"The federal government provided funds to the Town of Brookhaven to use for green jobs creation. Last night was the opening salvo that will inject these monies into our local economy. In addition, the Green Homes-Go Solar projects will stimulate the environmental agenda and while helping to reduce the town's carbon footprint," - Brookhaven Town Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld

Good Harvest Financial Group

Good Harvest Financial Group, located in Huntington, is a fee-based financial firm founded in 1987 by Ron Stein. The group provides personalized, outstanding financial and investment services, while maintaining the highest level of service and care. Good Harvest is a long-time supporter of Vision Long Island and we thank them for their support! Learn more on 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.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

Just when you think you heard it all...

Eric

Eric Alexander
Vision Long Island

PS - At least there was some good news this week - Read further about the Town of Brookhaven's new "Green Homes" initiative that was launched with over 500 residents the first night with a follow up meeting this evening.

2010 SMART GROWTH

AWARDS

Friday, June 18th at 11:30am

Sponsorship packages now available

Reserve your journal ad space today

The 9th annual Smart Growth Awards will honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives.

This year's distinguished honorees include:

Regional Leadership: Hon. Tim Bishop US House of Representatives
Creates a mix of uses:		Provide a variety of transportation choices:
Glen Cove Waterfront redevelopment RXR Glen Isle Partners		Rt. 347 NYS DOT
Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, historic & critical environmental areas:		Reinvesting in & Strengthening Communities:
Hon. Kate Browning & Hon. Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislature		'Buy Locally' Campaign Huntington Township Business Council
Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions:		Create walkable neighborhoods:
Sergio Argueta S.T.R.O.N.G.		Dave Glass NYS DOT Bike-Ped coordinator (posthumously)
Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a sense of place:		Takes advantage of compact building design:
Village of Babylon		The C, Freeport Signature Organization
Housing opportunities & choices for a range of household types, family sizes & incomes		Fostering clean energy & green building development
Summer Wind Square Eastern Property Investor Consultants, LLC, Suffolk County Concern Riverhead Concern for Independent Living		Affordable housing development Roosevelt Development Group, Long Island Housing Partnership

The 9th annual Smart Growth Awards will be held on Friday, June 18th from 11:30am-2pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Registration information is available here.

Meet me at the blackjack table?

This week, a breaking news story was released that the Shinnecock Indians are in talks with Nassau County to bring a casino to the Nassau Coliseum property, where the Lighthouse project is currently proposed. To say that most people were suprised by the announcement would be an understatement.

According to Newsday, County Executive Ed Mangano "has been in discussions with Shinnecock leaders since January about creating a 'entertainment-sports resort' on the 77-acre Coliseum site that would include a minor-league baseball stadium, a convention center and new hotels.

Today's Newsday analyzed the traffic impact of a casino near the Coliseum. Casinos are one of the worst traffic generators compared to other possible uses. They generate traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and people drive much farther distances to reach them. Newsday cites Vision: "'Casinos are heavily auto-oriented unless they're in downtown city center,' said Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, a not-for-profit that backs sustainable growth in the region. 'What made the Lighthouse work from a transportation perspective was you had synergy of people living and working around the Coliseum,' he said. 'Here you'd have a special use.'"

Though no details or numbers have been released on the casino plan yet, studies on similar casino plans in the northeast region have demonstrated massive traffic increases. Those traffic increases would cause more crashes and fatalities, not only because there are more cars on the road, but because casino traffic is more prone to accidents than normal traffic. This is primarily because drivers come from further away and therefore do not know the roads well, and because many people leaving the casino have consumed alcohol.

Some additional concerns that casino impact studies have cited include increased crime rates, that can spill into surrounding residential neighborhoods, gambling problems, drunk driving, nearby property value impacts, increased police needs, questionable effects on nearby local businesses and massive traffic problems which contribute to increased accidents, increased congestion and decreased air quality.

