Deterioration

Of Looks

To the Editor:

We relocated to the Estates Section of Garden, City about 34 years ago. Generally we have been satisfied with the operation of our Town and rather enjoy its good looks and order. However, what appears to be an attempt by a company named Next G, to coerce our Town into capitulating to Next G’s wish to install what seems to be their unsightly equipment, throughout our Town, must be stopped. I would like to think that our Town leaders would not do anything that could deteriorate the good looks of our town. Nor would they think of capitulating to Next G’s request to install their equipment throughout our town and especially in our residential areas.

D.R.St.Jacques

Beauty Lost?

To the Editor:

I was so proud to be from Garden City Thanksgiving morning, standing in front of St. Paul’s, waiting for the Turkey Trot to start. All those people, gathering for a good cause on a beautiful morning, with St. Paul’s as a backdrop. Then I remembered: I was looking at a dying building. With the heat and water turned off, it’s a matter of time before St. Paul’s is no more.

How did Garden City come to this? I was in high school when the original hotel was torn down; in college when the library was. I thought losing those historic, beautiful buildings would wake residents into keeping Garden City the unique town it’s designed to be. Garden City was built by one man as a vision. Alexander Turney Stewart is a historical figure who built a whole town—the first bedroom community. Garden City was unique. I have lived in many places since I graduated from Garden City High School. When I said I was from Garden City, people who knew it would always say, “ Oh, Garden City, that’s a beautiful place.” You know what the last person I told said? She said, “Oh Garden City, that’s where Roosevelt Field is!”

So St. Pauls will burn down, or fall down. It will be replaced by big, ugly houses or by some municipal building designed by the same class of architect who gave us the high school, town hall, or library. Garden City seems to give employment to architectural hacks.

You might as well live in Great Neck.

Laura Harder Wall

No Comparison

To the Editor:

The recent letter relating the state of St. Paul’s to the renovated Courthouse on Franklin Ave. requires comment.

What is now called the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, commonly referred to as the “Old Courthouse”, continued to be used by the County as office space (it was never “dormant”) until the start of renovation in 2002. The extensive and beautiful renovation was completed in February 2008 (not 2003) at a cost of $63.5 Million of the County’s money, under the direction of the County Executive and approval of the Legislature. It is questionable whether this money would have been appropriated if it had been put to a vote of the County residents. In any event, the money was spread over the whole County, rather than a similar amount being spread over the only residents of Garden City for the restoration of St. Paul’s.

St. Paul’s now faces a much larger problem than the effects of a decision not to heat it, the lack of which is endured by many vacant buildings without ill effect (hardly “government sponsored vandalism”). The recent study of lead contamination from the flaking of 100 years of lead-based painting gave a concentration of 9,500 micrograms/square foot in the second floor hallway, where the acceptable limit is 40. Samples taken in nine other locations showed readings between 230 and 1,700. For this reason, no one can now enter the building, including prospective restorers. No cost has been obtained for remediation, but now that the problem has been uncovered, it will substantially complicate any renovation.

As I have previously suggested more than once, nothing prevents those who think that the building should remain heated from donating the funds to the Village for that purpose. To date I have seen a lot of posturing but not one dollar in donations.

The Village intends to check the sentiment of the residents with the anticipated bond referendum for demolition. It will be a yes/no answer of the type originally called for by the opponents of Avalon Bay. My prediction is the defeat of the resolution, as the majority of residents can still no more afford to spend tax money on demolition than on renovation. So the previous letter writer will get what he suggests by default - the building will sit, slowly deteriorating, until a portion of the roof (the weak point of any building) collapses and soon only a shell is left to admire.

Bill Bellmer

Debt Unsustainable

To the Editor:

Garden City’s budget season is upon us, and it is more critical than ever that residents get involved. According to public filings and Garden City’s planned bond offerings, our village and school debt will have increased from $40 million in 2005 to $90 million in 2010 (roughly $10,000 per household).

This debt is an obligation and commitment specifically of Garden City. We are taking on debt at an unsustainable and unprecedented rate of $10 million a year. In addition, based on my discussions with town officials (and soon to be filed financials), we now have roughly $200 million ($22,000 per household) of unfunded employee healthcare retirement commitments. It is these promises which eventually toppled GM, a company I researched as a financial analyst for 15 years. Some may say this $200 million is not debt, but a court will say it ranks equal with debt. This $200 million could even be viewed as worse than debt because it grows and its annual interest cost is higher than our bond debt. The argument that Garden City’s debt ranks low compared to other New York towns does not weigh our employee healthcare retirement commitments and ignores the fact that NY State is in trouble. I hope our local government will make it a priority to stop increasing our debt and then to reduce it (like Mineola), since even the current levels could already make it unappealing for people to move to Garden City.

