Editor's note: This letter originally appeared in the Nov. 30, 2001 issue of the Hicksville Illustrated News and has been reprinted to coincide with this weeks page one article, "Proposed Traffic Plan Sparks Concern"

The attendance at the Hicksville Hamlet Plan meeting on Nov. 13 was poor. Why? Was the meeting at a bad time? Do people really believe revitalization is the true intent of the plan? Is the Hamlet Plan going to reflect what the people really want or what the town wants for Hicksville? Unless some confidence is gained, the next Hamlet meeting will have fewer people.

There are some proposals for new roadwork, re-directing traffic from Barclay Street and Duffy Avenue. Who has made these recommendations? We also were at the June 21 meeting and don't remember anyone suggesting changes to the roads in Hicksville.

On July 30 at Town Hall, rumors of similar road changes were brought to the attention of the "consultants" and they were shrugged off saying, there are proposals all the time; most are never followed through. Have these proposals magically appeared overnight? One would think road changes take more than three months from conception to actual proposal considering state, county and town roads are involved with traffic studies, etc. If there is truly an initiative for Hicksville all information must be forthcoming. We have yet to be told how this project is to be financed and what it is costing for the consulting firm. It is absurd that any re-direction of roads be proposed without setting forth a plan for Hicksville. One would not build a plan around new roads, but "if necessary" construct roads to accommodate a new plan.

If our elected officials have it their way, the Hicksville Freight Yard [a clandestine deal brokered by our elected officials], will be open to more freight and the transfer of municipal solid waste through our neighborhood, thus increasing truck traffic. There is a proposal for a Costco off Charlotte Avenue and West John Street, again possibly more traffic. Are there any more parking garages or additional floors to an existing parking garage in the future plans? These are issues that few of us know about, that weren't brought up at the Hamlet meeting by the "consultant." Who knows what is on the drawing board that these road proposals are truly designed to accommodate? Wouldn't the people of Hicksville need to know what new property developments would affect traffic before a sound judgment on any proposal could be made? If a traffic study concludes that our current roads to not suit the traffic generated by increased development, don't build roads do accommodate over-development of an already overburdened town.

We are going to need some pretty interesting shops on Broadway to stop a car going by at 40 miles per hour. The lanes on Broadway would have to be reduced to two lanes with angle parking reserved for shoppers. Broadway is a state road, how realistic would it be?

It has been asked: How do we make Hicksville attractive to encourage prosperity? It has been said many times, ride the Long Island Rail Road in and out of Hicksville, does this look like a town you would like to spend some time and money in if you didn't have to?

Unfortunately, the appearance of our town reaps its harvest, not the good people who live here.

The format for these meetings seems unfair and ineffective. To keep order at these Hamlet meetings would be challenging, but they would be run typically as the Town Board Public Comment Period for all in attendance. Everyone should have an opportunity to listen to all ideas, this allows participation and gets the true reason why an issue has been raised. Reading problems off a sheet of paper does not give the true commitment to the issues. There is no general discussion, period. Splitting into groups and having someone else report, does not describe the intensity of the issues that are being raised; some problems discussed in these "small groups" never reach the other residents, while some may be fabricated.

It was brought to the attention of the "consultant" that we that did the same thing last time [separated into small groups]. Will we continue to do the same thing over and over until Hicksville gives up and the town does with Hicksville what they want? Is this by design? Why can't zoning and special use permits be enforced while this "plan" is evolving?

As West John Street continues to erode, the sincerity of the plan erodes. Visit West John Street; it appears the town has afforded certain industries immunity to zoning law and special use permit enforcement; the conditions should embarrass our elected officials. You decide.

Not only Hicksville, but also the plan itself is in need of revitalization, sincerity and commitment.

North West Civic Association Inc. of Hicksville

Executive Board Members

Harry Petersen

Irene Carlomusto

Terri Carson

Jo-Ann E. Broska

John Ptacek

Anthony Sorvillo

Greg Yatzyshyn