Media Contact: Randolph Yunker - (516) 571-2490

(Mineola, NY) Nearly four months after being asked by the Franklin Square Public Library to speak in his official capacity as Nassau County Assessor on September 15, Harvey Levinson was surprised to receive a communication from the Library's Special Events Program Director that the Board decided to rescind its invitation citing political concerns.

"I was invited, as was other local elected officials who are running for office this November, to answer questions homeowners might have on reassessment and the property tax structure," stated Assessor Levinson. "The Board's last minute decision to prohibit me from speaking and affording me the same courtesies that were extended to other elected officials was purely partisan politics at its worst. I want all Franklin Square homeowners to know that I plan on attending the next open meeting of the Library Board on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. to demand that I be permitted the use of the library's public meeting room in October."

Despite the Library Board's ill-conceived speaking ban on September 15, Assessor Levinson fired-off a letter to the library indicating that he would be honoring his speaking commitment so that he could speak to those homeowners who were unaware of the forced cancellation.

"Not only did the Library Board ignore my letter, I was not permitted to use an empty public meeting room to speak with some 30 community-minded residents who came to the library on the night I was scheduled to speak," Assessor Levinson stated.

Assessor Levinson is urging the media and all residents who value freedom of speech to attend the Board's September 27 meeting to support his right to speak in October.

"The Library Board indicated that they plan on censoring me until after the November elections," concluded Assessor Levinson. "Clearly, they are the ones who have turned my speaking engagement into a political issue and violated a basic trust that their taxpayer-funded institution remains informational and not a private club to one accepted partisan thought."

The Franklin Square Public Library is located at 19 Lincoln Road.