Letters To The Editor

Lighthouse Response

To the Editor:

In response to the October 16, story “Residents Hungry For Lighthouse News,” I would like to clarify and expound on some of the key points.

The Lighthouse Development Group (“LDG”) is pleased that the Eastern Property Owners Association (“EPOA”) has taken a great interest in the Lighthouse Project. It is very important that all Long Islanders understand our mixed-use development components, benefits and mitigation. To that end, the LDG has done an unprecedented 212 community presentations to interested parties/organizations including multiple meetings with the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, the Garden City-Mineola Rotary, two Garden City Mayors and various Trustees (inclusive of Mr. Dennis Donnelly).

A noticeable omission from the above list is the EPOA. The LDG reached out multiple times to Mr. Donnelly without response. Subsequent to those unanswered calls, we were contacted by a concerned Garden City resident and a member of the EPOA (Mr. Robert Orosz), with specific questions. Our organization happily answered the questions and again offered to present to the EPOA. Mr. Orosz subsequently responded that Mr. Donnelly was not interested in a presentation to the Association.

This letter is not to debate whether the LDG has appropriate answers to the concerns raised by certain vocal Garden City representatives but to point out that the Garden City community needs to make sure it understands the Project facts. It is ok for an individual or a group to have concerns about any development in their area but it is not ok if individuals disseminating information do not have the facts and already have their mind made up.

Newsday/News12/Siena Research recently conducted a poll of Long Islanders about the Lighthouse Project that clearly indicated overwhelming support. I believe that the general population base of Garden City also supports the Lighthouse Project that includes a transformed Coliseum, a lease extension for the New York Islanders, a place for new industry and an environment to entice corporations to headquarter on Long Island, maintenance free residential options, tourism opportunities to drive local business activity and generate sales tax dollars, and roadway improvements to an infrastructure that has generally remained untouched since its construction.

Finally, this newspaper has taken an editorial position in opposition to the Project but, unlike countless other media outlets, has not reached out to the Lighthouse organization for a presentation before presenting an opinion.

Thank you,

Michael J. Picker, President

Lighthouse

Development Group

Favors Lighthouse Project

To the Editor:

Week after week, I read the Lighthouse Project articles in the Garden City News and Newsday and hope, that one day soon, the local politicians will finally make a decision. Personally, I hope they decide in favor of the project.

What’s particularly disturbing to me is that our village has publicly come out against the project and is attempting to stop it from going forward because it will hurt or compete with our businesses. As I think back over the years, it seems to me that we have placed enough roadblocks in the way of new business in this Village that we really have a lot of nerve trying to interfere with the projects that go on in other communities.

We have a long history of objecting to commercial development. For years, no new restaurants could open in the Village. I guess there was a fear that the competition of a new establishment might hurt one of the favored-few eateries already in the town. Luckily, that attitude has changed a bit. And remember when Saks tried to move to Roosevelt Field? We fought that on the grounds that the traffic in the village might get worse - and we won. Saks didn’t move to Roosevelt Field, nor did they stay in Garden City. We tried to keep a supermarket from opening on Franklin Avenue. Fortunately, Kings persevered!

When we did try to encourage development, we did it by granting tax certioraris to the developers which diminished the commercial tax base so, that a large portion of the tax burden now falls on the residents.

Stores and office space are empty because we don’t make it attractive for them to do business here, not because someone wants to develop in another community. And this has been a longstanding M.O. in our village.

Nassau County needs a boost. The New York Islanders NEED a new arena. Charles Wang and Scott Rechler have the vision, the where-with-all and the expertise to make this project successful. They want the Lighthouse to be a destination that will encourage people to live, shop, work and enjoy leisure time. It doesn’t sound so bad—-and maybe, just maybe, some of those people will come to Garden City to shop or dine.

Maureen Cornacchia

Concerns

About Wang

To the Editor:

In a front-page article in last week’s Garden City News , Art McCarthy of the New York Islanders hockey team questioned the relevancy of a 2006 Fortune Magazine article that criticized Charles Wang’s stewardship of Computer Associates. Mr. McCarthy wondered whether it was pertinent to Wang’s request to build the Lighthouse, a 3.74 billion dollar development of 42 buildings on 150 acres in central Nassau County. The Lighthouse Project, twice as dense as Co-op City’s 320 acres in the Bronx, includes renovation of the Nassau Coliseum, relatively expensive residential units and 1.5 million square feet of retail and office space.