From a Smart Growth perspective, casinos are typically not walkable or mixed-use environments. However, there have been a select few examples throughout the country where casinos were planned or built in walkable neighborhoods. They have had both positive and negative impacts: In Michigan City, Indiana, a community-supported vision plan led by students at the Andrews University School of Architecture suggested redeveloping the area surrounding an existing casino into a mixed-use, pedestrian oriented center. In Detroit, 3 new casinos were recently built to help in overall downtown revitalization efforts, one of which is situated in an historic and walkable district. In Cincinnati, a developer is looking to build a green casino that would emphasize walkability. If a casino were built at the Nassau Coliseum site, the developers should absolutely consider incorporating similar mixed-use, walkable design elements as the Lighthouse project proposed.

So what next? There are still many regulatory hurdles. The Shinnecocks must first gain federal recognition, which is expected to happen this summer. According to Mangano, the Shinnecocks have agreed to list the Coliseum site a preferred site in its state application to build a casino. (Sites in Suffolk County are also being considered.) The project would not need approval from the Town of Hempstead, as the Lighthouse project needs, because the tribe would have federal development status. It would need approval from the County Legislature, who haven't been briefed on the plan yet. The Shinnecock tribe also has several levels of approval. Mangano's spokesperson said that he wants to see shovels in the ground by next year. Meanwhile, the Lighthouse development group has not been talking to the press, nor have they made any announcements about pulling out. Read more here.

Since the announcement on Tuesday, Vision's phones have been ringing off the hook. Some of the direct quotes we've received include, "This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard," "Now that's funny," "hahaha," "Oh My God," "Who the hell came up with this idea?" and "You're kidding, right?" Vision's Eric Alexander added, "Not once in the 1500+ community meetings that I have attended in the past 13 years have I heard someone say 'I want a casino.'"

Here are some additional quotes from Newsday:

Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro said that the plan is "a crapshoot."
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said "We need to see more details."
Council of East Meadow Community Organizations' Richard Bivone said, "To propose a casino, we think, would have a negative impact to all the surrounding communities."
Hofstra University National Center for Suburban Studies' Larry Levy suggested that "The casino proposal is 'part of a bigger political game' intended to boost prospects of the Lighthouse or other developments. (Local colleges are furious because underage students would be drawn to the casino as a social activity, among other things.)
Eric Alexander also said "Clearly, it's a shock to the system...But there are still a lot of question marks."

Do you have a different opinion? Or a better-worded one? Let us know what you think! Email us at info@visionlongisland.org or respond on the Vision Long Island Facebook page.

Stay tuned as this dramatic story unfolds!

Business leaders meet to discuss economic and social issues

The Long Island Business Council, a group of local civic and business leaders, met for the second time this past Wednesday, speaking on subjects ranging from the importance of Downtown Revitalization to the need for fiscal responsibility on the part of the MTA.

Created by Rich Bivone and Bob Fonti, two prominent leaders in the Long Island business community, the LIBC is an organization dedicated to improving local communities through cooperation by both business owners and elected officials. For the past several months, the group has worked in numerous areas to improve way of life for not just businesses, but the citizens that comprise their local customer base.

Speakers included Francine Koehler of the Glen Cove Downtown BID, co-chair of the LIBC’s Downtowns committee, who underscored the need to bring more offices into downtown as part of revitalization efforts. Warren Tackenberg of the Nassau Village Officials Association, co-chair of the Consolidation of Services committee, spoke on the need for improvement of a NYS law allowing villages to dissolve (A8501/s5661), but does an extremely poor job in governing the process.

Attendees also heard from Bob Fonti, speaking as co-chair of the Energy committee, who called for improvements in LIPA’s affairs in order to help arrest the debt that is being passed on to small business. Finally, Annemarie McMullan of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Tax Relief committee presented initiatives for the LIBC to work on gaining relief from the MTA payroll tax while introducing Mr. Bill Schoolman, owner of Hampton Luxury Liners.

