“Hunger is at a crisis point on Long Island. There’s one way you can have a positive impact on this issue: participate in Stamp Out Hunger this Saturday, which will put food on the table for a family in need."

- Randi Dresner, President and CEO, Island Harvest

H2M

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.

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.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 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.

Casinos: the right choice for Nassau?

We received a lot of responses on Nassau County’s idea to build a casino at the Nassau Coliseum site. Here are some responses we received via email and Facebook:

dislike

I think adding even more low paying jobs to the region, along with the destructive impacts casinos have on neighboring communities is a great idea!

Bad idea for this location. Casino surrounded by two universities, museums and a County Park and in close proximity to residential areas, is not the ideal location. Hope this brings back into focus the Lighthouse project with a more positive response from the TOH. Why think of the Coliseum area, why not seriously consider on the Belmont property which already has gambling and is adjacent to the parkway and has a LIRR station leading directly to it.

He's gambling with Nassau's future...

Could this be the "New Coke Approach?" Make the Lighthouse look good to anyone who opposed it in the past? Am I stating the painfully obvious? "Bring back the Lighthouse! We didn't know how good we had it!!!"

A casino seems so circa-1990s! If they had a scaled down casino as PART of the lighthouse, (but not the prime attraction) that might be a bit more reasonable.

And what will the area look like FoxWoods? Don't take Wang's Lighthouse off the table. It does more for the area than gambling would. Leave the gambling to Belmont Race Track and put gambling casino or Video Term. there.
A casino surrounded by Univerities, museums, and parks is not a suitable location!!

This needs to be in Suffolk County so we can get the benefits of it. Why are we letting Nassau take the lead with the Shinnecocks who are in Suffolk?

Put this in the same category of creativity as becoming the 51st State. 

People fight progress and progress is good. I like Wang's Lighthouse vision at the coliseum site. A casino should be put in Suffolk County on a large swath of land away from residences.
Hi ---I already had some concerns about the Lighthouse Project --relating to traffic congestion and concerns that the "affordable housing" to keep the young single working population on L.I.---that it is just another sham ----when talked about starting prices are in the $250,000 range----nothing my "20 something" daughters can contemplate! But now our politicians are contemplating a casino ---which in my mind has many more cons than pros-----I would not lie to see a casino on the Island. 

I am responding on behalf of the Wenwood Oaks Civic Association and myself. We, as a community, are in support of a DOWNSIZED Lighthouse development project including associated concomitant rebuilding of the Cedar Creek Sewage Plant.
We are NOT in support of a casino at the Coliseum property. That is not the type of development that we want in our backyard. It is not a positive addition to a community of families. We need business and retail space along with a new sports complex and a good convention venue. The Coliseum property would be a wonderful site for expanded hotel and convention space to accommodate growing corporate business in the Nassau and Suffolk areas, and would effectively bring new life to the surrounding retail establishments.
 
I think the casino is more of a short-term tax gain concept, and like the original Lighthouse plan a bit more overall. If any casino is built there it should not be the main attraction, or it may make living there less appealing to many people. Also, many businesses may not want to locate there, not wanting to be associated with the gambling enterprises.

Elmont has been working on building the community up with VLT gaming at Belmont. A casino at the coliseum will KILL Belmont and by extention Elmont. Belmont is having problems already so this will tip the scales and end horse racing at Belmont. Then with horse racing wagering at the casino, say goodbye to Nassau OTB which is a public benefit corporation. So loss of jobs at OTB, loss of jobs at Belmont and economic benefits for Elmont. ADD the cost of more police at and around the casino.
Oh yeah, put a casino next to a university. That's a great idea. How many parents will send their kids to a school next door to a casino. Hofstra applications will drop.
Then ADD the crime for the surrounding community which will damage Uniondale. Have you been to Atlantic City and walked a few blocks away from the casinos?
The Wang plan makes the Coliseum property a FAMILY attraction... a Casino is an ADULT ONLY attraction.
And lets not forget that the Shinnecock's are on the east end with no connection to nassau county at all

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on casinos and their role in Nassau County or Long Island's future

Newsday's Future of LI section highlights "Smart Growth solutions"

In the second installation of its Future of Long Island series, Newsday looked at "Main Streets, Long Island: Why we need them now" this past Sunday. The opening story looked at several issues, including the debate over increased density and the need to make changes to keep young adults from moving away. Various downtowns got feature articles in the 20-page section, including Patchogue, Greenport, Riverhead and Wyandanch, among others. The section also looked at the Lighthouse ("Project mired in a political minefield") and Heartland ("How much is too much?"). It looked at revitalizations in three communities outside of Long Island, including Mashpee Commons in Cape Cod, Rochester, Michigan and the Liberty Harbor development in Jersey City.

