Check out this week’s Smart Talk where we reflect on another pedestrian fatality in Miller Place, highlight Smart Growth principles helping Patchogue’s revitalization, report on Sandy repairs and studies underway, and more…
February 26th – March 4th, 2017 |
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Rivkin RadlerThrough three offices and 160 lawyers, Rivkin Radler consistently delivers focused and effective legal services. They are committed to best practices, requirements that go beyond professional and ethical standards. Many clients have been placing their trust in them for more than 25 years. Unwavering commitment to total client satisfaction is the driving force behind the firm. They are the advisors-of-choice to successful individuals, middle-market companies and large corporations. Rivkin Radler’s attorneys are leaders in legal, business and political arenas. Many attorneys have received Martindale Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® ranking, signifying that “a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Their attorneys are recognized as leaders by peer-review programs including Best Lawyers/U.S. News & World Report and Super Lawyers. The Firm is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Their attorneys and professional staff occupy leadership roles in many organizations. They have been named among the Top 100 Private Companies on Long Island by Newsday, and are consistently ranked among the New York Law Journal’s 100 Largest Law Firms in New York. The Firm is proud to have received Advancement for Commerce, Industry & Technology’s Commitment to Excellence and Leadership award. |
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Miller Place Teen Struck and Killed on Dangerous RoadwayTragedy unfolded this past week when a 14-year old teen was struck and killed by an SUV at the corner of Miller Place Road and Route 25A in Miller Place. The incident occurred around 5 pm when Nicolo Signore and a group of his friends were riding their bikes through the intersection. Nicolo, the last in the group, was fatally struck by 52-year-old Jessica Doyen, also a Miller Place resident. Ms. Doyen stayed on the scene until police arrived, but Nicolo did not survive the accident. This intersection has long been a concern for the local community, with numerous fatalities and accidents occurring in recent memory. Miller Place Road and 25A is a fairly typical suburban arterial intersection in that it’s part of a larger system that puts the fast movement of automobiles ahead of safety. While there were improvements made to the intersection in 2013, local residents say that they did not go far enough in addressing safety. The speed limit in the area is 45 mph both in the areas east and west of the commercial area where there are few driveways or potential conflict points. However, the speed limit is not reduced as one gets closer to the intersection where there are many driveways and turning motions being made in and out of the numerous shopping centers and gas stations. A pedestrian or cyclist struck at 45 mph has a 60-85% chance of being killed. Even though the posted limit is 45 mph, the road itself has a seemingly higher “design speed,” which is the speed limit a road appears to suggest based on how wide the lanes are and distance between curbs. And while there are bike routes nearby, they disappear at dangerous intersections, leaving cyclists to fend for themselves. Friends of Nicolo’s family have set up a GoFundMe page to help them in this tragic time. If you’d like to contribute, you can do so here. You can see News 12’s coverage of the tragic incident here. North Hempstead to use $44 Million in FEMA Funds for Dock and Park RepairsNorth Hempstead has allocated $44 million in funds from FEMA as well as almost $5 million from the state to effect repairs towards local parking lots, town parks, the Town Dock, and other damages sustained during Superstorm Sandy. The money will go towards 15 separate projects, including two parking lots that were repurposed for debris collection during the storm. These two lots, one at North Hempstead Beach Park and the other at Michael J. Tully Park, both held more than 18 tons of trash and tree limbs, which damaged the pavement. “When you pile that much debris on top of each other, it creates pressure, which creates heat, and there was damage and fires,” according to Tom Devaney, the town’s grant coordinator. The largest project on the slate is $20 million in reconstruction for Town Dock, which was flooded out in the aftermath of the superstorm. The new dock will be reinforced to better handle major storms and will include a taller dock and new drainage system. The new steel pilings will also be treated to better resist water corrosion. “We’re talking about making the dock more resilient. The last time it was renovated was 1978,” said Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “We were hit really hard by superstorm Sandy, and that’s why you’re seeing this number being so much higher than before.” The process will involve North Hempstead first approving bond measures to generate the needed funds and then receiving reimbursement from FEMA. Supervisor Bosworth is hopeful that the initial bonds will be approved. Vision Long Island supports the move to shore up infrastructure to prevent future storm damage, especially at a time when federal funding is becoming scarcer. “Municipal budgets are stretched so having this project subsidized by the federal government is just smart planning and a smart investment on their part,” said Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island Director. You can read more on this story here. Smart Growth in Patchogue Contributing