Letter: ‘Opposes the Hub Light Transit Project’

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

Letter: ‘Opposes the Hub Light Transit Project’

Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00

The other night I stopped in to a Hub Study presentation at the TR Legislative Building in Mineola. I was surprised to see what to me looks like the same proposal for light transit in the Hub area that I’ve seen numerous times before. The proposal still gives the benefits of Hub development to the Town of Hempstead while burdening those of us who live in North Hempstead.

The proposal creates two transportation hubs in North Hempstead, one in Mineola and one in Carle Place, to funnel people into the Hub area. The proposed light transit system would run like buses from Mineola along Second Street through to Voice Road, down Glen Cove Road and into the Roosevelt Field Mall. The proposal purposely leaves out using the LIRR link through Garden City into the Hub area. I was told the reason not to use the Garden City spur was that the LIRR doesn’t run enough trains on the Hempstead line. It seems strange that the county would spend millions to create a burdensome light transit system instead of negotiating with the LIRR. It’s also strange to me that the county would privatize LI Bus without negotiating better routes and service to accommodate their plans for Hub development. This road-bound light transit system (really like fancy buses) will just add to the dense traffic in our area.

The assumption that light transit will bring people into the area and cut down on car traffic is wholly unproven. This is Long Island, like it or not, and people will not pay the LIRR, then a light transit cost and be beholden to their schedules when they can jump into their cars and move around at will. I don’t believe that people in Suffolk County will jump at the chance to shop in our area malls when they have wonderful malls closer to their homes. And people who live west of us can use the LIRR’s Garden City spur to get into the Hub area.

It intrigues me that the Mangano Administration has put forth a flawed proposal originated by the previous Suozzi Administration. Residents of North Hempstead get the burden while the Town of Hempstead gets the development benefits of an expanded tax base and revenues. I thought the proposal was inadequate then. I think the same now. I hope that our elected officials in North Hempstead are listening. I also hope that those reading this letter will write or email these officials opposing this project.

Thomas Sobczak, Jr.

News

Budgets Pass In All Three Districts For Upcoming Year

Thursday, 17 May 2012 00:00

By a 1263 to 789 margin, voters approved the Westbury School District budget for the 2012-13 school year.  Dr. Pless Dickerson was re-elected  and  Mr. John E. Simpkins was elected   to the board of education.

Carle Place School District’s budget, with 713 votes in favor and 336 votes against, also passed. Joe LuCurto was elected to the board of education.

The East Meadow School District’s voters supported the upcoming school year budget with 2,033 votes in favor and 790 votes opposed. All three board of education incumbents were re-elected.

Post Script: Westbury Theater Opening This Fall

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Post Avenue landmark to seat 700-plus for certain shows

The show must go on – and starting this fall, Westbury residents should have plenty of shows from which to choose.

With a nearly decade-long dream coming to fruition, developer Cyrus Hakakian of Roslyn and his partners plan to part the curtains for the multi-purpose Westbury Performing Arts Center sometime this fall.

Sports

Relay For Life Paints Carle Place Purple

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Recently, members of the Carle Place women’s track and field team, the National Junior Honor Society and Girl Scout Troop 3096, as well as other community residents, helped promote Relay for Life by painting Carle Place purple. “Paint the Town Purple” is an initiative to spread the word about Relay for Life and pump up the community’s excitement since the event is only weeks away.