I moved to Port Washington in 1971. Port has given me many happy years. I have grown children and grandchildren here in Port. Sadly, now at the age of 72 years, I have to leave my hometown, my children and my grandchildren. The real estate and school taxes have driven me out. My children have asked me not to move more than 20 to 40 minutes away.

Readers may now ask, "Why should we feel sorry for you because you should have done something about the taxes long ago?" My answer to that question is that over the years I did attend school board meetings. At those meetings, the length of the meetings, and the lack of consideration given to the attending public overwhelmed me. People who work for our school district control the direction of the school board meetings. An ordinary individual is swept away.

When we are young, we cannot imagine growing old. Some of us are very lucky and money is never a problem, but for the majority of people, a fixed income is a reality. Our current, automatic process of raising school taxes has driven many seniors out of town. Without checks and balances, this process shows little compassion or respect for residents of Port Washington. Is this the legacy we want to pass down to our children and grandchildren? Does Port Washington want to create a town where there are no grandparents?

Edward Conte