Fortune Magazine , the New York Times and Business Week have all raised troubling concerns about the management of Computer Associates which Wang led from 1976 until he resigned in 2002. The articles questioned excessive executive compensation, overstatement of revenue and the dismissal of employees without warning during Wang’s tenure.

To illustrate, in April 2001, Business Week ranked executives who gave shareholders the most and the least for their pay. Using criteria over a three-year period, the magazine said Mr. Wang gave shareholders the least.

Eight years later is this relevant to Mr. Wang’s request to build the Lighthouse Development? Of course, it’s relevant; what’s past is prologue. If the articles are accurate that Wang engaged in questionable business practices while running Computer Associates, will he manage properly the multi-billion dollar Lighthouse Project?

Furthermore, according to Newsday , Mr. Wang is asking for 700 million dollars in federal stimulus funding. If Mr. Wang gave his shareholders the least for his pay, what will he give the taxpayers who-by means of higher taxation—will have to replenish the federal treasury by 700 million dollars?

Leo Stimmler

Supports Scaled Down Version

To the Editor:

As a Garden City resident and an Islander fan, I have been closely watching the outcome of the Lighthouse project. My family & I live in the Eastern section of Garden City and along with our neighbors, we have been waiting for the final decision on this project. The main concerns that we all have is the traffic that this project will cause along with the element of people that will be drawn to the area if the Lighthouse project were to be approved. With the current economic environment, it does not make any sense to build another shopping center, additional apartment buildings, or another hotel. Building these things would be a waste of time and taxpayers money.

As an avid Islander fan, it is hard to sit back and watch a team that is struggling to compete in today’s market. It was not that long ago that the Islanders won four Stanley Cups in a row and sold out the Coliseum every night. In order to return to their winning ways, we all need a new arena. This will help the Islanders bring in local businesses and corporations that are needed to help the team return to profitability. This will allow Charles Wang the income and flexibility to go out and build a more competitive organization. The Islanders are trying to move in the right direction. This year they were awarded the first pick in the entry draft and selected John Tavares, who has the potential to be the next great hockey superstar.

There needs to be some compromise regarding this project. Renovating the existing Colliseum along with the hotel next door and allowing a small group of stores that connect the two buildings will have many positive effects on the entire community. This will ensure that the Islanders stay here where they belong. The new arena will also help to attract popular shows and music groups . It will also help lower property taxes for local residents and create job opportunities.

By not allowing this scaled down version of this project to be approved, the Islanders will be forced to move. Nassau County will have an abandoned arena that would resemble a dinosaur graveyard. There is tremendous potential here and all it would take would be compromise. The vocal minority does not seem interested in hearing the facts. I think this letter speaks for the majority of people in Garden City and local areas and we need to be heard. Remember the saying, if you build it they will come. Thank you for your time and consideration. Everyone needs to remember, we’re all Islanders.

Jeffrey Lew

Garden City resident

and Islander fan

Sound Like NIMBYs

To the Editor:

Garden City should not always be the community that stands in the way of successful development in other communities.

Our reputation is as a strong, beautiful, successful community. Quite frankly, lately, due to some out spoken residents, we sound like NIMBYs who don’t want to see Long Island flourish and grow for the future.

There are more than just NIMBYs in Garden City, and we hope the Lighthouse developers will come back to discuss the project.

Albert Wang

Development Needed

To the Editor:

My family has been residents of Garden City for more than 9 years. My wife and I have been residents of Long Island for more than 30. We are deeply concerned about the one sided information being communicated with regards to the Lighthouse Development Project. I do agree that it is important to preserve any town as significant as Garden City and change is always difficult. I do, however, feel that without new development, prospering business and other economic stimulus that will drive businesses to Long Island, Garden City will become a village of the past.

It is important that we look at the positive opportunities provided by the Lighthouse project and work with our elected officials and the Lighthouse Development group to work through any and all concerns facing Garden City and its bordering towns.

