Mastic Eyesore Co-Owned By Assistant Principal

I was alarmed to read a recent Newsday article about Rob King, the assistant principal at Paca Middle School in the William Floyd School District. The article states Rob King co-owns a Mastic home the Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko claimed is "one of the worst properties in the entire Town of Brookhaven. It was unfit for human occupancy."

The house located at 120 N. Titmus Drive, Mastic, was illegally rented to tenants. King, who works in our community but lives in Smithtown, co-owns this Mastic home with a resident of Nesconset since 2003. King claims to be unaware of the situation and thought the co-owner was residing in the home to make renovations for legal rentals.

Since King is present in Mastic Beach everyday for his job, I'm unsure why he never checked the house. The lack of electricity, presence of a generator and outdoor cooking conditions were obvious from a quick perusal. According to King's attorney, his client states he never signed leases or received rental income from the home.

It upsets me a school administrator would be part of the slumlord problem in our community, whether knowingly or unknowingly. What I found even more perturbing were statements made by a few neighbors that one of the tenants was a sex offender. I cannot substantiate this rumor but find it even more disturbing.

It is rather surprising we heard so much about a store proprietor giving a robber a loaf of bread but there was little publicity about this serious problem. Our community has suffered as a result of careless behavior from "investors" for too long. To find them employed by our school district and taking home a salary while living miles away is offensive to me. Why wasn't this home found in the Town of Smithtown, where the co-owners reside? How do you feel?

Shirley Store Owner Helps Robber - Only In Our 'Hood

I wasn't surprised to hear about the Shirley convenience store owner who wound up praying with a robber and giving him $40 and a loaf of bread. That's just the kind of neighborhood we are.

Newsday reports a masked man with a bat entered Shirley Express Convenience store on William Floyd Parkway. He demanded cash and store owner Mohammad Sohail grabbed his rifle and ordered the man to the floor. Suddenly Sohail felt compassion as the robber said, I have no money. I have no food. I haev no job. I have to take care of my family." The man indicated he wanted to be a Muslim, too, and prayed with Sohail.

Sohail gave him 40 bucks, bread and when he went to get him milk, the robber fled on foot. Sohail doesn't want him arrested or punished but hopes he learned a lesson from the experience.
By the way, the gun Sohail brandished was legal.

It's a great example of the understanding and compassion people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances show for each other in our neighborhood.