Mr. Schoolman presented on his current lawsuit brought against the MTA based on the legality of their payroll tax.

Vision features vacancy rates in NY Real Estate Journal

Vision Executive Director Eric Alexander wrote a guest column for the New York Real Estate Journal's most recent issue. The piece focuses on vacancy rates and their relation to downtowns. The highest percentage of firms, 18%, have between 20 and 99 employees. Those offices would fit perfectly within a walkable downtown setting, and that is certainly the work environment that people want today, especially young people. Trends confirm that downtowns are faring better in this rough economy. Nationwide, in June 2009, overall vacancy rates were at 15.9%. In downtowns, that rate was down to 13.7%, while in suburbs the rate was 16.3%. That trend is mirrored on Long Island, where class A office buildings face higher vacancy rates than class C office space.

Read the full article here.

Massive turn-out for Brookhaven Green Homes/Go Solar informational meeting

On Thursday, April 29th, Brookhaven Town Councilmembers Connie Kepert and Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld reached out to the Town of Brookhaven homeowners and hosted the Green Homes-Go Solar informational meeting. Brookhaven residents enthusiastically responded as more than 600 people packed town hall's auditorium to find out how to take advantage of the $3.2 million of the Federal Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant by participating in the Brookhaven Town's Green Homes and Go Solar Programs. The programs will give homeowners the opportunity to significantly reduce their energy and heating costs while reducing their carbon footprint. LIPA and RELI were also on hand at the event to talk about their various energy efficiency program for homeowners.

"Tonight's huge turnout speaks to the public's hunger for innovative programs like Green Homes and Go Solar. People want to invest in energy efficient improvements to their homes and it's our responsibility, as elected officials, to provide opportunities for homeowners to meet their goals. These programs also create new green collar jobs and combat global warming by reducing carbon emissions by thousands of tons." stated Councilwoman Kepert.

"The federal government provided funds to the Town of Brookhaven to use for green jobs creation. Last night was the opening salvo that will inject these monies into our local economy. In addition, the Green Homes-Go Solar projects will stimulate the environmental agenda and while helping to reduce the town's carbon footprint," stated Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld.

Brookhaven's "Green Homes" program will help Brookhaven residents retrofit their homes with energy efficient insulation, weather stripping, and even possible replacement of ancient boilers and drafty windows. Town certified building performance specialists will be sent to the homes of residents who are selected to participate in the program. The specialist home performance evaluation is conducted to provide the homeowner with a report which evaluates each sector of the house, such as the boiler, windows and attic. The homeowner chooses from a menu of options. The Town will pay approximately 70% of the cost and the homeowner will pay approximately 30% of the remaining project cost as an interest-free benefit assessment loan that will be applied to their tax bill.

Brookhaven's "Go Solar" Program helps Brookhaven residents to "close the financial gap" for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal (hot water) generation panels on the roof of a selected town resident's home. Selections will be made via a lottery run by an independent firm. In order to qualify, homeowners must have an energy-efficient home with proof provided by a recent energy audit (with a blower door test) from a BPI (Building Performance Institute) accredited contractor.

Homeowners who take advantage of either of these initiatives would repay (roughly 30%) into these Town Initiative Funds so that other Brookhaven homeowners can continue to access these town programs. Annually, the homeowner's savings in reduced energy costs would be greater than the (30%) repayment amount. Eligible residences must be owner-occupied one-family homes. In addition, a home energy audit must be conducted by a LIPA-approved energy audit (BPI) firm.

For more information on these two programs, visit the Town's website and click on the solar logo.

Photo includes: Sarah Anker (Councilwoman Connie Kepert's Aide), Councilman Steve Fiori-Rosenfeld, Todd Stebbins (LIPA's director of Environmental Affairs), Councilwoman Connie Kepert, Rayne Alexander, Dorian Dale (Town of Babylon's Director of Energy), Lisanne Altmann (LIPA's director of Residential Programs, Kathy Cunningham (RELI) Ron Pulito (Town of Brookhaven's senior auditor), Mark Dougherty (LIPA's director of distributed generatrion and renewable programs), Ashley Hunt-Martorano (RELI).

