Busing Change Consequences

The following letter is printed by request:

Dr. Robert Feirsen, Ed.D.

Superintendent Of Schools

Garden City School District

Sir:

I am writing in regards to the school busing situation and the numerous consequences such a policy change will bring to the children and families affected.

My six year old daughter has been taking the bus to Hemlock School for the past year. Based on your policy change (anyone residing at a distance of under one-half mile from school is no longer eligible for busing), it appears that our home is now two houses short of the line where busing becomes available to us, so my daughter will watch our neighbors board the bus while she cannot. I am against the policy change in general and I am disappointed with the manner in which the District has implemented it.

My concerns are as follows:

• My daughter is six years old; regardless of the criteria set by the State, I doubt most parents in our community will let his/her child walk to school unattended and cross those streets at that age. Let's please stop referring to them as 'walkers'; they will be driven to school.

• The Village owns the buses; what is the point of this if we, the citizens and taxpayers of the community, do not have a say in how they are used or what route they should take?

• As a working parent, my mornings start quite early and are literally timed to the minute. I now have a 20 minute coverage gap between myself and my babysitter. I have to rearrange an already hectic schedule to accommodate the policy change, and with very little warning from the District.

• What of the safety of the children at school or the added responsibilities placed on the staff charged with watching who these children will come and go with? Mrs. Bellovin now knows everyone but her pair of eyes is only so good when you add 40-50 (or more) students and their multitude of care-givers.

• My daughter truly enjoys the social aspect of riding the bus. Although I understand it's not an intended consequence, I feel it is a bit cruel to now deny her of something she considers to be such a positive part of her educational experience.

• The inevitable increased traffic and the potential for accidents with adding so many more cars, especially on inclement weather days, is particularly worrisome.

• Lastly, this hardly fits into our recent push to 'go green'. When you add the amount of emissions from several hundred cars across town that will increase versus the school bus that is already passing through these areas... only the terms 'contradictory' and 'lacking common sense' come to mind when we think of some of the examples we set for our children.

I understand the administration was concerned about State regulations, but I feel an in-depth study of exactly what the repercussions are should have been executed. If it was, it should have been published, or at least have been part of the budget vote. Further, I think it would be reasonable to grandfather in those students already riding the bus, at least until they leave their current school.

Although it may be a losing battle, please stand with us to fight for what's right for both the taxpayers and for our children. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Lehnert-Schultz

DEIS Too Vague

Printed By Request:

Mr. Robert Schoelle

Village Administrator

Dear Mr. Schoelle:

The Officers and Directors of the Central Property Owners Association submit this letter to address our concerns regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Study for the proposed demolition of the Historic St. Paul's School. Overall, we feel that the document is entirely too vague and therefore does not provide enough information for the residents of Garden City to really understand the scope of the demolition review process nor does it provide assurances that all of the public comments will be openly discussed and incorporated into the final study.

Within the DEIS, there is a section entitled "Potentially Significant Adverse Impacts" which is extremely important in terms of assessing and truly evaluating the negative effect demolition would have to the community. This section includes seven bullet items to be considered, yet only five are briefly mentioned in the draft report. Specifically, one area not mentioned is "Public Health and Safety" which is astonishing given that this is an environmental impact study. The second area not included is "Community Character." To most of us, St. Paul's is considered the cornerstone of the village, frequently referred to as the "jewel" and/or "icon" of Garden City. Under these circumstances, most would think that the character of the community would be severely impacted if demolition was enacted. Again, we question why these items were omitted in the draft report.

One of the bullet items in this section entitled "Impact on Historic Resources" was briefly mentioned and indicated that the services of a qualified historic resource consultant will be employed for this analysis. As noted in the draft report, St. Paul's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a significant fact that must be highlighted to the residents. Therefore, we feel strongly that the historic consultant employed should have the credentials and expertise to merit this assignment. The draft report provides no details on the recruitment process for this consultant. Further, it has now been released that the Village has selected an individual, David Bernstein, an Archaeologist to serve in this role. As qualified as Mr. Bernstein may be in his field of study, we question if he is the most qualified person to evaluate the potential adverse impact of the demolition of St. Paul's. Also, we would like to know who was responsible for selecting Mr. Bernstein as our consultant for this study.

Lastly, the draft document is very weak in the section entitled "Reasonable Alternatives to be Considered." This is a serious matter for the Village of Garden City and we believe that every measure should be explored before presenting a referendum to the residents on demolition. The modified EIS must incorporate comments and suggestions from the public and must seriously address the options for stabilization and preservation for a future use. Will there be a mechanism for releasing all public comments in accordance with the protocol established for this process and when will the final report be issued?

