(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to New York State Governor George Pataki and printed here at the author's request.)

It is my understanding that the NY State Public Service Commission has scheduled public hearings in Albany for Aug. 30 regarding the proposed sale of KeySpan to National Grid. It is a grave error to convene the public hearings in Albany. Residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties are the ones who stand to be most seriously affected and cannot be expected to make that long and inconvenient trip.

National Grid has plenty of questions to answer. It appears to have a very poor reputation upstate and in other service areas. We must make it as convenient as possible for community representatives to attend. Hearings should be held at centralized locations in Nassau and Suffolk. In addition, an effective program to educate the public and provide ample notification of the hearings should be implemented.

Finally, we believe that the time has come for a bill to be introduced which gives the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) jurisdiction over gas service on Long Island, rather than just electrical service, which the current law provides. I anxiously wait to hear from you on these vital and critical matters.

Robert Zafonte President, East Meadow Civic & Community Service Association