New YOrk's New Governor, David Paterson

In light of the shocking events of this week, we look to the future with hope that New York's new governor, David Paterson, will continue to support many of the pro-Smart Growth projects that were already in progress or on the table.

Raised in Harlem and legally blind, Mr. Paterson got his start in the State Senate in 1985 and has been a diligent public servant since then. He served as Lieutenant Governor under Eliot Spitzer until Wednesday, when it was announced that he would take over the Governorship on March 17th.

We would like to welcome the new governor and look forward to continuing the work of the NYS Smart Growth Cabinet, both in Albany and here on Long Island.  In particular, the Smart Growth Cabinet shall advise and make recommendations to the Governor on the most effective mechanisms to promote Smart Growth and related priorities, including, but not limited to:

(a) identification of barriers to and opportunities for incorporation of Smart Growth principles in state policies and decision-making;

(b) alignment of state grantmaking and capital programs for both the public and private sectors to foster Smart Growth development patterns in appropriate regions of the state;

(c) assessment of the effectiveness of existing state programs to provide technical and other assistance to local governments for comprehensive land use and economic development planning that incorporates Smart Growth principles and identification of opportunities for new and improved programs to effectively deliver such assistance; and

(d) recommendations to facilitate state and local Smart Growth initiatives.

Other states have adopted similar state-run Smart Growth plans and seen great successes, such as New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Maryland’s Department of Planning encouraged the General Assembly to pass five pieces of legislation and budget initiatives that were collectively known as "Smart Growth." Since then, the Smart Growth department has directed the State to target programs and funding to support established communities and locally designated growth areas and adopted principles of Smart Growth to guide development and redevelopment.

Massachusetts’ Smart Growth and Urban Environments Program uses enhanced local land use plans and regulations, through planning policies and programs for innovative state approaches to Smart Growth. The program provides technical assistance programs, tools, and direct outreach to local officials and decision makers across the State. Closest to home is New Jersey’s State Department of Community Affairs Office of Smart Growth, which initiated a State Development and Redevelopment Plan that has coordinated planning activities and established state-wide planning objectives, developed a New Jersey Planning Commission, created a Main Street Revitalization program, and provide numerous resources on brownfields, planning and zoning education, and other land use policies.

There are real, concrete actions that the incoming Governor can take now. They include:

1. Support for improving sewer infrastructure to make even the smallest advancements possible - mainly, the creation of four new sewer districts in Suffolk County (Rocky Point, Smithtown, Wyandanch & Mastic/Shirley) and upgrading Nassau County’s sewage treatment facilities to accommodate future growth.
2. Reformat NYS economic development programs to benefit downtowns and centers.
3. Approval of affordable housing legislation in the form of inclusionary zoning legislation and/or the Downstate Workforce Housing bill that incentivizes the production of affordable/workforce housing
4. Transformation of the New York State Department of Transportation Region 10.  DOT Region 10 must convert to allow for pedestrian safety and “Smart” transportation initiatives. New Jersey’s DOT reforms are an exemplary model for roadway redesign initiatives for New York.

The continued work of a Smart Growth Cabinet is a step in the right direction. Granted, we’ve been accomplishing these lofty goals with individual, quality communities on Long Island for several years already; but the Governor’s group has the potential to make it a REGIONAL priority.  We look forward to continuing to work with the NYS regional staff to create Smart Growth incentives and policies here on Long Island.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the new Governor and Smart Growth by sending us an email here.

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Be a Smart Growth News or Smart Talk Visionary

We invite you to strengthen and sustain VISION's e-news publications by becoming a Smart Talk Visionary. For $500, you can sponsor Smart Growth News, our weekly publication. In recognition, your firm’s logo and a short description of your work will be featured in every issue. For $1,000, your organization can sponsor Smart Talk. This monthly news resource will include your firm’s logo and feature revolving articles on the organizations helping inform Long Island.

Archives of Smart Talk and Smart Growth News Weekly are available on our website. For more information on this chance to be at the forefront of Long Island’s Smart Growth Movement, call Vision Long Island, 631-261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org.

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Smart Growth Awards Nomination Deadline IS TODAY

With the Smart Growth Awards fast approaching, the due date for nominations is today, March 14th. We have had an overwhelming response from the community and want to ensure that all people, projects, and places have a chance to be considered.

Last year, over 500 people came out to honor projects from across the Island in fields such as mixed-use development, green building, and regional leadership. See more on last year's event here.

Nomination forms and other materials can be mailed to our office at 24 Woodbine Ave., Suite One, Northport, NY 11768, sent by fax to 631-754-4452, or emailed to info@visionlongisland.org. Please send high-quality copies, as we cannot ensure the return of materials.

