Jobco Organization

Jobco is a community-minded developer that has produced projects in Port Washington and Central Islip that embody principles of Smart Growth. They are busy planning other development projects to meet the housing needs of Long Island residents, particularly for our youth and seniors. They have been longstanding supporters of Vision Long Island's efforts to promote Smart Growth across Long Island.

Become a Supporter of Smart Growth

Vision Long Island prides itself on having a broad range of supporters.  Become one today. A donation as small as $50 buys outreach materials to help a community build support for their vision. $500 sponsors an entire newsletter.  $5,000 makes you a lead sponsor of our Smart Growth Summit, buying 10 tickets and a key branding opportunity for your organization.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

Governor Paterson delivers State of the State

New York's State of the State address offered some serious perspective on the current budget crisis. Governor David Paterson delivered his first State of the State on Wednesday afternoon in Albany. A webcast on the State's website provided live feed of the speech for those not in attendance. Paterson began with this headline-inducing declaration: "My fellow New Yorkers: Let me come straight to the point – the state of our state is perilous." Though the future may seem grim now, Paterson gave an inspirational speech on the ability of hope and courage to win out. 

In terms of infrastructure projects that could get funding in the federal stimulus, Paterson mentioned 40 road and bridge projects and 60 wastewater and sewer projects that are "shovel ready," including East Side Access, the Second Avenue Subway, the Tappan Zee Bridge, and the Peace Bridge, and strongly urged the MTA to adopt the Ravitch Commission recommendations for its budget shortfalls.

One of the Governor’s strongest recommendations involves reforms to the Empire Zone Program.  The program, which was set up to entice businesses to either open or expand within New York State, has not been working for the 9,200 participants in 85 Empire Zones.  Paterson suggests making changes that would force each participant to produce $20 of benefits for every $1 of invested State money, along with creating new economic development grant programs and offering tax credits for research and development in strategic sectors.  If Zones fail to meet the standard, they would no longer receive tax benefits and could save the State an estimated $272 in 2009-10.

He also spent a great deal of time talking about energy, explaining that it is the new currency and, as such, New York must become energy independent and create its own clean, renewable sources. In a new initiative called "45 by 15," New York State will work to have 45% of its electricity needs met by efficient and renewable sources by 2015. Along with this proposal is a new push to develop longer-lasting plug-in electric cars within New York State. His clean energy efforts could result in 50,000 new jobs, including the successful clean energy workforce training programs.  The Governor also called for consolidating programs to create a single place to access information on all energy efficiency programs for schools, hospitals, and local governments.  Since 1987, NYPA has provided over $1 billion to clean energy projects such as these and Paterson hopes to raise awareness and increase participation in the program.

Paterson also addressed his state budget, which he released five weeks early in order to generate some discussion. He regrets that the economic crisis has forced him to cut funding from programs that he loves. Though education will be hit hard in the new budget, Paterson also hopes to create a more affordable college loan program so that all students are able to attend college.

One point of contention lies in Governor Paterson’s focus on upstate resources instead of downstate or statewide initiatives.  He has proposed creating an upstate research consortium on hybrid electric batteries and energy storage technologies, particularly for cars, but has suggested that the research be conducted mainly in the Western, Central, and Capital regions. While we support the Governor’s efforts to create a statewide Energy Policy Institute that would work in conjunction with state universities, the focus again is on upstate institutions.  Long Island universities should be included in this program.

Paterson concluded: "Let us resolve to remember this moment as the moment we decided to take back the future of New York. Let us build hope for the future. Let us create justice for the next generation. Let us combine ability with determination to produce a better New York for all families."

Peter Fleischer of Empire State Future, our statewide Smart Growth organization that Vision is proud to be part of, noted that "although we understand that Governor must focus on a limited number of projects in this economy, we are pleased with the emphasis he gave to energy and energy-related initiatives. Given that we're in a time in which we must do more with less, it's a perfect entre to further our general Smart Growth efforts because, particularly in infrastructure, Smart Growth lets us do more with less. Our lead effort will be to bring back the Smart Growth Priority Infrastructure Bill while also stimulating a public discussion on the way climate change relates to sprawl and growth.

