The Environmental Advisory Board of the Village of Garden City is faced with possible threats to Garden City's environment, some of which are currently part of plans being heavily supported by politicians on both a local and a national level. The letter writing campaign initiated by the Environmental Advisory Board's subcommittee, SAFE, to representatives of the Village in all levels of government, was designed to help raise both the awareness of the residents of the Village and to enlist the aid of these powerful political figures. By writing to those who support programs which may threaten the quality of life in the Village, the committee hopes that these political figures will strive to fully address the environmental impact of these projects.

One such project is the development of the HUB. While the HUB plans have received tremendous support from politicians (such as Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, United States Senator Al D'Amato, and Governor George Pataki, all widely supported politicians in mostly Republican Garden City), many residents in the area are concerned about not only the impact that further development of the HUB will have on the downtown business areas of Village's such as Garden City, but what impact the projected increases in traffic will have on the environment.

One proposed means of addressing the traffic situation made by the HUB proponents is an elevated monorail similar to that at the Bronx Zoo or Walt Disney World. One member of the Environmental Advisory Board who attended the March 11 meeting of the Nassau County Planning Commission stated that it was her impression after the presentation that this elevated "people mover," as the HUB advocates have termed it, sounds too much like the old elevated trains in Brooklyn and the Bronx, which rattle apartment buildings and create noise pollution.

Another concern expressed by all of the members of the Environmental Advisory Board at their March 25 meeting was that this "people mover" will only carry a small number of people at a time and leave long lines of people waiting at the stations, many of whom will grow tired of waiting and simply go back to driving. Also of concern is the traffic that will be generated at the stations for the monorail. People will have to drive to locations where they can park for the rail. Entering and exiting these lots as well as traveling on the roads leading to and from the lots could become a nightmare many fear if the new development of the area attracts as many businesspeople and shoppers as the developers hope.

Mike Merrick questioned, "Do the Nassau County residents really want that development concentrated at the HUB or do they want it spread out in the traditional shopping areas?" As was pointed out by Garden City's EAB members, the shoppers in Villages closest to the HUB will be "sucked away" first and it will eventually spred throughout the Island. Many stated that it isn't that they are seeking to oppose figures like Gulotta, who enjoys popularity among voters in the Village, rather they would like to work with him to address the impact this could have on Garden City's economy and most especially the impact the congestion will have on the environment.

One other concern about the development of the HUB is connected to the freight issue Garden City has been tackling for well over a year now. If the HUB is developed and goods such as appliances will be shipped to the area for retail, how will the goods get there? Many fear that they will be shipped on freight lines through the heart of the Village, past schools, homes, and playgrounds on the Main Line and possibly on the Hempstead Branch to the intermodal facility in Uniondale. If so the intermodal facility will then become its own little hub of action as trucks congregate there to load and unload goods on and off the freight trains. It is rumored that another intermodal facility is planned for part of the former Grumman site, although this development would be a long way off and the facility in Uniondale already exists.

Also, a proposed tunnel, which would cost the taxpayers of New York several billion dollars has the support of figures such as Senator Al D'Amato, who the Board hopes will hear his supporters' grave concerns and work with them to find a resolution. This tunnel is where many environmental advocates in the Village and across Long Island see the freight traffic coming from. Environmental Advisory Board member Mike Merrick stated that "the wheels are already in motion" and warned, "Once we see the first train, it'll be too late."

Members of the Environmental Advisory Board see the work on the Mineola Boulevard Bridge and the Herricks Railroad Crossing, as well as the recent closing of small stations across Long Island by the MTA, as a sign that the United States Congress' Intermodal Transportation Act to fund garbage and freight movement with billions of dollars of taxpayers' money, which is still in the debate stages in Congress, is imminent and the trains are coming. As Mike Merrick stated, "These are all pieces of a big puzzle. Ultimately, if we let it go on, it will lead to the degradation of our community and surrounding communities."

Mayor Tauches received a letter from the MTA regarding the new Environmental Assessment sought by the Village. Roberta Bender, special counsel for the MTA, wrote:

"In response to your letter of Dec. 17, 1997, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") and Long Island Rail Road Co. ("LIRR") have begun the process set out in Exhibit A to the Feb. 27, 1997 Agreement among the Village of Garden City, LIRR, and New York & Atlantic Railway Co. We have reviewed the comments raised in your letter with regard to the existing Environmental Assessment, and will (as provided by ¶ 3 of Exhibit A) 'prepare an additional substantive environmental analysis responding to the Village's comments.' To assist LIRR in that effort, we are currently in the process of selecting an approporiately qualified environmental consultant. With the selected consultant in place, we will then prepare the further analysis required by the Agreement. That additional analysis will focus on the issues raised by your Dec. 17 letter.

We anticipate selecting a new environmental consultant within the next few weeks. When we have retained the consultant, we will advise you of the name of the company, and will keep you apprised of any further developments."

Mike Merrick described the Environmental Advisory Board's role now as "the waiting mode" and added that this is where the Village has been for "most of the last year."

The environmental concerns over the proposed County plans for the Stewart Avenue and Clinton Avenue intersection were addressed by Lieutenant Mayor Hal Hecken who stated that both he and Trustee Bee attended the EPOA meeting with the Planning Commission representatives regarding the intersection and that it was clear that the EPOA "doesn't want anything done to that intersection." The concern is that if the intersection is expanded, as the County has proposed, that more traffic will be attracted to the area, where two churches, an elementary school, and a Garden City Fire Station are all located. As Trustee Bee has stated on several occasions, "If you build it, they will come."

Another issue was the chronic non-compliance of flights heading into LaGuardia Airport to the agreement executed several years ago between the Village and the FAA. The Environmental Advisory Board has consistantly contacted the FAA about the problem of 22's headed over the Village during the late night and early morning hours and was finally told that often LaGuardia itself has requested the noncompliance of the pilots and air traffic control personnel. The Board has been contacting Congresswoman McCarthy's office about the problem and will continue to seek her aid in the matter.

On a positive note, all members are looking forward to the April 4 cleanup day at the Garden City Bird Sanctuary and the April 25 Earthfest Day. On April 25 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. people can enjoy a mini-tour of the five acre habitat and volunteer for an hour or a day to help. People can volunteer to plant tree seedlings, plant flowers, and help build a trail. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Earthfest Day. Memorial trees, provided through private donations, will be planted. The Bird Sanctuary is located in northwestern Garden City, along Tanners Pond Road, next to Nassau Haven Playground. For information, contact 326-1720, or write 44 Fenimore Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530.