Sponsorship packages are available. Reserve your seats today. Click here for the nomination form or here for the registration form.

LIBI Members Receive a Grim Outlook for 2008

According to information provided by Dr. Thomas Conoscenti, an economist for the Long Island Builders Institute, there are strong losses occurring, with more to come, for this region’s housing market. Denis Sheahan’s article, “LIBI Members Receive a Grim Outlook for 2008,” in the March 2008 issue of Builder & Remodeler, featured the details of a breakfast meeting with members of the Long Island Builders Institute, during which Dr. Conoscenti illustrated the projected decline and missed opportunities for Long Island’s builders. According to the findings, the number of building permits was down 1,200, or 69.2% in 2007, which added up to a regional economic loss of $5.2 billion. To make matters worse, he did not anticipate a recovery for 2008.

As the meeting was entitled, “Long Island’s Workforce: Affordable Housing and Long Island’s Future,” it did emphasize the relationship between the regional economy and shortage of workforce housing. According to Matt Crosson, President of the Long Island Association, building more homes for the workforce is the solution to the projected economic challenges that will occur with the wave of retiring baby boomers. “By 2020 there will not be enough people to fill jobs on Long Island,” Crosson said, due to the exodus of young people for more affordable lifestyles. One of these places, as indicated in another article from Builder and Remodeler, is New Jersey. According to Nancie A. Balun-Boughton’s article, “New Jersey Housing Seems More Flexible,” the New Jersey market not only appears to be recovering, but growing in a new direction.

In addition to the decline in housing prices and lowered interest rates which encourage activity, migration from New York City continues to increase in areas that are easily commutable to Manhattan. These areas, like Hoboken and Jersey City, are reinventing themselves to attract the lifestyles of aging baby boomers and Generation Yers with communities for living, working and playing. Long Island should look over their neighbors’ fence to New Jersey and learn from their flexibility in a fickle market.

Rising Gas Prices Make Some Commuters Drive Less

According to Newsday, more people are choosing public transportation over driving for their daily commutes due to the rising cost of gas. The State Department of State noted that traffic going in both directions on the Long Island Expressway has decreased over the last twelve months. The only increase was in the number of people using the HOV lanes at rush hour, indicating that even those commuters who still drove were carpooling more often. A spokesperson for the LIRR also noted that ridership was up 4.4% over last year.

With gas prices edging ever-closer to $4 a gallon in the area, this trend of carpooling and using public transportation is set to increase even more, saving commuters time and money while helping the environment.

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Wal*Mart Coming to Rocky Point?

After all the work that Rocky Point has done towards revitalization, allowing a Wal-Mart to come in would be effectively shooting themselves in the foot. According to Grant Parpan’s article in the North Shore Sun from March 7th, the owners of the site, where the former drive-in movie theater resided, are requesting to build a Wal-Mart on the 18-acre property. The current property owner, Lerner-Heidenberg Properties, is also suing the Town to develop the site as it would have been prior to the Town Board’s zoning change from regular business to commercial recreation.

Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, has directed their attorney, Mitchell Pally, to the Rocky Point Civic Association’s land use committee. According to the article, Councilwoman Bonner will not meet with anyone regarding the project until they’ve engaged the civic group. “If the civic’s on board, I’m on board. But as I’ve said all along, you have to first approach the civics. I will not support a project unless the civic thinks it’s what’s best for the community.” Drew Martin, President of the Civic Association, acknowledged that the land use committee will be meeting with the attorney this week to hear the proposal.

Southampton Business Group Plan For Workforce Homes Moves Forward

The March edition of Builder & Remodeler featured an update on the Southampton Business Alliance Housing Initiative Corporation's (SBAHIC) plans to acquire donated land from the Town of Southampton for two affordable homes with accessory dwelling apartments. Written by Dianna Weir, the article states that land transfer is in its final stages and a Request for Proposal (RFP) is being prepared to distribute to potential builders of “Sagaponack Woods.”

This project illustrates the exemplary advancements that can be made when all areas of the community collaborate to accomplish workforce housing development. The Town of Southampton has offered an expedited review of the planning process and local individuals are providing their services and expertise in the design and land transfer. In working with the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP), the Town of Southampton, local businesses, craftsmen and architects, and through numerous public hearings, it is “the first-of-its-kind” program and serves as a good model for future partnerships.

