Letters To The Editor

Here We Go Again!

To The Editor:

After attending a four-hour trustee meeting on November 5th, I felt compelled to write this letter. I have lived in Garden City for 10 years and I believe that our trustees are not listening to the residents of Garden City and hve no intention of trying. I admire their dedication but they are so consumed with their latest “plan” that they continue to ignore the input of the residents.

In case you are unaware, the newest “plan” for St. Paul’s is to find a private developer and have a combined private/public use of St. Paul’s. Are we talking 50% private, 50% public? No! They are discussing two “plans.” The first plan gives the private developer 85-90% of St. Paul’s. The second plan is to tear down Ellis Hall, rebuild on that site and give 100% of St. Paul’s to a developer. (The trustees spend most of their time concerned with attracting developers rather than determining what the residents want to do with St. Paul’s). If you remember we tried this plan before. After 3 years and interviewing over 20 developers, we found out that no one wanted The St. Paul’s money pit. We went through years of litigation and thousands of dollars fighting a lawsuit to enable us to have private use of St. Paul’s. We lost.

In the past I have always favored demolition, but my opinion has changed. Why can’t we have a community center for our children and a senior center? Why not demolish Ellis Hall (a condemned building) and the two wings of St. Paul’s and save the main portion with the facade intact. Let’s spend our money wisely while providing future generations a centerpiece for Garden City with meeting rooms, a senior center, an art center, and a recreation center.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. According to their first plan, half of our space (the 10-15%) would be in the basement. did we save St. Pauls to use the basement?

2. If 85% of St. Pauls is in private use, would you feel comfortable dropping your children off at the entrance and not know who might be in the building?

3. Except for the POA survey, why don’t the trustees commit themselves to coordinate a town-wide survey and determine what the residents want?

The trustees mentioned several times, that their most recent resolution was passed by an 8-0 vote. Unity? I doubt that. I believe that several of the trustees voted yes just to break the 4-4 deadlock that has paralyzed them for months. I also heard many times that the POA survey shows that 60% of the residing public wants private use. Well, I was part of that survey committee and the trustee who kept quoting 60% support for private use is wrong. It is true that in the recent POA survey 40% of the residents responded for public use but 25% suggested demolition. That means that 35% had other ideas! Just because people said demolition that doesn’t mean private use.

The trustees have made it clear that they believe only private money can save St. Pauls because residents won’t spend the money. As many people yelled last Thursday night “How do you know, you’ve never asked us!” Why doesn’t this board stop wasting everyone’s time on unsupported “plans” and determine what the majority of the residents want. This property should become the centerpiece of our community. Until they ask for our opinions, the St. Paul saga will continue for another 13 years.

Robert Bolebruch

Pitiful “Poll”

To The Editor:

The endless debate on the future use of the former St. Paul’s school continues to be a matter of great conflict in our Village. What began 13 years ago as a win-win opportunity has become a lose-lose nightmare as some of the Village Trustees continue to hold the building hostage and threaten demolition unless they get their way to sell off the building.

The situation became a pitiful joke when a “public poll” was conducted through the Property Owners Association. This “poll” was developed after a proposal for a scientific survey was denied by the Board of Trustees. The resulting effort, although well intended (?), was extremely flawed and horribly prepared. The results of the “poll” are totally meaningless, and led many people to believe it was purposely designed to “justify” demolishing the historic structure or selling it off. Despite the inept bungling of what should have been a sound public opinion poll, the “results” have continued to be adamantly defended by Trustee Mauk as his basis for refusing to permit repairs or restoration and public use by the actual public who approved a bond issue to purchase the building and grounds.

The “poll” was a joke. Even it’s defenders have admitted that it presented only vague options. Although “prepared by a PhD” (is this really a rational argument for defense of the poll?), residents were forced to chose one option among two limited choices. Perhaps not wanting to allow the public to actually participate, the “poll” was then mailed to resemble “junk mail” - with only Adelphi’s logo on the envelope. Many people complained they never received it, when in actuality, they most likely threw it out without opening it. Most importantly, in a sadly humorous version of neglect, the “poll” did not even include “recreational use” as an option. Still, Trustees Mauk and Bee ineptly claim that almost 25% of the responses voted to demolish St. Pauls.