Hicksville downtown revitalization update

Hicksville’s downtown revitalization has been moving forward since the visioning on January 23rd and the follow up meeting on March 4th. Since the meetings, Vision Long Island, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and the Hicksville Community Council have met with officials from the Town of Oyster Bay to work together to implement many of the ideas that were generated at the public workshop. Plans are being made to bring a farmers market to downtown Hicksville, and strategies to improve code enforcement are being discussed. The groups have also met with Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker to find out how the County can help in the revitalization. A follow up meeting is planned with the New York State Department of Transportation to discuss the implementation of traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures on Broadway and Newbridge Road.

The next step in this process will be to meet with each of the civic groups in the Hicksville area to have more in-depth discussions with local residents on ideas for downtown Hicksville’s future. In order to move forward with many of the issues raised at the initial meeting, committees have been formed to focus on some of the primary issues.

The Downtown Farmers Market committee will partner with the Town of Oyster Bay to establish farmers market and work to promote it through media, flyers and posters.

The Code Enforcement, Beautification and Walkability committee will encourage reporting of code violations to appropriate town departments, develop guidelines for more attractive storefronts and methods to encourage storefront improvements and beautification as well as identifying sources of funding for these improvements. They will also help to identify “problem spots” of pedestrian safety and walkability so these areas can be improved.

The Economic Development, Housing and Parking committee be focusing on some of the longer-term issues facing Hicksville. They will identify strategies to accommodate commuter parking as well as customer and employee parking for local businesses, locate commuter parking in such a way that commuters are encouraged to patronize local businesses between their parking spot and the platform and look for ways to improve the appearance of existing lots so they don’t detract from the pedestrian environment. They will also identify missing uses within the downtown area to help “round out” the variety of establishments and create a more vibrant center.

Other strategies and action items will likely come forward when the committees meet.

There is much work to be done in Hicksville and the community is working hard make Hicksville the thriving downtown it once was.

Support Complete Streets legislation

Sens. Craig Johnson, Brian Foley, Frank Padavan, among others co-sponsor Complete Streets Bill in NYS Senate

On Monday, April 19th, several Long Island community organizations, planning and advocacy groups, and government representatives joined together in New Hyde Park and Patchogue to participate in “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations.” The events were part of a week-long effort by AARP’s “Create The Good” campaign to survey 300 dangerous intersections throughout the state. The goal is to use the findings to demonstrate to state policymakers the need for state Complete Streets legislation that would create an approach to road design that balances the needs of all people. The two Long Island events were hosted by the collaborated efforts of groups including AARP, Vision Long Island, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the American Cancer Society.

Complete Streets is a policy that ensures all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across all roads. Designing roadways from a Complete Streets perspective will create safer and healthier environments for all users, as well as promote cycling and walking as viable forms of transportation. One study found that residents are 65% more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Complete Streets are critical to building more livable, Smart Growth-friendly communities.

Unfortunately, New York State ranks 3rd in the nation for pedestrian fatalities of people age 65 and older. Additionally, 22.5% of total traffic deaths in NYS are pedestrians. The national average was 11.8% in 2007-2008. An AARP report found that 2 in 5 Americans over age 50 say their neighborhood sidewalks are inadequate. Nearly half cannot cross main roads close to their home safely, preventing many from walking, cycling, or taking the bus. On Long Island there were 75 pedestrian deaths from 2006-2008, according to Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s “Most Dangerous Roads for Walking” study. The need to reform our streets is critical.

A Complete Streets bill is currently on the table for consideration in the New York State Senate. Please support this critical bill, Senate Bill 5711, to ensure the streets in YOUR community are designed to be complete and safe for all users! Call (800) 295-5855 to reach your State Senator!