Westchester Town Embraces Smart Growth

The mayor of Peekskill, NY is seeking new ways to use underutilized land in the downtown area to make it a more appealing place to live and work. According to the Westchester Business Journal, Mayor Mary Foster has had conversations with developers about several projects. One would create a dining and entertainment corridor along Division Street. Another would spur the opening of art galleries. “The idea is to create little hotspots down there,” Foster said. “Bringing in arts, culture, and entertainment makes it more interesting for young people to live and work here.” In addition to helping expand Peekskill's tax base, Smart Growth in the downtown area would also help steer development away from open spaces and encourage people to live closer to their work.

State of Nassau County Highlights Downtowns

On Tuesday, March 11th, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi made his 7th "State of the County" address to the County Legislature in Mineola. He highlighted his successes, mainly on taxes, saving the medical center, and upgrading county bond ratings and noted that the next year would focus on property and school taxes. In the field of Smart Growth, Mr. Suozzi also noted that there was a need to embrace the so-called "New Suburbia."

In addition to downtown revitalization and countywide educational reform, Suozzi also suggested streamlining the voting process, so that special elections fall on school budget or general election days and establishing centralized offices for handling everything from audits, accounting, and health insurance.

Reactions to the speech were mixed. Newsday quotes Republican minority leader Peter Schmitt saying that the speech was "just more lofty proposals... The County Executive needs to reset his priorities to resolving the everyday problem of...our taxpayers before his term expires next year."

According to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, "Suozzi emphasized the need to “expand our tax base, and create ‘cool downtowns’ that foster ideas, culture and education to attract young people and empty-nesters.” He recapped the progress made over the last year in putting “New Suburbia” into practice by working with town supervisors and city and village mayors to identify priority projects like as the Nassau Hub and the revitalization of the Village of Hempstead."

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"C.O.O.K." for the Homeless

Do you have anything that needs to be cleaned out of your cupboard? Why not donate them to your local emergency food pantry? The Long Island Council of Churches urges you to do some spring cleaning and remember your neighbors in need as you clean out your kitchen ("C.O.O.K.") and pantry.

The LICC, like many other charities, is struggling to feed a growing number of in-need Long Islanders. “Donations have been strong,” explains the Rev. Tom Goodhue, Executive Director of the Council, “but every month, more and more people come to us for emergency food. This is particularly true in Eastern Suffolk. We fed 1095 people in January at our Riverhead Emergency Food Center, up from 644 in January, 2007, and nearly three times the numbers we fed three or four years ago. We fed 42 families there in just a few hours last Wednesday and the shelves are nearly bare.” The LICC and other emergency food pantries will gladly take non-perishable food of any kind--even fruitcake. Monetary donations are welcome, of course, and even more helpful.

Donations for the LICC can be dropped off at their Riverhead office (407 Osborne Avenue at Lincoln, opposite the Polish Town Civic Association, 631-727-2210), their Hempstead office (in Christ’s 1st Presbyterian Church at the village green on Nichol’s Court, 516-565-0290), or their Freeport Emergency Food Center (450 North Main Street, 516-868-4989). The LICC encourages donations to any food pantry, not just ones that they run.

Downstate Suburban Workforce Act

VISION urges you to get out your pens and take action to join a letter writing campaign in support of the Downstate Suburban Workforce Act.  The Downstate Act (which differs somewhat from the LI Workforce Housing Act) supports a tiered income structure targeted from 80% below median to 120% above median, includes support for development of rental units, encourages higher density developments, and establishes a one-time payment for planning and developing Housing Opportunity Areas.

Supporting documentation can be found here, along with sample letters here and here that can be modified and sent out.

Tell Your Legislators to Support Congestion Pricing

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign recently highlighted the NYC Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission's modified congestion pricing plan, which they say proposes an answer to the region's overcrowded buses, subways and roads that will cut commute times, achieve real traffic reductions, and reduce air pollution throughout the region, and raise more than $500 million a year for transit.

In order for this to happen, the State Legislature must approve the plan by March 31.

VISION urges everyone to urge their state legislators to pass this modified congestion pricing plan and bring much-needed traffic relief and transit improvements to the region.

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Cold Spring Harbor Library To Host Smart Growth Event This Tuesday, March 18th at 6PM

The Cold Spring Harbor Library will be hosting an event on March 18th to bring awareness to the community about Smart Growth, Energy, and the Environment. This interactive discussion brings together members of Vision Long Island, the North Shore Land Alliance, and the Neighborhood Network and takes place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Join Vision Long Island, the North Shore Land Alliance, and the Neighborhood Network for an interactive discussion highlighting the ‘green’ side of Smart Growth: Open space preservation, energy efficiency, and local solutions to global warming.