It is important that this be done in a timely fashion, as many years and significant dollars on everyone’s part have been spent in trying to work through this. “Meet me at the Lighthouse” is not just the slogan from the Lighthouse commercials, but it is something I hope to one day say to my clients, prospective business partners, and family. My family are proud residents of this community and in full support of the Lighthouse project. The economic benefits of the Lighthouse will benefit Garden City and all of Long Island.

The residents of Garden City who stand in favor of the project need to be heard. Our voices should not be drowned out by the minority.

Thank you,

Robert F. Larocca

Development Needed

To the Editor:

My family has been residents of Garden City for more than 9 years. My wife and I have been residents of Long Island for more than 30. We are deeply concerned about the one sided information being communicated with regards to the Lighthouse Development Project. I do agree that it is important to preserve any town as significant as Garden City and change is always difficult. I do, however, feel that without new development, prospering business and other economic stimulus that will drive businesses to Long Island, Garden City will become a village of the past.

It is important that we look at the positive opportunities provided by the Lighthouse project and work with our elected officials and the Lighthouse Development group to work through any and all concerns facing Garden City and its bordering towns.

It is important that this be done in a timely fashion, as many years and significant dollars on everyone’s part have been spent in trying to work through this. “Meet me at the Lighthouse” is not just the slogan from the Lighthouse commercials, but it is something I hope to one day say to my clients, prospective business partners, and family. My family are proud residents of this community and in full support of the Lighthouse project. The economic benefits of the Lighthouse will benefit Garden City and all of Long Island.

The residents of Garden City who stand in favor of the project need to be heard. Our voices should not be drowned out by the minority.

Thank you,

Robert F. Larocca

Don’t Fight Lighthouse

To The Editor:

As a Garden City property-owner for over 28 years (eastern section), I would like to send a message on behalf of the many families who are in support of the Lighthouse project. There are many property owners who do not have the time to attend meetings nor write letters of support. Unfortunately, many of our neighbors are struggling dealing with high taxes, unemployment, and the skyrocketing cost of sending kids to college. The reality is that if we lose this development project think of all the positive, optimistic growth Garden City would turn away: job opportunities nearby, aesthetic improvements in the coliseum and surrounding area, entertainment venues, and quality housing for seniors to young people. Smart development such as the Lighthouse Project shall be the only alternative to loss of tax revenue for the Town of Hempstead, loss of more jobs, loss of the only pro sports team on Long Island, loss of further interest in even attempting to improve the area. Competition is good for business and healthy for our local economy. With a new hotel and businesses our restaurants and boutique-type shops shall attract more visitors. In answer to many of the concerns with traffic and water quality, there is on-going dialogue about these subjects and many great ideas. The Lighthouse is committed to improving traffic flow and spearhead issues with development. Who has done anything about our current traffic woes or the fact our children cannot afford to work and live on LI? The reality is if we stand still and keep the status quo Garden City will not reap the overflow benefits of this project. Rather than fighting against the Lighthouse we should find a way to work with them!

Joanne Holewa

Beneficial Project

To The Editor:

Contrary to what this newspaper and a vocal minority in this Village have put forth publicly, there are many residents and families in the Village of Garden City that support the Lighthouse project.

The benefits of this project are too significant to ignore. The developer has, to the satisfaction of the New York State Department of Transportation and Nassau County Department of Public Works, proposed substantial traffic mitigations which are long overdue Moreover, this project could not be built without the availability of an appropriate water supply or if it would be detrimental to the communities surrounding the project.

It is time for those who have neither welcomed the developer to Garden City nor sat down to speak with him to realize that appropriate dialogue concerning the project would be beneficial to our community.

Charles M. Strain

Important For Future

To the Editor:

I have listened to and read much of what has been said both for and against the Lighthouse Project. Last week’s article in the Garden City News entitled, “Residents Hungry for Lighthouse News” implies that all residents of Garden City are opposed to the Lighthouse Project. That simply is not the case. Many residents of the Village are in favor of and support the Lighthouse Project.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am an Islander fan, season ticket holder and my firm has done work for the Islanders. However, this letter is submitted in my capacity as a long time resident of Garden City, a member of the Garden City business community and a father who wants his children to stay on Long Island. The Lighthouse project will revitalize and transform the Coliseum and surrounding 77 acres of asphalt into a destination which will provide exciting entertainment venues, create thousands of jobs opportunities and provide next generation residences.

