The City of Glen Cove is applying for funding from New York State for $2.5 million for the construction of the ferry terminal. The program is called the RestoreNY Communities Initiative. For more information, go to their website at http://www.empire.state.ny.us/restoreNY. In the guidelines for Restore NY it states that the purpose of holding a public hearing is to discuss the application for funding. On Page 6 it states, "A public hearing must be held to discuss the Restore NY application and the property assessment list." We made a FOIL request to the City of Glen Cove for the application, and we were informed by Cara Longworth [executive director. Glen Cove IDA/CDA] that the application was not going to be complete until Sept. 27, and that we could only view it after that date. The city has scheduled a public hearing on Monday Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. According to RestoreNY, the purpose of the public hearing is to discuss the application. We have sent several formal, written requests under the Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, to receive this information. Since the meeting is scheduled at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, we are requesting to receive this information by Thursday, Sept. 20, in view of the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur taking place on Sept. 21 and 22.

According to the guidelines of Restore NY, and according to the legal notice property assessment published in Newsday, it states "reconstruction." This can be the construction of a new building, "which is similar in architectural style, size and purpose to a previously existing building at such location, provided however to the extent that it be architecturally consistent with nearby and adjacent properties." This all glass, giant building, at 7,500 square feet is much larger than any other building along the creek, and is eight times larger than any other transportation terminal in town. One could hardly call this Jetsons-style building architecturally consistent.

We have seen no proof at all that the proposed ferry terminal will enhance our community. And we wonder why city hall refuses to release the application for funding so we may examine it prior to the public hearing. According to Restore NY, the application is the subject of this hearing.

SOS Glen Cove

Louis Pagliara

Maureen Tracy

Pat Tracy