to Successful RevivalBusinesses continue to flock to Patchogue Village’s Main Street as the one time bedroom community continues to be a success story for Smart Growth on Long Island. Since 2014, Patchogue has seen over 700 new apartments constructed in their downtown, which has served to bring in new residents and customers while booming business. The Village is also in prime position to act as a layover spot for travelers and tourists with proximity to MacArthur Airport, a ferry to Fire Island, and a LIRR station. There are hopes to have a hotel built on the western part of Main Street soon, as the Brookhaven Hospital’s Carroll and Henritetta Swezey Medical Pavillion may vacate their current location are relocate to the former John J. Foley facility in Yaphank, which has been purchased by Brookhaven Hospital. Multiple businesses have opened their doors since November of last year and more are expected by summer. In the past two months alone a new cupcake shop, SmallCakes Cupcakery and Creamery, oyster bar Catch, and Flight, a bistro-style restaurant, have opened on Main Street. These businesses will soon be joined by a new gift shop, Ellie J & Company, and branches of expanding Long Island eateries Swell Taco and Local Burger, all three of which are in the process of opening. “Patchogue has become a true tourist destination and an alternative to the Hamptons for an extended weekend getaway,” David Kennedy of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce said. “We’re establishing some new retail to create that vibrant mix that you want to see in any community.” Patchogue is also seeing some interest from the burgeoning craft brewing community on Long Island. The Patchogue Brewing Experience is looking to open this summer as well as the Great South Bay Distillery. The distillery would be a first in an urban setting on Long Island and would feature a tasting room that would sell locally sourced produce to create vodka, gin, whiskey and bourbon. Blue Point Brewery is also gearing up to expand into the recently vacated Briarcliffe College campus. This is all in addition to the recent $1 million renovation of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, which features Broadway-type shows. You can read more on Patchogue’s revitalization here and plans for the new distillery here. |
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Housing Development Considered for ColiseumRXR Realty is currently in talks to develop part of the Nassau Coliseum site currently being renovated in Uniondale. RXR previously partnered with New York Islander’s owner Charles Wang to pitch the Lighthouse, a mixed use development on Coliseum’s site, over 10 years ago. The current project was originally set to be developed by Nassau Events Center and included an 180,000 square foot retail and entertainment complex. However, NEC pulled out of the plans after an $85 million grant was approved for two parking garages at the Coliseum. “The county’s successful efforts to secure state funding for structured parking have freed up 19 acres at the site for much more productive uses,” according to Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. “We are in the process of revising plans for the site to assure the garages provide a maximum benefit to the project and look forward to presenting those plans in the coming months.” Since then, RXR has entered into talks with NEC to partner and develop a mixed housing and office space property on the Coliseum’s acreage. It is estimated that RXR would take the lead in developing up to 500 rental apartments on part of the property. These changes would require changes to the lease as well as approval by the County Legislature. According to the current lease with NEC, Nassau is slated to receive 8% of gross revenue from the retail and entertainment proceeds, or a minimum of $400,000 a year. It had been estimated that revenue would generate more than $60 million in sales tax for Nassau. You can read more on this story here. Hurricane Barrier Feasibility Study Begins on South ShoreOfficials from East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Freeport and Long Beach recently met with the Nassau County Village Officials Association to provide an update on the possibility of movable storm gates for the South Shore. According to Clifford Jones, chief of planning for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ New York District, a study is now underway to determine the feasibility of the project. The analysis will take about three years and cost roughly $3 million. The Army Corps of Engineers is also looking to fortify the nine miles of the Long Beach barrier island between the East Rockaway and Jones Inlets along with another nine miles of coast of Jones Inlet and the Western border of Amityville. “If we don’t continue to fix the problems, or at least reduce the risk of the problems in the areas, then we’re going to lose the cohesiveness of our communities and lose that resiliency,” said Mr. Jones. The barriers themselves would be two doors that would swing closed when seawaters begin to rise or about two hours before a predicted storm. The doors would be absorbent and would sink to become a barrier once full. Gates would be open once flooding receded. The $3 million price tag for the study is expected to be paid for with $1.5 million in funds from the federal government, $1 million from New York State, and $500,000 from Nassau County. You can read more on this story here. |
