 |
Vintage Square
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.
|
Vintage Square delivers an energy efficient 
|
Brooks advocates for Smart Growth; Infrastructure and Economic Stimulus dominate local press
Brooks notes that the suburban/exurban flight that has been the norm for the past several decades has recently taken an about face. Now, more people miss the sense of community that comes with density and are seeking suburbs with populated downtowns and central gathering spaces. Obama has promised a large-scale infrastructure investment, comparable to the Interstate Highway system of the 1950s.
There is real pressure to get an economic stimulus bill moving quickly, but that does not necessitate what Brooks calls a "lack of creativity." We should give credit to Obama for proposing far more investments than the current administration, but those investments must consider the opportunity for real positive change in the ways we live; or for example, not just bailing out the auto industry. Brooks' article is a solid reminder of the principles that we advocate here at Vision. While we often get lost in individual projects, at the end of the day we are really fighting toward more livable places with strong social bonds and sense of community.
Though times are challenging, there is an enormous opportunity to create true social change through improving the physical form. We ought to take advantage of the opportunities presented with the federal stimulus package, both on a national scale and with local projects that have previously been neglected. For more information, read Brooks' NY Times Op-ed, the Newsday "Wish List," and see Long Island Town Supervisors' responses to the stimulus. Neighborhood Network holds successful Clean Energy Leadership Task Force meeting
Other speakers and announcements at the Task Force included:
Wal-Mart incident incites big-picture safety concerns
After a thorough investigation that is admittedly unlikely to prosecute anyone, police are telling stores that they must better handle their own safety measures. On Wednesday, a hearing was held in front of the Public Safety Committee of the Nassau County Legislature where Police Inspector Thomas Krumpter told Committee members that in "these types of situations in the box stores and these door-buster type sales, the onus or responsibility for the security and the safety of the customers falls with the retail establishment." Baldwin Legislator Joseph Scannell announced after the hearing that his staff lawyers were drafting legislation that would require stores to erect barriers a certain distance from the entrance when large crowds form. Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey plans to meet with executives from Wal-Mart and other stores next week to discuss crowd-control measures. After making international news, this event really made Americans think about what we are doing. It reminds us that we need to calm down: believe it or not, shopping isn't everything. There are hundreds of smaller shops in local downtowns that offer just as good deals as Wal-Mart, and shopping there will support the local economy, not to mention support a sense of community that by design cannot exist at a big box store. Look further in this newsletter to find a list of the best of local downtown shopping on Long Island. For more, see this Newsday article. LI Index introduces new online mapping resource
The Long Island Index's motto is "Good information, presented in a neutral manner, can move policy." For more on the development of the map, see this Long Island Business News article. TSTC Report is a wake-up call to pedestrian safety for seniors
A case example, as noted by Governor Paterson's office, is Hempstead Turnpike. His office has created a program called SafeSeniors and will be working to make improvements throughout the region, starting there. Seniors are less likely to survive if hit by a car or truck. They are also less likely to still be driving and are less likely to be able to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle. Most importantly when considering the comparative data, Long Island roads are not designed for senior pedestrian safety. For example, crosswalks lights, if they exist at all, do not last long enough. Tri-State won't leave the matter unsettled. The report suggests some solutions, including extending crosswalk times, narrowing roads to shorten crosswalk distance and slow traffic, altering curbs and sidewalks to be easier for seniors to navigate, and restricting vehicle turns (i.e. no right turn on red). These suggestions are consistent with the types of projects suggested by the Smart Growth Working Group. The report also references the successful New York City DOT program called Safe Streets for Seniors, which identifies areas with high senior pedestrian fatalities and makes improvements such as those listed above. The press release with statistics is available here. Fact sheets for Nassau and Suffolk Counties are available here. A press release from the Governor's office, outlining the SafeSeniors program, is available here. Suozzi requests federal money for green jobs
To read more, see Tuesday's Newsday article. |
In an 
In a letter responding to concerns by transit-advocacy group Transportation for America, Obama said, "Everyone benefits if we can leave our cars, walk, bicycle and access other transportation alternatives. I agree that we can stop wasteful spending and save Americans money, and as president, I will re-evaluate the transportation funding process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account." While this all sounds great, Brooks notes: "it would be great if the program would build on today's emerging patterns. It would be great if Obama's spending... would actually encourage the clustering and leave a legacy that would be visible and beloved 50 years from now." This will include creating transportation infrastructure that builds upon the new "clusters" and town centers that is becoming the norm now. Obama could use this stimulus as an opportunity to invest in small municipalities: imagine federal money going directly into Long Island's downtown projects.
