Important topics discussed at recent town meeting
JAMES P. HAYES New York State Assembly
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host a Saturday morning town meeting for Amherst residents at the Eggertsville Fire Hall. At the meeting, residents had the chance to discuss concerns about important state and local issues and were encouraged to ask questions about any matter involving state government.

I take my job as your state representative very seriously, and I have always found the forum at a town meeting to be an excellent source of ideas and feedback from constituents as I work to represent your interests in the state capitol.

At the meeting, I announced that the application deadline for the Middle Class STAR Rebate Program has been extended until Dec. 31, updated residents on the defeat of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's ill-fated proposal to allow illegal aliens to obtain a New York State drivers license, and rallied public opposition to the planned toll increase announced by the New York State Thruway Authority.

In addition to voicing strong opposition to the proposed toll increase, residents expressed support for new laws I'm championing to rein in the unchecked power of New York's public authorities. All too often, the unelected and seemingly unaccountable public authorities in this state make decisions that are contrary to public opinion and the public good. That has to stop.

Also welcomed was the announcement that state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli will undertake an audit of the Thruway Authority in an attempt to eliminate the need for a 5 percent toll increase this year (and an additional 5 percent increase next year) the good old-fashioned way - by cutting spending. To that end, I am pleased to announce that I will co-chair a public hearing this Wednesday, with several of my Western New York Assembly colleagues at the Mahoney State Office Building in downtown Buffalo, in an effort to continue to focus public opinion against a Thruway Authority toll increase.

Residents at the town meeting also had the chance to seek help with individual problems they are having with state agencies or departments. My office works hard every day to help local taxpayers break through bureaucratic "red tape" in solving problems or accessing the resources of state government.

Everyone who wanted to speak or ask a question had the opportunity to do so, and I am grateful that those who attended took time out from a busy Saturday morning to share their views with me and help make the meeting a success.

A special thank you goes out to Chief Mike Boehm and the members of the Eggertsville Hose Company for their generous help in coordinating the use of the fire hall meeting room for our town meeting.

If you couldn't make this year's meeting, don't worry; other meetings will be scheduled in the future. Please remember and feel free to contact me anytime you have an issue or concern relating to state government.

I can be reached at my district office in Williamsville at 634-1895 or via e-mail at hayesj@ assembly. state. ny. us.

Happy Holidays!