However, I believe our Trustees need resident input to seriously address the issue.

As if the debt increases since 2005 were not enough, in addition our taxes have increased faster than inflation (4% a year) and our roads and schools have not been maintained to historical standards. Now we are left with a combined (school & village) roughly $290 million of debt, compared with $140 million in tax receipts, and at risk of interest rate increases. These obligations could also make it harder for us to fight other economic interests that threaten our community and to preserve historical landmarks like St. Paul’s. How did we get here? Labor costs have grown to over 60% of our costs, and they continue to grow faster than spending on our infrastructure (i.e. capital projects). This trend has to change or tax increases will accelerate, maybe dramatically, and this will turn away new and existing residents from our neighborhood. Lower home prices could then make our already high taxes less bearable. It is a slippery slope which we should be nowhere near. Articulated properly, my experience has shown that the unions will understand that a healthy Garden City is in their best interest.

Still, the onus appears to be on the residents to tell our Trustees we do not want to increase our debt. I think it is by far the most important issue for our town, but I need help conveying the seriousness of this increase in our obligations and commitments. If you agree, it is best for residents to speak up at the bi-monthly Board of Trustees meetings at Village Hall and/or the monthly POA meetings in your section of town.

Letters to the Board of Trustees appear to work too. Since the budget season is upon us, now is the time to get your voice heard.

Ron Tadross

Diversion & Local Control

To the Editor:

How diverting! Diversion of sewage, and Local Control of villages and special districts such as park districts, water districts, fire districts, sewage districts, and all other municipalities and special districts were the cause of Tom Suozzi’s defeat.

All Long Islanders in Nassau and Suffolk well-know that Americans got rid of their former autocracy and its would-be panjandrums back in the late 1700s when we booted out King George and established our democracy where the people have control of their destinies and their governance.

Julian Kane, Hofstra

professor (retired)

Science Scholar, and

Parking Violation Summons

To The Editor:

I received yesterday a Mineola Village “15-minutes meter-parking” summons. The summons and my personal check, made payable to the Mineola Justice Court, for $40.00, are enclosed.

Received the summons in conjunction with keeping a 10:00 am appointment at the Winthrop Medical Building at 222 Station Plaza North. Free parking is provided for Winthrop patients in the adjoining parking lot. In my case, when I arrived at 9:50 am, the lazy parking attendant had closed off access to the lot with a “Lot Full” sign. I counted 4 parking stalls available but the lot attendant was too “busy” sweeping about with a broom to reopen the lot. Upon waiting several minutes (along with two other motorists), I pulled away and located a metered parking spot on 2 nd Street, immediately around the corner from the medical building. I put a quarter in the meter and it registered 15 minutes. I then added a 2 nd quarter - the meter accepted it and I walked off believing I had 30 minutes parking time on the meter. Okay, so that was my misunderstanding and mistake.

For the record, I returned to my car at 10:23 - exactly one minute later than the issue time of the summons (officer Goldstein states it was issued at 10:22).

Whatever the case, I believe assessing a $40 municipal parking fine for curbside metered parking - even in the best of economic times, is egregious ($15.00 for 15 minutes of expired parking time would seem to be appropriate and fair). And I think for a lot of people, imposing a $40 fine for exceeding “15 minutes” parking during a prolonged economic recession is truly a particularly nasty gesture.

My family and I have been frequent and steadfast customer of five (5) of your Village’s merchants for the longest time: King Kullen Supermarket on Jericho Tpke (we shop there twice or more times per week); the Citigo gas station at the corner of Jericho and Roslyn Road (usually once per week); the Entermann's bakery outlet at Roslyn Road and Jericho Tpke (generally on Saturdays) and the CVS pharmacy - and before CVS opened, the Walgreen pharmacy - both pharmacies are located at the intersection of Jericho Tpke and Roslyn Road, and the local McDonalds, located directly next door to King Kullen.

My family and I do not have to support your merchants by shopping in Mineola.

As a gesture of our extreme displeasure with the $40 parking fine, we are now imposing an economic “fine” of our own on your Village - a six-month boycott of the above-five Village of Mineola merchants. They each are being copied hereon so they will know why. And the reality being that it is highly unlikely we’ll ever return to most of those stores, as I expect our relationships with new merchants outside your Village will be cemented fairly quickly.

