Are our "leaders" in Nassau County accountable to members of the public living within Nassau County or not?

My family and I recently moved to a house on Mill Pond. The land adjacent to our house is owned by Nassau County and there is an infestation of growth of a noxious weed, called Japanese Knotweed. This weed, is a fast-growing, extremely hardy and wildly spreading weed that is now beginning to grow in my garden as well as kill some of the fauna and trees around it. More importantly, the weed is covering almost all of the sidewalk meaning that to pass, one has to walk on the road, facing oncoming traffic on a blind bend. It will only be a matter of time before someone is injured or killed.

I brought this matter to the attention of Nassau County last year and, in particular to Commissioner Peter Gerbasi who is the commissioner of public works. I was met with such inaction it was almost comical. Passed around from person-to-person, I was eventually told that funds had been appropriated to remove the weed (a long and time-consuming process). Of course nothing happened and I wrote to County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Commissioner Gerbasi again this year. After another bland letter from Mr. Suozzi promising Commissioner Gerbasi will do something, nearly a month later, I have not even had the courtesy of a reply from Commissioner Gerbasi.

Will it take a fire, an injury or someone to be killed before this blot on an otherwise beautiful location in Port Washington is dealt with? If someone is injured or killed, who will be liable? I suspect a cover-up will take place.

Milton Josephs