To the Members and Supporters of the Nassau County Police Activity League:

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

As you have heard, Nassau County Executive Thomas R Suozzi plans to cut expenses.  His plan includes reducing the number of Police Officers assigned to PAL.  This move will almost certainly bring about the demise of the PAL, as we know it.  In the year 2000 staffing levels were at 33 police officers assigned to PAL.  There were over 57,000 children participating in programs.  As of February 20, 2009 there will be only 9 Police Officers assigned to PAL.  Since the reduction of Police Officers there has been a 20% REDUCTION in children participation in PAL programs.  History has shown us that when Police Officers do more than regular patrol duty and are actively involved with the community units like PAL the quality of life in the community improved.  Do you want this trend to continue?  The following are some points of interest you should know about the PAL.

*Nassau County PAL and its various PAL units throughout the county, reinvest MILLIONS of dollars annually back into their local business and communities.  NONE of these funds are provided through the taxes of Nassau County.

*The PAL supports 500 special needs children throughout the county.  The Special Needs Unit is the largest program dedicated to special needs activity on Long Island.

*The PAL operates day care programs for under privileged children so their parents can go to work.

*The PAL built or refurbished 4 baseball fields, 18 offices and clubhouses, and 4 roller hockey rinks.

*The PAL is a juvenile delinquency prevention program which fosters a better relationship between active police officers who work in our communities and the children and families who live here.

*No child, regardless of their family's ability to pay, is ever turned away from a Nassau County PAL program.

*Our children are our top priority, and as taxpayers and voters in the County, we will vote accordingly against any politician who is in favor of taking any of our police out of PAL come November.

*The PAL serves over 45,000 children annually.

*All PAL Officers are AED/CPR certified instructors and have trained over 500 community volunteers.

Please sign our petition that is located at the New Hyde Park PAL Clubhouse or e-mail us at nhppal@optonline.net. and we will send a copy of our petition form for you to fill out and send back to us no later than Monday, February 16th.  Please have other family members and friends sign it too.  Thank you for all your support!