Has the "American Dream" of home ownership become impossible on Long Island and the Metropolitan area? The New York Times, real estate section (Nov. 30) spotlighted the town of Franklin Square, quoting current home values by a local real estate broker who stated that ... "homes are 'now bunched in the $400,000 range, that 'homes selling for under $300,000 would have something wrong with it." Skyrocketing values have made it near impossible for young working adults who have received the best education that money could buy to live in their communities. Families with one income, modest wage earners, long time senior homeowners and those on fixed income have all been affected.

One can speculate or conclude there is a wide conspiracy to displace residents unable to afford these changes. The turnover would be good for "business," supporting the higher taxes, county and local governments, as well as the high school taxes that overpay teachers and administrators. George Rand, a noted columnist, recently wrote that "a second grade Franklin Square teacher who now has a salary of $95,000 will be paid about $101,000 in two years. The average teacher in Franklin Square will be getting a raise next year of $5,200 ... the average retired couple on Social Security will get an increase in benefits of $184 for the entire year." "School taxes in Franklin Square surged by an incredible 14.13 percent, one of the highest tax increases on Long Island." What is wrong with this picture? Is legal representation necessary to negotiate with the unions for caps on salaries, sharing costs for health insurance and pensions?

Building industrial parks, office complexes, shopping malls in Nassau County without planning for housing to accommodate an influx of people has exacerbated the demand for rentals and contributed to escalating property values. With new tax assessments and changes how many homeowners in Franklin Square and in Nassau County feel secure in their homes, contemplating further tax assessments, erosion of savings and a future overtaken by the greed of a manipulative cabal of self-serving interests. If the trend for further escalating costs continues the "American Dream" of home ownership for many in Franklin Square and in the surrounding area will remain hollow and unobtainable.

Katherine Aliferis