Complete Streets bills have passed in several states including Connecticut, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Virginia. A federal bill was first proposed in March 2009. You can also support federal bill S. 584 / H.R. 1443.

Retrofitting Sprawl Conference on May 5th

The Congress For New Urbanism, CNU New York Chapter, Westchester Land Trust and Regional Plan Association present a one day conference for municipal officials, planners, community advocates and others on Wednesday, May 5th in Westchester County. "Retrofitting Sprawl: A Guide to Remaking the Suburbs" will feature several guest speakers: June Williamson, co-author of Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs; Galina Tahchieva, creator of Urban Sprawl Repair Kit: Repairing the Urban Fabric; Mike Lydon, co-author of the Smart Growth Manual, John Massengale of the CNU-NY discussing form-based codes, John Anderson & David Kim discussing retrofitting strip malls, and Alex Latham of ADL III Architecture, talking about retrofitting the strip corridor. John Nolon, James D. Hopkins Professor of Law at Pace University School of Law, will give a lunchtime address.

The event will be held at the South Church located at 343 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Entry costs only $35 ($25 for CNU members, $10 for students), and includes lunch and refreshments. To RSVP or for more information, email Grace Buck.

LI 2035 Young Adult Stakeholders Group Meeting on May 11th

The Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC) is working on the development of a long-term plan for Long Island for the year 2035, and we as Long Islanders are being called upon to voice our opinions and help ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. As part of its outreach in developing the Long Island 2035 Regional Comprehensive Sustainability Plan, LIRPC is assembling a number of Stakeholder Resource Groups to help shape the work product. In addition to issue-oriented groups, the LIRPC is forming a Young Adult Group, to be comprised of 18-34 year olds who live, work and/or attend an institution of higher education on Long Island.

On Tuesday, May 11th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Molloy College facility at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale, there will be a plenary session of the Young Adult Stakeholder Resource Group. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce a core group of proactive young adults to the Long Island 2035 Sustainability Plan project, to gather feedback on the work completed to-date and to provide an open forum for brainstorming how to best implement a broader public outreach effort in the fall. Rather than sit idlly by and allow our future to be planned in a vacuum, let’s jump at this unique opportunity to help shape our own future.

To RSVP, email Max Sokol or call (516) 571-5940.

Teen Arts Festival on May 15th: teen talent sought

The Third Annual Teen Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, May 15th at The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City, beginning at 1:00 pm and running throughout the afternoon. The free festival is for local middle school and high school students to share their talents with each other and the community. The organizers are currently recruiting talent: musicians, artists, dancers, poets and more. Teens and their parents are invited to go online to download a registration form. Registration is due before May 7th. The Youth of Ethical Societies (Y.E.S.) Group is hosting the festival, with the theme: “YES We Do…Have A Voice,” to celebrate the often-overlooked power of young minds. The festival will feature hours of live music from classical to metal, art on display, dancing, poetry readings, interactive activities, refreshments and more throughout the Ethical Humanist Society building and grounds.

The festival is free, but donations are requested: nonperishable food items for the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), baby items for Ethical Friends of Children, or a monetary donation to the Ethical Humanist Society. Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $25 to $500.

Immediately following the Festival will be the Y.E.S. Group’s 16th Annual Pasta Dinner, beginning at 6:00pm. The Pasta Dinner includes a tasty meal, a keynote speaker and even more live entertainment. The cost for the dinner is $10 for adults and $8 for students. The fee will be split between the speaker’s organization (TBA) and programming for the Y.E.S. Group throughout the year, including travel to the National Y.E.S. Conference in Chicago in November 2010.

The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island is located at 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. For more information about the Teen Arts Festival, Pasta Dinner, sponsorship opportunities and more, contact Phyllis Herschlag, Office Manager at 516-741-7304, office@ehsli.org, or visit ehsli.org.

