Shame On You

To The Editor:

I cannot believe that a group of six men have the authority to tear down an historic landmark of Garden City and New York State. St. Paul’s IS Garden City, a wonderful old school in the center of our Village for over 130 years.

Now I understand whey the Gentlemen’s Agreement was challenged this past election. The G.A. is permitting these 6 men to make a horrible devastating decision. Shame on you Misters Rothchild, Episcopia, Quinn, Daughney and Donnelly for robbing us of our heritage and real estate values.

Kristine Harder

Resident for 48 years

Save The Building

To the Editor:

The Garden City Historical Society and the Committee to Save St. Paul’s have an extensive plan to start to restore and use St. Paul’s. After we fix the first floor, we could bring the Village Recreation Department and Daycare center behind St. Paul’s into St. Paul’s. We could also move the Senior Center into St. Paul’s. Adelphi may be interested in a public/private partnership to use half of the building for Executive offfices and/or storage. We can do this. We can restore this building.

Terence Kenny

Save St. Paul’s

To the Editor:

As a former student at St. Paul’s, let me add my voice to those who are speaking up to save this beautiful and historic building.

Robert Gamer

Class of 1962

Franklin Lakes, NJ

A Civic Tragedy

To the editor:

With the vote on the proposed demolition of St. Paul’s School set for April 27th, I hope everybody in town will make it his or her business to vote—and I hope most of them will vote no.

Garden City stands on the verge of its own version of the 1963 demolition of Pennsylvania Station, the magnificent Manhattan landmark that has been mourned pretty much since the moment the last brick fell. In retrospect, nearly everyone sees the loss of that building as a civic tragedy that still, 47 years later, blights New York.

Let’s not make a similar mistake of our own. Particularly with the loss in recent decades of the “real” Garden City Hotel, St. Mary’s School and a number of beautiful Victorian houses, Garden City has a lot fewer landmarks than Manhattan. We can’t afford to lose what’s left.

One note, for voters either way: Those who are confined to home or obliged to be out of town on April 27th can vote by absentee ballot. Applications can be mailed to you by the clerk’s office, reachable at (516) 465-4053, and need to be returned no later than April 20th.

Gayden Wren

Abide By

Voters’ Wishes

To the Editor:

I am stunned, shocked, astonished, flabbergasted and almost speechless to learn of comments by Village Counsel, Gerard Fishberg, that a planned village-wide referendum to decide whether to demolish the St. Paul’s main building will not be binding on the Trustees. To quote Mr. Fishberg at the March 17 Board Meeting: “the decision to take the building down is a Board decision, not a voters’ decision.” And later at that meeting he added: “Let’s make it clear, it’s solely the Village Board’s decision to take the building down or not. That decision cannot rest with the voters.”

A public referendum to be held on April 27, 2011, will decide whether bonds, not to exceed $3.75 million, can be issued to pay for demolition. In other words, the residents will technically, according to Counsel Fishberg, not be voting once-and-for-all to have the final say in the St. Paul’s saga which has dominated debate in our village for 18 years.

To add to the confusion, several trustees spoke at that March 17 Board meeting indicating that they believed the voters will have the final say. Here are excerpts from that meeting: Mayor Rothschild—”The residents now have to decide what to do with the building.” Mr. Episcopia—”The decision should be pretty much left up to residents.” Mayor Rothschild (again)—”We are asking the residents for one final time to take this building down.” Mr. Quinn—”The time has come for the residents to make a decision about demolition.” Later at the meeting, Mayor Rothschild sounded less sure when he said—”It’s time to make a decision and the residents need to be part of that, and this is a way for residents to be ‘involved’.” Mr. Brudie then added—”Even if the public voted against financing via a bond, the building could still be demolished in the future.”

One thing seems clear to me—there is great confusion and a lack of clarity, emanating from the Mayor, Trustees and the General Counsel, regarding whether the voters or the Trustees will have the final say.

The outgoing Board has voted twice this year to demolish St. Paul’s main building—both by 5 in favor and 3 opposed. The first vote was February 3rd (to accept the final Environmental Impact Statement). The second vote took place at the March 17 Board meeting. Against demolition were Trustees Brudie, Cavanaugh and Watras. In favor were Trustees Rothschild, Daughney, Donnelly, Episcopia and Quinn. The second vote was explicitly to approve demolition.

Any future votes will add the newly-elected Trustee, John DeMaro, and subtract former Mayor Rothschild. It appears that with the most recent vote, which took place at the last Board meeting of the Mayor’s term, Mr. Rothschild wanted to get his “yes” vote counted in favor of demolition. As I see any future trustee votes re demolition, the count will be four “yes” and three “no” (based on the two prior votes each of the seven made on this issue). That means that Mr. DeMaro’s vote will create either a tie (to be broken by new Mayor Brudie) or a 5-3 “yes” vote. To me, a 4-4 (with a tie-breaker) or 5-3 vote would not provide a strong mandate to demolish or not.

Let the April 27 voters have the final say, and let the trustees cast their votes according to residents’ wishes. This would be the only fair and honest outcome. To go against voters’ wishes would be outrageous, undemocratic and embarrassing to Garden City’s image in the eyes of residents, the media and many other observers. In addition, it would be a body-blow to our Community Agreement form of government.

I would ask each trustee to go on record that they will honor the voters’ decision. If they do this, Counsel Fishberg’s opinion will be moot. If they do not, then the April 27 vote will be a sham, a waste of everybody’s time, and produce hundreds of extremely angry Garden City citizens.

George M. Salem

Vote On St. Paul’s

To the Editor:

Many residents will probably say it is about time we got to a vote on St Paul’s demolition. It has been 17 years of looking at different alternatives, of dealing with law suits, and finally of determining the cost of demolition.

This is an important decision and it is essential for all residents to get out and vote. It is not an easy decision. A vote to approve the bonds could mean that the historic St Paul’s building will be gone forever.

It is important that everyone know the facts when they vote.

Facts about keeping the building:

Positive

(1) A feeling of many that the building is an important part of Garden City’s history. Under no circumstances should it be taken down.

(2) There is a proposal by Save Saint Paul’s Committee’s for a $10 million renovation would put the building in the hands of a Conservancy and provide usable public space on the first floor and the chapel. And you like this idea.

(3) There must be other alternatives. I want the Board to keep looking for them.

Negative

(1) There currently is no plan to maintain the building. There is nothing in the Village budget to make repairs on the leaking roof, to make any renovations that would make the building usable or money available to heat the building. The building will continue to deteriorate.

(4) The Save Saint Paul’s Committee proposal only deals with a small portion of the building. This proposal would leave 80+ percent of the building unused and un-restored.

(5) The last financial estimate to restore the entire building exceeded $50 million.

(6) If we keep it up and chose to demolish it in the future, the cost of demolition may increase over time.

Facts for about demolition:

Positive

(1) We will end the long term discussion by the Village Board on the future of this building and provide more time to deal with other important Village issues.

(2) We eliminate a possible $50 million cost to renovate it.

(3) The resulting 3-5 acres of open space would provide the Village with room a number of future use options: more parking for the existing sports fields, space for a new park with trees and benches, or space for a new building.

(4) The space could be reserved for public use only, in accordance with its current designation as parkland.

Negative

(1) We would forever lose the unique structure that graces Stewart Ave.

(2) We would have a completely new look on Stewart Ave that will not be so pretty since you would be looking at the back of the gym when driving down Stewart Ave.

(3) There might be other solutions that have not yet been explored and demolition would prevent further options.

After years of the Village Board working to find a solution for the St Paul’s main building, they are asking residents for their help. They are not considering other alternatives at this time. Often people complain that Village Board doesn’t always listen to what the residents want. If you want to be heard, you must vote on April 27.

Jon Schwieger

Don’t Cut Library

To the Editor:

I was saddened to read in the local news that our Library budget is going to be cut due to a decrease in the Village’s contribution. I know our Mayor and Trustees are working hard to prevent tax increases and can only guess how difficult their job is. But reducing library services is never a good idea and is an especially bad choice in hard times.

I understand from reading the Library’s website that despite mandated increases in labor and state costs, the Library had already proposed a reduced budget. The budget proposed by the Library for the next fiscal year June 1, 2011 - May 31, 2012 is 6.7% less than five years ago.

Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan has said, “The importance of library services is even greater in a time of economic uncertainty. More and more people are using the Library to update job resumes, access financial information, and use our meeting spaces. The Library is an economic development engine providing resources for small business entrepreneurs and by being the destination that brings people into our Village’s downtown area.”

I agree and would add that our Library is a source of pride and one of the few local destinations that is free to all and uplifting on many levels. I urge our leaders to reconsider and look elsewhere for savings that will not reduce the Library services which mean so much to me and many of my neighbors.

Benjamin H. Mahler

Budget Reprise: Labor Contracts

To the Editor:

On January 7, 2011, I counseled the Board of Trustees (“Board”) that this was not the time to enter into new labor contracts. (Garden City News, letter to the Editor}

I said, “Nassau County is in financial distress and its government may be replaced by a Financial Control Board. This Board has the power to reopen the County’s financially irresponsible contracts and obtain concessions from the unions to close the budget gap and prevent an increase in County real estate taxes”

I recommended, “The prudent course is to wait and see what happens. By spring we should have a clearer picture. Otherwise we may be locked into multi-year contracts that cannot be changed.”

The Board rejected my advice. It agreed to give the CSEA employees a contract providing for wage increases of 1.5% a year for three years plus paying a 6% increase in their pension contribution and increases in their heath insurance premiums. It then abdicated its fiscal responsibility by giving an arbitrator the sole power to determine police wages and benefits for five years.

On March 25, 2011, the Nassau County Financial Control Board reopened the CSEA and PBA contracts and imposed not only a wage freeze for one year but eliminated any step and longevity increases. Accordingly, we will not have any increase in County property taxes.

Now the County does not have a fiscal crisis. It has a budget crisis. Its expenses are greater than its revenues. This is the same budget crisis that the Village has. The Nassau County Financial Control Board chose to balance the budget by wage freezes and not raising taxes. Our Village Board chose to give wage increases and balance the budget by raising taxes.

What lies ahead?

The Board is now negotiating with the CSEA supervisors, the highest paid union employees. If history is a guide, these union employees will receive the same wage and benefit increases as the other CSEA employees. About half of the supervisors do not pay any contribution for their health insurance. After that, we await the five year arbitrator’s award for the police wages and benefits. Unfortunately the County wage freeze for the police will not be part of the evidence before the arbitrator as the hearings have been closed. Next are the firefighter’s negotiations who also await the PBA arbitration award. They will insist on comparable wage and benefits increases as the police because they are a uniform service and are entitled to have their wages and benefits determined by an arbitrator.

Conclusion

What will it take for our Village Board to recognize the current economic reality and provide the leadership the residents need in these challenging fiscal times?

Thomas M. Lamberti

Need To Cut Administration

To the Editor:

I agree with the PTA comments in their letter to the editor of this newspaper, published on March 18th. It hurts to see that every time there is a budget cut it is to the detriment of the students. Garden City is proud of their school because of the all encompassing education that it provides for our youngsters: starting with the academics and including languages, sports, music, clubs, after school activities, etc.

We need the teachers to provide the instructions and the opportunities for the students physical, mental and emotional developments. It is time to look at the top, to the central administration, for cuts and consolidation of services. I hope that the BOE will heed the request of the PTA as well as the cry of all the over-burdened taxpayers in these very difficult economic times.

I don’t have any more children in the schools, but I still support them.

Mathilde Bellmer

Loss Of Brother Firefighter

To the Editor:

It’s the beginning of a new week with smiles for a bright and sunny day yet I sadly have been informed of the loss of my friend “Joe IV.” We’ve known each other for over thirty years and it all began when I became a firefighter in the Garden City Fire Department. Joseph Kohart IV lived on the same street as I but down a couple of blocks. “Joe IV” was also the nephew of my neighbor Diane Moody who lived across the street from us. When we first met, we would pass stories of our firefighting experiences on to one another since he had at least 15 years experience with the GCFD and I had 20 years of previous experience with my former fire department, the Glenwood Fire Co. You see, firefighters are like brothers because we grow up loving what we do, socialize often, mourn together when we lose one of us but most of all we have a common bond of looking out for one another.

Today is a sad day for I have to mourn the loss of my friend, my brother “Joe IV”. He has gone on to be with the Lord and take up his firefighting legacy into heaven. Oh yes, there’s no doubt he’s already telling his experiences to all of the other “brothers” up there in heaven, brothers from our department as well as the many brothers of surrounding departments. “Joe IV” was that kind of guy. I can recall how time and again we would knock down a beer or two and talk about the fire or emergency call we just returned from up in our “rec” room above the engine room floor. After all was said and done getting the engines and ladder trucks back in order for the next call, we’d go up, relax with a couple of brews and start to review what had been just another call of many to occur in the coming weeks. “Joe IV” was a partner in a family owned plumbing & heating supply company and as such was always there to give you a helping hand when you needed it. Finally the day came when he retired (yeah sure) and moved to Florida where he and his wife built a magnificent home, fit for a king. As time passed on we would exchange phone calls and cards along with a visit or two but it wasn’t the same as when he was just down the block.

I’m going to miss you “Joe IV” but I’m betting we’ll be seeing each other again sometime in the future just so we can reminisce all the good times we had together.

Your “Brother” and

friend always,

Thomas M. Covino

Garden City

History Exhibit

To the Editor:

Over the past year, presentations were made to each property owners’ association showing this Village’s history in selected photos. The best of these photos have been gathered into a Garden City Public Library exhibit for the month of April. More than 150 photos are on display in the library’s downstairs gallery. This is the largest and most comprehensive set of historical photos of Garden City ever assembled.

Bill Bellmer / Cyril Smith

Property Devaluation Continuation

To the Editor:

In mid-2007 the median home sale price in Nassau County was $510,000. Today it is $395,000, a decrease in median value of 23%. Include inflation and the median sale price is down 33% in less than four years - the largest price decline in the history of suburban Nassau County. Currently, there is no end to this inflation adjusted price decline on the horizon.

The housing picture remains distressed due to the large number of homes for sale, the shadow inventory of homes previously on the market and withdrawn or not put on the market because of negative equity situations, and the thousands of homes in foreclosure or soon to be in foreclosure due to government moratoriums and ill-conceived stop gap measures. The commercial real estate market is no better.

There are a near record number of homes for sale in Nassau County. Demographic pressures of the retiring baby boom generation are fostering a need to “down-size.” At the same time younger generation family formation and their ability to obtain mortgages is under great pressure as the unemployment rate rises to levels in Nassau County not seen in twenty-years. It could take several years to clear the inventory that is on the market right now. This will put continued downward pressure on home prices.

The shadow inventory of homes continues to grow as homeowners are unable to price their homes to cover paying off what they owe on them. This is also the case in the commercial real estate market. Many in this situation will be forced into “short sales” by accepting a price lower than what they owe and realize their “negative equity” paper losses. Most of these homeowners will become renters putting further downward pressure on home sale prices as another segment of potential buyers is sidelined indefinitely.

The record number of homes in foreclosure, homes near foreclosure, and homeowners substantially behind in mortgage payments has been exacerbated by government moratoriums and ill-conceived “programs” to prevent foreclosures. The foreclosure problem and the government intervention will significantly extend the time until we see a housing recovery. Banks are starting to take back more distressed properties, at substantial losses, to try to clear their balance sheets. But banks have severely curtailed the pool of qualified mortgage borrowers as they revert back to normal credit requirements. The continued large pool of foreclosed homes and strict lending requirements will put continued and considerable downward pressure on home prices for longer than anticipated.

The housing sale price situation in Nassau County is under significant duress due to factors within the housing market itself and negative economic trends and indicators. The large number of homes for sale, the large shadow inventory, and the large number of homes in foreclosure are a recipe for an extended housing price slump. Add in gasoline prices up 33% in six months, food prices up 18% in one year, ever higher school property taxes, rising interest rates, and a ruinous national economic policy, and you have a housing market inflation adjusted price slump that will continue for the next seven to ten years.

Edward W. Powers