Outraged

To The Editor:

I am outraged upon learning that Village Trustees, at their August 18 meeting, voted to hire a consultant to embark on a plan that would result in construction of a “high end residential facility” at St. Paul’s.

This plan is another attempt at private development at this site - an outcome that a majority of Garden City residents oppose. What about obtaining a consensus of the people to learn if their opposition still exists?

Spending $155,000 for the plans and research could be a waste of time and money if private development is still a dead end. What about home rule legislation which is still a major obstacle to private development?

And placing Trustee Mauk in charge of the feasibility analysis is equivalent to allowing the “fox to guard the chicken coop.” Mr. Mauk has been an extremely passionate advocate of private development at St. Paul’s with views that often lack objectivity.

I am hereby calling for a halt to the Mauk committee’s actions until a consensus of residents gives its approval. Otherwise, we have the minority overruling the majority.

George M. Salem

Thanks For Support

To The Editor:

I want to express my appreciation to Trustees Brudie, Lamberti, and Watras for voting against the increased fee for the railroad parking fields in the Village of Garden City. I am opposed to any increase. Also, I want to express my appreciation to Trustees Brudie, Lamberti, and Episcopia for their comments as quoted in a local newspaper, which indicated their lack of support for doubling the $50 fee. Instead the fee has gone up by a slightly less unreasonable $25.

However, as I interpret his comments, Deputy Mayor Mauk seems to consider doubling the fee to be fair. After all, he walks to the station. Doubling the fee is not fair. It singles out an already hard hit group of people who have experienced two back to back increases in the Long Island Railroad fare quite recently. Not everyone is as fortunate as Mr. Mauk to live so walkable a distance from a station. Also, there are older and physically more challenged people who may have difficulty in getting to the station without a car. In addition, there are those who carry a lot of work home in heavily laden brief cases; this may slow them down as they walk; thus, their commuting time would have to be increased on an already rather lengthy daily journey every day. They can ease this journey by driving to a station.

If the Village of Garden City needs more revenue, then why not investigate other sources of income as mentioned by several trustees? It is good to know that at least several of our trustees are sensitive to the needs of the Garden City Long Island Railroad commuter. Perhaps Mr. Mauk can learn from their example the next time this issue arises.

Francis N. Elmi, Ph.D

Deeply Concerned

The following letter, by Eastern Property Owners Association President Thomas A. O'Rourke is printed by request:

Mr. Peter Palamoro

LIRR Public Affairs

Dear Mr. Palamoro:

I am writing to you in my capacity as President of the Estates Property Owners Association in Garden City and to follow up on my comments at the Scoping Session at the Floral Terrace this past June.

Our residents are deeply concerned about the Third Track Expansion proposed by the Long Island Railroad. These concerns include problems with the possibility of increased freight traffic through Garden City. While the LIRR no longer has a freight service, the New York Atlantic Railway has trackage rights over your tracks. Our residents are also against bringing the existing tracks any closer to our residents' homes.

Our residents are also deeply disturbed about possible changes to the Nassau Blvd. underpass by the Merillon Avenue Station and at Tanners Pond Road.

The current configuration of these underpasses precludes significant truck traffic and our residents are concerned that changes to these underpasses will cause increased traffic, including truck traffic that will cause greater air pollution in this area, as well as create safety issues to pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Many of our residents that use the Merillon Avenue Station have to cross Nassau Boulevard and the increased traffic that will result to changes in the underpass will be a safety problem. Also many of the students at our high school have to cross Nassau Boulevard to get to Garden City High School.

Accordingly, the Estates Property Owners Association is not in favor of the third track expansion project. We also object to the LIRR's attempt to tie grade crossing improvements that are required to improve safety at the New Hyde Park Road crossing to the third track proposal.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas A. O'Rourke