It seems we must do daily battle to maintain the quality of life here in North Massapequa and protect our neighborhoods and property values. The latest assault is the appearance of large steel boxes sitting on the sidewalk and/or affixed to telephone poles. I've been told these eyesores are the work of Verizon. Not only has Verizon been generous enough to place refrigerator size boxes around the neighborhood, but every telephone pole is now the recipient of a green shoebox facing our homes.

Our community residents scrutinize anything that impinges on our landscape, as evidenced by attendance at red-hot debates at town and village board meetings, historic designation meetings, and in issues regarding commercial and residential development versus preservation of environmental concerns. Given this record of attention, I have to wonder how these monstrosities managed to show up unannounced.

I am a property owner paying dearly for the privilege of living here, while Verizon is an out-of-towner - a temporary corporate visitor, at best. Am I charging into another battle? What will Town Hall do? Can Verizon be stopped, or has Verizon already won the war?

MaryLou Lawson

North Massapequa