Register now for the 2010 Smart Growth Awards
The eight annual event will honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives. Specific focus areas include mixed-use development, affordable housing, environmental health and safety, open space and historic preservation, traffic calming and pedestrian safety, transportation enhancements, clean energy, downtown revitalization and/or community based planning.
The Awards will be handed out on Friday, June 18th from 11:30am-2pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
Registration information is available here.
Attend Long Island's first LEED-ND® conference March 23rd
Please attend the first Long Island LEED-ND® conference March 23rd from 8:30am-3:00pm at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in East Farmingdale. Come to this informative worksession to learn about LEED-ND®: LEED®'s newest neighborhood-based green design standards, led by some of the region's foremost experts. LEED-ND® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, Neighborhood Development) was developed in partnership with the US Green Building Council, Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Workshops will cover: Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, Green Construction & Technology and Regional Priority Credit. Sponsorship opportunities are available, starting at $500 and going up to $3000. Individual tickets are $75. The event is sponsored by the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, the US Green Building Council, Vision Long Island and CNU-NY.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org. Download the flyer for the event here. The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is located at 7180 Republic Airport, East Farmingdale.
MTA hearings begin on Long Island; next hearing in Riverhead on Monday, March 8th
The MTA held the first in a series of nine regional public hearings Monday evening in Carle Place. The hearings have been scheduled to address the $800 million budget deficit that the agency is facing. Massive service cuts are planned to plug the budget gap, including elimination of service from Ronkonkoma to Greenport except on summer weekends, the elimination of 13 Long Island Bus lines and drastic service cuts on other LIRR and LI Bus lines. The City will also be hit with the elimination of student MetroCards and cuts to NYC Transit subways and buses. The MTA plans to cut 1,100 administrative and station management jobs, including 150 from the LIRR, but those cuts will only make a small dent in the gap. Before the MTA board can vote on service changes, the transportation authority is required to hear from riders.
Nearly 500 Long Islanders showed up at the hearing on Monday, which Newsday described as "rowdy." Several elected officials attended and spoke, including Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, who said "What you're doing is 180 degrees in the opposite direction of where you should be going...What happened? You got your new [payroll] tax."
MTA Chair Jay Walder admitted "The service changes do involve pain. They will affect people's lives and they will make it more difficult for people to get to work...We're sorry about that. Unfortunately we can't spend money that we don't have."
Newsday continued, "Rider advocates and development experts questioned Walder's plan Monday, arguing that the agency could transfer $90 million in stimulus funds from its capital budget to supplement its operating budget. Calling the cuts "horrific" and "tone-deaf," Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, said: "We can't have transit-oriented development without transit.""
The second hearing on Long Island will be at Riverhead County Center, Suffolk County Legislative Auditorum, Evans K. Griffing Builing: 300 Center Drive, in Riverhead on Monday, March 8th at 6pm. It is important that Long Islanders show up to this hearing to protest the cuts, especially on the East End where downtown revitalization projects depend on increased LIRR service. Register in advance to speak at the hearing here. You can also comment by email.
Transportation advocacy on the Hill
On February 24th and 25th, Vision's Eric Alexander traveled to Washington DC for some good old fashioned Congressional advocacy. There were two major components to the trip. The first was with a group called Go21, a Virginia-based organization that is dedicated to finding solutions to our nation's increasing freight transportation needs (or, Growth Options for the 21st Century). Hundreds of rail advocates descended upon Washington on "American Railroad Day," though Eric was the only Long Islander to be seen! The main agenda item of the group was to push for tax incentive legislation for businesses that meet their freight needs through rail. This action item would improve job development in an important field that promotes environmental sustainability as well as livable communities.
The second agenda was a Long Island-specific one, with similar legislative items to the ones covered at the statewide Long Island Lobby Day last month. We covered transportation, sewers, and Smart Growth projects.
For transportation, there were three main legislative items. First was the passage of a federal Complete Streets bill (S.584/H.R. 1443). Complete Streets is a policy that ensures all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways. Designing roadways from a Complete Streets perspective will create safer environments for all users, as well as promote cycling and walking as viable forms of transportation. Complete Streets bills have passed in several states including California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Virginia (a bill is on the table for discussion in New York). A federal bill, as first proposed in March 2009, would provide tremendous benefits to Long Island’s transportation system.
Federal Assistance for Transit Operations (H.R. 2746), which would allow public transit agencies representing cities larger than 200,000 people to flex part of their capital transit funds, including stimulus dollars, for operating expenses, creating greater flexibility for use of federal dollars in urban areas. The cash-strapped MTA would benefit immensely from this bill.
The famous "jobs bill" (The Jobs for Main Street Act, H.R. 2847) has the opportunity to incorporate large-scale transportation investments in its goal of putting Americans back to work. The House version of the bill, which passed in December 2009, redirects $75 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) savings from Wall Street to Main Street to fund infrastructure and job investments. The infrastructure investments, worth $48.3 billion total, include $27.5 billion in highway infrastructure and $8.4 billion for public transportation, as well as funds for Amtrak, airports and more. The Senate version of the bill, passed last week, greatly maintains the status quo of transportation funding and policy. Both versions extend the deadline for reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Program until September 30, 2010. The current transportation program, SAFETEA-LU, places an unbalanced emphasis on highways over transit. We want the jobs bill to move forward as soon as possible while ensuring that critical transportation components do not get watered down.
Sewers- Federal support for water infrastructure had dropped about 70 percent over the last two decades, delaying critical maintenance and necessary upgrades. Hundreds of sewage and wastewater treatment facilities have deteriorated and needs have been identified for establishing new infrastructure to assist existing communities. Even with federal stimulus dollars total sewer spending is very low. New York State received over 600 applications for wastewater projects around the state for 2010, but depending on the size and cost of those selected, officials anticipate funding between 70 and 80 projects. Long Islanders agree that a key step in preparing for growth and maintaining our existing population is to ensure that sewer infrastructure is adequately maintained, upgraded and expanded in key communities. In order for downtowns to thrive, population density must increase and new businesses need to open. Smart Growth cannot occur in communities without sewers. With inevitable population growth imminent on Long Island—NYMTC predicts 307,000 new residents in Suffolk and 154,000 in Nassau by the year 2035—sewer infrastructure must be in place to ensure that growth is accommodated in an intelligent and protective manner. Vision Long Island supports funding for the following waste water infrastructure priorities on Long Island: Mastic/Shirley, Bay Park STP, Wyandanch, Rocky Point, Bergen Point, Smithtown/Kings Park, and Northport.
Finally, we reviewed the status of Smart Growth projects on Long Island. There are many Smart Growth projects of various size and scale that should advance on Long Island to accommodate future growth, including new communities and transit-oriented developments. All of these projects have undergone significant a significant public process and are poised to move forward pending funding and some approvals. One key funding mechanism for moving these and other local projects forward are Community Development Block Grants, which should be fully funded in the next budget. Projects we support include: the Lighthouse, Glen Isle and revitalizations in Riverhead, Hicksville and Brookhaven.
Over the two days, Eric met with Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Steve Israel, Congressman Tim Bishop, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, Congressman Gary Ackerman, staff for Congressman Peter King and Congressman Jerrold Nadler. There was an overall receptive tone from the lawmakers, as well as some agreements to co-sponsor some of the bills we presented. We are hopeful that there will be transportation and sewer investments in the near future.
