Senator Johnson Holds Westbury/ New Cassel Listening Tour

WESTBURY, N.Y. -- Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), recently held a day-long listening tour in Westbury and New Cassel that focused on the communities' needs and future plans.

The day started with a sit-down meeting with local leaders at the Harvest Diner on Old County Road, followed by an afternoon tour of the community, and culminated with a Town Hall meeting at the Park Avenue School.

The meeting was formatted to be a free-flowing exchange of ideas between Senator Johnson, local leaders, and members of the community. The conversation centered mainly around the need for adequately funded schools and to break the cycle of out-of-control property tax increases.

"During this day, I saw first-hand the fine work that is going on in Westbury and New Cassel," Senator Johnson said. "But make no mistake about it: Our communities simply cannot move forward if it becomes too expensive for middle class homeowners to live and raise a family. Finding ways to provide relief to overburdened tax payers in Westbury, New Cassel, and the rest of Nassau, is my top priority and it should be the top priority for any elected leader."

Senator Johnson did secure an additional $3.65 million (a 15.9 percent increase) for Westbury schools in the 2007-08 budget. He has pledged to fight for every dollar in the looming conflict over next year's budget.

Other stops on the community tour included an after-school program at the Westbury Community Improvement Corporation Youth Services Project, the New Cassel Community Health Center, and redevelopment sites along Prospect Avenue.