A recent Town of Hempstead flier reminded homeowners that "under reassessment the property tax burden has shifted from commercial properties (businesses) to homeowners (according to Fitch and Moody's Wall Street credit rating agencies) and that 62 percent of Town of Hempstead homeowners (class-one property owners -1, 2, 3 family homes) are paying school tax increases which exceed the increase in their school district's tax levy." Also, that "annual assessment updates mean that before a homeowner wins a property tax reduction through the grievance process, a new assessment could already be placed on his/her home."

Annual reassessments and grievances to challenge them only keep the assessors' staff employed wasting thousands of dollars. They undermine the very foundation of family security and violate the constitutional right of security in one's property and home. Forced and calculated evictions of those unable to bear the burden of never ending taxes are intended consequences and inherently criminal. Change and new solutions in extracting revenues other than from homeowners need to be made.

Katherine Aliferis