As a senior citizen and longtime resident of Oyster Bay, I am very upset at some of the letters I have been reading in the paper. The attorney for the Birchwood Civic Association implied that the senior citizens who attended the hearing on the Mall at Oyster Bay were there because they got a free lunch and T-shirts. That is not only insulting to seniors, it is an example of the lack of knowledge the opposition has regarding this mall. Before taking a position on this project, members of our group had several meetings with the Taubman Company to ask very specific questions.

One of our group's concerns was the impact this mall would have on our local stores and businesses. Since Neiman Marcus is at the Mall at Short Hills, we found out that stores that go where Nieman Marcus is located are stores like Geog Jensen, Bruno Magli and Versace. These are not the stores that are located in our downtowns. In fact, the Taubman Company did one of the most comprehensive studies of our downtowns that has been presented to the public. What they found were that a majority of the stores were food markets, auto repairs and supplies, electronic and hardware stores, nail salons, beauty parlors, dry cleaners and card shops.

I couldn't agree with the residents who said they wanted to build a senior citizen living facility at this site. Since there is no public transportation near this site and the area is surrounded by industrial buildings, a former garbage dump and a public works garage, where would the local community suggest that the seniors go for shopping? Any community planner worth his salt knows you don't put a senior facility in the middle of an industrial area.

As the leader of a large senior group, I know that the financial troubles the county and town are having is a major concern to the seniors in our town. This proposal would help in alleviating some of those problems, as well as provide a beautiful upscale fashion center for the residents.

Rachel Staiano

Director

Plainview-Old Bethpage Senior Citizens