Vision's Eric Alexander got a few quotes in the article, talking about Patchogue ("They are fixing the sins of the past...The sins of the past were redeveloping outside of the downtown center.") and Heartland ("The density is not a problem: in fact we need it."). The section also cites "7 Steps to a better Downtown," which include affordable housing, mass transit and sewers, more parking, tax incentives, public spaces, mix of retail shops, and streets for walking.

It was great to see so many Smart Growth concepts and project examples.. Check out the section online here.

MTA Capital Plan released: LI does all right

Last week, the MTA released its revised Capital Program for 2010-2014. The plan, available online here, is only funded for two years, but legally has to cover five years. Tri-State Transportation Campaign's Long Island Planner Ryan Lynch has done us the service of summarizing the impacts of the Capital Plan for Long Islanders. Here are his notes:

In general, in this revised Capital Program, LI made out fairly well. 

Like the other arms of the agency (Metro-North and NYC Transit), LIRR will see an across the board 7% reduction in capital funding.  However, operating subsidies for LIRR riders will still cover 57% of the cost of a LIRR ride as compared to 46% for Metro North and an average of 49% for NYCT rides.  In other words, LIRR riders will continue to pay less of their trip cost than anyone else in the MTA system.

According to the Program, the MTA made specific cuts and created efficiencies which will save money as well.  For example, the MTA will integrate Metro North Rail Road and LIRR maintenance facilities and they are revisiting how they partner with contractors and labor to reduce costs.   

Here is a breakdown of some of the highlights in the 2010-2014 Capital Program.  It is not exhaustive, but I tried to highlight some of the key projects.

LIRR ($2.554 billion):

·         $265 million is federally mandated to advance Positive Train Control investments (this is a safety measure that was enacted federally after a California crash last year.  LIRR has a good safety record and has been working to be exempt from this requirement allowing them to spend dollars on other projects.)
·         M9 train car purchases to replace M3 electric fleet ($356 million)
·         $81 million for a study to determine if ‘scoot’ service on diesel branches will be cost effective and initiate process of purchasing scoot fleet (Scoot service is a shuttle type service that will run more frequently)
·         $139 million for station and parking needs
o   Station rehabs (Republic airport was withdrawn)
o   Includes $50 million (reduction of $15 million) for parking garages (priority given to multi-modal, high use stations and stations that have the opportunity to support future transit oriented development uses)
·         Track improvements ($861 million)
o   Jamaica Capacity improvements ($400 million)
o   Double Tracking from Ronkonkoma to Farmingdale ($30 million for design work; first phase of implementation funding ($108 million) was removed)
o   Using funding (Approx. $200 million from 2005-2009 Capital Program) LIRR will advance key initiatives to support Main Line Corridor (Third Track) capacity and reliability.
§  LIRR anticipates the need to undertake a revised Third Track environmental review process no later than the 2015-2019 Capital program
·         Yard and Shop Improvements ($134 million)
o   $79 million construction of a new Mid-Suffolk Rail Yard to address electric train storage needs east of Ronkonkoma Station (Critical to East Side Access)

LI Bus:
·         Regional Bus Study still included

MTA to buy smaller, more efficient trains for East End

Though it's hard for transit advocates to admit, sending large diesel trains out to Greenport or Montauk when there are very few passengers is in fact economically and environmentally inefficient. However, maintained or increased service is critical to many downtown revitalization efforts on the East End. Rather than completely eliminating LIRR service east of Ronkonkoma as was proposed earlier this year, the MTA has a new idea. In its 2010-2014 Capital Plan that was approved last week, the MTA said that it hopes to spend $81 million in 2014 to purchase 12 new diesel multiple unit trains (DMUs) to serve the East End of Long Island as "scoot service." 

The DMU trains are much lighter and smaller--two to three cars--and would help increase service while reducing MTA operating costs. Though the price tag is high for the cash-strapped agency, this is good news for Long Island. According to an article in the Transport Politic,"The savings the MTA would accrue from using less fuel per passenger would likely pay for the cost of more daily services, increasing ridership. If transfers were timed, the connection between the diesel-operated lines and those that are electrified could be simple enough to keep all of the system’s current riders." The change would mean the end of a one-seat ride from the East End to Manhattan, but trains could be easily coordinated with electrified service at Babylon or Ronkonkoma.