Brooks continues: "This kind of stimulus would be consistent with Obama's campaign, which was all about bringing Americans together in new ways. It would help maintain the social capital that's about to be decimated by the economic downturn. But alas, there's no evidence so far that the Obama infrastructure plan is attached to any larger social vision." 
On Monday, Vision's Executive Director Eric Alexander was quoted on the front-page story of Newsday, entitled "
About 80 people attended the Clean Energy Leadership Task Force meeting on Dec. 5, 2008, which meets tri-annually and focuses on municipal clean energy efforts and policies. Richie Kessel, new CEO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) spoke about the need to upgrade the electric transmission lines in New York State, saying we have a “20th century grid.” This way, we can get wind and hydro power from upstate to downstate and LI. He also would like to see another Neptune- type cable to tap cheaper energy from the south under Hudson from NJ, and possibly a cable under the NY Thruway. On efficiency and renewables, he felt the decision to cancel the off-shore wind farm was a mistake. We now we have the technology to put turbines further offshore, so we can do a much larger project than had been previously proposed for Long Island without the visual impacts. He is pleased with LIPA’s 50 mw project and wants to see solar farms producing thousands of megawatts.
NYPA, which serves municipalities, has already done over 100 efficiency projects on Long Island. He’d like to expand programs to include libraries and school districts and also be able to do “smaller” projects, removing the high cap that existed before. He says Gov. Paterson is a champion of the environment and formed a renewable energy task force. He wants to make NYPA more transparent and have regular meetings with environmental stakeholder groups here on LI.
Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, businesses and shoppers prepare for what is referred to as "Black Friday," a day of well-advertised sales that brings in the most revenue of the year. It is generally the first day that brings stores out of the red and into the black by celebrating things like "doorbuster deals" on early holiday shopping for shoppers who have the day off. Unfortunately, as we all know by now, "doorbuster" was taken a bit too literally this year at a Valley Stream Wal-Mart. At 5am on Friday, November 28th, temporary employee Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death by about 2,000 overeager shoppers. 
The Long Island Index has developed a new online mapping tool to make the information in the report more accessible. In an interface similar to that of the popular Google Maps, the tool combines downtown information from the Index, Census data, property-by-property land use, transportation routes, satellite imagery, and more. The interactive map will be useful for anyone wanting to create a visual aid for a project on the Island, or for anyone simply wanting a visual on Long Island issues. Take some time to explore this 
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign recently released a report on how Long Island roads are the most dangerous in the region, as measured by pedestrian fatalities. This week, the group released a new report that statistically demonstrates how seniors over 65 years of age are much more likely to be struck and killed by a car than their younger counterparts. Seniors over 65 in the tri-state region are 68% more likely to be killed by a car than seniors in the rest of the country. For those over 75, the rate compared to the rest of the country is 84% higher.
In downstate New York (LI, NYC, and 5 other counties), 844 pedestrians total were killed from 2005-2007. 5.2 out of every 100,000 people over age 65 were killed, compared to 1.3 of every 100,000 under age 65. Don't assume that those numbers are entirely due to New York City: Nassau County performed terribly. The five most dangerous counties for seniors in the entire tri-state region were ranked as: Manhattan (8.27 deaths per 100,000 over 65), Atlantic County, NJ (7.18), Nassau County (6.65), Staten Island (6.47), and Brooklyn (6.22). In the time frame of the study, 60 seniors will killed by cars or trucks in Nassau County (39) and Suffolk County (21). 