MTA to cut 1,100 jobs
The MTA this week announced initial details of a plan to plug part of its budget deficit by laying off 1,100 workers. Over 600 jobs will be eliminated, amounting to 15 percent of non-unionized administrative positions across the MTA. About 500 NYC Transit station agents will also be laid off. The MTA employs about 70,000 people total.
According to an MTA press release, "These actions were necessitated by the deterioration of the MTA's financial situation over the past three months. While the legislative rescue package passed in May 2009 was projected to balance the MTA's budget, the forecasted revenues have failed to materialize. The MTA budget passed in December relied on a package of service cuts and these administrative layoffs to close a $383 million deficit. Since that time, an additional $378 million gap has developed this year based on revised State revenue projections."
MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder said, "These layoffs are extremely painful, but we must live within our means and make the tough decisions that businesses and families across New York are making...This is just the beginning of a comprehensive overhaul of how the MTA does business. We will be reducing overtime, consolidating redundant functions and working with suppliers to lower costs. We will not stop until I can say that every dollar the MTA receives is spent wisely."
The MTA will comply with applicable union regulations and non-represented workers will be offered a severance package if they resign. The savings from the administrative cuts will total about $50 million, a fraction of what is needed to restore all the proposed service cuts. Several millions more will come from the station agent cuts.
Lake Ronkonkoma to be recognized as a Statewide Inland Waterway
The New York State Senate has passed important legislation, sponsored by Senator Brian X. Foley, officially designating Lake Ronkonkoma as an inland waterway. The bill is a crucial step towards cleaning up the lake and revitalizing the lakefront area, as it will be eligible to receive new streams of funding and expedite economic development. “It is critical that we clean up Lake Ronkonkoma and remove the pollutants that have been building up in the lake for years,” said Senator Foley. “This legislation will not only facilitate the cleanup process, it will also clear the way for lakefront revitalization.”
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Senator Foley underscored the historical importance of Lake Ronkonkoma, which dates back to pre-colonial times, and discussed the immediate need for improvements: “In recent years, the overall condition of the lake has been threatened, as portions of it have begun to deteriorate as a result of pollution, storm water runoff, and littering,” he said.
George Schramm, President of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, said, "The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization expresses its gratitude to Senator Foley for sponsoring and supporting this bill, which will place Lake Ronkonkoma on the state list of "inland waterways", thereby making it eligible for waterfront revitalization programs. Through this legislation Senator Foley has helped create an opportunity for Lake Ronkonkoma which will result in increased conservation, better access, and, ultimately, more jobs for the communities around Long Island's largest lake." Senator Foley’s bill passed unanimously in the Senate. It still has to pass the Assembly and be signed by the Governor, but both are expected to happen without controversy. Watch a video from the Senate floor here.
Downtown Summit in Riverhead inspires progress
Early February's Downtown Summit in Riverhead has since gained some press attention. In the Riverhead News Review, Sheldon Gordon of Riverhead Enterprises, who owns several downtown vacant and occupied buildings, said "We are very excited about what's going to happen. We will cooperate, and we will listen, and we will try to make these things happen, because they're long past due." Despite this enthusiasm, some residents and developers were worried that the property owners' cost of developing would be too high. If those concerns could be worked out, developer Ron Parr said that he believes Riverhead could bring in residential rentals, small neighborhood businesses like pizza shops and possibly a movie theater. Other possibilities include a nursing facility or assisted living facility from the Peconic Bay Medical Center. Town Supervisor Sean Walter is dedicated to downtown revitalization.
The Town is working on legislation to fast-track commercial site-plan applications for the downtown, which would include a 60-day approval or denial time frame for fully engineered site plans that meet all requirements. If that deadline passes, the proposal would be approved automatically. This week's Long Island Business News also covered the Summit, and cited Vision's Eric Alexander, who "urged the need for smart growth in whatever plans develop for the long-neglected area."
Long Island Smart Growth Working Group meets in spite of blizzard
The Long Island Smart Growth Working Group met on Thursday, February 11th at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College and despite school closings and over a foot of snow, 50 Long Island leaders showed up to give and hear Smart Growth updates from across the Island. Keynote presentations came from NYMTC’s Gerry Bogacz on the Regional Transportation Plan, Preservation League of New York State’s Daniel Mackay on historic preservation tax credit legislation, Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Ryan Lynch and PCAC’s Ellyn Shannon on the DOT and MTA Capital Plans and budget woes and various Town elected officials on current Smart Growth projects and policies in their municipalities.
Read about all of the presentations and discussions in the latest SmartTalk here.
Long Island Leadership convenes in Albany for second annual LI Lobby Day
On Tuesday, February 9th, 50 Long Island leaders traveled up in a bus to Albany for the second annual Long Island Lobby Day. The LI Lobby Day Coalition met with over a dozen Senators, Assembly members, senior staff and agencies to remind leaders that Long Island priorities cannot be ignored. There was an overall positive tone throughout the day and the group successfully delivered our message of a vital Long Island agenda.
The Long Island Lobby Day Coalition formed in 2009 in response to political chaos in Albany that put politics first and public service second. The groups in the growing coalition represent over 30 Long Island businesses, environmental groups, civics, human services, Smart Growth planners, labor groups and transportation advocates and includes: AARP, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Empire State Future, Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Federation of Labor, Long Island Business Council, Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Software and Technology Network, Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, Suffolk Community Council, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and Vision Long Island. Participating organizations have included Coram Civic Association, Dowling College, Fair Media Council, Friends of Edgewood Preserve, Friends of Huntington Station, Glen Cove Business Improvement District, Gordon Heights Civic Association, Gordon Heights Chamber of Commerce, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Huntington, Let there be Lighthouse, Long Island Housing Partnership, Mastic Beach Property Owners, Middle Island Civic Association, Neighborhood Network, New York League of Conservation Voters-LI Chapter, Plainview/Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, Renaissance Downtowns, Rocky Point Civic Association, Save the Forge River, US Green Building Council and Youth of Ethical Societies-LI Chapter.
The coalition developed a substantive platform for the day that will help Long Island. It includes five key issues:Transportation, Energy and Environment, Human Services, Small Business, Jobs and Economic Development and Sewer Infrastructure. Also included are key pieces of state legislation. Here is a brief rundown of the five issue areas that were covered (the full platform is available here):
1) Transportation
a) Road Improvements – Fix it First
b) Regional Bus- (S.5702/ A.08520)
c) Road Improvements - Complete Streets (S.05711/ A.08587)
d) Multimodal transportation solutions - Lighthouse and Heartland Town Square
2) Energy and Environment
a) Offshore Wind
b) Ban Pesticides on School Green Fields (Child Safe Playing Fields Act- S.4983a/A.7937)3) Human Services – Universal Design
4) Small Businesses, Jobs & Economic Development
a) The Small Business Revolving Loan Fund
b) The Excelsior New Jobs Program
c) Restore New York
d) Reducing LIPA debt5) Sewers & Infrastructure: Funding and 6 Long Island Sewers Priority List
a) Mastic/Shirley
b) Bay Park, Nassau County
c) Wyandanch
d) Rocky Point
e) Bergen Point, Suffolk County
f) Smithtown/Kings Park
g) NYS Smart Growth Infrastructure Act (S5560/A8011)
The day began with a press conference where the group introduced these issues and the themes for the day. Despite the political chaos that seems to have gripped Albany in the past year, Long Island wants and deserves strong leadership. It is possible for lawmakers to deal with their internal issues and make policy at the same time. There has been some good statewide progress over the past few years, such as the Smart Growth Cabinet, but as a whole, we need to refocus politics to the grassroots now. The group emphasized that these are not Republican or Democrat issues, but are universal to all Long Islanders. The proposed action items are all common sense and budget-neutral, as they already exist in some form. The coalition met with: Senator Majority Leader John Sampson, Senator Brian Foley, Senator Craig Johnson, Senator Dean Skelos, Senator Chuck Fuschillo, Senator John Flanagan, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Chuck Lavine, Assemblyman Phil Ramos, Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, Assemblyman Marc Alessi, Assemblyman Andrew Raia, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Assemblyman Joseph Saladino and members of Governor Paterson’s staff. In addition, the group met with the Environmental Facilities Corporation about Long Island’s sewage infrastructure needs.
