The key word of the day was "bipartisanship" as representatives of the Town of North Hempstead traveled to Washington D. C. last week seeking help for two local initiatives. Supervisor May Newburger and Councilman James O'Connor were joined by North Hempstead's Director of Operations Arthur Gianelli and Planning Commissioner Michael Levine. The group met with Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, with Congress members Gary Ackerman, Peter King and Carolyn McCarthy, and with Major General Hans A. Van Winkle, director of Civil Works Programs for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. They brought with them a packet of information prepared by the Planning Department, giving details of the two initiatives.

One was a request for Economic Development Initiative Resources for the revitalization of the Hamlet of New Cassel, a section of Westbury. The Town is requesting a HUD appropriation of $1,500,000. The money will be used "for the development of a comprehensive community participation and vision plan in the New Cassel area, as well as the acquisition of certain parcels of land for environmental remediation and commercial redevelopment."

The object of the other initiative is the restoration of western Long Island Sound Bays and Communities. The specific projects are Manhasset Bay Dredging Project, Manhasset Bay Ecosystem Restoration, Hempstead Harbor Dredging Project, Hempstead Harbor Ecosystem Restoration. Mitigation of Erosion and Wetland Loss in Manorhaven Park and North Sheets Creek, Stormwater System Improvements in Mill Pond Park and Manhasset Bay and Stormwater System Improvements in Roslyn Pond Park and Lower Hempstead Harbor.

After meeting with the North Hempstead delegation, Congress members Ackerman, King and McCarthy wrote and signed a joint letter to General Van Winkle, stating "We enthusiastically support the water and ecosystem restoration projects that the Town of North Hempstead, New York, seeks to conduct with the Army Corps of Engineers. We are confident that, with help from the Corps, North Hempstead can restore the aquatic ecosystem of Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Bay on the Long Island Sound, address the continuing environmental problems, and promote economic revitalization for the entire region."

Supervisor Newburger said that the Congress members had been impressed, both by the thorough preparation that had been done by Commissioner Levine's office and by the support that the initiatives have received here in North Hempstead. They were able to point to the support of NYS Senator Michael Balboni, NYS Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, an intermunicipal consortium comprised of the Town of North Hempstead, the County of Nassau and the Villages of Baxter Estates, Great Neck, Kensington, Kings Point, Manorhaven, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Port Washington North, Sands Point and Thomaston, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Mr. Gianelli said that "they were impressed by the unity of the groups involved, that they could subordinate self-interest for the greater good."

It was important that the congressional delegation supported North Hempstead's initiative because the Army Corps of Engineers needs congressional approval of its projects. Supervisor Newburger said that the Congress members were impressed because the North Hempstead delegation was "not talking theory and grand concepts. We gave them specifics. It was also important that Councilman O'Connor was there to show that this is a bipartisan effort." Councilman O'Connor said that he was happy to recommend the initiatives to Congressman King. "These are great projects, easy to agree on. I much prefer to work together with the supervisor."

Mr. Gianelli said that there is, of course, competition for Congress' attention. "Our job is to keep the Town of North Hempstead uppermost in their minds. We were able to tell them that we were not just there with our hands out. We have specific plans and we won't be back in five years."

All in all, the North Hempstead delegation came back from Washington pleased with the first step in what will be a major campaign. If it succeeds, they should have the appropriations voted on in the 2001-2002 federal fiscal year.