Adding to the growing coalition of Long Islanders asking for part of the federal stimulus package, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi made a pitch Tuesday to the federal government to get a large piece of the pie. Along with Westchester County's Executive Andrew Spano, Suozzi advocated for green projects that would create "green jobs." He asked for $23.4 million for the Nassau HUB project in Mineola and Uniondale, and $13 million to improve the crippling and energy-inefficient sewage treatment plants in Bay Park and Cedar Creek. The money would also go toward purchasing energy-efficient vehicles. Suozzi and Spano made the case that the best way to make quick and efficient changes with an economic stimulus package is through local government. Both counties are a part of Climate Communities, a national organization that seeks to make environmental changes at the local level through local government.|
Shop Downtown This HOliday Season
Vision Long Island has compiled a list of "alternative" shopping choices that will help support local downtowns. As it becomes holiday shopping crunch time, do yourself and your community a favor and stay away from those anxiety-producing mall parking lots from hell.
|
On Thursday, December 11th, the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce held a press conference at Queen of Hearts clothing store in Merrick to encourage everyone to shop local. When you shop at a big-box store, your money is put into a national (or multi-national) corporation and does not directly benefit the people in your community. When you shop in smaller downtown stores, that money is recycled directly into the local economy. It benefits local workers, school taxes, and community vitality. By shopping downtown, you are more likely to walk (thus saving gas and reducing carbon emissions), run into people you know, or visit other local businesses such as restaurants or coffee shops.
Tis the season of giving
Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island: clothes, toys, and furniture (i.e. cribs, strollers) for children: 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. (516) 741-7304. Interfaith Nutrition Network: food, toys, clothing, cleaning and kitchen supplies, towels, blankets, furniture, etc. 211 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead. (516) 486-6243. Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank: food items donated at local drives. 10 David's Drive, Hauppauge. (631) 582-3663. Long Island Council of Churches: canned food, fresh produce, and turkeys. 450 North Main Street, Freeport. (516) 565-0290 or (631) 727-2210. Pronto: Food, clothing, toys, household and personal items. 128 Pine Aire Drive, Bay Shore. (631) 231 8290. |
As the weather gets colder and we look forward to spending time with our families and enjoying the holidays, we must remember that not everyone is so fortunate. This holiday season, make a donation to help out someone less fortunate who may need food, clothing, or holiday gifts. Here are a few suggestions of places to give:
Town of Brookhaven Seeks New Planning Commissioner
Please send resumes to searchcommittee@brookhaven.org. Town of Babylon seeks urban designer
Email resume and qualifications to ajones@townofbabylon.com. |
The Town of Brookhaven, a large municipality of 450,000 plus residents, seeks a Commissioner of Planning, Environment and Land Management who will be responsible for overall management of a department containing large and diverse divisions. This position will supervise professional and support staff of over 99 individuals. This is a management confidential position, salary $110k plus. 
The Town of Babylon is seeking a full time urban designer to tackle downtown revitalization projects that emphasize Smart Growth principles and transit-oriented development. The candidate must have good communication skills, as the position entails community presentations as well as project design/development and evaluation of proposals. Experience in land use planning and redevelopment is required and knowledge of sustainable design practices, brownfield redevelopment, and/or LEED accreditation are a plus. Salary is commensurate with experience. 
Santacons are coming to town
See the Facebook event for more details (*profanity warning*). Frosty
The feel-good winter play is at two locations: The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, 250 Main Street. Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 11am through January 3rd. For tickets, call the box office at (631) 261-2900; and The BayWay Arts Centre in Broadhollow, 265 East Main Street, East Islip. Saturdays at 1pm through December 27th. Order tickets online or call OvationTix at 866-811-4111. |
This weekend, revel in the hilarity that is Santacon, an annual event of somewhat-organized chaos where hundreds of people take to the streets in various cities dressed as Santa Claus. The New York City gathering will be on Saturday from 10am-midnight, with specific meeting places TBA. Wear a full Santa suit or other full-out holiday apparel (think Hannukah Harry). Dress warmly, eat something before coming, and bring a Metrocard. Or just go and laugh at them. It's probably best to leave the kids at home for this one.
Frosty the Snowman and his friend Jenny must save the town of Chillsville from Ethel Pierpot's evil plan to melt all the snow!! Unlike Santacon, this one's great for the kids. 
"The ominous forces gathering out there will defeat these efforts and everyday life will reorganize itself some other way consistent with the single greatest trend: the force of contraction. Every sign we see is pointing in that direction, from the inability of the earth's ecology to support more human beings, to the dwindling of mineral and energy resources, to the destruction of farmland, to mischief in the climate. We just don't know how badly things will fall apart in the meantime, or how kind (or cruelly) people will act in the process. Mr. Obama would be most successful if he could persuade the public how much more severe the required changes are than they currently realize, and inspire them to get with program of retrofitting American life to comply with these realities." - James Howard Kunstler |
SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.
For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |
