Letters continue to pour in from community members, expressing disappointment and concern at the possibility reshuffling of Assembly Districts, which would cause popular New York State Assemblyman Tom Alfano to lose jurisdiction over the communities of West Hempstead and Franklin Square in addition to part of Elmont.

Alfano, who has represented these communities for seven years, has, through a spokesperson, expressed disappointment himself. Some community leaders from his current areas have expressed concern that they are losing a representative they are comfortable with.

According to a press release issued from Alfano's office, a public hearing in Suffolk County on March 16 could very well seal the fate of Franklin Square, West Hempstead and Elmont.

The public outcry is over a plan to shift the assembly district so that Alfano will be representing areas south of his current district. Some of the areas Alfano currently represents would be losing a senior member of the assembly and a member of the assembly leadership in Alfano.

Alfano's areas of Franklin Square, West Hempstead and North Elmont would fall under the jurisdiction of Assemblyman Bob Barra. However, Alfano hopes the State Legislative Task Force will reverse their thinking if there is enough of a public outcry, which there seems to be.

"I can't go to a public stop without having to stop and talk to people at great lengths about the lines and impact it has on our community," Alfano said. "The response has been outstanding. My district phones are ringing off the hook, letters are pouring in and people are outraged by the Task Force's action. Quite frankly, the people should be outraged."

Some of the letters recently written on behalf of Alfano came from Elmont Union Free School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maria Palandra and West Hempstead Union Free School District Superintendent Carol Eisenberg.

Alfano is directly encouraging residents to write his office and express opposition to the plan that would split the 22nd Assembly District. The State Legislative Task Force will hold a public hearing on March 18 at the Suffolk County Legislature Chambers to hear testimony.

Many community leaders are expected to drive to Suffok to protest the reshuffling of Alfano's district. "When you come right down to this, the bureaucrats are trying to hurt our community by taking away the most effective voice we've had in government in pulling Tom Alfano away from us. I'll be at the hearing," said Tom Bennet of the Elmont Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. "I served this country in time of war and I fought so that we can have a democracy and I'm not going to let them take that away from me."

The hearing on March 18 will take place at 10 a.m. at the Suffolk County Legislature auditorium at 725 Veterans Memorial Highway in Smithtown. Those wishing to give testimony should call the New York State Legislative Task Force at (212) 618-1100.