This is Planet Money from NPR.

A few months ago, we got an email from a listener about a weird little drama taking place

on Long Island.

The listener's name is Michael Mann.

Let me read you a bit.

I printed it out so it sounds like he mailed us a real letter.

Hi.

I have a story for you.

This story involves an entire town and its taxpayers held hostage for the economic benefit

of one man.

If you'd like to discuss or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

I did have questions and I do like to discuss.

So I call up Michael and he told me about this thing in his neighborhood that has been

enraging him for months.

Turns out, Michael lives not too far from me in a little neighborhood called Woodmere.

So I drove out to meet up with him because I wanted him to show me the source of his

outrage.

So I grew up on this neighborhood.

My parents laid about five houses down on this block.

No kidding.

You grew up here.

And I was away from where I lived currently.

...