Vision Long Island works with groups across Long Island to advance livable, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible “Smart Growth.” Smart Growth focuses on infill development, re-development, and open space preservation, supporting attractive traditional communities that are pedestrian friendly and that make affordable housing and public transportation desirable and realistic.

The North Shore Land Alliance, Inc. is a land trust formed to protect and preserve, in perpetuity, the green spaces, wetlands, and historical sites of Long Island’s North Shore for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations and the protection and enhancement of homeowner quality of life.

The Neighborhood Network is dedicated to reclaiming the suburban and rural character of community life on Long Island by preserving our environmental resources, initiating efforts to employ clean energy technologies, advancing planning principles that foster stronger communities, and holding our governmental officials accountable by advancing reforms which set the highest ethical standards and keep the operation of government open to the public.

A flyer about the event can be found here. Visit the Cold Spring Harbor Library's website for more information or contact Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242.

Hofstra-Brookings Institute Conference Examining Future of Nation's Suburbs & Cities to be Held March 27th

Hofstra University and the Brookings Institute will hold conference on Thursday, March 27th. Called 'The Future Growth of Nation's Suburbs and Cities,' the conference features a presentation from Bruce Katz, Vice President and Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute in Washington D.C., entitled "Metro Nation: Blueprint for American Prosperity." The Brookings Institution is co-sponsoring the event with Hofstra's National Center for Suburban Studies (NCSS).

The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. at the Hofstra University Club, in the David S. Mack Hall on the North Campus. Mr. Katz will deliver his presentation during the morning session, which runs from 8-11 a.m. Among those responding to his ideas will be Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano.

Long Island Progressive Coalition Celebrating 29th Anniversary on March 29th

REP-LI is holding a luncheon to celebrate 29 years of the Long Island Progressive Coalition on Saturday, March 29th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, at the Timber Point Country Club in Great River. Honorees at the luncheon, celebrating the fight for social and human dignity, include RWDSU/Local 338 President John Durso, Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander, New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Reach Out America's Barbara Zeller, South Fork LIPC's Helen Fitzgerald, the AQE Youth Committee, and Volunteer of the Year Barbara Buehring.

Tickets are $65 each, with a discount for 2 at $110 and a table of 12 for $600. Sponsorship and journal advertisement opportunities are also available. For more information, visit the LIPC's website.

Port Jefferson Station To Hold Blood Drive March 29th

The Port Jefferson Station Chamber of Commerce Tourism Department, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Long Island Blood Services are holding their 1st Annual Blood Drive on Saturday, March 29th, from 10am to 2pm at the Port Jeff Station Tourism Office Railroad Car Visitors Parking Lot, located on the corner of Rts. 112 and 347.

Walk-ins are welcome and snacks, beverages, raffle gifts, and tourism information will be available. For more information about the blood drive, contact Mark Donovan at 631-834-4215. For more information about blood donations, contact Long Island Blood Services at 800-688-0900.

RPA to Hold 18th Annual Regional Assembly on April 18th

The Regional Plan Association has launched a new website to help spread the word about their upcoming conference. The 18th Annual Regional Assembly, titled "Oil and Water: Adapting to Scarcity," will be held on April 18th at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan and will focus on the need for creative and innovative approaches to energy and climate concerns regionally and nationally, especially in the wake of this year's presidential race.

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West African Oral Folktale Playing Now At Dowling College

The Loft Theatre at Dowling College is currently running an African folklore play. "The Epic of Sunjata" is an original adaptation of a West African oral folklore tale about the struggle between good and evil and is told through music, dance, and drama.

The Epic of Sunjata is the foundation story of the historical 13th century Empire of Mali in West Africa. Passed on for centuries from griot (traditional singer/storytellers) to griot and still sung today in Mali and around the world, the songs tell the magical story of the coming of age of a seemingly crippled boy who is driven into exile but returns to his native Mali to defeat a powerful king and solidify a community. The epic also tells the story of the griots themselves and of the power of words and song to promote historical memory and to help us identify our roots.

Under the artistic direction of Andrew Karp and the direction of Tracy Bersley, the original music is by musicial director David Racanelli and is performed by Malian singer/storyteller, Abdoulaye Diabate. This play marks the first time that this story has been adapted for the stage.

There are only a handful of performances left: Friday, Suggested donation is $10 for students and seniors, and $15 for everyone else. The play is performed at the Loft Theatre in the Performing Arts Center at Dowling College's Oakdale Campus. For reservations, call: 631-244-5037 or visit their website.

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"Which is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

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SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director
Contributors: Juliana Roberts, Planning Coordinator; Eric Alexander, Executive Director;
Katheryn Laible, Assistant Director

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