We ask the Mayor and Village Board of Trustees to fulfill their responsibility to the residents of Garden City of full disclosure and transparency as the demolition review process unfolds. Ultimately, this decision should be in the hands of the residents and they deserve to be informed of all available information. Thank you for your time and consideration of these very important issues.

Pat DiMattia

CPOA President

Time Has Come

To the Editor:

I thought the Village of Garden City just had a vote, to settle this fifteen plus years of bickering, on the demise of the St. Paul Building, just recently? It seemed to me (after 40 years in this community) that this "problem" had been resolved.

Well, I guess it is far from over. Yesterday I received what I consider a post card (postal permit #133) announcing "The Garden City Historical Society" is sponsoring "A Saint Paul's Forum". It is being held at the Cluett Hall Complex, no less. All of the four guest speakers are identified as being associated with Preservation, Antiquities, Technical and Grant Programs, etc. In addition to the "Brief presentation and a limited Question and Answer session"; all are invited to the Garden City Historical Society Museum.

On the front side of this post card is a picture of the "beloved St. Paul" with the dedication inscription on the card. This inscription can very well be installed and viewed in the GC Museum. What really strikes my eye is the bottom of this picture of St. Paul is; "in memory of" inscription by Henry Hilton in the year of our Lord MDCCCLXXXIII. That was very memorable of Henry. I wonder if as he looks down on this earth of ours if he knows what his great-great etc. etc. granddaughter is doing with his money. Not to mention his name.

I have all of the empathy in the world for those wanting to keep St. Paul. But let us face reality, especially under the present situation we are in, in this country. We have a President at this time that does nothing but blame the past administration for his shortcomings and poor selection of his administrators. Not to mention overseas trips degrading the country he has sworn to guide, direct, protect and council. He has selected a Vice-President who speaks his mind but now has a muzzle on his mouth. To add the number three in line for the Presidency (yes the Speaker of the House) I do not think has a brain in her head.

Now let's go to our state and local governments. New York State as a state has been a total embarrassment to all of us & in the Nation. The party controlling the state since the previous Governor and the present Governor and the Assembly does not even know what shoe to put on what foot. To make matters worse our county government is not far from that point. And our almighty village is not far from the above.

Where do we find these self-centered politicians who only think of them selves and not the people they are sworn to represent. Somewhere along the line we have had a "Generational Disconnect". They do not know history, so how can they make a knowledgeable plan for the future. I am looking at 80 soon down the road. I am a child of the Great Depression. My family was on WPA in Brooklyn. Yet they were able to scrap up the few pennies needed to send me to a Catholic Grammar School. That school has just recently been closed because the Parish can not afford it. What ever is going to happen to it, I have no idea. By chance that school is the same age as St. Paul.

Our President is throwing money around like rain drops & snow flaks. Yet his appointed administrators do not have the foggiest notion as to where it is going. The result is print more money. You really do not have to be a rocket scientist to know what that means. I guess he does not realize or know this means devaluation of the dollar.

We borrow from the likes of China which has its own world agenda. We borrow the money we paid China to manufacture those items for the jobs we lost here at home. And then purchase back those same goods. We think about China's military build up. Who do we think is paying that bill? We are.

Let me get back to St. Paul. Over my 60 years of employment I planned for my retirement. That included my family and me. I set a goal. When I retired in 1994, it looked like a good solid plan. But I was still a little on the skeptical side. So for the next several years I did consulting work in my field. You can equate it with a squirrel's activity for a long winter. Well here I am my wife and myself in glorious Garden City. What has happened to my bottom line in retirement?

My bottom line seems to have eroded. Each year it gets worse. We seniors whether we voted for this President, Governor, and County Executive etc. etc. we are stuck with them. The Governor wants to close the Star Program. The teachers want more money; the Police are also into our pockets along with everyone else. And it goes on and on BUT yet no one is accountable?

Who is going to support that Building on Stewart Ave.? I am sure those that are for saving it will pay their FAIR share. BUT what about the majority who do not hold St. Paul's as a "Holy Ground". Do they have to pay for what they do not want? I can assure you that what is going on in all levels of government and St. Paul is going to come home to roost.

Like St. Cecilia Grammar School in Brooklyn, its time has come. Like all of our time will some day. So to, has St. Paul's time. That time really has long passed and cost us all dearly over those years.

Michael Falabella