|
|||||||||||||
h2m Group
For more information, see their website. 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.
|
H2M Group provides seasoned judgment, quality service, technical skill, vision, and resourcefulness in the fields of engineering, architecture, planning, and the environment. They have provided services for Smart Growth-oriented projects and we thank them for their commitment to the cause. 
2009 Smart Growth AWards Winners AnnouncedVision Long Island is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Smart Growth Awards! To read about past winners or to find out more about the Awards, visit our website here.
SAVE THE DATE! Register Today!
|
|
Guide to Walkable Communities by Dan Burden
Walkable Communities, a nonprofit organization, has helped over 2,500 cities around the world develop better communities, covering aspects such as mixed use, local businesses, public parks, better sidewalks, mass transit, and more. Speaking of University Place in Washington State, Burden told the community that it's "as much about controlling traffic as it is about creating sidewalks and bike lanes." He encouraged slowing traffic to 30 miles an hour, saying "any faster and pedestrians no longer feel safe enough to walk near roads." The article goes on to list some of the key elements in a walkable community, including: 10-foot wide sidewalks plus landscaping buffers from the street in commercial areas, five-foot wide bike lanes, road narrowing and fewer lanes, road medians, roundabouts instead of traffic signals, visual tricks such as fog lines (the shoulder's painted boundary), and trees to impose a sense of security and separation from the roadway. Pick up a copy of May's Men's Health to read more. Regional Plan Association hosts Regional Assembly
More information on the event, including audio feed of all the speeches, are available on RPA's website. TSTC Highlights Changes in NYS DOT Region 10
"For years, TSTC, community groups, and smart growth advocates have criticized Region 10 for being too highway-oriented and dismissive of community interests. Calls for reform were heard from Montauk to Mineola." Under the leadership of soon-to-be-former Commissioner Astrid Glynn, the DOT has undergone a sea change in policy here on Long Island. Three projects exemplify these changes. First, the Vision Plan for a Green Route 347, which incorporates pedestrian and bike facilities, as well as safety features and transportation improvements for a 15-mile stretch of roadway in Suffolk County. Next, Tri-State lists the SafeSeniors program, a new program which responds to Long Island having some of the region's most dangerous roads. Finally, there has been early community involvement in the Sunrise Highway Corridor study (which will be holding the first public meetings this Tuesday and Wednesday). Let's hope that the next reign of NYSDOT leadership will help Region 10 to continue in this trend! CNU-NY lecture on 42nd Street Focuses on Revitalization
Whalen focused "bringing attention to the street," with special attention given to signage and increasing density. He noted that loose guidelines in the codes seem to be more effective in creating an interesting streetscape. The discussion that followed the lecture focused on the logistics of the revitalization process. Some discussion also arose over Mayor Bloomberg's infamous plans to pedestrianize Manhattan streets. canvas Magazine Earth Day Issue Now On Sale
New Documentary film Looks at Consequences of Sprawl
The DVD is now available. See more on their Facebook page and watch a trailer and learn more at their website. |
In the May 2009 issue of Men's Health, Best Life, the founder of Walkable Communities Dan Burden is featured in an article ("Walk This Way"), that explores how to design a pedestrian-oriented town center. When considering how much time Americans spend in their cars--4.2 billion hours annually, more than ever before--it becomes increasingly necessary to look at creating communities in which we do not rely exclusively on driving for mobility. Burden says, "People who live in pedestrian- and bike-friendly communities...have lower rates of obesity and depression, smaller carbon footprints, and higher property values. The correlation is clear: The more time you spend in a car, the more your quality of live deteriorates." 
On Friday, April 17th, Regional Plan Association hosted its 19th Annual Regional Assembly, "America 2050: Building the Next Economy" at the Waldorf-Astoria. With a parade of impressive speakers and about 600 attendees, it proved to be an exciting, educational, and successful networking event for leaders in regional planning. The morning plenary session began with Chris Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who looked at the 80-year history of RPA and introduced the need for a national planning framework. 
