“Taxation without representation”, well now I know what that REALLY means.
Laurelton community neighbors consist of Rosedale and Valley Stream, NY. Although, Valley Stream is technically considered Long Island it is a stone’s throw away from Queens. You can literally stand at a corner of Merrick Blvd and throw a stone and it will land in Valley Stream. Now that is close!
Laurelton and Valley Stream are very similar. They both boast beautiful single-family homes and they both run through the stretch of Merrick Blvd which consists of tons of businesses. Although, Laurelton and Valley Stream are very similar they are very different as it pertains to property taxes with Valley Stream residents paying higher property taxes than most areas.
One attraction of Valley Stream is the Green Acres Mall and now new Green Acres Commons. Green Acres Commons opened its door last month and has been the talk of the town for most. People from all boroughs travel to the mall and contribute to the malls hefty profits especially during the holidays. So if everyone from the NYC boroughs utilizes the mall which is located in Valley Stream, why is it that the Valley Stream residents are the ones flipping the bill.
In a secret deal made two years ago (yes secret because no Valley Stream resident was notified about this plan), the Long Island Herald reported that “the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency approved a 15-year payment plan for the mall to ease the financial burden of a planned massive overhaul, including renovations and additions. The PILOT plan — payments in lieu of taxes — removes the property from Nassau County’s tax rolls for those 15 years. Ease the financial burden of who? Well not the VS residents that’s for sure!!
The plan starts with total payments of $13.7 million in its first year. By the sixth year of the PILOT, the payments increase to a total of $14.5 million, and by the 15th year, to $17.9 million.” Any shortfall would be made up with tax increases for Valley Stream residents. A plan that have outraged residents including myself. A plan that was put in place behind the backs of the people who will be the subject of these tax increases; without offering residents the opportunity to hear the plan, object/approve or voice our concerns. So who represented the residents during these meetings? Why weren’t the residents notified two-years ago about these plans? Well that is the question on everyone’s minds. Residents have been convening by the hundreds to monthly community meetings voicing their outrage.
Fred Parola, executive director of the Town of Hempstead IDA, said “that the agency was not aware of the unique situation in Valley Stream at the time the PILOT was granted, but, he added, the financial impact on taxpayers would have been much worse had the IDA not stepped in.” Stepped in and did what?
As of right now, there has been no decision on changing the PILOT. Residents of Valley Stream will continue to voice their concerns in hopes that the tax increases proposed will not happen. It is not likely that anything will change and the struggling homeowner will continue to struggle while people of the neighboring boroughs enjoy their new stores. Hmm just doesn’t seem fair to me but as my father always said to me growing up “who says life is fair?”
~Cynthia Bernadine
