Now we'll ask the questions

They made phone calls. They wrote letters. They held meetings locally and attended sessions of the Nassau County Legislature. And next Monday, residents will demand details about the county's proposed lease for a new 1st Police Precinct from Legislators Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) and Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) as well as county real estate officials at the Baldwin Public Library.

"We will have people on Monday who will give us an explanation on how [the precinct] impacts taxes, how it impacts school taxes ... they need to explain how it affects us," said Jackie Bell, president of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, the group hosting Monday's meeting. Responding to claims that she invites only certain people to civic meetings, Bell added that though the group typically meets in northern Baldwin, its meetings — including Monday's — are always open to all residents.

Why are residents upset?

There are several reasons why some residents are opposed to the terms of the lease deal, which, if approved by the county Legislature at its Dec. 7 session, would authorize the construction of a new 1st Precinct headquarters in the Rosen Shopping Center on Grand Avenue.

Many residents consider the shopping center landlord, David Rosen, to be a negative influence on Baldwin because he has kept the seven-acre lot in poor condition for many years. They question why the county would want to get involved with a landlord who has such a poor reputation in the community. In addition, some residents describe the proposed lease as a sweetheart deal for Rosen because residents will pay for the construction of the precinct and the rent, property taxes and maintenance costs for the first 30 years of the 60-year lease.

As previously reported in the Herald, the construction of the precinct will cost about $9.7 million, rent payments for the first 30 years will be approximately $8.5 million and, based on the property's 2010-11 assessed value, property taxes will approach $4.8 million.