National Grid and LIPA Educational and Energy Efficiency Trade Expo on May 19th

On May 19th, National Grid and LIPA, in collaboration with the Long Island Builders Institute, LIBI Educational Division, Plumbing Heating Cooling and Contractor Association and Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association present an Educational and Energy Efficiency Trade Expo from 1-9pm at the Hilton Long Island in Melville. The Expo trade show will feature the latest energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR® products in the heating, lighting and building industries. The event will also serve a buffet dinner with networking opportunities to meet builders, developers, heating and cooling contractors, architects and engineers that provide services in the Long Island area.

The Expo will feature nine educational workshops by nationally recognized speakers: *Building for Energy Efficiencies in New Construction, John Barrows; Myths and Facts About High-Efficiency Heating, Robert Gardella, Steven Winter Associates, Inc.; How to Up Sell High-Efficiency Technologies in Today’s Market, Wallace Eannace Associates; Improving Your Bottom Line: Basics of Business Accounting, PHCC; Home Performance for Existing Homes, LIPA; *An Overview of ECM Technology, Ed Janowiak, Eastern Heating and Cooling Council; Cooling and Heating Energy Saving Solution With Geothermal, Wallwork Group; *Commercial and Not-for-Profit Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Jerry Flaherty, LIPA; and Codes and Standards of High-Efficiency Heating Equipment Installation, Carl Krause, National Grid. (*BPI and Inspector CEU credits.)

Advance registration by May 5 is required. Space fills quickly. Admission is $25 per person. To request a registration form, email Louis.Rizzo@us.ngrid.com or call 718-403-3336. The Long Island Hilton is located at 598 Broadhollow Road in Melville.

NYIT's Fifth Annual Energy Conference on June 4th

The New York Institute of Technology presents their Fifth Annual Energy Conference: Building a Sustainable Future, on Friday, June 4th from 8:30am-4:00pm at the Auditorium on Broadway. The conference is an educational event focused on sustainability, and speakers will cover engineering, architecture, and business. Other topics will include climate models, media issues, and public perception. The following speakers are confirmed: Drury Crawley, Ph.D., Office of Energy Efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy; Gavin Schmidt, Ph.D., NASA Godard Institute for Space Studies and creator of RealClimate.org; Joshua Wolfe, GHG Photos; Andrew Winston, author of Green to Gold and Green Recovery; Wendy Williams, author of Cape Wind; Leslie Jabs, AIA from Gensler discussing High Performance Replacement Facades (Re-Skinning); and NYSERDA presenting information on the new "Green NY" program. There will be a special multimedia performance at the end of the conference. Violinist Kenji Wiliams will present "Bella Gaia: A Poetic Vision of Earth from Space."

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to register, email sustainable@nyit.edu or visit their website. The Auditorium on Broadway, 1871 Broadway at 61st Street, Manhattan.

Walk/Bike conference to be held on Long Island June 7th

June 7th is the first ever Walk/Bike New York conference for Long Island: Encouraging Sustainable Movement. Creating walkable and bikeable environments requires an active collaboration of people with interests in safety, land use, economic development, transportation, education, law enforcement and health promotion. This one-day symposium is expected to draw approximately 200 attendees from various disciplines and provide participants with the tools to work together to create walkable and bikeable communities in New York State. A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Arthur Wendel, Medical Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Public Health and Built Environment Initiative. Topics will include Complete Streets, Safe Routes for Seniors and Youth, Education & Encouragement, Law Enforcement, Local Highlights, Funding Sources and Legislative Updates. Help make Long Island's roads safer!

The conference is a Quality Communities Symposium sponsored by the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the NYS Department of Health, and the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research in conjunction with the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Department of State, New York Bicycling Coalition, Parks & Trails New York, Federal Highway Administration, NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc., NYS Metropolitan Planning Organization Association and AARP.

