The Battle Lines over the Town's Proposed Land Sale

Oyster Bay Democrats are blasting the Town's proposed sale of it's Department of Public Works Complex near the Long Islaand Expressway.

The future of the sale will be decided by voters on Aug. 20 when ballots will be cast as part of a referendum.

In a recent email blast, Town Democrats said that Standard and Poors has threatened to downgrade the town's credit rating if the sale does not go through.
A report in Newsday says  the Town has been put on a credit watch and could run out of cash in November, if the sale isn't approved.

Deputy Supervisor Leonard Genova, called any talk of a cash flow problem "premature" saying the town is engaged in seeral negotiations to make up for any shortfalls.


The Town has said they're trying to prevent a mall built on land that's adjacent to the land the Town wants to sell.

The DPW complex would be sold to a firm that's backed by a rival mall company.

We want to know what you think. Are the Democrats right that the sale is a sign of fiscal problems? Or is it about stopping a mall? Or do you think there's another reason?

Let us know in the comment section  below.

Due to an error transcribing notes, an earlier version of this story said that  Standard & Poors did not threaten to downgrade the town's bond status. Patch regrets the error.