Vision Long Island board members Neal Lewis, Robert Fonti, and Ed Carr were in attendance at the State of the State as well as Vision's Executive Director, Eric Alexander, who said "Vision Long Island supports the Governor's clean energy initiatives and reform agenda for economic development. We will work vigorously with the Governor's office to ensure that Long Island gets its fair share of resources in transit and sewer infrastructure projects." Vision, in coordination with over 40 organizations and local officials, has created a list of specific priorities, including investment in sewers for Mastic and Shirley, Rocky Point, and Cedar Creek are of high priority as well as continued support for mass transit. We were in Albany to support these initiatives and will continue to do so throughout the session.

Lastly, we are confident that the Governor will continue his commitment to the NYS Smart Growth Cabinet. Initiatives from the Department of Transportation, Empire State Development, and continued support for transit-oriented development for the MTA have all been positive results from this entity. We are looking forward to the Cabinet working on priority infrastructure and guiding state policies where federal and state investments should occur this year.

A transcript of the address is available here. Also see the follow-up coverage in Long Island Business News.

Christmas came to all but one…

Christmas came early this year to those pardoned by President Bush, except for Isaac Robert Toussie.  He “received the legal equivalent of a lump of coal,” says the US News.

Among 19 people pardoned Tuesday, Toussie was the only one to have theirs revoked.  Shortly after the pardon was granted, the New York media unleashed a deluge of articles and blogs criticizing President Bush’s decision, citing the civil suit against the family that was compiled from hundreds of homeowners and the significant contributions made to the Republican Party by Isaac’s father, Robert Toussie.  All of this led to Wednesday’s reversal.

According to the New York Times, Toussie pled guilty in 2001 to using false documents to get mortgages insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and in 2002 to mail fraud, admitting that he had persuaded officials in Suffolk County to overpay for land, which resulted in five months in prison, three years of supervised release conditioned on five months of home detention, and a $10,000 fine.

Although details regarding the Toussie family name may have been slow in reaching the White House, it was not for many working-class people Long Islanders. Several hundred ex-customers of the Toussies, led by then-Gordon Heights resident Maxine Wilson, sued in Federal District Court, accusing Toussie and his father of masterminding a scheme in which inexperienced or first-time buyers were promised affordable and comfortable suburban houses, but instead were sold poorly-built homes with bad mortgages, forcing many to lose their homes.

Ms. Wilson was first shocked and angry in hearing news of the pardon. "I was angry at how money, power, and influence seemed to trump justice," she said. But on Wednesday, she felt "somebody paid attention. Somebody stepped back and made us feel equal."

For more information visit, CNN or MSNBC.

Thomas Friedman calls USA "Dumb"

On December 23rd, well-known economist Thomas Friedman wrote an op-ed column for the New York Times entitled "Time to Reboot America." By international comparison, the United States today rates pretty poorly on infrastructure and innovation. 

Consider Europe's high-speed rail system. In Europe, high speed rail is defined as over 125 miles per hour, while in the U.S. it is a minimum of 90mph. The TGV trains in France can take you to neighboring countries at a speed of 200 miles per hour, with a record speed of 357mph. America's fastest Acela trains are legally capped at 150mph due to track conditions and traffic. The Eurostar system can get you from Paris to London in 2 and a half hours- a 5 and a half hour drive according to GoogleMaps. In the U.S., a 5 and a half hour drive from Boston to Philadelphia would take you 4 hours and 50 minutes by Acela Express.

Speed isn't everything: let's consider our transit hubs. Friedman offered this description of his recent trip home from Hong Kong: "Landing at Kennedy Airport from Hong Kong was...like going from the Jetsons to the Flinstones." He decried Penn Station, whose "escalators down to the tracks are so narrow that they seem to have been designed before suitcases were invented," and whose "track-side platforms apparently have not been cleaned since World War II." Just look up the next time you're in a NYC Subway station. The rest of the developed world would be shocked. 

