Hempstead's highway department deserves credit for rapidly plowing the streets after Saturday's snowstorm. Good work! But what caused the botched snow removal job on December 30 after the winter's first snowstorm? Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino asked a high-ranking member of the Republican Party machine to investigate and issue a report.

Instead of that investigation, Guardino could have called the mayor of any snowbelt city. One of the mayors would probably have told him, "Rich, you have to understand that to remove snow, the blade on the plow has to be down. Driving with the blade up may be good for overtime but it doesn't clear the snow."

Local streets looked like the Alaskan Highway for days after that first snowstorm. Residents should have camped at Guardino's office door and demanded action from the highway department.

Hempstead's highway department is top-heavy with Republican Party bigwigs. The commissioner is paid $106,000 while his four assistants have salaries of more than $80,000. The commissioner also has 18 supervisors who are paid $70,000 or more.

George Rand