The Levittown Property Owners Association met on June 12, for the last meeting before the two-month summer break. As the meeting began, we were treated with a performance by LPOA member Bob Koenig and his son, Jonathan, of songs on Levittown from Bob's CD called Abbey Road. Bob accompanied himself on guitar, while Jonathan played harmonica; the songs were in commemoration of Levittown's 60th anniversary celebration, with titles such as Levittown, You've Come a Long Way, Levittown, Little Boxes, The Village Greens, Hey, Levittown, Talking Suburban Veteran Blues, We Thank You, William Jaird Levitt, and others. It was an unusual and welcome opening for a meeting that had a serious problem to be addressed.

The meeting was heavily attended by upwards of 100 residents. These represented members and over 28 new families who joined during the meeting. The cause for this notable attendance was the grave concern expressed by many about a rental situation at the home at 16 Constable Lane in the Island Trees area of Levittown (near the East Village Green). The Nassau County Department of Social Services placed between four to six transient former criminals in a "temporary" group residence (in four apartments) at this single-family zoned location. Over 400 neighboring homeowners signed a detailed petition dated May 11, 2007 describing the situation to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and 6th District Town Councilman Gary Hudes requesting that they intervene to bring action to close down this operation. The situation has resulted in run-down conditions on the property, and threatening, frightening encounters between neighbors and occupants of 16 Constable. The house is located near three elementary school bus stops, near two schools, in a quiet, safe area with elderly citizens and typical families. No notification was made to anyone on this use of the site.

The audience was clearly angered by this questionable use of a residential neighborhood for the purpose of rehabilitating former prison inmates, with frequent turnovers of these tenants, constant coming and going at all hours, neglect of the property by the absentee owner, and possibly rendering their neighborhoods unsafe. Besides contacting Supervisor Murray and Councilman Hudes, through their petition, they also contacted Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne, and LPOA President Jim Morrow. Both Mr. Dunne and Mr. Hudes were shocked at the lack of notification from the county. Mr. Hudes was accompanied by two town deputy attorneys, William Muller and Michael Venditto, who would investigate the legal zoning aspects involved. Councilman Hudes stated that Supervisor Murray had a meeting scheduled for the very next day with Nassau County Social Services to bring action to rectify the situation. Several residents spoke on the county's lack of communication with homeowners or failure to get input from the community. They also worried that similar situations could expand or increase.

President Morrow reminded troubled residents that the LPOA has been around since 1949 and works with elected representatives to address problems in the Levittown and Island Trees communities, also, the Levittown Tribune covers issues which concern residents by publishing the monthly minutes of LPOA meetings.

Hudes promised to address the "alleged issues" by investigating the zoning laws, contacting the Probation Department as well as Social Services, finding out who the transients are and why the Town of Hempstead was not notified on the county's action. He added that, "The entire situation is reprehensible to both Supervisor Murray and me." Legislator Dunne promised to contact State Senator Kemp Hannon on the problem, its legality, if it is a state issue, and the lack of notification from the county. To extended applause, he added that he wants "to prevent this situation from ever happening in Levittown again."

It was reassuring to have town and county elected representatives on hand to listen and respond to concerned residents who simply want to maintain a safe and secure community for their families. The LPOA provided an opportunity for homeowners to be heard.

The next meeting of the LPOA will be on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. in the Levittown Public Library Community meeting.