The Lighthouse Project will create thousands of jobs during its construction. Clearly this will help our local economy. However, the real importance of the Lighthouse Project is the future. Businesses will stay here on Long Island and attract many new industries to the area. This will result in keeping and creating thousands of careers and professional job opportunities. As the Lighthouse Project keeps businesses from leaving and attracts new industries to the area, surely businesses and jobs will find there way into Garden City. Most importantly, it gives our children job opportunities in the future that right now either do not exist or are quickly disappearing. Rather than our children leaving the area to find employment elsewhere, they will be able to stay close to home. Isn’t this what every parent wants?

The Lighthouse Project will also create many new residences. These residences will include lofts, condominiums and townhouses which will provide our children with affordable housing opportunities. The Lighthouse Project provides an alternative to our children leaving Long Island. The Lighthouse Project will afford our children a place to live right here in our backyard. I do not want to hear from one or more of my children that they are leaving the area because they cannot afford to live here.

The Lighthouse Project is important for our future, the future of our children and the future of Garden City. In the end, Garden City will only benefit from the Lighthouse Project.

Jim Haggerty

Shocking Conditions

To the Editor:

I recently attended our EPOA’s public meeting which featured a presentation on the proposed school bond. Quite frankly, I was shocked to see the photos of the conditions in our schools. It was something I would not be surprised to see in a ghetto school, but NOT in Garden City!

How did we get to this place? Obviously the answer is... the budget. Maintenance has been short changed so that more funds could be allocated to increasing personnel and implementation of the latest educational “fads” - at the risk of the safety and well being of our children.

The School Board and the PTA need to put more focus on the safety issues. Every year when the school budget is drafted, a review should be made of the necessary maintenance expenditures, to ensure that they are included in the budget. I would encourage the parents who currently have children in our schools to participate in this review process. They should make their voices heard and insist that sufficient funds be budgeted every year for their children’s safety and well being.

Joseph Davis

Supports Bond Issue

To The Editor;

The Garden City PTA would like to mention two important events taking place on Tuesday, October 27th: the School Investment Bond Vote and the PTA’s NurtureShock speaker.

As most of the public is hopefully aware, October 27th is the date of the Garden City School Investment Bond vote. The Executive Committee of the Garden City PTA strongly supports this bond as we feel this truly is a responsible “investment” in our children’s as well as our community’s future. We feel the safety concerns as well as the space issues that are addressed in this bond are extremely important to ensure the integrity of our school district’s programs as well as the well-being of our community’s future: the children.

As part of its responsibility to its members and to the community, the PTA will actively monitor the progress of the work if the bond is passed. PTA will continue to facilitate communication between the community, district administration and the board of education regarding all aspects of the bond.

We encourage everyone to educate themselves regarding the bond and get to the Garden City High School gymnasium on Tuesday, October 27th anytime between 7am and 10pm to vote. Information on the bond can be found on the school district website at www.gardencity.k12.ny.us.

At 7:30pm on the same day and in the same place, the PTA will be hosting our Health Awareness Night speaker - Ashley Merryman, co-author of “NurtureShock”. This provides the community a great opportunity to be able to vote on the investment bond in the High School gym and then simply walk across the hall to the High School auditorium to hear a great speaker. We hope to see the community on October 27th!

The Executive Committee of the Garden City PTA

Bond Helps

Music Students

To the Editor:

The Garden City community has the opportunity to significantly improve the education of our children by casting your vote on October 27 in favor of the proposed school bond referendum. One of the many issues covered in the bond are significant improvements to the music program at the high school. You may not be aware that there is no classroom available at the High School for the bands to hold their instruction and practice. Consequently, the band classes have been held in the auditorium. Unfortunately, these students are “bumped “when ever there is a presentation or assembly which requires use of the stage. Valuable instruction time is wasted to relocate students and faculty to other less desirable locations that have included the library, and even the hallways. Instructors waste precious classroom time reconfiguring and moving equipment, and instruments to hold class. It is unfair to students who require use of the library, as well as our musicians.

