Flim Flam # Two

To The Editor:

Let me give one last opposing viewpoint (at least for a while) on the St. Paul's problem. Our mayor (or who ever writes his column in the Garden City News) has again come to us with lots of information on how much square feet of space is available for our use in our village. There is, however, little or no information on when it's available or what conditions we might have to put up with in order to use that space. (I repeat! Think school rooms full of desks and what they would charge to move chairs in instead). Let's start with the school system. It is not available for our use during the same hours that a community center should be and if that space is free, Mr. Mayor, why are we required to purchase a one million dollar insurance policy along with an application for a use permit? We continue to get what I consider DISINFORMATION on the use of the ADELPHI campus. Yes! There is plenty of space: every kind of space except Parking space. If you can't park there you can't use the buildings, Mr. Mayor! Our Field House at St. Paul's is mentioned. This is an enormous barn-like building suitable for holding a thousand or so people but completely unsuitable for small groups. We would like SOME ambience for our meetings and club luncheons, Mr. Mayor, please. The Mayor's column again refers to the about 150 year old Village water works. Now, he states that it has a potential of 10000 sq. ft., about 100' x 100'. That sounds great but when do we get it if we get it. Major interior work would be required to get a certificate of occupancy for, let's say, the 300 people who might fit into 100'x100' and major exterior work is currently absolutely necessary just to use this building now. As I said in a previous letter, there are NO parking fields, curbs, sidewalks, lighting, or safe useable walkways. The Mayor is also teasing the public with promises of putting these costs in the budget. Years ago, there was a budget item to enlarge the Senior Center on Golf Club Lane. It was deferred year after year and finally dropped.

What's to stop that same thing from happening again? If we give St. Paul's to the developers before we complete the renovation of the Water Works, we, the residents, will assuredly lose the use of both buildings.

If you have similar feelings, I would urge you to consider supporting the Committee to Save St. Paul's. They are a growing group of dedicated civic minded people who are working gratis and/or with their own money to make Garden City a nicer place for us to live in.

Al Urban

Property Is The Jewel

To the Editor:

At the risk of driving regular readers of these letters to distraction, I offer the following thoughts on the subject of the St. Paul's property:

At the present time there is no evidence that the majority of citizens of our Village support any particular plan for the development of St. Paul's despite claims to the contrary made directly or indirectly over a substantial period of time.

I submit that the real jewel of Garden City consists of the St. Paul's property alone: approximately 38 acres of playing fields (as is) and an additional 12 acres or so of wooded, shady, undeveloped land, no schoolhouse or any other structure, no additional traffic, parking lots or commercial activity of any nature, just an undeveloped plot of 50 acres or so of open land. What community in the metropolitan area has anything comparable?

Vincent J. Maroney

Why Is Library Open?

To The Editor:

Upon leaving the Garden City Library last Tuesday, I was surprised and chagrined to read a posted announcement that the library will be open Saturday, November 11, 2006, Veterans' Day. This date, November 11, is a federal holiday, as well it should be.

We are at war! Our men and women in the military have defended us in all our past wars and they do so today.

Why is the Garden City Library open on this day that our country holds so sacred? Within sight of the library entrance is a monument dedicated to the veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

There appears to be some confusion in commitment when one views the Memorial that honors the brave men and women who fought and died in those wars, on the one hand, and the village's decision not to close the library but rather to conduct business as usual, on the other hand.

Ann M. O'Dwyer