I could have gotten a near 100% “vote” to demolish St. Paul’s. Remember -- residents were forced to chose one option among two choices. Suppose you had these choices to make:

1. I would prefer to have a dinner date with Hannibal Lecter ____ or demolish St. Pauls_____.

2. I would prefer to have my daughter become Osama Bin Laden’s new wife____ or demolish St. Pauls____.

3. I would prefer to be diagnosed with lung cancer____ or demolish St. Pauls. ____ .

4. I would prefer to have Saddam Hussein as my dad ______ or demolish St. Paul’s____.

5. I would prefer to have my heart burst open ______or demolish St. Paul’s______.

6. I would prefer to be the human sacrifice for “Wiccan Day”____ or demolish St. Pauls_____.

7. I would prefer to be given a ‘cement overcoat’ by Tony Soprano ____ or demolish St. Paul’s____.

The votes are in. Most people voted to demolish St. Pauls. I suggest the Trustees stop trying to defend and argue over the”poll”results and throw them out for the worthless fiction they are.

Robert M. Alvey

Think Outside Box

To The Editor:

I have called this great village of ours “home” for more than forty years. I remember when the streets were paved with tar and pebbles, the old library, the old hotel and even the high dive at the Garden City Pool.

Over the years some things have changed for the better and some have not. When the village had the opportunity to purchase the St. Paul’s campus they rightfully snatched it up with visions of open land for our children to play on. Unfortunately not enough real thought was given to what should become of the school.

I have now come to the conclusion that the biggest problem we face with St. Paul’s school is its size. If it is used exclusively for public use can we find enough legitimate use to justify the enormous costs of renovation and ongoing day to day expenses? Unfortunately its current net 85,000 square feet is just too great for our needs. It’s too big for a library, a recreation center or even a combination of the two.

If it is allowed to be restored and developed for private use I am afraid the enormous costs will mandate that the size of the complex be increased (especially if we insist on very expensive underground parking). As a private apartment complex, senior residence or assisted living facility, the current capacity is just too small to justify such a substantial costly renovation project.

The current footprint is too large for public use and too small for private use. Worse yet, if we allow it to be developed for private use we will forever lose the use of this priceless building. How are we to go forward? I think a real compromise with outside the box thinking is required in order to save this historic building for public use (the use for which the property was originally acquired).

Consider just for a moment reducing the size of the main building. Removing the rear three wings (I know, the clock tower and chapel included...remember compromise) would reduce the net square footage by nearly 30,000 square feet (a 35% reduction). This would give us a smaller building to restore (less time and money), lower operating costs more than enough adequate space for public use (both today and in the future) and lastly much needed space for additional public parking at the St. Paul’s campus.

While a former study said reducing the square footage did not make economic sense, I just don’t see how it doesn’t (especially when we review the alternatives). By removing the rear three wings, the square footage of roofing would be cut nearly in half. The savings on replacement windows would be far grater. These two single items could save millions alone. Most importantly it would keep the building in the public’s hands in a more affordable manner. Think of the possibilities! It’s time to think compromise!!

John Schlapp

Horrific Behavior

To The Editor:

As follow up to letters in the past two weeks about the behavior of our teenagers and the parents disregard for it, I would like to convey other incidents that occur.

It's common practice for Varsity athletes to gather the night before a game at a teammates home for a scheduled carb-loading dinner. It has a parents approval and supervision [they're providing the food] and it's wonderful to see these athletes bond as teammates over pasta. However, it's what happens afterwards that's the problem.

Before the [licensed, with cars] Seniors drive their teammates home, they take detours. First, they stop at a local supermarket where everyone contributes money and they purchase rolls of toilet paper and packages of plastic utensils. Second, they drive to various homes of students on their "hit list" and "decorate" the homes with this toilet paper. They insert the utensils in the lawns until the handle breaks off [leaving a sharp point], then insert the handle somewhere else. The toilet paper is visible to the homeowner, but the utensils are hidden projectiles just waiting to gouge a foot or knee, or break a lawn mower. This "post dinner event" occurs as often as a few times a week, depending on the game schedule.