Friedman also emphasized the ways in which technology interacts with transit in other countries. Flawless wireless internet and cell phone reception accompany high-speed trains. In the US, a commonly overheard phrase on cell phones is "I'm on the train so I might lose you." On a positive note, new "high-speed" buses (i.e. Boltbus and Megabus) now offer wireless internet and electric outlets for low prices. Too bad passengers are still subject to cramped seats and normal highway traffic conditions. Technological advancements in our transit services- from providing wireless internet to faster travel times- will encourage people to use these systems instead of driving, thus clearing congested roads and helping the environment.

According to Friedman, we are rewarding the wrong kinds of investment careers. Rather than encouraging intelligent Americans to produce technological innovations, we entice them to sell out on Wall Street, turning money into more money. With the potential for nearly $1 trillion in federal stimulus money, it is imperative to implement a sea change in business as usual in the US. We are lucky to live in a country that offers such freedoms and opportunities and we must begin to take advantage of these opportunities and compete with the rest of the world, putting money into smart infrastructure projects that will help our economy grow.

Friedman offered this plea to Americans: 

"My fellow Americans, we can't continue in this mode of "Dumb as we wanna be." We've indulged ourselves for too long with tax cuts that we can't afford, bailouts of auto companies that have become giant wealth-destruction machines, energy prices that do not encourage investment in 21st-century renewable power systems or efficient cars, public schools with no national standards to prevent illiterates from graduating and immigration policies that have our colleges educating the world's best scientists and engineers and then, when these foreigners graduate, instead of stapling green cards to their diplomas, we order them to go home and start companies to compete against ours."

It's time to wake up and realize that we are falling behind the rest of the world. Let's use this stimulus as an opportunity to repair and restore this country to the best in the world.

High Speed Rail in New York State: not now?

Federal stimulus is the buzzword this month, as every stakeholder in the country tries to get their favorite projects approved for new funding. There have been many arguments about the validity of the "shovel-ready" phrase that Obama has listed as a qualifier for funding, as some see this as an opportunity to fast-track good projects that lack the resources to move forward with the design phase. However, the reality is that shovel-ready means just that: projects will only be approved for stimulus money if they can provide jobs and quick economic returns.

One project that is blurring the "shovel ready" line is a high-speed rail line stretching from Buffalo to New York City. It's a great idea that has been talked about for years, as it would make the upper portion of the state truly interconnected with the more populous and resource-heavy tri-state region. 

Just recently, Governor Schwarzenegger passed a huge state investment in 800 miles of high speed rail for California, connecting every major city from Sacramento to San Diego. Not only will the new trains provide fast and pleasant travel for Californians, but they will also be designed for energy efficiency, helping to reach California's ambitious energy plan by getting cars off the road and running on sustainable fuels.    

In New York, high speed rail would require a multi-billion dollar investment in renovating preexisting rail lines to allow high speed trains to run on them. Some upstate residents worry that the work on the rail line would be focused downstate, meaning that their tax dollars would be sent away and not seen until the rail line is completed. More important is the question of demand. Many question how much this rail line would benefit the state compared to other projects that are more design-ready and would benefit many more people on a regular basis, such as East Side Access. Consider the difference between high speed rail in California (which has many populous cities spread out across the state) and New York (where the vast majority of the population is concentrated downstate). According to an op-ed poignantly written for an upstate paper, "While high-speed rail is a tantalizing dream, it might not be the best, or most urgent, candidate for the billions of federal dollars expected to reach New York."

For more on California's new high speed rail system, see The Inhabitant.

MTA proposes new "Green MetroCard" program

On Thursday, the MTA announced a new voluntary initiative that would raise money for green projects. When riders buy their MetroCards (and commuter rail tickets and E-Z Passes), they would be asked to make a tax-deductible contribution to the MTA in order to make operations more environmentally sustainable. While some suspect that riders would not want to pay both the proposed new fare hikes and an additional contribution, Ernest Tollerson, the MTA policy director, said that the initiative would be more successful once the economy improves.

The details are still being worked out. For more information, see this New York Times article.

back to top

New Rails-to-Trails project approved for North Shore

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Suffolk County have come together to approve a new 12-mile hiking and biking trail along the North Shore, stretching along abandoned train tracks from Port Jefferson to Wading River and on LIPA property. The project is a part of Rails-to-Trails, a national initiative that encourages federal and state governments to make conditions for trail building possible. Federal funding will pay for the trail, but Suffolk County will be responsible for developing and maintaining it.   

