would always be a representative from the Levittown area on the town council. Rather than accept the reality of the court rulings, our elected (and appointed) Republican council people chose to waste millions and fight this case all the way to the Supreme Court. The continuation of this system has resulted in a lack of representation for this area.

At least Councilwoman Kestenbaum has reached out to Levittown. Has anyone heard from the remaining Republicans on the town council? Who are they, and where are they from? I do know that they are not from "anywhere around this area." Do they care about the education of our children? Since Ms. Casserta is a PTA president she should be well aware that there is a relationship between levels of government and school districts. She knows that local elected officials play a supportive role in any school programs. Programs such as PARP and LEAD week. These programs help build learning skills and self-esteem. Rewards for a job well done include the honor of meeting and receiving awards from our local elected officials. Ms. Casserta knows that town government plays an important role in guaranteeing the safety of our children through strict parking and street regulations and has been responsive to the needs of area schools and requests from local PTAs. So for Ms. Casserta to attack Councilwoman Kestenbaum for expressing an interest in the education of our children shows a hidden political agenda on her part.

Do the three remaining Republican councilmen care about our high taxes? How will reassessment affect our taxes, and our town government? Can they answer these questions? Do they want to? The assessment issue will be resolved at the county level, but it will have an impact on our town taxes. At least Rita Kestenbaum has shown that she is willing to delve into controversial issues such as reassessment and try to provide answers.

I truly believe the scariest part of town politics is that Joe Mondello, the Republican boss, has been able to take people from relative obscurity and thrust them upon the populace as appointed council people and then expect them to get elected term after term. Joe Mondello has moved people around our town government like pieces in a Chess game. This has gone on for too long. The reality is that he has run out of moves, and it's no longer guaranteed that appointed Republicans will win. A two-party system with checks and balances is healthier for our town government, and will benefit taxpayers and residents.