Smart Talk Blog

While we were not surprised by the results of the 2008 Long Island Index, which highlighted growing support from Long Islanders for living downtown as well as support for increasing density in the downtown areas, any effort to help publicize and call greater attention to the needs of our downtown communities is welcome. We congratulate the Rauch Foundation and the Long Island Index for their comprehensive analysis and hard work.

This was also the week for analyzing big plans in the region: the potential for a Cross-Sound tunnel as well as congestion pricing initiatives are being reviewed by the State and we are glad to see the attention and interest in making sure these bold proposals get the proper review.

As we speak, there is also an energy summit underway with LIPA, Keyspan, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the Neighborhood Network and other environmental organizations, and US Congressman Steve Israel looking at Long Island's energy future.

Next week's issue will start to focus on individual projects while we are moving on big plans to focus on communities such as Farmingdale. It is important for us to learn from our successes and failures; so please send us initiatives that you're working on so that we can spread the word, as we want to be as representative as possible.

Lastly, please nominate a project, policy, or an individual for a Smart Growth Award. We are accepting nominations and will have a review committee analyze the proposals. In the past, we have received some fantastic projects, but we don't pretend to know everything that is going on around LI, so please submit deserving applications.

It has been a busy week as plans take shape around the region.  The NYC Traffic Mitigation Commission is wrapping up its work with some interesting support for transportation investments.  Folks across Long Island are eagerly awaiting a presentation from the 2008 Long Island Index.  Speculation grows on how Long Island will fare in the New York State budget, particularly in light of the Governor’s recent State of Upstate address.  In addition, a rather bold proposal for a cross sound tunnel will be the subject of a New York State Senate hearing next week.

Fresh off a number of inaugural events, Long Island Towns are shaping up their agendas  for the coming year.  In the Town of Brookhaven, folks want to keep the momentum going on implementing visioning efforts with the cooperation of the new Town Board leadership. The Town of Oyster Bay has formed a new economic development office that will focus on redevelopment activities, while the Town of Hempstead is showing some signs of flexibility in reviewing the plans for the Lighthouse development and revitalization efforts in Baldwin and Elmont.

Feel free to contribute news, events, links and other information.  Please send us data, articles, images and video clips of new or emerging issues.

Please note - We have edited our list to delete those who have either moved away or are involved in other efforts across the region.  We have also added a few hundred new members who may be interested in the issues we are covering on a weekly basis.  If you would like to unsubscribe, there is an 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of this newsletter.  Conversely if you know anyone who would like to receive this weekly publication, please send them over to info@visionlongisland.org

Vision Long Island recently had the opportunity to visit the capital for the State of the State address. We were very happy with the tone and themes of cooperation and a number of creative initiatives for the State in the areas of energy policy and affordable housing. Some critics were questioning the lack of specific priorities for Long Island and it is true that Long Island was only mentioned once or twice in the State of the State. In our view, a speech is simply that, a speech, and budget and legislative priorities will have to be waded through in order to properly analyze the benefits for Long Island.

Issues that were not addressed, but we have hope they will be tackled in the next legislative session, budget cycle or by executive order, include the restructuring of NYS DOT Region 10, incentives for downtown revitalization from the NYS ESDC and a program for transit oriented development out of the MTA. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt's Public Infrastructure Act, in whatever form it takes, is also a priority for advocates of Smart Growth. Furthermore, the creation of a Smart Growth Cabinet, that was developed in the fall of 2007, allows for the opportunity for the State to audit its operations and focus on actions that encourage Smart Growth planning. We are looking forward to that discussion as well as working with legislators on bills for housing and infrastructure incentives in the coming term. Rest assured it will not be boring, so stay tuned.