Read full coverage of the day's events in our special e-newsletter here.
Hempstead moves forward with Coliseum property
The Town of Hempstead announced this week that it is creating its own rezoning plan for the 77 acres surrounding the Nassau Coliseum. The Town Board plans to hire engineering and planning consultants F.P. Clark Associates to create a Planned Development District (PDD) that will establish zoning for what can be built on the site. The Town's vision is for a scaled-back development from the Lighthouse Development Group's proposal, which includes a refurbished coliseum and some development, though the details are still scant. The plan could be presented to the Town Board by this summer.
According to Long Island Business News: "The town claims that the Lighthouse developers have 'withdrawn from participating in the environment review and zoning process', by not paying the town’s consultants and by not responding to questions raised since its zoning hearing last September." However, Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby said at Vision's LI Smart Growth Working Group meeting this week that the Lighthouse developers still seem to be interested in working together to move forward on the site.
LIBN continued, "One member of the Lighthouse advisory committee said the town’s desire to move the project forward is a good sign. Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, said the new zoning effort will create a guidepost to let the developers know what they can build right up front. 'This is an opportunity for the town to lay out its intentions and for there to be a basic direction for the project,' Alexander said."
Wyandanch Sewer Plan Clogged
Six months ago, Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone announced that the distressed community of Wyandanch would receive new sewers to allow for downtown revitalization and growth. The Supervisor promised that the sewers would lead to new shops and sidewalks on a vibrant main street. However, the process is now stalled while the community waits for its allotted federal stimulus dollars to come in from the State. The Town is waiting to find out when and how much money it will receive from a $2 billion federal drinking water infrastructure fund. They are expecting $10-12 million to install the sewer lines, which Long Island Business News says is "a necessary precursor to the $500 million redevelopment of Straight Path. The project will encompass 134 acres, including 50 acres in the area’s downtown that will house European-style plazas, fountains and an ice skating rink. The road is being rebuilt from four lanes to two with street parking and medians to slow traffic down through the area."
Bellone said that design work for the downtown project should be completed by the end of this year, which is when the sewer installation should be taking place: “This is about creating a downtown in an existing community by infilling that underdeveloped commercial corridor,” Bellone said. “Wyandanch has a lot of challenges that it faces, including a lack of infrastructure and a problem with crime and poverty.”
LIBN cited this week's Long Island Lobby Day. Wyandanch was on the group's list of priority sewer funding projects: "Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, who helped organize meetings with state legislators regarding sewer projects and other issues, said sewers are an important piece of infrastructure necessary to build the smart growth downtowns that are deemed necessary by reports such as the Long Island Index. He said the areas on the lobbying group’s priority list have their engineering profiles complete. They just need the necessary money to make it happen. 'We have to keep the momentum going,' Alexander said. 'We need to make sure Long Island gets its fair share.'"
Hicksville residents unite over revitalization efforts near train station
On Saturday January 23rd, over 150 enthusiastic Hicksville residents, civic leaders and property owners met to discuss the future of downtown Hicksville. Hicksville has a lot of history and is home to one of the largest and busiest railroad stations on Long Island. Currently, the area finds itself at a crossroads: the shops and stores surrounding the train station are in dire need of an update and there is an increasing vacancy rate. The area surrounding the train station should be a place where both residents and commuters want to relax with a cup of coffee, grab a drink after work, take the family out to dinner or just walk around and enjoy the scenery. There is so much potential for this part of Hicksville to become a vibrant, economic asset to the community.
The meeting covered issues taking place not just in Hicksville, but across all of Long Island, from young people leaving at an alarming rate to a diminishing tax base to a lack of job opportunities and senior and next generation housing. Residents at the meeting were able to address exactly what they want and do not want to come out of this project. Presentations from Vision Long Island's design team included AECOM, PS&S, Anderson|Kim, ADL III Architecture and Economic Research Associates covered pedestrian safety, parking management, the need for next generation and senior housing, promoting transit-oriented development (TOD) and essentially transforming the look and design of the study area.
Setting a positive tone to the meeting, residents had far more “hopes” for the proposed revitalization than “horrors.” The biggest fear seemed to be that nothing would take place and the community would remain stagnant. Residents were also concerned about traffic and the empty parking lots that have become eyesores. The hopes included increasing the number of parks and greenery to create an area rich in cultural arts and family activities, filling vacant stores, creating a restaurant row and increasing walkability. While still in its early stages, the project holds a lot of potential. The community is rallying around the initial proposals and while this meeting was only a very small step, it was certainly in the right direction for a community seeking change. The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and Hicksville Community Council sponsored the downtown revitalization workshop. There will be a follow-up presentation to the community on Thursday, March 4th.
Riverhead Supervisor Holds "Downtown Summit"
Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter and the Town of Riverhead held a “Downtown Summit” on Friday morning, February 5th at 121 East Main Street, Riverhead. Over 100 developers, property owners and community members attended the event.
The past few years have seen Riverhead’s downtown fall onto hard times with the vacancy rate sitting at approximately 70 percent. A longtime “Master Developer” agreement with Apollo Enterprises was recently cancelled by the Town with a number of projects slated to be built in Riverhead stagnating since then.
“The longest journey begins with the first step," said Town Supervisor Walter, "I have organized this ‘summit’ as a first step to bring capital sources, potential tenants, business owners, landlords, developers and governmental agencies together to talk, meet and discuss the future of downtown Riverhead. The Summit will be the first step in a new way of doing business in Riverhead. No longer will we complain or cry about downtown. Today we will roll up our sleeves and get to work. Today we begin the process of renewing our downtown.” Read more in Long Island Business News. A full update from the meeting will be published in next week's newsletter.
MTA proposes eliminating LIRR service to East End
Lately, it seems like we're seeing failure after failure from the MTA. This time, our regional transit agency is targeting the East End of Long Island. The MTA has proposed to close its budget gap by cutting all train service between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, except on summer weekends. Stations affected include Ronkonkoma, Medford, Yaphank, Riverhead, Mattituck, Southold and Greenport.
Over 50 East End elected officials, business leaders, unions, civics, and transit riders attended a press conference on Monday, January 25th to protest these outrageous cuts. Speakers included NYS Assemblyman Marc Alessi, Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine, Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter and Council Members Jodi Giglio and Jim Wooten, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell, Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, and Vision's Eric Alexander. Alexander said, "I have seen homes, streets, neighborhoods and even entire communities be ignored by government-never an entire region!"
There are several strong and targeted arguments against the cuts:
First, it is important understand that there is a catch-22 in transit planning. From the perspective of a growing downtown, transit (and therefore the downtown) will not be utilized to its fullest potential without an increase in service. In other words, more people are more likely to ride the train if there is half-hourly service rather than 6-hourly service. The transit agency, however, will not increase train service without seeing an increase in ridership demand first. The MTA has broken the cycle, for sure, but they did so by acting in a completely reactionary way that will hinder Smart Growth development in the East End's downtowns. Downtown Riverhead in particular is in the midst of revitalizing its downtown and a key component is using the community's existing infrastructure to create and enhance a transit-oriented development. Cutting service would be an affront to these efforts.
The East End has consistently lobbied for more train service. The MTA's proposal may be the last straw, as East End elected officials are now seriously considering seceding from the MTA and forming its own East End transit agency. A few years ago an East End Shuttle was proposed to utilize existing tracks and other transit connections to provide frequent, inexpensive service to East Enders. Such a system may prove more cost-effective for the East End, while also providing better service.
Taxes are another key component of these cuts. East End taxes already subsidize transit in New York City in disproportionate numbers. According to Legislator Ed Romaine's press release, "Suffolk County residents provide over $520 million, or $347 per person, to the MTA; $28 million is directly paid from the county budget for station maintenance, local operating assistance, and the newly imposed payroll tax. $28 million accounts for more than half the county’s general fund property tax levy." Over 310,000 residents would lose direct access to MTA service under this plan. However, the MTA would still collect $107 million from the same County residents. Legislator Romaine said, “You’ve heard of taxation without representation? This is ‘taxation without anything,’ or, as [Southold] Supervisor Scott Russell called it, ‘taxation without transportation.’...How can the MTA justify taxing residents of the East End, but not provide a single service? It’s outrageous.”
Rather than add even more devastating transit cuts to its long list of failed financial strategies, the MTA should take a look at its high administrative costs first. While holding up a 42-page packet containing the MTA's 2008 salary schedules, Assemblyman Marc Alessi said, "I'm asking the MTA to look inside themselves and chop from the top." Of almost 5,000 employees listed, 611 had salaries of above $100,000. In 2009, payroll, overtime, health benefits, and pension funds accounted for 59.5 percent of the MTA's operating budget. "It's absolutely wrong," said Alessi.
John Burke of The Vintage Group, which is building Vintage Square in downtown Riverhead, wrote a strongly worded letter to Congressman Tim Bishop on the matter: "All of LI is trying to build “walkable communities” and create foot traffic in the East End and here you have an outright blatant attempt by the MTA to usurp that effort. What about the all effort for “Smart Growth” here on the Island? Here we all are working to create jobs on the East End, build the aforementioned walkable communities, create a “greener” quality of life for our citizens and more importantly for our next generation. And yet the hubris behavior of [the LIRR] is allowed to continue."
The MTA plans to host a public meeting on the cuts in Carle Place in March. East Enders are trying to get another meeting held in Riverhead. Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay said in a press release Tuesday, “Telling these riders that they have to travel 76 miles each way to speak at a public hearing in Carle Place is the latest slap in a long list of slaps in the face that this agency has perpetrated against Suffolk County residents.”
Responding to the call, the MTA announced a hearing at the Riverhead Legislative Auditorium scheduled for Monday, March 8, at 6pm. Stay tuned for more details and action alerts about the cuts, which could go into effect by September. We cannot afford to let the MTA take its financial mismanagement out on the East End.
Read Legislator Ed Romaine's press release here, and read an article from NorthForkVue.com here.
New details released on MTA cuts
It's a bad week for MTA riders. New details have been released on the MTA's proposed service cuts to the LIRR, LI Bus, NYC Transit, Metro North, Access-a-Ride, and Able-Ride, which come about as a result of a $400 million MTA budget shortfall. The original cuts, adopted as part of the 2010 budget in December 2009, have been modified as a result of updated ridership information and other new details. There's a grim outlook for Long Island:
LI Bus lines to be discontinued will include: N3, N17, N26, N28, N53, N65, N66, N67, N87, N88, N93, N94, N95; N2 Jamaica Extension, N14 Midday Service, N62 Midday Service. LIRR branches to be affected include: Babylon, Ronkonkoma, Port Washington, Belmont, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Greenport (all Ronkonkoma-Greenport service eliminated except on summer weekends), Long Beach, West Hempstead, Atlantic Branch, and Montauk.
And a tidbit from the city: "NYCT is proposing to revise its off-peak service guidelines to increase the total number of allowable standees from zero to 10-18 standees per car (from 100% of a seated load to 125% of a seated load)." "Standees" are also expected on many off-peak LIRR trains.
LI Bus justified its actions: "By law, the MTA is required to adopt a balanced budget. While LI Bus is committed to identifying and pursuing all opportunities for budget savings through administrative reductions and efficiencies, the gap between revenue and expenses is too great to be addressed solely by administrative restructuring. Administrative staff (employees not responsible for the operation of buses or maintenance of existing infrastructure) only account for 8 percent of the total LI Bus labor force. As such, it is impossible to balance a deficit of this magnitude without proposing reductions to bus service in addition to administrative reductions." There is, of course, still an opportunity for new Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to reverse the $1.4 million cut in the County's subsidy to LI Bus that was approved last year. New York State, also in financial crisis, was not able to fund the MTA well enough to end these cuts. It is as important as ever to keep the pressure up on elected officials to not allow these service cuts to take place. Call or write to your Town, County, and State officials to demand more funding to stop these cuts. In addition, the MTA will host public hearings in March on the cuts. One will take place at Chateau Briand in Carle Place on March 1st at 6pm. Legislators are also asking for another hearing in Riverhead to address the East End population. A declining transit system is essentially the opposite of Smart Growth, or really any growth. So get outraged, Long Island, and keep the pressure up! For links to all the details on the cuts, plus information on the upcoming public hearings, see the MTA's website.
Smithtown secures safety improvements in cooperation with NYS DOT
The stretch of road in Smithtown that has proved a dangerous accident zone received a commitment from the State DOT to undergo safety improvements on Tuesday. Last week, the State met with Smithtown officials to discuss ways to make Main Street safer. The Town brought in several suggestions that were derived from residents, while the DOT brought in some of their own ideas. Fortunately, there was a lot of common ground on the two lists.Agreed upon improvements include barriers along Main Street's south curb, better signage, wider sidewalks, and upgrading buttons on crosswalks to allow more time for pedestrians to cross. "I'm pleased that they at least took our suggestions and are using them," said Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio. "I certainly think that the barriers will be an additional help in preventing jaywalking." State Senator John Flanagan said, "A lot of these things can be done relatively quickly and ... because you're not talking about major cost, that makes it easier to get some of this stuff done." Read more in Newsday.
Brookhaven gets $28 Million from Stimulus
The Town of Brookhaven received $27.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to finance various private projects. The funds come as Recovery Zone Facility Bonds and must be allocated to approved plans by the end of the year. Projects that receive the bonds will also receive Town Industrial Development Agency tax breaks. The bonds can be used for almost any commercial or business use, excluding certain service businesses and those that sell alcohol.To determine what the bonds will fund, the Town has created a special projects division of its Planning Department to fast-track any developments that want to take advantage of the bonds. Supervisor Mark Lesko said, “It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs. We will focus on helping finance good projects that will create high-skilled, high-paying jobs, and make sense for the economy." Read more at Long Island Business News.
2010 Long Island Index Released: "Places to Grow"
This week, the Rauch Foundation officially released its annual Long Island Index study. This year's report takes a timely look at "Places to Grow: An analysis of the potential for transit-accessible housing and jobs in Long Island's downtowns and station areas." The report, prepared by Regional Plan Association, speaks to the opportunities for growth near our train stations and in existing downtowns.
The report was released as part of a dynamic presentation Thursday morning at Adelphi University. Speakers included Nancy Rauch Douzinas, President of the Rauch Foundation; Ann Golob, Director of the LI Index; and Galina Tahchieva, partner at the well-known New Urbanist planning group Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and member of the Congress for the New Urbanism. After an attention-grabbing opening video that included depressing statistics about the status of Long Island's demographics and economic development, Douzinas opened with a renewed call to action for this year's Index. She encouraged the audience to "get an attitude" about these issues, and pledged that the Index would work harder than ever to spread its message and impact policy. The mission statement of the LI Index is that "good information, presented in a neutral manner, can move policy," and Douzinas maintained that this information could be forceful without being opinionated.
Galina Tahchieva's presentation served as both a history of suburbia on Long Island as well as an overview of suburban downtown revitalization. She gave several examples of models LI could adapt and really inspired a call to action to plan for infill development with good design. She reminded the audience that many Long Islanders say they want the benefits of walkable, compact, mixed-use centers, but zoning in most areas makes building this way illegal. Tahchieva encouraged Long Island leaders to "seize the moment!" She also mentioned greyfields, which are spaces overrun with asphalt like big parking lots, and called them "wasted real estate." This served as a great lead-in to the content of the report, presented by Ann Golob.
Again and again we hear about problems like keeping our young people on Long Island and decreasing environmental sustainability, Golob said. In the US, 33% of housing units are rentals. In Long Island, 17% of housing units are rentals. In 1950, the percentage of families with kids was 50%. In 2010 that number is 30%. In 2020, it is expected to drop to 14%. There is a growing demand and low supply of housing to address what is now the majority of Long Island's population. The remaining populations include seniors and young people who are not drawn to large single family homes. The way to address these and other problems is downtown infill development. In a study of 156 LI locations, including downtowns at train stations, downtowns not at train stations and areas at train stations that are not strong downtowns, the Index found 8,300 acres that are either parking areas, vacant or unprotected open space. That means 8,300 acres are available for infill development (or for open space protection), about 11% of total land on these 156 locations.
This year, the Index seeks to take a more proactive approach to the results of the study. Beginning in early March, the organization will announce the rules for a contest called Build a Better Burb, or B3. There will be categories for professionals, the public and kids to redesign one of the targeted downtown growth areas as laid out in the report. Judges include Galina Tahchieva and CUNY Professor and author of Retrofitting Suburbia June Williamson. The grand prize is $10,000.
Vision is very enthused to see an academic report that supports the efforts of the 95 Smart Growth projects and 45 master plans, hamlet studies, and vision plans currently underway throughout Long Island. There are currently 20,000 housing units in the planning process on LI that are a step in the right direction. In addition to the downtown infill focus of the report, we would also ask anyone reading the report to consider the megaprojects currently underway throughout the Island, including the Lighthouse, Glen Isle, and Heartland, as well as a focus on commercial corridor redevelopment.
The report is available online.
It's About Time, Smithtown!
Vision recently covered the death of an 11-year old girl who was struck by an SUV while crossing East Main Street in Smithtown. Weeks later, two pedestrians were hit by a car and injured crossing in the same spot. According to Newsday, the New York State Department of Transportation has finally agreed to meet with Town officials this week to discuss potential safety improvements to Main Street.
Road safety concerns are not new to Smithtown. According to the DOT, between 2003 and 2008, there were 359 crashes along Main Street, or about one every six days. 16 of those crashes involved pedestrians. About 33,000 vehicles drive on the road every day and there is a 30-mph speed limit posted. Elected and business leaders have said "the combination of a narrow road, fast-moving car and truck traffic, and a large number of pedestrians has made crossing Main Street perilous." In addition, high speed arterial roads connect to Main Street on both the east and west; it is not abundantly clear to drivers when they are entering a neighborhood and should slow down.
Smithtown Town Board member Edward Wehrheim told Newsday that he and other Town officials, along with NYS Senator John Flanagan, asked the DOT to undertake a project to improve the road's safety last year. The request, made before the little girl was killed, was rejected. However, DOT spokeswoman Eileen Peters said that she was not aware of any such request. It is disheartening to think that a tragic death was the needed catalyst to improve road safety.
As Vision's Elissa Ward wrote in her field report on this issue two weeks ago, there are relatively simple improvements to increase safety for pedestrians and drivers alike:
"There are many visual cues that can be used to slow drivers down and make them more aware that they are in a pedestrian environment. Narrowing the width of the lanes and adding vertical elements such as streetlamps and trees can help to give the appearance that the road is narrower than it is, subconsciously causing drivers to slow down. Other elements, such as curb extensions, can narrow the road width by replacing the shoulder area with sidewalk at the crosswalks, shortening the distance that pedestrians need to cross. These, as well as many other simple solutions can help to tame traffic in a way that can make roadways safe for all users. After all, they are public rights of way and should be for all of the public, driver or otherwise."
Artspace Lofts in Patchogue Celebrate Groundbreaking
On Friday, January 22nd, the Village of Patchogue held a groundbreaking ceremony to herald the start of construction of the new Artspace Patchogue Lofts. Located in the heart of downtown Patchogue on what was previously a parking lot at 20 Terry Street, the project will be a five-story building containing two commercial units on the ground floor and 45 units of affordable live/work housing for artists and their families. The project has been in the works since 2005 and, after some persistent nagging from Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and some strong partnerships with various levels of government, the project is finally underway. It is scheduled for completion in December 2010.
Artspace Patchogue Lofts is part of an economic development initiative designed to revitalize downtown Patchogue. While providing hundreds of construction-related jobs as well as much-needed affordable housing for the creative community, the project will dovetail with existing investments and initiatives such as the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts, the Patchogue Arts Council, Alive After Five programming, and Tritec's New Village project. Taken together, the Village will not only serve as a destination for thousands of tourists each year, it will contribute to a more stabilized and increasingly competitive creative sector on Long Island.
Speakers at the press conference included Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, State Senator Brian Foley, Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington, Former NYS Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington, and Patchogue Arts Council's John Cino. Also in attendance were Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, Brookhaven Town Councilman Tim Mazzei, Michael Harrison from the Office of Governor David Paterson and several members of the Artspace design team.
Long Island leaders meet with Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano to discuss crucial issues
Newly inaugurated Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Deputy County Executive Rob Walker sat down with key organizations on Monday, February 11th. Vision Long Island, along with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, EOC of Nassau County and the Long Island Business Council had an open discussion with the County Executive about a plethora of issues that he will face in office.
Topics covered ranged from the Lighthouse project to revitalization in Hicksville, Nassau County's Master Plan, LI Bus cuts, green energy programs, sewer investments, homeless services, community and youth services and small business concerns.
The County Executive seemed eager to listen to the leaders and organizations in the room We look forward to a successful partnership with the County Executive's team to implement many of the discussed projects and policies.
Empire State Development Announces $7.3 Million in Second Round of Downstate Revitalization Funding
Last week, Empire State Development announced $7.3 million of funding as part of the second round of awards through the Downstate Revitalization Fund. The Governor first announced the $35 million Fund in May 2009 as an investment tool to help attract businesses, improve commerce and revitalize local economies.
Six projects will be funded, including two exciting ones on Long Island:
1) Downtown Patchogue Redevelopers, LLC (DPR) will receive $1 million for its New Village project, which will build a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in downtown Patchogue consisting of office, retail, rental apartments, and a hotel in the heart of the Village. The $106 million project will include 240 apartments, 28,460 square feet of retail space, and a 106-room hotel. DPR has assembled the 3.28-acre site at the center of the business district and has started construction on property at 31 West Main Street, which includes renovation of existing space for the creation of retail and residential uses. The subject project is the relocation of a 100-plus year old library from a portion of the site to an adjacent site. Expenditures include demolition, site improvements and building relocation. The site will be improved with parking adjacent to the proposed hotel and retail spaces. For this component, the total project cost is $8,263,968.
2) The Town of Babylon will receive $2 million for the Wyandanch Southwest Sewer Extension. The Town will construct and extend a sewer line to the Wyandanch Central Business District to become a part of the Southwest Sewer District. Sewer installation will make downtown “development ready,” which will bring economic and environmental benefit. Sustainable and green development practices to integrate green infrastructure will be utilized in the revitalization efforts, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Stormwater Design Quality Control. A sewer feasibility study was completed in early 2009. The project is in accordance with the Wyandanch Hamlet Plan adopted by the town board in 2004. The project is within an Urban Renewal Area, Riverhead/Suffolk County Empire Zone and Wyandanch Brownfield Opportunity Area.
“Small businesses are the heart of our economy and will play a fundamental role in our fiscal recovery,” Governor David A. Paterson said. “Today’s announcement is another important step towards the rebuilding of our downstate economy; the Downstate Revitalization Fund is aimed at providing assistance to small businesses and ensuring the continued creation of jobs. It paves the way for economic growth and development of our neighborhoods. Through ensuring the success of our businesses we will strengthen our economy, our workforce and our State as a whole.”
To learn more, visit the Empire State Development website.
Governor Paterson delivers State of the State address
On Wednesday, January 6th, NYS Governor David A. Paterson delivered the annual State of the State address to a joint session of the New York State legislature. During the speech, Mr. Paterson turned a glaring eye towards Albany itself, calling out lawmakers who have damaged New York’s primary law making body and further tarnished its reputation. The Governor said that "cultures of addiction to spending, power and approval have ruined empires and now they threaten the Empire State."
Within the address, Governor Paterson covered policies ranging from fiscal and ethics reform to the current economic climate throughout the state. Citing spending without a long term goal in mind, the Governor called for more accountability to taxpayers, announcing the push for the creation of EmpireStat, a website devoted to tracking government spending and performance. The Governor also placed his Reform Albany Act front and center, claiming that it would help to curb corruption within State government. The idea behind the Act, according to Paterson, is not to punish illegal actions but to help curb still-legal actions that have led to the increased influence of outside special interests as well as the cynicism present in the minds of the average New York voter.
Unsurprisingly, one of the main foci of Paterson’s policy was the economy. Governor Paterson focused on New Economy jobs, spurred on by a collection of aggressive tax incentives known as the Excelsior Jobs Program, a replacement for the outdated and ineffective Empire Zones program. He also called for a revival of the New York Insurance Exchange (NYIE) in order to strengthen the state’s position as financial capital of the world. Paterson also proposed a Sustainable Neighborhoods program, an initiative designed to bring affordable housing relief to suffering neighborhoods throughout New York.
At the end of the speech, Governor Paterson promised that his new initiatives would strengthen the State while growing the economy and putting New Yorkers back to work. Members of Long Island Lobby Day Coalition and Vision Long Island staff and Board of Directors were in attendance at the State of the State. Organizations included Empire State Future, LI Business Council, Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Network and labor and civic groups.
Read the Governor's press release on the speech here.
Pedestrian Safety Report released, Long Island roads worst in the region
This week, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign released its annual report, “Most Dangerous Roads for Walking: And How States Can Make Them Safer.” The report uses three years of federal data, from 2006-2008, to pinpoint the exact location of pedestrian fatalities in the tri-state region. For the first time this year, Tri-State created a Google Map image to graphically demonstrate exactly where those pedestrian deaths occurred.
Once again, Long Island roads top the list for most pedestrian deaths in the region. Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau came in first with 13 deaths in the three year period. Sunrise Highway in Suffolk came in second with 11 deaths, and Middle Country Road in Suffolk tied for third place with 9 deaths.
The report finds that more than 1,200 pedestrians have been killed by car collisions in the three year period. It also found that over 60% of these deaths occur on multi-lane arterial roads. The report stresses the importance of pedestrian safety projects, as they offer inexpensive ways to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries. Additional recommendations in the report include boosting funding for the Safe Routes to School, Safe Routes to Transit, and Safe Routes for Seniors programs; designating a fair share of federal funding to improving bicycling and walking; and enacting meaningful complete streets legislation.
Download the full report and more on Tri-State Transportation Campaign's website.
In addition, transportation advovate Ryan Lynch, of Tri-State Transportation Campaign, had a letter printed in Newsday on December 31st titled "Islandwide partnership." Here is the link to the letter; below are some excerpts:
Partnership works. County Executives Steve Levy and Edward Mangano should be applauded for their initial willingness to work together to address regional issues ["Working together," Opinion, Dec. 23].
Supporting key transit investment projects, like the Third Track and double- tracking the Ronkonkoma line, as well as channeling funding to municipalities willing to promote smart growth and develop in a more sustainable manner, would be good first steps.
Presenting a united front on these issues will show that the region is willing to adapt to meet the economic, environmental and quality-of-life issues of the 21st century.
What's in Store for New Nassau County Executive Mangano?
There has been a lot of talk about the difficult tasks ahead for the new Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. Newsday covered some of these issues in several articles over the past week On December 31st, the paper put together a list of 10 things Long Islanders can expect in 2010, and emphasized the role of the County Executive in these issues. The list included: jobs will be hard to come by, a tough year for school districts, incumbents fight for their jobs, more foreclosures on the way, controlling county taxes, more sewers on the way, the Big Three move slowly, race in the spotlight again, and political predictions.
Although most of the items on this list seem to be difficult challenges, there is a silver lining of opportunity in several items. In particular, more sewers are expected as both counties lobby for federal funding for sewers and treatment facilities, which will immensely help downtown centers to grow.
The "Big Three" refer to the Lighthouse project, Heartland Town Square, and the Yaphank development. Though these projects are of varying Smart Growth qualities, the article quotes Vision's Eric Alexander and says, "The region needs such developments to put construction workers back to work, create new jobs, house new businesses and provide relatively affordable housing so young people can stay on Long Island. But there’s help on the horizon. It will come from two small villages, Mineola in Nassau and Patchogue in Suffolk. Both likely will break ground on higher-density, multiuse redevelopment projects in the next year. 'Long Island is a show-me kind of place,' said Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island. 'Once people see that these high-impact projects aren’t onerous, it could make it easier and more acceptable to consider developing bigger projects.'"
On January 1st, Newsday listed "10 leaders give advice." Vision's Eric Alexander was quoted:
Be County Executive Pothole. While Suozzi regularly aimed for home runs, Mangano should employ a singles and doubles strategy, said Eric Alexander, the executive director of Vision Long Island. "He needs to speak about how the county's departments can actually aid towns and villages in making planning decisions," Alexander said. "It's a much more practical, substantive approach less on big visions and more about concrete accomplishments."
Other leaders cited included Jay Jacobs, Nassau's Democratic chairman, who said that completing the Lighthouse project should be a high priority, and Nadia Marin-Molina of the Workplace Project who emphasized the importance of including the Latino community in policy discussions.
January 1st also included a story on Mangano's Top 10 Initiatives, putting speculation into concrete action items that are expected from the County Exec. His plan to repeal the energy tax was his first order of business after being sworn in. He plans to fix the assessment system, cut wasteful spending and restore fiscal responsibility, create jobs, improve employee communications, enact regulatory reform, work with all levels of government for the betterment of Nassau County, and what has become an infamous joke, "remember to pick up milk on the way home."
An exciting initiative is launching a green energy fund for homeowners and business owners to make alternative energy retrofits. Mangano hopes to stem the brain drain to help young people on Long Island. One idea is to partner businesses and college students so students can get experience and better opportunities for high-paying jobs when they graduate.
2010 Inauguration Coverage
As we welcome 2010, Vision highlighted some of the inaugurations that took place this week across Long Island. Vision had the opportunity to participate in many of these ceremonies which were a who's who of Long Island leadership. Read our coverage here.
2009 in review
Vision recently prepared a year-in-review of the best and the worst of Smart Talk from the last year. Check out our special e-newsletter to see how far we've come over the past 12 months and where we can look to improve in 2010.
MTA "Doomsday Budget" approved
The MTA once again takes center stage this week, this time with the unanimous passage of an $11 billion budget that includes massive service cuts to the LIRR, Long Island Bus (several lines eliminated entirely), NYC Subway and Bus, plus the elimination of free and reduced price Metrocards for students.
Here's what Long Islanders can expect:
LIRR: $11 million cut
Shift from Half-Hourly to Hourly Off-Peak Port Washington Service ($1.2 million):
· Cancels 14 daily weekday trains and 16 daily weekend trains
· Average 200-500 riders per train
· Alternative: Board trains 30 minutes earlier or later
Eliminate Belmont Race Track Service ($.1 million):
· Eliminate Wednesday-Sunday during racing season except for Belmont Stakes
· Average 100 riders daily
· Alternative: Bus service to Belmont from Queens Village
Eliminate West Hempstead Weekend Service ($.5 million):
· Cancels approximately 17 trains per weekend day
· Average 350 riders per weekend day (20 per train)
· Alternative: Utilize trains on Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach or Hempstead branches
Combine Four Babylon Trains into Two Babylon Trains ($1.1 million):
· Combine two AM peak trains and two PM peak trains
· Average of 2,000 riders daily
· Alternative: Utilize trains several minutes before or after
Cancel One PM Peak Long Beach Train ($.5 million):
· Cancel train 874 departing Flatbush Terminal at 5:40 PM
· Average of 370 riders per day
· Alternative: Use 5:23 or 6:07 PM train
Cancel One PM Peak Diesel Train Departing Hunterspoint ($.4 million):
· Cancel train departing at 5:11 PM
· Average of 440 riders daily
· Alternative: Customers traveling east of Huntington will need to switch to a diesel train at Huntington
Cancel On PM Peak Ronkonkoma Train ($.7 million):
· Cancel train departing Flatbush Terminal at 4:34 PM
· Average of 500 riders per day
· Alternative: Utilize a Huntington branch train with added stops or a Ronkonkoma train seven minutes earlier
Rolling Stock Maintenance ($1.7 million):
· Place 10 cars in reserve and reduce overtime at outlying points due to reduced service requirements
Guaranteed Extra List ($.7 million):
· Reduce the extra list based on implementation of service changes listed above
Other Adjustments/Reductions ($4.1 million):
· LIRR will review its current service levels relative to demand and will identify scheduling efficiencies to reduce costs
LI Bus: $4.5 million cut
Service Reductions:
· Elimination of several bus routes (N51, 53, 80, 93, 65, 66, 67, 87 and possibly more)
· Elimination of 15 positions with affiliated with these routes
Free and reduced fare student Metrocards would be phased out over the next two years. According to the Associated Press, "The policy of free or discounted student rides has been in place since 1948. Ending it could cost half a million students nearly $1,000 per year in transportation fees." Governor Paterson added, "Who wants to take Metrocards away from kids?"
The W and Z subway lines would be completely eliminated.
The NY Times assessed it this way: "The authority is attempting to plug a financial shortfall of nearly $400 million that appeared in startlingly quick fashion. Late last month, state legislators cut $143 million out of the authority’s budget; state accountants then determined that a payroll tax dedicated to mass transit financing would produce $100 million less revenue than initially thought. Finally, late last week, a court ruled that the authority must pay significant raises to transit workers, adding tens of millions of dollars in expenses."
Recently-appointed MTA Chairman Jay Walder bluntly said, "In the two months that I’ve been here, it’s apparent to me that we don’t operate in a way that ensures that every taxpayer dollar that we receive is being used as effectively as possible." Walder pledged to "take the place apart" to find a better solution.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stinger was quoted in Newsday as speaking out against the MTA's cuts: "This tired old song isn't giving us a sense of faith and hope in the transit system. When a crisis comes, you go for the most vulnerable. You go for our students. You go for people with disabilities... We should not be in the business of going after the next generation, because this generation can't run a transit system."
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign released a statement on the cuts, saying that "Governor Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg, and the MTA must consider other options to plug the agency’s financial hole. The burden cannot fall solely on transit riders who are already paying higher fares. And it certainly shouldn’t fall on the backs of our schoolchildren." The statement continues to offer potential solutions, including increasing city support, seeking new federal support, reducing outrageous administrative costs, considering innovative tolling options, or even taking a desperate move of reappropriating some capital funding from the federal stimulus to operations.
Though this plan avoids yet another fare hike for 2010, a 7.5% increase in fares could take place in 2011. The new service cuts are scheduled to begin in July 2010. An 11th-hour solution is possible if the city or state votes to increase aid, though judging by past precedent this does not seem likely.
Take Action! Contact your New York State Senator and urge them to take action on the cuts. Nassau County residents should also contact County Executive-elect Ed Mangano (Legislative office: 516-571-6217) and the County Legislature to reinstate the County's cuts to LI Bus. It is vitally important to keep up the pressure on anyone who can help!
Paterson funds solar project on Long Island
On Thursday, Governor David A. Paterson announced a $6 million grant to LIPA, funded by the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority to continue incentive and rebate programs for homeowners and businesses for the purchase of solar photoboltaic (PV) systems that generate clean energy, lower energy bills, and help to reduce the carbon footprint. According to the Governor's press release, the grant was given in response to unprecedented demand for solar panels here on Long Island and pushes ahead the Governor's plan to have 45 percent solar electricity in the State by 2015.
LI Lobby Day Coalition Meets with Empire States Development Corporation
On Friday, December 4th, Vision Long Island joined with members of the Long Island Lobby Day Coalition to meet with New York’s Empire State Development Corporation. Dennis Mullen, director of the agency, led the meeting, along with participation from ESDC’s Andrea Lohneiss and Michael Harrison from the Office of Governor David Paterson. [additional names from Eric…there were 2 guys there from ESD…one was Steve something…] The Coalition set out to boost downtown revitalization and discuss the possible reauthorization of the Empire Zone program, which currently does not prioritize downtowns.Mr. Mullen presented his economic development strategy that he hopes will be approved. His four pillar strategy includes: stop the leaky bucket and stabilize our communities, concentrate growth through target industries such as technology and the green industry, invest in small business, and boost agriculture. There was some disconnect between this economic strategy and grassroots participation, but the positive is that there is a strong focus on Smart Growth principles at the State level.
The Long Island Lobby Day Coalition is a collaborative effort between several Long Island advocacy groups to lobby for statewide issues of broad concern to all Long Islanders including renewable energy, transportation and sewer infrastructure, economic development through small business investments and downtown revitalization, and human service issues. Members of the Coalition include Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Vision Long Island, LI Federation of Labor, Suffolk Community Council, Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, AARP, Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, LISTNET, LI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Empire State Future, Glen Cove Downtown BID, LI Business Council, and more.
Eight Long Island Towns collaborate to request energy Stimulus funds
In an encouraging show of solidarity, eight Long Island Towns have collaborated to announce that they will be requesting stimulus funds from the US Department of Energy. The towns include Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Southampton, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. According to a press release, the Community Development Corp. of LI is acting as the lead applicant and grant administrator, LIPA will provide some of the efficiency work, and the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College will act as a key strategic partner. The towns will request funds from $454 million that is available for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs and the "Retrofit Ramp-up"grant. The amount requested is to be determined, but the Department of Energy will provide 8-20 grants of $5 million to $75 million, totaling $390 million. According to Thursday's Newsday, "Such programs allow homeowners to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient, paying off the cost over time through their property tax bill." An example, which the towns will likely emulate, is Babylon's Long Island Green Homes program; Brookhaven recently implemented a similar program. The collaboration comes from a recommendation by the Department of Energy to encourage large-scale projects and innovative partnerships. U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said, “This is an historic opportunity for Long Island. The Green Homes initiative was born right here on Long Island and there's no better place for this type of investment."
Gated Communities highlighted in the NY Times
In the November 13th edition of the New York Times, Marcelle Fischler covered the pros and cons of gated communities in Long Island and beyond in the article "The View Inside the Gates." The pro argument essentially comes from families who want their children to grow up in a safe, quiet place with other children nearby to play with. Stephen Melman of the National Association of Home Builders cited a 2007 consumer preference survey on "the home of the future:" up to 25% of 2,400 square foot homes will be behind gates, while 54% of homes 3,000 square feet or more may be gated. From experience, however, many of these neighborhoods are a little too quiet and do not offer the vibrant play scene for children that they are fabled to provide. Many books have been written about the dark secrets of gated communities and cul-de-sacs. For example, Suburban Nation suggests that children who grow up in these economically segregated communities are missing out on heterogeneity, which can lead to further segregation and racist attitudes down the road. More tangibly, the market segment that Long Island should be looking at in order to sustain its economic base is young people, the majority of whom prefer to live in dense, walkable communities. From a Smart Growth perspective, gates certainly are not the way to build. The article quoted Vision's Eric Alexander, as well as Vision Board Member Steven Krieger, who put it more simply:
Smart-growth advocates and developers, perhaps unsurprisingly, are not big fans. Eric Alexander, the executive director of Vision Long Island, described gated communities as “isolated in a way that’s so obvious” and “the antithesis of smart growth.”
He acknowledged that “the desire for community and connectivity with your neighbors” was praiseworthy, but asserted that the gated lifestyle “speaks to the failure of creating neighborhoods where people can feel safe and secure.” To his way of thinking, the goal should be to “make the public space and open streets a community.”
Nor are all developers in love with the fortress idea. Steven Krieger, a principal with Engel Burman, developer of the 53 homes at the Meadows at West Hempstead, described the new subdivision as “an enclave by itself without being gated.”
“When you are in the middle of a neighborhood like we have in West Hempstead, to separate yourselves would be a negative.”
In a way, gated communities and Smart Growth communities are both responding to a failure in longstanding suburban development patterns. While Smart Growth looks to repair the ills of suburban isolation by harking back to traditional neighborhood design, gated communities takes a more negative approach by insisting that what we've done cannot be repaired, so instead we should retreat by embracing isolation. Read the full article here.
Riverhead Councilman plans to run Town vehicles on filtered vegetable oil
According to Riverhead News Review, Riverhead Town Councilman John Dunleavy is trying to run two Town vehicles on filtered vegetable oil to determine how much money could be saved on diesel fuel. There is a company that sells filtered used oil from restaurants for around $1 a gallon, while diesel prices are close to the cost of regular gasoline. A mixture of 3 parts oil to 1 part diesel would effectively run the cars.
Mr. Dunleavy still needs to gain the approval from both the Town Board and the Department of Environmental Conservation before his plan can move forward.
For more information on using vegetable oil to power diesel vehicles, see the League of Conservation Voters' website for more information on this project.
850 Long Island Leaders work together to chart Long Island’s future at 8th Annual Smart Growth Summit
Record turnout, Governor Paterson,
Scott Rechler, 80 speakers, youth summit highlight the day
Vision Long Island is extremely pleased to report that the Smart Growth Summit was the best yet: 850 Long Island leaders, 15 workshops, 80 speakers, and a dynamic panel of Town and Village officials in the morning.
NYS Governor David Paterson gave a powerful speech supporting Smart Growth and Scott Rechler laid out some of the economic challenges moving forward. The 2nd annual youth summit involved 50 Long Island college students from five colleges. The quality, diversity, passion and intelligence of the Long Island leaders who attended built on past years.
A report outlining 95 Town and Village small, medium and large scale Smart Growth projects, 44 master, hamlet, corridor and vision plans and hundreds of supportive policies was released to the local municipalities for review. Vision Long Island will present the reports findings within the next six weeks.Attached is a preliminary review of the Summit sessions. Video of each of the workshops and transcripts of the plenary will be available in the coming weeks.Lastly, we want to thank everyone who made this event a huge success- sponsors, speakers, Board members, staff, and volunteers. There are many challenges ahead but, for at least one day, Long Island leaders worked together collaboratively to address ongoing issues, share successes, and troubleshoot challenges.
Vision Long Island’s 8th annual Smart Growth Summit, the premier land use conference in the region, was the biggest yet with nearly 850 attendees on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Melville Marriott. Attendees included elected officials, chambers of commerce, civic leaders, developers, architects, planners, not-for-profits, concerned citizens, and more. This year’s theme, “regional challenges and local solutions,” focused on the ways in which large scale issues can be solved by looking at the work being done at the ground level in smaller municipalities. The Summit is a timely reminder that in this poor economic climate, Long Island must address the necessity for local, pedestrian friendly “Smart Growth” initiatives to serve as near-term and long-term economic generators for our community.The Summit included a breakfast, luncheon, and 14 workshops to choose from throughout the day. The 14 workshops included: Future of Media & Land Use, Tapping into the “New” Market: How Downtown Revitalization can keep our youth, attract boomers, and lower taxes, Suburban Revitalization (two sessions), Regional & Local Energy Solutions, Regional Planning: How All the Pieces Fit, Transit-Oriented Development, Developments of Regional Impact, NYS, Stimulus & Infrastructure, Emerging Industries: The New Job Market, Regulatory Toolbox: SEQRA, PDDs, Overlay Zones & TDRs, Green Building: Opportunities for LEED ND, Working With Long Island Communities, and How to Finance Smart Growth.
A full breakdown of the sessions, plus many more pictures from the day are available here.