Latest Murraygram Seeks Stimulus Money For Coliseum Redevelopment
She shoots. She Misses. She hits Hempstead Town residents in the head with a scheme to end all Town Hall schemes: A Petition drive to secure federal stimulus money for the Lighthouse Project.
Forget that there is no stimulus money available for this project, and that, as of the latest list of projects released by the NYS Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet, not a single request for stimulus funds has been submitted by or on behalf of the Town of Hempstead, Supervisor Kate Murray, apparently kicking off the election season a bit early, is at it again -- sending out some 40,000 Murraygrams, at the taxpayer's expense (of course), urging residents to sign a Petition (to be sent to Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi), to secure stimulus money for the purpose of renovating the Nassau Coliseum.
Okay, so the County Executive has absolutely zero control over federal stimulus dollars -- nada, zippo, naught. And anyone, including the Hempstead Town Supervisor, is at liberty to submit a project proposal to the NYS Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet. But never mind the facts.
"Put Islanders fans first," said Murray, in a Town-issued press release that briefly appeared on the Town of Hempstead's website.
How about we put the taxpayers first, Kate? Using public monies to finance private projects? Sort of like Citibank using federal stimulus dollars to buy the rights to name Citifield, only worse.
Newsday calls Murray's ploy "smoke-and-mirrors." We call the shenanigans that go on at Hempstead Town Hall, shameful.
We realize that all politics is local, and that the Supervisor has her sights set on re-election -- or higher, should she be the GOP choice for County Exec -- but that three-ring circus act at Hempstead Town Hall cannot go on. The days of fooling all of the people all of the time in Hempstead Town -- and using their tax dollars to perpetuate the hoax -- are over.
"shovel ready," Kate? Oh, you bet it is!
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Newsday.com
EDITORIAL
Hempstead plays a stimulus smoke-and-mirror game
Stimulus dollars here, stimulus dollars there. Everywhere stimulus dollars are being used by state and local politicians as window dressing to mask their refusal to make tough choices. The latest example of this charade is the petition drive to get federal dollars for the Lighthouse Project, the big redevelopment proposed for the Nassau Veterans Coliseum and the area surrounding it.
At least in Albany, there are real bags of dollars from Washington specifically designated for Medicaid, education and transportation projects. The Democratic leadership, however, used the money as a stopgap to avoid politically difficult spending cuts. In Hempstead, Republican Supervisor Kate Murray is perpetuating an even bigger stimulus fraud with her petition, mailed to 40,000 homes, pretending there is federal money that could be used to renovate the Coliseum. (It's not too early to note that this is a local election year.) This ploy seems to be a way for Murray to shift blame if Islanders owner Charles Wang follows through on his threat to move the hockey team off Island if Hempstead fails to approve the entire project, not just the Coliseum renovation, by October.
The town can't identify any pot of stimulus money available because there isn't any. We've asked. And could you imagine the national ruckus if taxpayer dollars were used to renovate a sports stadium - especially when the developer plans to use private financing?
Murray's flier says the Coliseum is a "shovel ready" project. The only thing shovel ready right now is what the elephants in Hempstead just dropped in this mailing.
Copyright © 2009, Newsday Inc.
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Friday, April 03, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Excitement Builds In Elmont
Assemblyman Tom Alfano Has High Hopes For Elmont's Resurgence
We are pleased to bring you an Op-Ed post by Assemblyman Tom Alfano, whose 21st AD includes Elmont.
- - -
Step Up. Clean Up. Take Pride In Elmont.
Excitement is building. Momentum is going our way. Consensus grows. The will is there. That’s how you could describe the continuing work surrounding Hempstead Turnpike and the vision that has been developed and nurtured.
When you look at Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, you can’t help but be very bullish on its future. Unlike many communities where NIMBYISM reigns to the detriment of progress, Elmont says “let’s hear what you have to say.” Where some places you get shouted down at the mere mention of economic development, Elmont listens.
What exactly is happening in Elmont? In a word, progress. But there are many challenges ahead that call for creative solutions. The foundation for Hempstead Turnpike’s success can be found at Belmont. The ideas and interest from developers have caught the imagination of everyone. The State’s economic feasibility study is in its final stages, community input has occurred, recommendations from stakeholders have been taken into account, and a plan that is viable, and makes sense, is being developed for the property.
The goal of this new Elmont renaissance can be simply stated. We need to create good paying jobs, expand the tax base and attract business that will rejuvenate the entire Hempstead Turnpike corridor. To make this plan work, the Belmont property and surrounding area must be shovel-ready and have a “can-do attitude.” It also needs elected leaders to rise above partisanship to get the job done.
Over the past couple of years, over $5 million dollars has been channeled to the community through the Restore New York grant process. These two grants have been targeted towards the Argo Theatre and Hempstead Turnpike Streetscaping programs. Both projects are complimentary in nature and will provide a necessary facelift to the area. But more needs to be done.
We need to clean-up the area. That means businesses and people have to take renewed pride in their community. We need to pick up the trash, clean up the graffiti and have a zero tolerance for any action that lessens the quality of life.
There must also be renewed, consistent code enforcement, state and local, that is proactive in nature that sends the message that the Elmont community is reclaiming its neighborhoods. Buildings can no longer fall into disrepair and be ignored while the community at large is forced to look the other way to avoid disgust.
