I am writing to voice support for Harvey Levinson for the position of supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, and to urge my fellow townspeople to make a vote for the future of our communities. As a lifelong resident of Levittown, and someone who is currently pursuing a master's degree in community planning in the Washington, DC region, I am quite aware of the hardships a young person must take on in order to live adequately in the Town of Hempstead. While I have roots in the town, and desire to return, rising costs of living, high taxes, and unnecessary spending have all contributed to making this desire more and more impossible; especially under the current leadership.

Levinson, as Nassau County Assessor, has repeatedly voiced support for the consolidation of tax districts and unecessary levels of government. One can only look to the Washington area, in affluent counties such as Fairax, VA, and Montgomery, MD, which mirror the quality of life in Nassau, to see the benefits of such a government structure. Here, the benefits of a large commercial area, a shopping mall, and industrial districts, are shared by all residents of the county, and are not districted off to smaller villages and school districts, where they only benefit a small few. Under Levinson's plan, ideally the wealth of Nassau would benefit the taxpayer of Levittown, easing the tax burden. Levinson also, according to last week's article in the Tribune, would streamline town services, eliminating sanitation and water districts, also relieving the tax burden for Levittonians. Consistently, taxes are what is the main issue for voters in Levittown. We appear to have a candidate with a strong plan, albeit a revolutionary one for a town where political patronage is the name of the game, to relieve this burden. We also have a candidate with a clear vision for the future of the town, to keep our downtowns alive, and to make it possible for young families and individuals to stay in the town. It appears a natural choice for Levittown to vote for Harvey Levinson to lead our township into the future.

Richard A. Pugh