Stephen Corriss

Similarities

To the Editor:

Recent tragic revelations about three American icons, Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi, and Michael Jackson show many similarities. They all were very rich, super famous, and unbelievably talented in their professions. All had fathers who pushed them from childhood to become perfectionists. They relentlessly made them practice and made all their decisions for them while growing up. They made them believe that golf or, tennis, or singing and dancing was the most important thing in the world. All three were admired and placed on pedestals by the whole world. When faced with life’s challenges they all made bad decisions. Some abused drugs, and some resorted to obsessive damaging behavior. All sought to keep their lives private and surrounded themselves with enabling staff or friends. Some may have resorted to buying off people who knew of their sordid behavior. I feel sorry for all of them.

John R. Brooks

Baby Items Needed

To the Editor:

This Saturday and Sunday, December 12th and 13th, St. Joseph’s Church will conclude its 19th Annual Spiritual Adoption Prayer Crusade with a Village-Wide Baby Shower. The donated baby gifts and items will be delivered to many of Long Island’s award-winning maternity centers in time for Christmas.

Earlier this year in March, parishioners of St. Joseph’s began a nine-month prayer program, dedicating themselves to pray daily for babies who were in danger of abortion, and also to pray for the babies’ mothers and fathers. This weekend the prayer program culminates with a Baby Shower to help the mothers in caring for their newborns.

For Christmas 2009, the centers are in particular need of these baby items: layettes, baby blankets and towels, crib sheets, disposable diapers (new born through toddler), cloth diapers, wipes, infant Tylenol, infant Motrin, pacifiers, digital thermometers, nail clippers, Purell hand sanitizers, baby bottles, diaper cream, shampoo, and baby wash.

For toddlers, clothes, pajamas, underwear, and socks are needed.

And lastly, for the new mothers, there is a need for sweaters (sizes medium and large), pajamas, large adult bath towels, toiletries, and Metro Cards.

Shower Gifts can be placed in designated Christmas Boxes at the doors of the church or auditorium following all Masses tomorrow and Sunday.

Over this past year, maternity centers have offered their love and support for mothers who find they are facing uncertain futures for their unborn babies. These organizations are staffed by caring professionals who provide 24-hour, confidential crisis counseling, pregnancy testing, medical assistance, housing, and clothing - all without fees. The main goal of these groups is to provide mothers (and fathers) with a chance to choose life for their babies instead of abortion.

St. Joseph’s Parish thanks all Garden City residents for their continued support in this most worthy cause to support efforts to assist mothers who value the sanctity of all human life.

In closing, if any reader of The Garden City News is experiencing an untimely pregnancy or may know someone who is, she or he can speak confidentially and non-judgmentally to any of the following maternity centers here on Long Island:

• Birthright - 516-785-4070

• Life Center - 631-243-2373

• Mommas House - 516-781-8637

• Mother of Good Counsel Home - 516-223-1013

• Regina Residence/Catholic Charities - 516-223-7888

If you are in need of confidential post-abortion counseling (for women and men), please call Project Rachel at 631-722-4335.

St. Joseph’s Respect

Life Society

Thank You

To the Editor:

Thank you to everyone who contributed in some way to our project of delivering meals to homebound senior citizens and people in need on Thanksgiving afternoon. Through the generosity of so many, we were able to provide 60 dinners to families in need and 240 dinners to homebound senior citizens throughout Nassau County, each accompanied by a visit!

We are grateful to everyone who contributed in some way - by donating food, beverages, or money, roasting a turkey, making a dessert or bread. We are grateful to the Cathedral Nursery School and the Garden City Music Academy for their collections, the Garden City Community Church for their support, and to all the children who made cards and letters in their CCD class, Girl Scout Troop, or classroom. We are grateful to Mrs. White’s art classes at Stewart School for, once again, decorating the bags in which the meals were delivered in. We are grateful to all those who helped us pack up the meals on Thanksgiving morning and those who helped us deliver them that afternoon.

We are appreciative of the generous support from the following organizations: Kiwanis of County Seat, Garden City Special Police, Rotary Club of Williston Park, Friends at the St. James Restaurant, Restaurant Depot, St. Joseph’s Human Services, the Garden City Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Garden City Middle School Sunshine Fund.

We were overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity this year, in gifts of time as well as money. We were able to pass on that generosity, by providing the Mary Brennan Inn with our extra food donations, and bringing the extra money we had collected to Waldbaums for their “Feed a Family” program. How fortunate we are to live in an area that thinks of others, often before themselves.

We are honored to coordinate this program, which only continues because of your generosity. We wish you all a blessed holiday season!

Melinda and John Alford