Now that Election Day has come and gone, and we have heard all the politicians' rhetoric, it is time for the community to evaluate some realities. One issue often complained about is traffic. With some planning, much of the problem could be alleviated. For example, if there were traffic control officers along Main Street, stationed strategically between Central Avenue and Port Washington Blvd., traffic movement would be improved exponentially. This is also true around the Willowdale Bridge, as well as at the intersection of Shore Road and Main Street. An important area to address would be improving the coordination between the Campus Road school security and traffic control with the police guard at the corner of Port Blvd. and Campus Road.

A second essential issue to evaluate is the adverse effect that our ever-escalating real estate taxes are having on this community. Since the major portion of these taxes are school taxes, and no responsible individual would want anything but to improve education, we must creatively look at alternate ways to reduce school costs while maintaining highest educational standards. All too often, the reaction is to cut programs, reduce courses, etc. This is not the way! Instead, we should evaluate how best to control costs by "thinking outside the box." This includes evaluating the six-day rotation that Schreiber uses, how we purchase, costly and unessential use of consultants, etc. The school board should consider creating an ad-hoc committee of diverse individuals, to evaluate any and all creative, innovative, etc. that might effectively look at this situation.

Our children deserve the best, and the taxpapers need some relief. Working together instead of polarizing the community can effectively handle and address this situation long term!

Richard Glenn Brody