The proposed seizure of the Roslyn Country Club and the easement rights of the 668 residents of the Roslyn Country Club community is wrought with much that is wrong.
Government should not be involved in a private sector dispute. (Town of North Hempstead) Supervisor Kaiman and Councilman Dwyer claim it is for the benefit of the Town of North Hempstead and that would keep the open-air nature of the land. The courts, however, have already determined the property must be used for recreational purposes.
The town is proposing the creation of a “high-end” park which, in reality, would be an exclusive club, as they are proposing fees ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per family per year, five to 10 times the fees charged for Town of North Hempstead parks with similar facilities. If not illegal, it is certainly immoral and portrays the perception of discrimination. When government creates a facility, it must be inclusive, not exclusive.
Many residents who live in the Roslyn Country Club community and surrounding communities, i.e. East Williston, Albertson and Mineola, whether on fixed income or not, would be unable to avail themselves of a public facility in their very own immediate community due to the inflated cost the town would impose.
Instead, as Supervisor Kaiman says, they can go to Mannorhaven Park in Manhassett. Reminiscent of Marie Antoinette. For instance, even students attending the Carle Place and East Williston school districts (they have a combined football team) as well as students of the surrounding Herricks, Roslyn and Westbury school districts may not be able to go to the same public park as their friends. Instead of being able to walk or bicycle to a community park, these children would have to find their way to a distant facility.
While the same would be true if the club would remain private, government has a totally different obligation to its constituency. Equality for all – not to create class distinction.
Further, it must be noted, there has been a total lack of transparency by both the Town and the so-called “leaders” of the Roslyn Country Club Civic Association. Just a few points that were finally “uncovered” to the public at the May 31, 2011 public meeting:
The fact that, as a private club, the owners pay their share of taxes (at least $80,000 towards school taxes alone), which would now be passed on to the residents, if the property became a town park.
The East Williston School District’s tax obligation would increase for all East Williston School District’s residents in order to compensate for the loss of tax revenue from the Roslyn Country Club, as it would no longer be on the tax rolls due to the fact that the town does not pay taxes on town property. This was pointed out by a resident at the Town of North Hempstead’s May 31, 2011 public hearing.
The town claims it has no “numbers” for purchasing, rehabilitating and operating the facility. Even if they had numbers, there is no guarantee that the town facility would be self-sustaining each year. Therefore, any shortfall would be passed on to all the taxpayers in the Town of North Hempstead.
The most blatant item, however, was also exposed at the May 31, 2011 public hearing, which was mentioned in the June 10,2011 issue of the Williston Times.
An attorney announced he was in negotiation on behalf of a Roslyn Country Club resident with the current property owner. The resident is prepared to lease the property from the current owner, make a substantial investment to rehabilitate it, and return it to the Roslyn Country Club the residents can once again enjoy as originally intended. The attorney also suggested that his client was considering adding year-round activities, i.e. bubbles over the pool and tennis courts. He claimed both the town leaders and the civic association leaders were made aware of the ongoing negotiations.
However, the 668 members of the Roslyn Country Club community were never informed of this option by either the town in its certified mailing to the community, nor by the civic association leaders in their mailings, e-mails and community meetings.
For the many residents who did not attend the May 31, 2011 meeting, or for those who left the meeting early, they are still unaware of the “uncovered” items, since even the most recent e-mail update to the community by the leaders of the civic association did not include this pertinent information.
Heather Schwartz and Todd Zarin, who identify themselves as “the leaders,” only inform the community what they feel suits their own agenda, which is a town takeover.
The actions of the town, as well as the civic association “leaders” are unconscionable, and a continuation of the deception the Roslyn Country Club residents have faced, while the town and the “leaders” of the civic association push to have the town takeover of our easement rights, is truly despicable.
The Town of North Hempstead should not be interfering with private sector business. By doing so, it will be putting an additional tax burden on its residents, as well as creating class distinction between community members. We ask all residents of the Town of North Hempstead to communicate with their representatives and urge them not to support a town takeover of the Roslyn Country Club.
Robert and Sheila Kushner
Roslyn Country Club residents
Roslyn Heights