Rocky Point Civic Association President Drew Martin said in the press release "We couldn't be happier with the outcome...Rails to Trails will play a tremendous role in Rocky Point's Downtown revitalization as well as advance our vision of bringing ecotourism, environmental stewardship and commerce in alignment. This project is an absolute winner. We want folks to bike, hike and like Rocky Point as we endeavor to be 'The Pride of the Pine Barrens."

According to Legislator Daniel Losquadro of Shoram, whose district includes much of the trail, the county and LIPA have been discussing this idea for many years, and often the discussions stalled. He is enthusiastic about the project's approval: "Finalizing Rails-to-Trails is a great way to start the new year."  

For more on the trail, see LIBN.

Port Jefferson Village building moratorium faces controversy

Sponsored by Village Trustees Carmine Dell Aquila and Virginia Capon, proposed amendments to the Code of the Village of Port Jefferson Section 250-49 (F) and Section 250-52 (9) will place a 12-month moratorium on all commercial development and building approvals. The proposal will halt all new or pending applications from being accepted, processed, or approved. The exception will be single- or two-family residential uses.

The primary rationale is that the Village has not updated its master plan in over 40 years. This moratorium would provide the time for the Village to update its codes, thus providing an up-to-date system that works more effectively and helps the Village in the long-term. With many new development projects in the hopper in Port Jefferson, the Village feels unable to adequately handle the caseload. The moratorium allows time for the Village to get its bearings and proceed with a fair plan that offers the least disruption to residents. 

Many residents of the Village have spoken out against the moratorium. According to the Suffolk County Planning Commission, "A moratorium is from one perspective the most extreme land use action that a municipality can take because it suspends completely the rights of owners to use their property." Residents fear the lack of autonomy that will befall property owners with the moratorium, including the lack of ability to erect or alter any structures for which a permit is required. 

Furthermore, the Suffolk County Planning Commission received an incomplete application on its deadline of December 22nd, which did not adequately explain the need for the moratorium. Therefore, the amendment was never reviewed by the County. This also means that the Village has not taken the required steps to ensure that the moratorium is upheld in courts if challenged, thus placing the Village at financial risk. 

Residents cite the current economic crisis as a reason for the Village Trustees to be focusing on other timely matters, such as investing in projects that will spur the local economy through job growth, population density, and retail opportunities. 

On Monday, January 5th, a public meeting was scheduled in Port Jefferson to discuss the moratorium. Despite what some would call ineffective public outreach about the amendment, over 100 people showed up against the moratorium. It was so crowded, in fact, that the meeting was postponed until a later date.  

For more information on the moratorium, see the article in Long Island Business News, and this website on residents' grievances.

back to top

Vision staffer makes headlines

On December 26th, Vision Long Island's former full-time employee and current Planning Consultant Juliana Roberts Dubovsky was featured in a story in the New York Times.

The article documented her apartment-hunting process in Astoria, Queens, but also touched on some Smart Growth issues that impacted her decision to move. Somewhat infuriated with the angle of the story, Julie has provided Vision with this official response:

Lately there seems to be an abundance of voices condemning the social, environmental, and economic aspects of suburbia. We hear it from scholars and experts like Christopher Leinberger, we see it in films like “Revolutionary Road” or PBS’ “Blueprint for America,” and we read it daily in the newspapers: suburbia is unsustainable and it is a major cause of the country’s and planet’s woes. Considering this constant onslaught from the media, many people may not have noticed a tiny article in the real estate section of the New York Times that was fodder for the anti-suburbia machine.

Written by Joyce Cohen for “The Hunt” column, the article was entitled “Apartment Hunters in Astoria Say, So Long, Suburbs,” and was supposed to focus on the experience that my husband and I had trying to find an affordable apartment. Instead, it strongly pitted suburbia against the urban lifestyle without laying out all the facts. And the facts are these:

My husband and I were looking for everything that Smart Growth could offer-walkability, affordable housing options, higher density, mixed uses, transportation alternatives, accessibility to open spaces, and a sense of place. We did, in fact, look for these attributes on Long Island but found the rumors to be true. Attractive communities like Great Neck, Huntington Village, and Mineola had a range of housing options but were still out of our reach because of the high taxes, transportation costs and prohibitive housing prices. A one-bedroom apartment that may have been in our buying range and in an attractive community was soon unaffordable because of the additional costs that came with living in suburbia. We’d still be driving, paying more for less housing, and enlarging our carbon footprint rather than decreasing it.  