While many parents may view this as "a harmless prank," it is very easily a prelude of incidents to come ... as the prior two letters clearly illustrated. Parents are handing children unlimited cash and not asking for an account of the spending. Perhaps if these teenagers had to "earn the money" at an after school and weekend job, they would think twice about wasting it on toilet paper, utensils and pranks.

Garden City is a very "image conscious" community, who [I feel] looks down their noses at everyone else [Witness the letter from a couple of months ago that complained about removing trees from the parking lots and referred to the "malls in Queens." When I read that I thought "get a life."]. Those who live here either have money or are "wannabes" and act/spend like they do. The perception of Garden City to the rest of Long Island and beyond is "Spoiled rich kids with PHD's" [Parents Have Dough]. The horrific behavior of the children and the fact that parents enable the children to do this by giving them unlimited money and expensive cars and ignore their "social activities" of lewdness, rudeness, property destruction, drug and alcohol use is proof. Obviously "punishment" and "discipline" are not words in parents vocabularies.

Instead of "decorating and damaging" imagine how much more productive ... how positive it would be for the "Garden City Image" if these kids donated the money as a lump sum to charities. Or bring the toilet paper and utensils to St. Anne's, St. Joe's or the other houses of worship who are always collecting items for the poor. Instead of driving around aimlessly, an accident waiting to happen, why don't they volunteer to drive Senior Citizens to doctors, stores, or church. I guarantee it wouldn't be long before the word spread across Long Island that Garden City is a town of "Good kids who care" not "Spoiled rich kids."

Name Withheld

Upon Request

Lack Of Security

Printed by request:

Nassau County Board of Elections

Gentlemen:

I have been voting at [Garden City High School] for 41 years.

Yesterday, the couple at the desk hardly knew the alphabet to look up your name. They did not give me a slip of paper to present to the lady at the booth. People on line mentioned that this was unusual. The lady at the booth was engrossed in reading a book. At this point anyone could have walked in and joined the line and voted without registering.

There was a total lack of security at this polling place.

James F. Dooley

Voters Speak

To The Editor:

In a letter on October 22, former Mayor Richard A. Benack exhorted the citizens of Garden City to vote against State Senator Kemp Hannon. He claimed the Senator was refusing to give the residents of Garden City what they want - home rule legislation for St. Paul’s. This is what Benack and a minority of residents desire. Senator Hannon deserved reelection notwithstanding St. Paul’s.

The majority of citizens in Garden City want public use for St. Paul’s. In the past election all land use measures passed in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. People realize that land is precious and finite. If the ten acres of St. Paul’s were lost to private development, then the Village would never be able to replace that land. Senator Hannon is representing his constituency by not proposing home rule legislation for St. Paul’s. The sooner the Village Board and the advocates of private development realize this fact, the sooner a resolve and action can be taken on public use for St. Paul’s.

T. Stephen Childs

No Hot Lunch At Stratford

To The Editor:

I am a fifth grader attending Stratford Avenue School. I approve of the things you have there, like the textbooks, the desks, and the special areas that we get to go to. There is only one thing that bothers me. We don’t have hot lunch! Every day, parents that have children in elementary school have to get up bright and early to make their children’s lunch. I must protest on this fact! Kids in my school often lose their lunch or forget it at home. If this occurs, they will be given not quite what you would call a “gourmet lunch.” It is saltine crackers and jelly! If you kids have ever had this, you know what it tastes like. Some people, like me, would rather not eat at all then eat that! Most of my friends, (who live in other towns) get hot lunch every single day. But not Garden City! I think all grades should get hot lunch! Not just the Middle School and the High School. It would be much easier on the parents and on the kids. The students could sometimes bring their own lunch, and if they forget it, they can have the hot lunch. I hope that people in Garden City take action, and do something about this!!!

Jillian Yoo