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge. Early Registration fee $40 (postmarked by May 14); Late/On Site is $50. Due to limited capacity, early registration is recommended. You can register online here. For more information, contact Janine Schultz at 518-453-0291 x104 or email jschultz@itsmr.org.

East End to hold APA/AIA Conference on June 9th

On Wednesday, June 9th from 2:30-8:30pm, join fellow planners, architects, zoning and planning board members, and elected officials at the East End APA/AIA Conference at Suffolk Community College's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center (20 East Main Street in Riverhead). The conference is a joint presentation of the Long Island Section of the NY Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Peconic Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This year's East End Planning Conference focuses on comprehensive planning, downtown revitalization and architectural guidelines as they apply to Long Island's East End communities. It includes several workshops on planning and design throughout the day.

The workshop on comprehensive plans is moderated by Michael White of the LI Regional Planning Council and panelists include Jeff Murphree, Land Management Administrator for Southampton; Thomas Wickham, former Councilmember for Southold; Bill Chaleff, Architect; Bob DeLuca, Group for the East End; and Laurie Wiltshire, Land Planning Services. The workshop discusses the components of a comprehensive plan for accommadating growth, including social equity, and their successes and failures. The panel on downtown revitalization is moderated by Vision's Eric Alexander and will look at the villages of Greenport and Southampton and the Town of Riverhead and how they envision the future of their downtowns, including what has already been done and the challenges and successes. Panelists include David Nyce, Mayor of Greenport; Stan Eckstut, Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects; Siamak Sami, Chair, Planning Commission for Southampton Village; Chris Kempner, Director of Community Development for Riverhead; and Victor Prusinowski, former Councilman for Riverhead. The final workshop is on architectural guidelines, moderated by Anne Surchin, Architect. Panelists include Gary Jacquemin, Architect; Kyle Collins, KPC Planning Services; and Diane Mazarakis, Principal Planner for the Town of Brookhaven. The panel asks if design guidelines will lead to homogeneous design, and how they can help reinvent corridors and preserve traditional downtowns. There will also be presentations on Suffolk County's 2035 Vision Plan.

Credits for AIA and AICP certification maintenance have been requested. A light dinner is provided. APA and AIA members $20; nonmembers and at the door $25; students $15. Registration includes dinner. Save a seat by emailing: LongIslandSection@nyplanning.org and register by mailing a check payable to APA-LI Section to: APA - LI Section, c/o Kathryn Eiseman, Treasurer, Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, 572 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Community Unity Gala on June 10th

You are cordially invited to the “Decade of S.T.R.O.N.G., Community Unity Gala,” which will be held on Thursday June 10th 2010. This momentous event is being held in part to celebrate the tenth anniversary of S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. In addition, they will be humbly honoring a handful of outstanding individuals and organizations that have played a pivotal role in their successful journey. The gala is an excellent venue to network with like-minded individuals focused on consciously making a difference in our communities.

Ten years ago, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. had never envisioned to be one of the leading gang prevention/intervention agencies in our region. They only wanted to play a positive and impact role in reuniting our new generation. During that time, they had the opportunity to educate many young people on alternatives to violence and gang life, while creating opportunities for many youth who were seeking redirection and redemption.

All proceeds generated by this event will support the ongoing effort in continuing S.T.R.O.N.G.’s mission. If you have any further questions regarding this event and to get your tickets, call 516-408-3798 or email strong.gala@gmail.com.

Job Access Reverse Commute grants available

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is inviting not-for-profit organizations, state and local governments, public authorities, public and private operators of public transportation services and federally-recognized tribal governments to apply for Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) funding. Applications and overview guidance are available as of April 27th on the NYMTC website and must be received electronically by May 19th. Applicants should note that these Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant programs are reimbursement programs. Successful applicants are required to pay all project expenses first and then apply for reimbursement through the designated recipient. The programs fund up to 80% of capital costs or 50% of operating costs for approved projects, with the remaining match provided by the applicant.

