I concur with Elaine Berman's call (PWN, 1/28/02) for uniting Port Washington under one local government. In following village politics in Manorhaven for 10 years, I've found the village government to be alternately inept, incompetent and corrupt. In order for any local government to function properly, it requires a solid base of citizens and professionals who stay actively involved in local affairs for decades. Besides watching over those who are in office at any one time, such citizens provide a pool from which to select elected officials.

The transient nature of Manorhaven's population (the result of the predominance of rental units) has left it with too small a citizen base to provide proper oversight. I have long thought that Manorhaven would be better off dissolving the village government and returning to rule by the Town of North Hempstead. Ms. Berman offers a better alternative. By merging with a greater Port Washington government, Manorhaven would still have the benefits of local rule by a government of neighbors who are familiar with all our local issues.

Robert T. Schill