Faced with these facts, my husband and I accepted that we too would move westward to New York City where Smart Growth qualities were inherent and affordable. It is a sad truth that many young adults are facing and trying to rectify through grassroots organizations like Vision and increased outreach with productions like WLIW’s “Leaving Long Island” series about the affordable housing crisis. Yet even while the battle carries on, we are well aware that we will not reap the benefits. After all, you plant a tree for the next generation and not your own.

Life is about choices and the freedom to make them. At this point in our life, suburbia doesn’t offer those choices, but hopefully some day it will. There is a lot of work to be done to make Long Island and suburban communities throughout the nation more sustainable, healthy places to live. Redeveloping our downtowns around transit and existing infrastructure is integral to this regional revival, as is preserving open space and providing housing for all people and incomes. Perhaps then, we and others like us will come back. As Dr. Seuss’ wise Lorax said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

back to top

Tis the season of giving

As the weather continues to get colder, we must remember that not everyone is so fortunate. Make a donation to help out someone less fortunate who may need food, clothing, or other household items. Here are a few suggestions of places to give:

Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island: clothes, toys, and furniture (i.e. cribs, strollers) for children: 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. (516) 741-7304.

Freeport Emergency Food Center: infant formula, non-perishable foods, fresh produce, turkeys, hams, rice, beans, pasta, cake mix. 450 North Main Street, Freeport. (516) 565-0290 or (631) 727-2210.

Interfaith Nutrition Network: food, toys, clothing, cleaning and kitchen supplies, towels, blankets, furniture, etc. 211 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead. (516) 486-6243.

Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank: food items donated at local drives. 10 David's Drive, Hauppauge. (631) 582-3663.

Long Island Council of Churches: canned food, fresh produce, and turkeys. 450 North Main Street, Freeport. (516) 565-0290 or (631) 727-2210.

Pronto: Food, clothing, toys, household and personal items. 128 Pine Aire Drive, Bay Shore. (631) 231 8290.

Riverhead Pantry: non-perishable foods, canned meats, fruit, peanut butter & jelly, infant formula, baby food, spaghetti sauce, hot cereal, gift cards, paper towels, and toilet paper. 407 Osborne Avenue @ Lincoln, (631) 727-2210.

back to top

Home Energy Assistance Program expanded

Governor Paterson has announced the expansion of the emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), as administered under the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). The program supplies emergency help to families who are unable to adequately heat their homes during the winter months. Starting on January 1st, 2009, the income level for eligible families will increase from 60% of the State's median household income ($45,312) to 75% ($56,635). There will also be a new $100 supplemental HEAP benefit automatically issued to HEAP recipients who pay directly for heat, meaning that the maximum regular HEAP benefit will increase from $800 to $900.  

For more information about HEAP, including how to apply, please call OTDA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009 or visit www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/. To determine potentially eligibility for HEAP assistance visit: www.myBenefits.ny.gov.

Money Available for Commercial Development

With banks tightening credit, merging, downsizing and being just plain picky, many think there is a lack of capital available for commercial development. In fact, there is plenty of money available for development-including downtown revitalization- for businesses and nonprofits.

Banks such as Citibank, Capital One, Banco Popular, Suffolk County National, Bridgehampton, Empire, and Madison are still out in the community working with businesses and nonprofits. True- borrowers have to have their paperwork in order. The process may be a bit more detailed and rigorous. Banks may not lend as easily as in the past.  At the end of the day, however, banks are lending to commercial customers.

In particular, banks are lending more and more with support from government programs such as the SBA 504 and the New Market Loan Fund. These programs supplement the bank’s offering and  mitigate the bank’s risk.

