I have lived in the Village of East Williston for over half my life—almost 42 years.

About eight years ago, I expressed to the Village my concerns that we should have a law forbidding rentals in our Village—just about when ads for global community rentals started blasting the media airwaves.

Over four years ago, I reiterated my concerns that such a code/law should be implemented to ward off the obvious, potential, negative effects that rentals—either short or long term— could have on our family-oriented Village.

Bringing strangers into our community, who have no vested interests in our community, only forewarns of serious, detrimental problems.

On Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 pm in the East Williston Village Hall,
there will be a public hearing that will be considering:
“…the adoption of a Local Law to add a Chapter to the Village Code
with respect to short-term rentals.”

I, again, will state what has seemed obvious to me for the past eight years:

“It is my belief….that forbidding such rentals in beautiful East Williston
is essential to maintaining its integrity as being a safe, family-based,
residential community.”

Our Nassau communities already are experiencing higher crime rates.

Do we really need to increase the amount of strangers entering our communities to peruse the “lay of the land?”

I think not.

I urge all concerned East Williston homeowners to consider attending the aforementioned meeting to express your opinions on this very serious matter that could affect the value of one of your biggest investments—your quality of life in your home and community.

If you cannot attend this meeting, I urge you to let our Village officials know your opinions on this matter by sending an email to our Village or by making a phone call.

The future quality of life of your children and the families of all Village of East Williston residents is at stake.

Kathy Rittel

East Williston