The proposed bond will create a long overdue solution to this burdensome problem for our students by relocating and expanding the music programs. It will provide more classroom time for our students and enable them to practice together or in small groups as the need arises. The auditorium will become more available for rehearsals of the middle school and elementary schools during their holiday concerts, if the high school band classes are not being held there. Additionally, the bond provides for a multipurpose room at Homestead School to be used for music and art. On behalf of the Garden City Friends of Music, we support the proposed school bond referendum and encourage all residents to vote “yes” on October 27, 2009 from 7am to10pm at the Garden City High School gymnasium.

Linda Martinez, President,

Garden City Friends of Music

A Reasonable Alternative

To the Editor:

There is a proposal to demolish St Paul’s School at a cost of about $10,000,000. As architect for Eskar Ltd of London, England, I offer the following alternative:

We will renovate the building in accordance with our 2007 response to the RFP at no cost to the Village. This proposal (which we agree to modify as listed at the end of this letter) includes the following salient features:

1. We do not require and have not asked for any subsidy from the Village.

2. We will pay taxes, not PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) but actual taxes. After speaking to the Village Tax Assessor we estimated our taxes to be as follows: Luxury Apartments: 67,495 X $5/SF = $337,475

Townhouse Taxes: $11,200,000 x 0.02 x0.37 = $ 82,880

Total Annual Taxes $420,255

We also offered the following ground lease payment:

Ground Lease: $250,000.

Therefore our total annual payment to the village is: $670,255

We naturally expect that taxes go up through the years, but have no preconditions about the success of our investment. We will simply owe the Village the legal taxes each year.

2. The important spaces of the South Wing on the first floor and the chapel are to be renovated and designated for Community use.

3. We will renovate St Paul’s School in accordance with the Federal Tax Incentive Program. Willingness to use the program assures a superior quality of completion.

4. We have offered a ground lease that will pay the Village $250,000 per year. We have asked for the right to buy the ground lease after five years for $5,000,000. This figure is based on the reasonable and ordinary value of a ground lease. We thought it would appeal to the town, but if not, we are content to keep paying the annual rent and allow ownership to rest with the Village.

5. We plan to build 46 luxury rental apartments and 8 middle-income apartments within the existing space of St Paul’s School. No expansion of the building itself is planned, but our proposal does include ten new townhouses in the rear of the property. The middle-income apartments (for Village employees) were planned as an inducement for the Village; a Senior Center or Village administrative offices can easily be substituted if the Village prefers that use.

6. 75% of the rental apartments will be marketed for people over 55 without school-age children.

7. We plan to use geothermal energy for heating and air-conditioning to eliminate the pollution and cost of fossil fuels.

8. We have engaged one of the leading lighting consultants in the world to ensure sensitive interior and exterior lighting.

9. All the required parking is underground, except for Townhouse parking, which will be enclosed within the individual townhouses.

Furthermore, we propose the following changes to our original proposal:

1. Eskar has replaced their previously mentioned local partner, The Litas Corporation, with HRH Construction. HRH will serve as Construction Manager.

2. Eskar has agreed to a 99 year land lease so that the Village retains ownership.

3. Eskar will house the Village Library (or other Village function) in the Community Space of the First and Second Floors with the chapel serving as a reading room. (The chapel would make a great courtroom)

4. Eskar will offer the School District Offices (or other Village offices) approximately 20,000 SF in the Lower Level.

5. Eskar will agree to negotiate pre-construction changes in the occupancy so that certain Village uses can replace all or part of the proposed residential occupancy. This can dramatically affect the forthcoming vote on the bond issue for school renovation. The schools can be installed in St Paul in lieu of residential occupancy.

The Village has announced that they will not pay for heat in the building this coming winter. This could cause tragic interior damage. Eskar has offered to pay for heating starting when they are designated as developer of the project.

I would very much appreciate hearing from residents who are interested in this alternative proposal.

Bernard Marson

Need To Look

At Proposal

To the Editor:

Next week we will vote on a $36.5 million school bond. In a few months we will be asked by the Village Board to vote for a $10 million bond to demolish St. Paul’s. That’s $46.5 million within 6 months.

In 1993 the Village passed an $8.5 million bond for the purchase of St. Paul’s. In 1999 the village passed a school bond for $38 million.

Hmm...each of these proposals taken alone makes sense. When you put them altogether though, you can’t help but scratch your head.