America 2050's Director Petra Todorovich looked at this theme a little more closely by explaining the mission of the America 2050 project, which is to create a nationwide strategy for future growth. One of the key strategies of the initiative is to look at established "megaregions," or the major metropolitan regions where most growth will occur. Creating a nationwide high speed and passenger rail network, similar to the interstate highway system of the 1950s, is a key strategy. President Obama's plan for a national high speed rail network was released just one day before the event, and served as a great example of what the morning speakers were advocating for. 
The morning keynote was delivered by Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania, who gave a passionate talk about the need to improve our nation's infrastructure. It will take $2.2 trillion to get our infrastructure into an acceptable and working condition in the next 5 years, with much more needed to improve capacity and bring our system to a comparable level with other countries. A key component of the solution will be public support. In order for decision makers to have the political will to make a large investment in infrastructure, they must have community support. "Give the public the confidence to get this done," he insisted. 
The final morning session was a panel called "Beyond Stimulus," moderated by Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post and featuring U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, King County Executive Ron Sims, David Walker of The Peterson Foundation, and RPA President Robert Yaro. The future of our nation's infrastructure is more than just stimulus funding; it is a major nationwide reinvestment in rail infrastructure. Opportunities abound in 2009 with the upcoming reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU, the surface transportation bill.
Breakout sessions followed on transportation, water, energy, housing, and economy, which were able to dig more into those topics. The luncheon featured the presentation of RPA's Lifetime Leadership Award, honoring Richard Ravitch. Governor David Paterson was on hand to present the award to Ravitch, who quipped he was "not used to dealing with an audience who are sympathetic to my proposals." Ravitch told the Governor that he is looking out for the next generation; Governor Paterson reminded the audience of the Ravitch Commission plan to save the MTA that he originally authorized. 
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-founder of Moody's Economy.com, finished up the event with a slightly terrifying look at where the economy could be heading if action isn't taken, emphasizing that this recession if different from others because of the lack of confidence in the economy. He ended on a good note, with encouragement toward getting out of the recession.
In their
Last Thursday, April 16th, the Congress for the New Urbanism's New York chapter hosted a lecture on the history and future of development in the Times Square theater district, particularly on 42nd Street. "42nd Street: The Reinvention of the Theater Block" was given by Paul Whalen of Robert A.M. Stern Architects at the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America in Manhattan. Introduced by CNU NY's John Massengale, Whalen gave a humorous and well illustrated talk on his work in revitalizing 42nd Street in the early 1990s. Whalen showed through photographs how 42nd Street shares several characteristics with 1890s American Main Streets. 
Over time, 42nd Street changed from a thriving Main Street to a row of abandoned theaters and pornography shops. When revitalization became the buzzword, countless plans arose. "It was a place everyone loved to look at because it was a problem," Whalen said. It seemed as though local residents never approved of redevelopment proposals for the area, though their opinions were a minority voice: there are very few residents who call the area home. Times Square is a hub for commerce, offices, and tourists; it is not much of a community in the prototypical form. Once the architects and developers worked through New Yorkers' desires for the area, a plan came about to make the street more active. 
canvas Magazine, the free sustainable living and arts & culture magazine on Long Island, has released its Earth Day issue. The lead article, "Earth Day, Every Day" celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (this past Wednesday, April 22nd) and encourages readers to join the global effort to help preserve the environment. Visit 
"Sprawling From Grace: The Consequences of Suburbanization" is a new full length documentary film about the negative and unintended results that decades of sprawl have brought our communities. Produced by David M. Edwards, the film also focuses on the importance of altering our development patterns, especially in the wake of peak oil. "It communicates the dangers of continuing to invest in the inefficient horizontal growth patterns of suburban communities and details how doing so threatens to bankrupt the remaining wealth of our nation. It explores how the depletion of fossil fuels will impact our current living arrangement, and investigates the viability of alternative energies that are currently available. This film sounds the alarm that the cheap fossil-fuel-dependant suburban American way of life is not just at risk. It is in peril!."|
Councilmanic Districts: What's the Right Choice for the Town of Huntington?