If you are involved in a commercial transaction in a downtown or other area being revitalized, keep these programs in mind. They are available for acquisition, construction, renovation and refinancing of capital projects (owner user with the New Market Fund permitting a minimum 35% occupancy). They are available for mixed use projects- perhaps a retailer in basement and first floor; accountant and software developer on the second floor; and affordable apartments on the upper floors.

The SBA 504 loan program and the New Market loan fund provide up to 40% of the project cost in a second mortgage position behind a bank or other lending partner. The buyer puts in just 10% of total project cost. In some cases the New Market Fund can provide 100% of the financing need. Both programs can be leveraged with programs such as the NY Job Development Authority, Industrial Revenue Bonds and straight lease backs and other government programs.

For working capital needs, there are programs such as the SBA 7A (where a lender gets a guarantee from SBA), the LI Targeted Industry Revolving Loan Fund, targeted loans in the Town and Village of Hempstead, the SBA micro loan program and other government related funds.

For information about these financing sources which are ready, willing and able to lend to small businesses and not-for-profit entities seeking to revitalize their communities, contact the LI Development Corp. at 866 433 5432 or see them on the web at www.lidc.org.

NYMTC announces grant for individuals with limited income or disabilities

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) are soliciting proposals for two new programs: Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom. About $11 million is available from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The grants "are intended to fund innovative and flexible programs and projects which identify and address the transportation needs of individuals with limited incomes and persons with disabilities." The money will support job training, job opportunities, travel to work ease, and will address gaps in transportation options for targeted demographics. Not-for-profit organizations, state and local governments, and public transportation service operators are all encouraged to apply.

For more information and to apply, see the Programs & Projects section of the NYMTC website. Application deadline is March 27th, 2009.

back to top

Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy seeks Senior Environmental Analyst

The Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy's Division of Water Quality Improvement is looking for a Suffolk County resident to fill the position of Senior Environmental Analyst for their Hauppauge office. The candidate will be responsible for scientific research and analysis on water quality improvement projects and for supervising other environmental analysts and technicians. Work will include consulting and maintaining liaisons with other governmental agencies, public interest groups, and educational institutions involved in the study and protection of the environment.

A Bachelor's Degree in mathematics, the sciences, environmental studies, or a related field is required, as is four years of experience in an environmental protection field. Graduate education may be substituted for two years of work experience. Salary is $55,828 plus benefits. Send resume to scpersonnel@suffolkcountyny.gov or mail to Alan K. Schneider, Suffolk County Personnel Director, P.O. Box 5992, Hauppauge, NY 11788-0194.

Town of Brookhaven Seeks New Planning Commissioner

The Town of Brookhaven, a large municipality of 450,000 plus residents, seeks a Commissioner of Planning, Environment and Land Management who will be responsible for overall management of a department containing large and diverse divisions. This position will supervise professional and support staff of over 99 individuals. This is a management confidential position, salary $110k plus.

Please send resumes to searchcommittee@brookhaven.org.

back to top

MTA's Lee Sander guest on Brian Lehrer Show this month

Every Thursday in the month of January, MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot "Lee" Sander will be featured as a guest on the WNYC Radio's Brian Lehrer Show. This will be a great opportunity to hear from the head of an agency that has been under so much scrutiny of late. 

The show is broadcast weekdays at 10am on 93.9 FM and 820 AM and rebroadcast Tuesdays through Saturdays at 1am on 820 AM.

Our Times Coffeehouse presents Bill Staines

On Friday, January 16th at 8pm, Bill Staines will be the featured performer at Our Times Coffeehouse. A collaborative effort between the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, and the Research and Education Project of Long Island, the Coffeehouse is an all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to supporting affordable and quality folk music on Long Island in a warm and intimate setting. Bill Staines has become a very popular performer on the folk circuit. He is an uplifting artist who blends wit and humor into his Americana guitar tunes. He may even yodel for you, having won the National Yodeling Championship in 1975. 

The performance will be at the Ethical Humanist Society, 38 Old Country Road in Garden City. Doors open at 7:30. Donations are requested at $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $6 for children under 12 (very young children are free). For more information on this and future performances, see the Our Times Coffeehouse website.