First we spent a lot of money to buy St. Paul’s and next we will be asked to spend a lot of money to rip it down. All the while, we have ongoing legitimate needs that must be met to maintain excellence in our schools. It seems that there is an opportunity for coordination here...

In the current school bond proposal, approximately $1 million will go towards renovation of the Administration building and many millions more for the creation of special needs classrooms. Hemlock, Homestead and Locust are inadequate and in need of many repairs. $4.7 million for Homestead alone! The needs are enormous and the School Board has done a great job in prioritizing to focus on the most pressing expenses. But $36.5 million is still a lot of money.

St. Paul’s is too expensive to repair. That’s why some want it torn down- it’s hard to believe that anyone would want to tear it down for the sake of tearing it down. But, if we could take a holistic approach whereby we put all the Village’s needs on the table at the same time, maybe we could improve our excellent schools, save a landmark and be cost effective. Maybe we could consolidate into a district wide primary school and locate it in St. Paul’s... maybe the administration building could relocate there as well...maybe we could have a world class special needs center instead of shoe-horning it into existing space... maybe we relocate the library... maybe we could then sell off the properties and increase our tax revenues and maybe we could return money to the Village treasury. The possibilities are exciting and endless.

There are undoubtedly many reasons why this plan won’t work but, there are 46.5 million reasons why we need to look at it or other alternatives.

We understand that the Village Board has received a proposal from a qualified buyer to renovate St.Paul’s for educational uses which would provide a turn-key solution to our educational needs. This buyer would pay for the renovation of St. Paul’s and lease it back to us for numerous community uses - a Village Hall, Village Library and maybe even a school.

We need to figure this out. The Middle School is already using the St. Paul’s fields so there is already a degree of cooperation between the Village and the school administration. Let’s take that cooperation to the next level.

Eric and Virginia Schwenk

Vote For Change

To The Editor:

Edward Mangano (edmangano.com) is the County Republican Legislator representing #17 (Bethpage) and isrunning for Nassau County Executive under the Republican Pary and the newly created Tax Revolt Party lines. Ed is asking for everyone’s support and vote to allow him to implement his plan to make changes needed to restore Nassau County as a place where we could all want to live, work, afford to raise a family and retire. Ed has a plan to stop wasteful spending; freeze and fix Nassau’s broken tax assessment system saving millions of dollars annually; repeal Nassau’s home energy tax and, most importantly, create jobs and opportunities in Nassau County.

The question is can we afford four more years of tax and borrow under the Suozzi administration. Did you know Nassau County increased the property tax levy in the major funds by $32.7 million in fiscal year 2009 or 4.2% and planned further increases of $31.6 million in the year 2010, $64.5 million in the year 2011 and $98.7 million in the year 2012? These facts can all be found on the Nassau Interim Finance Authority Report website, page 5 item 11. The report also states that the County has burnt through $217 million in critical emergency funds since 2004 to finance recurring expenses. Infact the drawdown of reserves will negatively effect the municipality’s ability to borrow in the future. Despite its underlying wealth, Nassau County is rated well below almost every other comparable county in the nation. The report states that, “Most ‘A’ rated counties are smaller and poorer, in fact, the only other large County that we could find that is rated as low as Nassau County is Wayne County, Michigan, which includes the city of Detroit.”

Now one may ask where has all the money gone? Well it’s gone to generous union contracts, Suozzi appointee, increases in salaries and benefits over the years for Suozzi and his executive staff. During Suozzi’s last term he spent most of his time canvassing the state looking for votes for a position in Albany. In 2010 Albany will be getting a new governor and other state officials. I am sure that Mr. Suozzi will again be an absentee County Executive if reelected. I would also urge everyone to read the Long Island Press article pertaining to how the Suozzi administration deals with whistleblowers @www.longislandpress.com/2009/08/06/skeletons in the closet.

On the question of property tax assessments, the system is opaque, mismanaged and broken. Although according to the recently appointed Nassau County property tax chief assessor, who never lived in Nassau County or paid estate taxes in Nassau, states that residential property is “fair and accurate.” The new assessor is blaming the broken system on the people and the law firms who file their grievances. If the system was fair and accurate then why is the County paying refunds of $90 to $100 million annually using borrowed money? In fact the new chief assessor, Mr. Thaddeus Jankowski, recently stated in the Nassau County Assessment Administration System Review report, May 29, 2009, that he is encouraging on site inspections by the assessment review commission for those properties filling challenges in order to discourage those appeals. In other words, homeowners will have to give up their right to privacy, which is a constitutional right, in order to file a local tax assessment grievance or be denied.

