LI public pays millions so politicians can have nice views.

Nassau County, perennially bankrupt even though it has the highest property taxes in the country, spent millions buying acres of open space land for the public. However, they never bothered to provide any information or access to the public. Some of the public land is fenced in, has threatening "No Trespassing" signs, and provides no access points or parking.

So why preserve this land?

"Red Spring Woods looks like a backyard," complained Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), referring to the county's first open space purchase of 9 wooded acres in Glen Cove not far from County Executive Thomas Suozzi's home. "I'd hate to think we used $4 million to buy people's backyards that we can't go on."

[...] At Red Spring Woods, purchased in September 2006, there were no signs identifying the acreage as public property and no obvious paths to enter the parcel, which is ringed by homes.

Ah.