The goal of the JARC program is to improve access to transportation services to employment sites and employment-related activities for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals and transport residents of urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas to employment opportunities in suburban areas. Such services may include, but are not limited to: mobility management; and expansion of current transportation services.

The funding source requires that projects be derived from and identified in the Coordinated Human Service and Public Transportation Plan of the metropolitan region. In addition, projects must be coordinated with other federally-assisted programs to ensure efficient use of Federal funds. The funds available are for federal fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Solicitation for these funds was first conducted in January for a March deadline. That solicitation did not produce enough eligible projects to fulfill the funding available; therefore, NYMTC will be re-soliciting for a May 19th deadline.

Through a comprehensive planning process, with extensive public and community involvement, NYMTC developed - and on June 18th, 2009 adopted -"The Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Plan for the NYMTC Area." More information on the NYMTC Coordinated Human Service Public Transportation Plan can be found on NYMTC's website.

For further information contact: Jaeki Min at 212-383-7201 or jmin@dot.state.ny.us.

NYS DOT announces Section 5310 Grant Assistance Program

The New York State Department of Transportation is currently accepting applications for the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 Grant Program. The Section 5310 grants provide assistance to non-profit organizations in purchasing vehicles to provide transportation services for elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. The grant will pay 80 percent of the costs of the vehicle(s) awarded and the applicant must provide the remaining 20 percent from its own funds. Private non-profit organizations incorporated within New York State may apply for this grant program (note: a state tax exempt number & charities registration number is required). First time applicants are encouraged to contact the state for clarification and understanding the application requirements. Projects selected must be derived from the locally developed coordinated public transit human services transportation plan.

The coordinated plan for the New York metropolitan area is available here. The New York State Section 5310 grant contact for Long Island is: Lanny Wexler, who can be reached at: (631) 952-6122. Applications are being accepted through May 4, 2010. Additional information can be found here. Also, a webcast of the Section 5310 grant workshop held on March 23rd is available here.

National Endowment for the Arts seeks applications for Challenge America Fast-Track program

The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications through the Challenge America Fast-Track project. Challenge America Fast-Track offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved communities—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. Eligibility includes non-profit organizations; state or local governments; private, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; or federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Individual awards are not to exceed $10,000.

The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 27th. For more information, contact the National Endowment for the Arts, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20506; 202-682-5700; fasttrack@arts.gov.

Vision Long Island Seeking Interns

Vision Long Island is seeking unpaid interns for Spring and Summer 2010. If you are interested in suburban/urban planning, community development, local government, or sustainability, consider working for us part time.

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 suburban/urban planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people in a small office environment and learn about the issues impacting Long Island. Strong writing skills a plus.

Note that hours, start date, and end date are all flexible. Although this is an unpaid position, we will gladly work with you to provide college credit and transportation reimbursement. We will also work with you to make sure you have a great experience that is tailored to your specific interests and skill set.

Individuals interested in learning more are encouraged to contact us at info@visionlongisland.org. Please put "Internships for 2010" in the subject heading. You are welcome to include a resume and/or letter, and please indicate if you are available in the Spring, Summer, or both.

Great Neck Street Fair

The 32nd annual Little Neck Street fair will be taking place this Sunday, May 2nd, from 11 am to 6 pm. Located on Middle Neck Rd in the Old Village of Great Neck, the fair will feature over 150 artists and crafters, food, and children's entertainment.

Parking and admission are free.

North Babylon Vendor Craft Fair

North Babylon High School is sponsoring its annual crafts fair this Saturday, May 1st, from 9 am to 4 pm. A variety of items from jewelry to fresh flowers to homemade dog treats will be sold.

The event will be located at the North Babylon High School, 1 Phelps Lane. Admission is free.

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Weber, Assistant Director; Elissa Ward, Director of Sustainability; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant; Chris Kyle, Program Coordinator

We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.

If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities.

For more information about Vision Long Island, visit 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