The DMUs seem to be a plausible, win-win solution for Long Island. Train stations with frequent service are anchors for downtown revitalization plans, in places like Riverhead. With more frequent service, more people will travel between the East End's communities via train, creating more opportunities for downtown investment.

Lydon looks at DIY urbanism: redesigning communities one block at a time

Mike Lydon, founder of the Street Plans Collaborative, recently authored a blog post on Planetizen.com titled "DIY Urbanism: One Block, One Shipping Pallet at a Time." Lydon highlights "The Better Block Project", which "takes (PARK)ing day one step further by effectively demonstrating how a simple vision and a little sweat equity can ably transform an auto-dominated city block into a vibrant, people-oriented neighborhood center—even if only for a single day."

First organized by Texas urbanists Jason Roberts, Amy Cowan and others, the concept has quickly spread across the country. Individuals or groups can redesign a block for under $1000. Ideas include temporary cafes, bike lanes and more. Rather than view these efforts as disruptive code violations, argues Lydon, cities should see these experiments as "signs of true vitality; the presence of an engaged population; a reason to push a more progressive planning agenda; and a mandate to break through the conventional planning process to provide innovative and low-cost solutions that lead to long term, positive change."

Read the blog post, which includes some demonstrative videos, at Planetizen.

Senator Foley fights for groundbreaking energy conservation legislation

This Thursday, May 6th, Senator Brian X. Foley joined with environmental advocates to celebrate the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee's Senate Bill 6912-A, and urged its passage by the full Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Foley, would require some of the strictest residential energy conservation standards of any state legislation nationwide, while creating much-needed jobs for New Yorkers. The act would amend the energy law by updating the state energy conservation construction code. It means higher energy efficiency standards for homes in New York State: all new homes would be required to have a performance verification completed by an independent Home Energy Rating System rater. Homes would therefore become more comfortable, save energy, save money and reduce our carbon footprint. 

The bill is based on the Energy Star Homes Law that 10 out of the 13 Long Island Towns have already passed. Neighborhood Network and the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College have helped lead the charge to make this program happen on Long Island and worked to bring it to Senator Foley at the State level.

The press conference was held in the training facility at Wales Darby, a company that specializes in energy efficient residential solutions in Islandia. Vision's Eric Alexander attended and spoke in support of the bill.

Read more on the bill here.

New Urban News highlights Rt. 347, Vision

New Urban News, a national print newspaper covering design and development of human-scale neighborhoods, featured the Route 347 project in its most recent edition. A project of the New York State Department of Transportation, Route 347 will be transformed from a sprawling arterial road into a walkable suburban boulevard that accommodates different types of users. Its various design components- including reduced speed limits, narrower lanes and shoulders, new pedestrian crossings and paths and more- have inspired Vision Long Island to honor the project with a Smart Growth Award this year.

Vision was cited twice in the article, first listed as a major Smart Growth planning group that encouraged the DOT to move the project along, and the second quotes: "Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, says a key to DOT's change of attitude was the release of a report in 2008 that identified Long Island as having five of the state's 20 most dangerous roads. Pedestrians, especially senior citizens, have been killed on roads that offer them little protection from vehicular traffic. Alexander says the new approach represents a '180-degree shift in sentiment.'"

Rail spur opens in Town of Riverhead

The Calverton Rail Access Rehabilitation project continues to move towards operation. On Friday, May 7th, the Riverhead Town Board broke ground for construction accompanied by a large coalition of rail supporters including public officials, local businesses and participating agencies.

NYS Governor David A. Paterson secured Recovery Act funding for the Town-sponsored project last November. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, were key to securing the funding. The Calverton project also has received three other grants from New York State. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority last March provided $75,000 towards the engineering study and design of the project. In October, Governor Paterson announced the award of $650,000 from the Empire State Development Downstate Revitalization Fund for preliminary work on the project. Most recently, the New York State Department of Transportation awarded another $350,000 for the LIRR switch installation.

Railroad Construction Company, Inc. of Paterson, New Jersey, has been awarded the construction contract and Dunn Engineering will provide Construction Inspection with project design by HDR and additional design assistance from Saratoga. The project is scheduled for completion next winter.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter was pleased with the project’s progress, “The Town of Riverhead wants to do whatever it can to help businesses that locate here to compete effectively – whether it be with other businesses on Long Island, the Metropolitan New York area or now, nationwide. We are here to work with businesses and our fellow elected officials to make things happen. This project is a great example of cooperative leadership – from the tremendous support of Governor Paterson, U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Bishop, New York State Senator LaValle, New York State Assemblyman Alessi and Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine.”

