Levinson Installed as Nassau County Assessor

(Mineola, NY) Over two hundred invited guests, dignitaries, family and friends filled the meeting hall at the Nassau County Bar Association on Sunday to witness Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi install Harvey B. Levinson as the Chairman of the Board of Assessors.

Also on hand to participate in the inaugural ceremony were Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon, Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, Stewart Manor Chamber of Commerce President Richie O'Shea, and Rabbi Stephen Wise Goodman of the Garden City Jewish Center.

Throughout his remarks, Assessor Harvey Levinson gratefully acknowledged the dedication and selfless contributions of many of the individuals who worked tirelessly on his behalf. "I was deeply moved by the outpouring of support and help I received by so many people," Assessor Levinson stated. "Of course, none of this would have been possible without the help and counsel of County Executive Suozzi; Chairman Jacobs; Independence Party Chairman Michael Peragine; Working Families Chairman Stan Bergman; the current and former members of the Board of Assessors: Vice Chairman Dennis Brown, Jeff Gold, Michael Norman, Gerard Terry, and James MacCrate."

In acknowledging the challenges that lay ahead, Assessor Levinson pledged to establish an ongoing dialogue with the Nassau County Village Officials Association, school boards, community groups, the media, business community, and, most importantly, the homeowners.

"Together, we can and must improve our property assessment system - free from egotistical bickering and the pettiness of hidden political agendas - so that we can avoid the tax surprises experienced by many and understood by few," stated Assessor Levinson.

Assessor Levinson went on to note that he would be seeking legislative improvements to New York State's Real Property Tax Laws, replace unproductive political appointees with professionals, and introduce a professional standard aimed at restoring the public's confidence in the Department of Assessment's ability to do its job and value property correctly.

"While the duty of establishing an assessment system that is fair and equitable for all property, home and business owners rests with me, I promise to heed the counsel of the professionals and community leaders in our County and will work in an open atmosphere of cooperation and trust," concluded Assessor Levinson.