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VOL. 31 NO. 49 April 2,1987 to April 8,1987 20 cents per copy
Nader Blasts Incinerators, Touts Recycling For LL Transit Aid & Highway Money For
Ralph Nader, America's
foremost consumer advo­cate
came to Nassau Com­munity
College on Wednes­day
(March 25) heralding
the fight against Long
Island's 11 proposed gar­bage
incinerators.
Nader told a crowd of
over 500 that mass burn
incinerators are no solution
to Long Island's garbage
landfill dilemma saying they
"just exchange one problem
for another."
•r Referring to the town of
Hempstead's incinerator
currently under demolition
and adjacent to the college
the activist said; "In light of
the serious pollution prob­lems
associated with iricin-eration,
I wouldn't want to
go-to school here."
The Hempstead plans was
closed in 1980 when com­munity
groups learned that
dioxin and other toxics were
present in airborne emis­sions.
The incinerator us
under reconstruction and is
slated to reopen in 1989.
Nader's ^speech, was part
of a lecture series entitled
"Making It" sponsored by
the college's Cultural Pro­gram,
Nader cited incinera­tors
as an example of corpo-r
a t e arrogance and
government irresponsibility
against which he has fought
and "made" his career.
Nader spoke at length
about the need for college
students and the community
at large to "make a com­mitment
to civic action for
the betterment of the coun­try."
He encouraged invol­vement
in the civic projects
of the New York Public
Interest Research Group,
Inc. (NYPIRG) who have a
chapter at the college as a
way of learning the citizen­ship
skills one needs to affect
change through our system
of government. "If the peo­ple
lead," the activist con­cluded,
"the leaders will
follow."
For rnore information on
how to get involved in the
civic projects of the New
York Public Interest
Research Group (NYPIRG)
you can call (516) 222-0086.
As a result of the vigorous
efforts of Senate Transpor­tation
Chairman Norman J.
Levy (R,C-Merrick), legisla­tive
leaders reached agree­ment
on the final elements of
an $8.65 Billion five-year
MTA Capital Improvement
Plan which provides for a
three-year fare freeze for the
Transit Authority, Long
Island Rail Road and
Metro-North and also pro­vides
$250 Million in new
and additional State high­way
funding for suburban
highway projects, all with­out
any new taxes.
Levy, who carved out the
agreement between the
Legislature's leadership and
the Governor which ended
the impasse holding up the
MTA's five year Capital
Plan, said that the $250 mil-
Utm.in J^w -Statp Itighway
funding is aimed at generat­ing
new capacity to deal with
traffic congestion problems
on State highways.
"We've done all this, and
Town Board Backs Home Rule Message For Additional Firefighter Coverage
The Oyster Bay Town Board unanimously voted to auth­orize
a home rule message to be sent to the New York State
Legislature in support of legislation which would grant addi­tional
insurance coverage with respect to death and/ or dis­memberment
for local firefighters.
This bill will provide added insurance for members, offic­ers
and employees of corporations who are injured or killed
in the line of duty.
Supervisor Colby expressed strong sentiments in explain­ing
that, "this is a golden opportunity for the Town, on
behalf of its residents, to demonstrate its gratitude to those
men and women who give so much of their time and who
constantly place their lives in jeopardy for the sake of others.
It also means an added measure of financial security for their
families."
The adoption of a home rule message is required by the
Town as a first step toward State passage of the bill since
municipalities are not empowered to authorize supplemen­tal
insurance coverage without an act of the New York State
Legislature.
Long Island
we've done it without a
regional tax for highways,
without an increased gaso­line
tax and without an ad
valorem tax and/or sur­charge
on motor vehicle
owners," Levy stated.
Levy explained that the
agreed upon package
changes the present mort­gage
recording tax credit
currently provided for
banks, to a tax deduction,
thereby generating $40 mil­lion
annually for the MTA.
The additional money for
the funding package comes
from new bonds backed by
commuter fares and state
funds.
Levy's efforts were
praised by niany Long
Island Political, governmen­tal
aindv business leaders for
successfully blocking the
Governor's attempt to
impose a regional tax on
Long Island to deal with
congestion on State high­ways
bordering on suburban
gridlock.
"1 believe that Long
Islanders will agree that
regionally taxing Long
Islanders for a state pur­pose,
no matter how com-
National Library Wee/[ April 5 to ft
In 1807, William Wordsworth wrote "The world is too
much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay
waste our pwoers..."
