I.P. Civic Association organizes letter campaign

Exercising the duty of their namesake, members of the Island Park Civic Association gathered at the Island Park Library on Dec. 12 to send nearly 500 letters to elected officials and utility representatives at the Long Island Power Authority, National Grid and Keyspan voicing opposition to LIPA’s tax certiorari proceedings on its E.F. Barrett power plant located in Island Park.

The letters highlighted the financial hardship residents could face if LIPA were to get the 90 percent reduction it seeks in its assessed valuation on the plant, which accounts for nearly half of the local school district’s tax base. School officials have noted that taxes would substantially increase for residents if the proceedings were to go through in LIPA’s favor.

Civic Association Vice President Debra Rothman said the purpose of the letter writing campaign was to “make the elected officials and the people involved with the Barrett power plant aware of the community concerns of what might happen if they won their case.”