If the Town accepts this change, Town Council members would be assigned to a specific boundary within the Town, so that every Huntington resident would have one particular Council member to represent him or her. Several other Long Island towns currently have such districts, such as North Hempstead and Brookhaven. Save the date for June 18th, 7:30-10:00am, when you can decide for yourself! The Leadership Huntington Foundation in partnership with the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce's Government Relations Committee and The League of Women Voters present "Councilmanic Districts: What's the Right Choice for the Town of Huntington?" Panelists will have it out in a stimulating debate and community dialogue. The event will be moderated by Newsday's Joye Brown and facilitated by The Energia Partnership's Nancy Englehardt. It will take place at The Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Avenue in Huntington. Tickets are $25 and will benefit the Leadership Huntington Scholarship Fund and help underwrite the programs and activities of the organization. Visit Leadership Huntington for more. RFPs for BRT on 110
A Newsday editorial reads, "For those who think of it as the 110 horrordor, this study could be the beginning of a way out of the jam. |
It's the hottest topic in town: should the Town of Huntington adopt Councilmanic districts? 
The title of this article isn't written in code- it's a seemingly exciting new progression in bringing mass transit to one of Long Island's most auto-dependent roads: Route 110. As announced last Thursday at a press conference, Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone and Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone are working together to bring Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to the Route 110 corridor. They are expected to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) that would develop a model for the system and look at the required zoning changes to make it happen. A  JANE JACOBS' LEGACY CELEBRATED IN JANE'S WALK MAY 2ND-3RD
Now, community lovers throughout the U.S. and Canada are coming together to celebrate Jacobs' ideas with "Jane's Walk." Jane's Walk began shortly after Jacobs' death in 2006, when a group of her friends and peers organized to honor her legacy. Anyone can join in for one of several free neighborhood walking tours, with the intention of fostering connection to the built and natural environment, as well as to one another. Jane's Walk promotes urban literacy by combining insights into urban history, planning, design, and civic engagement. The walks are accessible, fun, and free. "It's about getting out and walking, observing your city, meeting your neighbors, discovering new areas, and learning about civic institutions and agencies that shape our urban existence. Jane's Walk helps knit people together into a strong and resourceful community, instilling belonging and encouraging civic leadership." This year's Jane's Walk will take place on May 2nd and 3rd, with participating cities so far including New York City, Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D.C. Tours are generally kept under an hour and a half. You can also create your own walk--all you need is an enthused tour guide, a knowledge base of your neighborhood, and the capability to plan a route that is logical and wheelchair accessible. You do not need to be an expert on your neighborhood, but rather need to be passionate about it (and have some stories to back it up). More details can be found on the Jane's Walk website. After all, as Jacobs once said, "No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at ... suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You've got to get out and walk." Learn more about Jane's Walk here. 2009 Human Rights Awards Honors Dick Koubek on May 14th
To honor Koubek and the other award winners, the 2009 Human Rights Awards Dinner will take place on Thursday, May 14th at 5:30pm at the Stonebridge Country Club in Hauppauge. Tickets are $55, and more information will follow soon. Do Immigrants Benefit Long Island's Economy?