“This stimulus-funded project will lay the foundation for long-term private sector growth at the Calverton Enterprise Park while providing much-needed construction jobs in Riverhead Town,” Congressman Tim Bishop said. “The rail spur will make doing business at the Park more efficient and less expensive, exactly the kind of investment that will continue our economic recovery.”

United Way of Long Island Partners with Letter Carriers to 'Stamp Out Hunger' this weekend

This Saturday, May 8th, is the annual National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Long Island. As hunger continues to rise on Long Island, there are now more than 300,000 Long Island residents suffering. More help is needed from all Long Islanders to help stamp out hunger and feed their neighbors in need.

Leave non-perishable food items next to your mailbox on Saturday morning and your letter carrier will pick them up. You can also bring food donations to your local post office. In past years, letter carriers have collected nearly one million pounds of food from homes across Long Island. You can also volunteer to sort and pack food to fill local soup kitchens, pantries and shelters. The 2010 Food Drive Community Partners include Long Island National Association of Letter Carriers, U.S. Postal Service, United Way of Long Island, Island Harvest, Long Island Cares and Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

For information on what to donate and how to volunteer, visit their website.

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 rocks on May 15th

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 1:00pm and running throughout the afternoon. The free festival is for local middle and high school students to share their talents with each other and the community. 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, crafts, 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. 

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 presentation by Tara Bono of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and even more live entertainment. The cost for the dinner is $10 for adults and $8 for students. The fee will be split between CCE 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.

CNU 18 in Atlanta: May 19th-22nd

Is New Urbanism the prescription for healthier communities? Increasing scientific evidence suggests that community design — land use, design character, transportation systems, sustainability, and density — can promote physical activity and lifelong communities; lower the risk of traffic injuries, obesity, heart disease, and hypertension; improve air quality, affordability, social equity, connectivity, mental health and long-term value; increase social connection, sense of community and healthy food access; and reduce crime, violence and contributions to climate change.

Organized with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Congress for the New Urbanism 18, "New Urbanism: Rx for Healthy Places," will present new research and innovative techniques for assessing the health impact of land use, transportation planning and community design decisions -- from fine grained to mega-regional scales. Share the opportunities and challenges of designing and retrofitting communities that make it easier for people to live healthy lives -- CNU's 18th annual Congress in Atlanta, May 19-22, 2010. Preceding the Congress will be certification training, the NextGen Congress and other partner events May 19-20.

Featured speakers include Dr. Richard Jackson, co-author of "Urban Sprawl and Public Health" and UCLA faculty; Shaun Donovan, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Dr. Howard Frumkin, cu-author of "Urban Sprawl and Public Health" and CDC official; Shelley Poticha, Senior Adviser for Sustainable Housing and Communities at the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Catherine Ross, Editor of "MegaRegions" and Georgia Tech faculty; and Douglas Farr, Green architect and author of "Sustainable Urbanism."

For more information, pricing, and to register, visit CNU.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.

Mother's Day Brunch at Atlantis Marine World

This Sunday, celebrate Mother's Day at Atlantis Marine World's first Poseidon's Bruncheon. Make this a Mother's Day to remember! Treat the mom in your family to a beautiful brunch at the Aquarium. Enjoy tasty food, entertainment, and lots of fun activities for the kids, including a craft for mom that she'll always treasure!

There are three seatings, at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Prices are: children 3 to 12 & seniors: $27.95; adults: $32.95; children 2 & under: free. All prices plus tax and includes all-day Aquarium admission. The menu includes: a waffle station, omelet station, carving station, pasta station, bread & salad station, fruit & cheese station, grilled cheese station, hot lunch selections and unlimited soda, juice, coffee and tea.

The aquarium is located at 431 East Main Street in Riverhead. To learn more, or to reserve, call 631-208-9200, ext. H2O (426) or visit their website.

Night and Days in Port Washington

This Saturday, May 8th at 8pm, Kevin Spirtas of Days of Our Lives will be performing his "Night and Days" show at Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington (232 Main Street). Kevin's Broadway career yielded starring roles in A Chorus Line and Hairspray as well as serving as Hugh Jackman's understudy in Boy From Oz. Night and Days features a delightful collection of Broadway and pop standards that leave you smiling!

Learn more and purchase tickets here.

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