Recently, a nationally read newspaper reported that con­sumer
indexes and economic surveys show that American
consumers today have reached "a sense of limits" in their
quest for material possessions. Instead of spending to keep
up with the Joneses, people are now searching for more
enriching experiences, for more "quality time."
Paralleling Wordsworth's lament and this current shift in
national mood, the Nassau County Library Association, in
anticipation of National Library Week—April 5 to 11—has
issued a very simple suggestion: "TAKE TIME TO READ."
Imprinted on bright red, white and blue bumper stickers
(color coodinated with the new New York State license
plates), this message will be seen on the cars of the more than
700 members of the association which is composed of public,
school, academic and special librarians, support, staff, trus­tees
and other friends of libraries throughout the county.
While the traditional library is surely changing in its
methods of serving the public with the introduction of new
media and modern technology, the basic product of every
library is still The Book. Whatever the technology or the
terminology—be it computerized acquisition techniques and
information retrieval systems, automated catalogues and
ciruclation procedures—the reason for and end result of this
technology is to bring the desired material to The Reader.
So, as the Nassau County Library Association members
say, slow down a bit...TAKE TIME TO READ...USE
YOUR LIBRARY!
Bethpage Bike-For-Breath
On Sunday, May 3 (raindates May 17 and May 24), bikers
of all ages will gather at the 10th annual Bethpage Bike-For-
Breath, in memory of Pamela Eppner.
Pamela was a Bethpage student who lost her battle with
cystic fibrosis at the age of 19. Her valiant struggle has
spurred many district students to join us for the event. They
will be pedaling to help pump more profits into CF research
and patient care programs.
The Bike-For-Breath will run from 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM
with opening ceremonies by Honorary Chairperson, Super­visor
Joseph Colby of the Town of Oyster Bay, a dedicated
supporter of the Foundation. The event is sponsored by the
Rotary Club of Bethpage and supported by many local
pelling the purpose, would
have been a negative, history-breaking
precedent—and,
once in place the same type
of regional 'vehicle' could be
used as a future precedent to
impose additional regional
taxes upon Long Islanders
to pay for other State
responsibilities," Levy
stated, adding, "The funding
to expand the capacity of
Long Island's gridlocked
state highways is a state
responsibility to be met
from state revenues approp­riated
onthe state level, and
not through regionally
imposed taxes. In every
county of our State, the
State finances State high­way
improvements and
rehabilitation—and Nassau
and Suffolk should not be
treated differently than the
rest of the State."
"We have paid our State
taxes to pay for state high­ways
in every part of the
state, including Nassau and
Suffolk—and to ask us to
tax ourselves for what we
have already paid for—and
continue to pay for—would
have been double taxation
and reverse revenue sharing
from Nassau and Suffolk
counties to New York State.
Child Abuse Pra¥9nthn Month
merchants who donate prizes and refreshments for partici­pants
and volunteers.
Any rider who raises $30 or more will receive a Bike-For-
Breath T-Shirt, and competition will be high for the grand
prize of a 10 speed bike, donated by Queens County Savings
Bank of Plainview. To be eligible for the bike you must
collect a MINIMUM OF $150 IN SPONSOR MONEY
which has to be in BY MAY 26th. Many more prizes are also
available.
Remember, if you can't ride, you can still support CF by
sponsoring a rider. Forms are available in all Bethpage
schools, Plainview-Old Bethpage Library, or by calling the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at; (516) 746-0080.
Mrs. Matilda Cuomo, First Lady of New York State, and
Bob Keeshan, better known as "Captain Kangaroo", taping
a public service announcement promoting April as National
Child Abuse Prevention Month.
During April,, communities in New York State and
throughout the nation join together in raising public con­sciousness
about the enormous task of ensuring ihai child­ren
grow up in a secure and loving environment. This year,
the New York State Citizens Task Force on Child Abuse and
Neglect, which Mrs. Cuomo co-chairs, is collaborating with
the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse to
bring home the message that emotional abuse can be a
painful and damaging experience. Their goal is to alert
parents to the power of their words and to the. dangers of
verbal abuse that can harm a child's self-esteem.
"Children are New York State's greatest resource. All par­ents
should have access to the education and support they
need in order to do the best possible job," Mrs. Cuomo said.
"We join forces during April to increase the awareness of
parents and to celebrate children, our best hope for the
future."