President Obama announced that he would like to see immigration reform legislation by the fall. This program will help all of us struggling with this difficult issue by giving two points of view on such issues as: the impact of documented and undocumented workers on the LI economy, global economic policies on immigration, globalization and the rights of workers at home and abroad, immigrant wages, and the benefits and working conditions of LI workers. The debate will take place at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 1434 Straight Path in Wyandanch. Free Radiology Services for Long Island's Uninsured On May 17th
The entire program is staffed by volunteers, including radiologists, technologists, receptionists, etc. In turn, they are encouraging patients to donate their time and effort to other volunteer organizations. "The goal is to inspire more people to help each other on Long Island. This project will give the Zwanger Pesiri volunteers a true sense of pride and public service, but more importantly give people the diagnostic imaging studies they need and cannot afford." To be eligible, patients must have a doctor's referral, live in Nassau or Suffolk County, and not have health insurance. The next Give Back Sunday will be on May 17th at 80 Maple Avenue in Smithtown. For more information, see their website. To schedule an appointment, please call the volunteer Give Back Sunday line @ 631-930-9460. CNU 17 in Denver Runs June 10th-14th
Connect and collaborate with other New Urbanists, experience traditional urbanism firsthand through local tours, learn how practitioners are applying the Charter for the New Urbanism in the field, stay on the cusp of the latest New Urbanist trends, contribute your own ideas and experience to take New Urbanism to the next level, and learn about new products and the latest innovations at CNU exhibits. Denver will serve as a laboratory to explore in depth why New Urbanism is the "convenient remedy" to some of society's most pressing issues, including rising carbon emissions, unpredictable fuel costs, and a projected 50 million unit increase in demand for new residences by 2030, with demand growing fastest in walkable communities. Connect with new people, get your toughest planning questions answered, and take home specific strategies to apply these New Urban remedies. Register online and see costs here. CNU members receive significant discounts. Thursday's Child of Long Island Spring Gala set for June 17th
The gala will honor Long Islanders who have made unique contributions to Thursday's Child, including Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and members of the Suffolk County Legislature, Cameron Alden, Jon Cooper, Lou D'Amaro, Jack Eddington, DuWayne Gregory, and Lynne Nowick. The fund raiser will take place at Flowerfield Celebrations, 199 Mills Pond Road in St. James. Sponsorships are available and individual tickets are $75-100. Call (631) 447-5044 or see the Thursday's Child website for more info. African American Media Network Presents Strong Island Live June 24th-28th
Three performance locations in the area will air on channel 18. Bands must be live: no background CDs! To register or for more information, call 516-478-4334 or 516-503-6282, or see the website here. |
Jane Jacobs is a legend in the planning world. Some would call her the anti-Moses (Robert Moses, that is), a staunch advocate for pedestrianized communities and dense urban living. Build mixed-use, she said, and communities will flourish. Build smaller blocks, she said, and there will be more opportunity for commercial and residential development, not to mention walkable communities with high quality of life. Most importantly, Jacobs believed in a community based approach to planning. She organized grassroots efforts to block urban renewal projects that would have decimated communities, such as Moses' Lower Manhattan Expressway. In 1961, her masterpiece The Death and Life of American Cities was published, and remains to this day one of the most widely read and praised planning books.
Congratulations to Vision Long Island ally and supporter Dick Koubek, who has won the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission 2009 Chairperson’s Award for Leadership in Human Rights. Dr. Koubek, who currently works with workers' rights organization Jobs With Justice, is being honored for his affordable housing advocacy work. He is also a member of LI CAN Huntington Fair Housing Committee and the Huntington Housing Coalition's Steering Committee. 
On Tuesday, May 5th at 7:30pm, Long Island Jobs With Justice is presenting a debate on immigration issues facing Long Island entitled, "Do Immigrants Benefit Long Island's Economy?" Richard Koubek will take the position that yes, immigrants increase our productivity; while David Spritzen will take the position that no, they undermine our workforce. It is a goal of Long Island Jobs With Justice to support the rights of immigrant workers, though a larger ideological framework encompasses this goal. 
Once a month, Zwanger Pesiri Radiology is offering free radiological services to the uninsured. The Give Back Sunday program recognizes that countless Long Islanders do not have health insurance, and the recent economic downturn is putting even more people's health in jeopardy. On April 19th, Zwanger Pesiri Radiology launched the first Give Back Sunday: one Sunday per month, they are opening their office to provide services at no charge to disadvantaged and uninsured Long Island residents. They offer a full array of exams using the most advanced imaging equipment, including MRI, MRA, Breast MRI, CTA, Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT, Digital X-Ray, Digital Mammography, Barium Enema, Upper GI Series, Bone Density, Ultrasound, and Biopsy.
Each year, the Congress for the New Urbanism hosts a multi-day conference on New Urbanism and Smart Growth. This year, CNU 17: "Experiencing The New Urbanism: The Convenient Remedy" will take place in Denver, Colorado from June 10-14. The weekend's expected attendees include 1,500 leaders from diverse fields who will participate in breakout sessions, lectures, tours of Denver, and great social and networking experiences. 
