(The following letter was sent to Governor George Pataki. It is being reprinted here at the author's request.)

Our association, which services over 45,000 residents within the East Meadow School District encompassing Salisbury, petition your office for help regarding the rise of home heating oil prices.

Further, our association has received a barrage of complaints from residents of our area that the price of home heating oil in many cases has risen to $2 a gallon due to oil markets' claim that there is a shortage of oil.

The price of oil is out of control and we urge you on behalf of the residents of the State of New York to take the following action:

1. Petition the federal government to release storage of oil under their control to bring down the oil price.

2. Petition congress to look into this matter and take all available measures to bring down the price of oil.

3. Petition the federal government to conduct an investigation to determine if there is a legitimate shortage of oil and take corrective action in this matter.

4. Take all available measures to bring down the price of oil.

I await hearing from you on behalf of the residents of the State of New York to learn how you can assist in this matter.

Robert J. Zafonte

President

East Meadow Civic and Community Service Association