MLK Interfaith Service

On Sunday January 18th from 7-9pm, Long Island Jobs with Justice will sponsor an important event called "When Will We Hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's call to end Poverty?" The service will feature a multicultural, interfaith prayer service and choir concert on behalf of Long Island's working poor. Featuring Preacher Fred Brewington, Esq., this event will include 10 Long Island choirs.

This is a "Rock and Wrap It Up" event, which means your admissions fee is a can of nonperishable food (or a monetary donation) to support the efforts of the anti-poverty think tank Rock and Wrap It Up. It will take place at St. Matthew's Church at 35 North Service Road in Dix Hills.

Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless presents "Have a Heart for the Homeless"

On February 12th, the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless will be holding their annual "Have a Heart for the Homeless" candlelit vigil. Community members, groups, and clubs are encouraged to participate: the participation of everyone who cares will make a huge difference.

The event will also include musical guests and speakers to address the serious issues of homelessness and lack of affordable housing on Long island. The group will be accepting donations of unused baby items, diapers, formula, unopened toiletries, and non-perishable foods.

The vigil will take place on February 12th from 6pm-8pm at the Farmingdale State College Plaza and Multi-Purpose Room at Roosevelt Hall, 2350 Broadhollow Road in Farmingdale. NSCH encourages you to hold a drive in your community. Contact them for more information at (516) 742-7770 or by email to gguarton@nsch.org or jking@nsch.org. 

No Child Left Inside

On Thursday March 12th, Long Island Nature Collaborative for Kids (LINCK) will host their "No Child Left Inside: Connecting Kids with Nature" conference. From 8:30am-6pm at the Islandia Marriott, the day will address the vital role that nature plays in childhood development. As so many kids today default to video games and the internet, children are deprived of basic outdoor skills and important creative experiences that guide development, not to mention the obesity epidemic and the high rate of allergies among children. Speakers at the conference will include Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Nancy Rosenow of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, John Rosenow of National Arbor Day Foundation, and Dana Friedman of The Early Years Institute. Panels will discuss exciting new ways to use parks, schools, early childhood programs, after-school and youth programs, neighborhoods, and backyards to get children back outside. The conference will be filled with interactive events and looks to be a very exciting and important event for Long Islanders. 

For more information, call (516) 304-5480 or visit the website.

back to top

Feel Fine in 2009

Economy got you down? This Saturday, January 10th, from 10am-1pm, gather at Southampton Hospital in Parrish Memorial Hall to learn techniques to reduce your stress levels in 2009. Learn some great tools for stress relief, including walking meditation, making peace with food, chair yoga, and much more. A light lunch will be served. Parrish Memorial Hall is located on the corner of Herrick Road and Lewis Street.

The event is free and open to the community, but please call first to register at (631) 726-8700. More information is available on their website.

Seal Watching

Here's a free and fun way to spend a few hours this weekend: go seal watching! Head over to any of the South Shore beaches and keep your eyes peeled for these adorable sea critters. You may want to wear muted colors and make sure to dress warmly!

If organized tours are more your style, several companies offer seal walks and boat rides with advanced reservations. The Riverhead Foundation has organized seal cruises leaving from Freeport every weekend at 1pm, now through April. Head aboard Captain Lou Fleet to see winter harbor seals throughout Hempstead Bay. A naturalist will be on board to discuss marine life and seal biology and behavior.

For reservations and more information, call (631) 369-9840, or visit their website. All proceeds support the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program.

back to top

"Let us remember this moment as the moment we decided to come together to take back our future. This should be the moment where we take control of our deficit so we can return to our mission for New York. That mission is to rebuild our economy, to create good jobs, to improve our business climate, to develop the industrial sectors of the future like clean technologies and life sciences, to strengthen our colleges and universities so that New York will always have a skilled and educated workforce. That is a New York that maintains hope for the future. That is a New York with a vibrant economy. That is the New York we all want to live in." - Governor David A. Paterson

back to top

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Whitty, Director of Special Projects; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant

We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.

For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at:
24 Woodbine Ave. Suite One Northport, NY 11768. Phone: (631) 261-0242. Fax: (631) 754-4452.
Email: info@visionlongisland.org