Absentee landlords have to clean up their properties and understand that Elmont is not a cash cow where you just pick up the check and drive away. The days of landlords irresponsibly renting and selling properties to non income generating entities must end. In Elmont’s case, homeowners can’t continue to have properties come off the tax rolls and have the tax burden shift to them any longer.
Government must play an active role as well. The Governor must renew the Empire Zone legislation and the Senate and Assembly must pass it without delay. Empire Zones are a critical piece in the economic development puzzle that help foster job creation and attract business. Empire Zones help business with building, energy and construction costs and tax incentives. Further, they assists expanding businesses with employee costs and expansion planning and development.
Next, the Governor, Senate and Assembly have to end the turf battles and allow the free market to reign by allowing Video Lottery Terminals not only at Aqueduct, but also at Belmont. Let developers, in concert with communities, put together development plans that create good paying jobs, fulfill a community need, and, in the case of Belmont, cross pollinate and help horse racing.
Unlike many issues where communities draw the line in the sand and protest issues, a general consensus has been built in the case of Elmont. This consensus was forged through the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development and through a visioning process that took input from every corner of the community.
What needs to be done now is simple. From the Governor’s office, to our Town and County, leaders have to take off their partisan uniforms and remember that in this game we are all on the same team. The team is Elmont and we cannot afford to lose this once in a generation opportunity.
Tom Alfano,
Assemblyman, 21st AD
- - -
Have a view to express, about Elmont, or points east on our Long Island? Well, if it concerns our quality of life, it concerns us at The Community Alliance.
Write us with your thoughts, comments, and suggestions at thecommunityalliance@yahoo.com. Guest blogposts, expressing all viewpoints, are most welcome.
We are pleased to bring you an Op-Ed post by Assemblyman Tom Alfano, whose 21st AD includes Elmont.
- - -
Step Up. Clean Up. Take Pride In Elmont.
Excitement is building. Momentum is going our way. Consensus grows. The will is there. That’s how you could describe the continuing work surrounding Hempstead Turnpike and the vision that has been developed and nurtured.
When you look at Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, you can’t help but be very bullish on its future. Unlike many communities where NIMBYISM reigns to the detriment of progress, Elmont says “let’s hear what you have to say.” Where some places you get shouted down at the mere mention of economic development, Elmont listens.
What exactly is happening in Elmont? In a word, progress. But there are many challenges ahead that call for creative solutions. The foundation for Hempstead Turnpike’s success can be found at Belmont. The ideas and interest from developers have caught the imagination of everyone. The State’s economic feasibility study is in its final stages, community input has occurred, recommendations from stakeholders have been taken into account, and a plan that is viable, and makes sense, is being developed for the property.
The goal of this new Elmont renaissance can be simply stated. We need to create good paying jobs, expand the tax base and attract business that will rejuvenate the entire Hempstead Turnpike corridor. To make this plan work, the Belmont property and surrounding area must be shovel-ready and have a “can-do attitude.” It also needs elected leaders to rise above partisanship to get the job done.
Over the past couple of years, over $5 million dollars has been channeled to the community through the Restore New York grant process. These two grants have been targeted towards the Argo Theatre and Hempstead Turnpike Streetscaping programs. Both projects are complimentary in nature and will provide a necessary facelift to the area. But more needs to be done.
We need to clean-up the area. That means businesses and people have to take renewed pride in their community. We need to pick up the trash, clean up the graffiti and have a zero tolerance for any action that lessens the quality of life.
There must also be renewed, consistent code enforcement, state and local, that is proactive in nature that sends the message that the Elmont community is reclaiming its neighborhoods. Buildings can no longer fall into disrepair and be ignored while the community at large is forced to look the other way to avoid disgust.
Absentee landlords have to clean up their properties and understand that Elmont is not a cash cow where you just pick up the check and drive away. The days of landlords irresponsibly renting and selling properties to non income generating entities must end. In Elmont’s case, homeowners can’t continue to have properties come off the tax rolls and have the tax burden shift to them any longer.
Government must play an active role as well. The Governor must renew the Empire Zone legislation and the Senate and Assembly must pass it without delay. Empire Zones are a critical piece in the economic development puzzle that help foster job creation and attract business. Empire Zones help business with building, energy and construction costs and tax incentives. Further, they assists expanding businesses with employee costs and expansion planning and development.
Next, the Governor, Senate and Assembly have to end the turf battles and allow the free market to reign by allowing Video Lottery Terminals not only at Aqueduct, but also at Belmont. Let developers, in concert with communities, put together development plans that create good paying jobs, fulfill a community need, and, in the case of Belmont, cross pollinate and help horse racing.
Unlike many issues where communities draw the line in the sand and protest issues, a general consensus has been built in the case of Elmont. This consensus was forged through the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development and through a visioning process that took input from every corner of the community.
What needs to be done now is simple. From the Governor’s office, to our Town and County, leaders have to take off their partisan uniforms and remember that in this game we are all on the same team. The team is Elmont and we cannot afford to lose this once in a generation opportunity.
Tom Alfano,
Assemblyman, 21st AD
- - -
Have a view to express, about Elmont, or points east on our Long Island? Well, if it concerns our quality of life, it concerns us at The Community Alliance.
Write us with your thoughts, comments, and suggestions at thecommunityalliance@yahoo.com. Guest blogposts, expressing all viewpoints, are most welcome.
The Community Alliance
Common Sense Solutions For Common Community Concerns
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