(Editor's note: The following letter was send to the Taubman Company in answer to a letter they send to community residents. It is being reprinted here at the author's request.)

I recently received a letter from you that began "Dear Neighbor." I find that very interesting because I live in Long Island, NY and you're writing from Michigan. That does not, in my mind, make us neighbors. I believe that if we were neighbors and your home was located near mine, that you would not be pushing so hard for the development of an oversized, poorly located, unnecessary mall.

I am aware that you have built several malls in the past. I am also familiar with the areas surrounding many malls. They are congested, noisy and often have unwanted visitors to their communities. That is not why I moved to Jericho. I moved here for the peace and quiet, cleanliness, exceptional services and quality education. I shop mostly in local stores avoiding the crowds and parking nightmares associated with many of the surrounding malls. I have watched as many local stores, both in and out of malls, have suffered from the present economy, and wonder why there is a need to open even more stores which may fail.

In your letter, you tried to scare community residents by talking about local tax increases. Understandably, I saw no mention of quality of life issues. In Jericho, Syosset and the surrounding communities, you are dealing with intelligent and well-educated people. They are not easily intimidated, nor are they easily misled by creative rhetoric. Your letter states that "We have consistently sought to work without surrounding communities ..." If that is truly the case, then you will not build a mall where no mall is wanted or needed. The large number of local associations that have rallied against your mall should make it clear the feelings of our communities. It is time that you put these feelings before the almighty dollar.

Harriet Mandel

Several weeks ago, I wrote a Letter to the Editor and mailed a copy directly to Dr. Hankin. My letter concerned Dr. Hankin's recent announcement of the first inductee into the Syosset High School Hall of Recognition.

My letter requested a copy of the procedures and criteria used to nominate and evaluate other potential inductees. My request remains unanswered. I find this most disturbing. I suspect that there is no procedure and that once again a school official either exceeded his or her authority or did something for the sake of political correctness.

This action only serves to lessen the accomplishments of Syosset High School alumni. There are many other graduates who are equally deserving of this honor. If Dr. Hankin has nothing to hide, then I would again request that she provide the information that I requested.

First the name change to the "Red Hawks" and now this Hall of Recognition mess. I seriously question why it has taken over 40 years to start this and who approved Elaine Chao as the first inductee.

Niels J. Zussblatt

Class of '76

Syosset Braves