On Wednesday, June 17th from 6:30-9:30pm, Thursday's Child of Long Island presents their Spring Champagne Gala to benefit their new children's summer program, "A Day of Fun in the Sun at the Long Island Game Farm," part of an initiative called Safety Net Project which provides an array of family services designed to maintain medical care and personal dignity for HIV/AIDS patients. Thursday's Child is an HIV/AIDS community service charity that reaches out and provides assistance to hundreds of Long Island families each year who are living with this disease. This event celebrates 20 years of service to the community. 
The Long Island based African American Media Network will be hosting "Strong Island Live" music festival from June 24-28. Several days of live music performances will include gospel, rock, rap, R&B, jazz, blues, reggae, and salsa. These genres will compete for prizes including studio time, a music video, and cash. |
GreenStreet Long Island Seeks Spokesperson
Vision Long Island Seeking Summer Interns
Individuals and universities interested in learning more are encouraged to contact us at info@visionlongisland.org. You are welcome to include a resume and/or letter. Please put "Internships for 2009" in the subject heading.
|
Do you care about Long Island and the environment? GreenStreet Long Island (GSLI) is offering a unique opportunity to put your passion to work and make a powerful difference. GSLI is looking for enthusiastic, well-spoken people to be a public spokesperson and brand ambassador. Candidates will enlist everyday Long Islanders for a major new program that will save them money, improve their energy efficiency, and make a real difference to the future of our communities. All for free. The green team will work in dedicated kiosks at local malls and booths at community events, all of which will be heavily promoted and showcased in major media outlets. Excellent communication skills and high energy are musts. Good interpersonal skills, desire to learn and adaptability needed. Computer skills are required, and experience with eco-friendly trends and solutions a big plus. Practicing eco-friendly habits is an even bigger plus. Starting pay is $9 per hour plus incentive. Hours are flexible. Send resume/cover to greenstreet@bluewolfcomm.com or fax to (516) 304-5993.
Vision is excited to announce that we are looking for unpaid interns for Summer 2009! Our staff likes to say we "wear many hats," and interns will have to do the same. Interns will assist with planning, design, outreach, event planning, writing, research, attending meetings, reporting, photography, and more. Bring your unique skill set to the table! We are looking for energetic and conscientious individuals with an interest in planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people and learn about the issues impacting Long Island.|
Teen Art, Music, and Poetry Festival on April 25th
Last year's festival was a huge success and showed off the talents of some of Long Island's youngest and greatest. The Festival was created for local high school students to share with each other and the community. It is open to the public and free. This is not a contest, but a chance for young people to celebrate their skills! There is no required entrance fee for the event, though event organizers ask that you bring a non-perishable food item (canned goods, pasta, toiletries) or baby item (diapers, bottles, towels), which will be donated to the Inter-faith Nutrition Network or the Ethical Friends of Children. The Ethical Humanist Society is located at 38 Old Country Road in Garden City. For more information on the event and to registering to perform, see their website. Arbor Day Family Festival in Oyster Bay Admission is $15 per car, $5 for individuals, $3 for seniors, and free for children under 12. All proceeds benefit Planting Fields. The address is 1395 Planting Fields Road in Oyster Bay. For more information, see their website. |
On Saturday, April 25th starting at 1pm, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will be hosting its second annual Teen Art, Music, and Poetry Festival. The theme this year is "Creating a Caring World". 
This Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm, head on over to the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay for the 23rd annual Arbor Day Family Festival. Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, so go outside rain or shine to celebrate the importance of trees and the preservation of the environment. There are many fun activities for all ages at the festival, including children's crafts and activities, tree climbing, magic shows (at 12:30 and 2:30 each day), musical performances, plant sales, tree planting with Smokey Bear, wildlife programs, a jewelry exhibition, and tons more. The Interfaith Nutrition Network be also be collecting canned food items for Long Islanders in need. |
"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?" - Robert Redford |
SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications 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: |