There is a better way and that way is Legislator Edward Mangano for Nassau County Executive.

Bob Orosz

Rethink Permit Fee

To the Editor:

After reading last weeks letters regarding the new permit parking fees I am compelled to add a few comments. As a manager of one of our small businesses I am given a permit for safety and security reasons. I do daily banking with deposits and change orders. If I lose my permit I either have to walk four blocks to the bank or get my car in non restricted parking a block away back by the railroad tracks- Not Safe!

Also lets think of what happens if businesses do not renew their permits. A lot of cars will then park in two hour parking spots for the whole day. (I see it now) This takes up needed spots for our patrons. If they can not park they leave and therefore results in lost revenue for our businesses. Are $150 permits worth that loss? Please rethink this new policy.

Lysa A. Jaramillo

Excellent Article

To The Editor:

After reading the article written by Paul Manton, “It looked like a picture out of a fairy book,” all of the memories of that day came back to me.

I was a young mother of two children (one a new born) living in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, not far from Prospect Park where the pilot was trying to land the plane. He almost made it when it came down on a busy street. The loss of life not only on the plane but in the street was devastating. I watched the TV (along with thousands of people across the country) for hours in disbelief. My heart was broken to think that the one survivor was a young boy, alone. He was taken to Methodist Hospital where my own children were born. I prayed that somehow he would survive but it wasn’t meant to be. It was especially sad because of the Christmas holiday so close (I remember a man selling Christmas trees was killed). I could not remember that the boy ever was able to speak at all but when I read the words that he did speak, I felt that he remembered something beautiful before the crash and not the horror of it all. Like so many others, I too moved away to Long Island but I will never forget the cold December day so long ago.

I thought that Paul Manton wrote an excellent article of a terrible tragedy. I was happy to read that a plaque was placed in the lobby of Methodist Hospital in memory of Steve Baltz.

Mrs. Loretta Rivah

Donate Your Stuffies

To the Editor:

I know from experience that anyone trying to donate gently used stuffed animals finds it almost impossible to locate an organization that will take them.

I was unable to find such an organization in our area for the many stuffed animals that my daughter collected over the years, although most of them were in mint condition. Fortunately, through the internet I found Loving Hugs.

This organization collects new and gently used stuffed animals for distribution to children in hospitals, orphanages and refugee camps in countries devastated by war, natural disasters and poverty. It was founded in 2007 by Wendy Clark after she received a letter from a soldier serving in Iraq. She calls the animals “hugs” and they are professionally cleaned prior to donation. You can ship your “hugs” to Loving Hugs in Littleton, Colorado via any shipping company but Loving Hugs offers a discounted rate through UPS.

Anyone with gently used stuffies to donate can find Loving Hugs on the Web at www.lovinghugs.com, including additional information about the organization and complete instructions. Their phone number is 303-948-0552. The photos alone of the children with their “hugs” are worth a million words.

Christine Mullaney

Great Pool Staff

The following letter was sent to the Garden City Pool:

I am writing this letter to commend each and every one of your staff on their understanding, effort, and overall awareness of children with special needs.

Our experience this summer at the pool has been quite enjoyable. The pool provides an environment where we feel comfortable and our children are accepted and appreciated for who they are, no matter what the disability.

Our son, Michael, wanted to try the slide and we were unsure if the activity was feasible. Your staff provided a safe and educational process for him to learn how to use the slide just like his peers. They worked as a terrific team in spotting him , teaching the rules, and the importance of obeying them. The staff was kind, understanding, and quite motivated to help. As a result Michael is now able to use the slide just like the rest of the children in the community. We are so incredibly proud of him!

It is quite unusual for our family to find staff at a public venue that provide such exceptional support, patience, and understanding. Please thank each and every one of them for the extraordinary job well done! Because of your superior management and staff with exemplary lifeguard skills, each and every child in the community can enjoy the pool regardless of a disability.

With kind regards,

Melanie & Andrew Donus