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Long Island Business Council, Chambers, Vision to Hold Joint Meeting on March 9thPlease join us for the next meeting of the Long Island Business Council, Co-Sponsored by Vision Long Island, Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce & Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers. The meeting will take place on Thursday, March 9th, 2017, at the East Farmingdale Fire Department, 930 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Special Guest Speakers will be NYS Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Senator Phil Boyle, Suffolk County Exectuive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory, and Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. Please RSVP to 877-811-7471 or ck@visionlongisland.org. Attendance is free for Long Island Business Council Members, all others must indicate payment method when registering. Online Registration is available here. Save the N36 Rally & Press Conference to be Held by the11518Please join the11518 as they stand in solidarity with elected officials to call on Nassau County and NICE to restore the n36 along with the recent bus cuts across Nassau County. This is the only mode of public transportation in East Rockaway! The following elected officials will be joining he rally: NYS Senator Todd Kaminsky, NYS Assemblyman Brian Curran, Nassau County Legislator Laura Curran, Nassau County Legislator William Gaylor, and officials from the Village of East Rockaway, the Village of Lynbrook, and the Village of Freeport. The n36 runs from Lynbrook, to East Rockaway, Oceanside, Baldwin and Freeport. It is the ONLY bus route in East Rockaway and connects the community to other bus transfers. A lot of residents use this route for work, school, doctor’s appointments, and even leisure. With a lot of communities focusing on downtown revitalization, restaurant districts, and ways to a good urban planning concept, there is a need to have reliable access to all modes of public transportation, and this includes buses. You can go to event’s Facebook page here. The 2017 Complete Streets SummitPlease join us for the 2017 Complete Streets Summit on Thursday, March 30th, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM at The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, located at 7180 Republic Airport in Farmingdale. This event consists of a contingent of chambers of commerce, civic associations, local governments, engineering and professional trade groups, transit advocates and members of the public who want safe streets for all modes of traffic. The group looks to coordinate Complete Streets planning efforts, communicate on finding opportunities for local projects, and act as a clearinghouse for information and lobby with a united voice for safe roadways. Past Complete Streets Summits, held at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in Farmingdale, have been gatherings of government leaders, planners, engineers, nonprofits and other community stakeholders who support policy changes to design roadways for all uses – not just automobiles. The Summit was a chance to remind participants of the campaign’s significance. Online registration is available here. You can also register by contacting Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242 or ck@visionlongisland.org. Long Island Coalition for the Homeless to Hold “Have a Heart for the Homeless” Candlelight VigilPlease join the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless at their “Have a Heart for the Homeless” Candlelight Vigil on April 4th, 2017 from 6:30PM – 8:30PM, in the Multi-Purpose Room in Roosevelt Hall at Farmingdale State College. The participation of every person who cares will make a difference. Let us show that Long Islanders want to eradicate homelessness and hunger that exist in our affluent society. Please wear RED! There will be free hair cuts, face painting, story time for children, balloon animals, a candlelighting ceremony, and more. Your group can also help by conducting drives to collect NEW baby items, toiletries, cleaning supplies and non-perishable foods. You can check out the 2017 Vigil KIT that includes everything you need to conduct a successful drive here. You can also join as a sponsor of this important event. Sponsorships include opportunities for Information Tables at the event, as well as company logo on all Vigil T-Shirts! A sponsorship brochure is available here. You can contact Ksusha at 631-464-4314x123 or kcascio@addressthehomeless.org visitwww.addressthehomeless.org to answer any questions you might have. |
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Suffolk County Releases Guidelines for Downtown Revitalization GrantThe Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning has released the new set of guidelines for Round 15 of their Downtown Revitalization Grant Program. The grant will be made available for downtown and downtown-adjacent capital improvement projects. Guidelines include:
You can review the guidelines in full as well as the scoring system here. A sample resolution and the full Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizens Panel for 2017 is also available at the link. Questions concerning applications and eligibility can be forwarded to Heidi Kowalchyk at 631-853-5925 or by e-mail at heidi.kowalchyk@suffolkcountyny.gov. Applications must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, May 26, 2017 by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning. Technical Assistance Grants for Affordable Solar Projects AvailableNY-Sun is now accepting applications for the Affordable Solar Predevelopment and Technical Assistance program. This new funding opportunity supports the development of solar projects for multifamily affordable housing and community solar projects serving low-to-moderate income (LMI) households, with up to $200,000 for each approved proposal.Many LMI households are unable to access benefits from conventional residential solar installations. To help expand access to solar benefits for LMI households, NYSERDA is seeking proposals for projects leading to:
Projects related to on-site solar installations for owner-occupied houses are not eligible for funding through this solicitation. However, NY-Sun provides support to LMI homeowners through the Affordable Solar Program. Applications may be submitted by local governments, affordable housing, community organizations and service providers working to make solar accessible to LMI communities in New York. NY-Sun will accept and review applications on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted. Visit the program webpage for more details and the application. If you have questions about the solicitation, please email affordablesolar@nyserda.ny.gov. DOE Solar in Your Community Challenge GrantThe Solar in Your Community Challenge is an 18-month, $5 million prize competition to support community-based solar programs and projects aimed at providing solar access to low and moderate income communities. The Challenge is aimed at supporting innovators across the U.S. to create scalable solutions that will bring solar to nonprofits, LMI households and local and tribal governments. Selected teams will be provided with seed funding as they complete milestones, receive technical assistance from an online marketplace of qualified experts, and compete to win final prizes from May 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018. If you are interested in learning more about the Solar in Your Community Challenge and forming a team, please visit the program webpage. The application deadline is March 17, 2017. This program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative and is administered by SUNY Polytechnic Institute. |
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![]() Long Island Coalition for the Homeless Seeking Part-Time Housing CoordinatorThe Long Island Coalition for the Homeless is seeking applicants for a Part-Time Housing Coordinator for our main office in Amityville. This position requires a strong ability to understand policies and regulations; work with clients and systems to gather required documentation; manage record keeping and reporting duties; utilize Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Excel. Local travel will be also required for this position. Benefits include paid holidays. The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless must conduct criminal background checks on candidates prior to offering employment for this position. Interested parties should submit a resume and salary requirements via email to gguarton@addressthehomeless.org. Please do not call the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless regarding this position. Questions should be submitted via email only. You can download the full job description here. Intern with Vision Long Island!Vision Long Island is looking for interns! Our staff likes to say we “wear many hats,” and interns will have to do the same. Interns will assist with planning, design, outreach, event planning, writing, research, attending meetings, reporting, photography, video and more. Bring your unique skill set to the table! We are looking for energetic and conscientious individuals with an interest in urban/suburban planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people and learn about the issues impacting Long Island. Strong writing skills a plus. |
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What’s happening on your Main Street this weekend? |
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NASSAUBaldwin
Bellmore
Freeport
Garden City
For information, visit their website. Glen Cove
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve
Great Neck
For information, visit their website or call 516-439-5218
Hicksville
For information, visit their website or call 516-822-7505 Long Beach
For information, visit their website. Manhasset
Oyster Bay
For information, visit their website or call 516-922-5032 Port Washington
Tickets and more information available here Bow Tie Port Washington Rockville Centre
For information, visit their website or call 516-766-0300 Roslyn
Sea Cliff
For information, visit their website or call 516-671-0090 Seaford
Westbury
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SUFFOLKAmityville
Bay Shore
Cold Spring Harbor
East Hampton
For information, visit their website or call 631-324-6850 East Islip
Huntington Village
For information, visit their website or call 631-351-3250
Islip Village
Northport
Patchogue
Port Jefferson
Port Jefferson Historical Society For information, visit their website or call 631-473-2665 Riverhead
Sayville
For information, visit their website or call 631-563-0186
Smithtown
For information, visit their website or call 631-862-6575 Southampton
For information, visit their website or call 631-268-2494 West Sayville
For information, visit their website. |
Trump Calls for Infrastructure Spending in Congressional AddressIn his first Joint Congressional Address President Trump committed to $1 trillion in infrastructure spending on American roads and bridges…… “Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land,” Trump said of the initiative. “To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States — financed through both public and private capital — creating millions of new jobs.” |
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Smart TalkEditor: Newsletter Contributors: We strive to provide continued quality publications like this every week. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. Vision Long Island Home | Contact Us | Donate | About Us |