To our Smart Growth supporters,

Without a doubt, 2011 has been the most successful year for the Smart Growth movement on Long Island. Progress has ranged from large-scale policy changes like the NYS Complete Streets law to the smallest-scale local project approvals like The “C” in Freeport. Community visioning projects have also advanced across the Island. Dozens of mixed-use projects have been designed, approved or built in the past 12 months. And local elected officials have demonstrated enormous leadership in pushing Smart Growth ideas forward.

The Smart Growth movement on Long Island is supported by a collective group of residents, business owners, environmentalists, young people and others just like yourself who are concerned with local land use patterns, downtown revitalization, infrastructure investments, safe streets and neighborhood vitality.

We hope you will consider making an end-of-year contribution to Vision Long Island, so that we can continue to work effectively for progress in communities across Long Island.

Vision Long Island is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and relies on donations to run programs and work in communities. With your contribution, you can assist the Smart Growth movement and help put principles into practice. We are asking our friends and partners to each donate as little as $50-$100 this holiday season. It’s tax deductible and, with a large enough grassroots participation level, these donations will help our organization thrive in 2012.

Here’s a reminder of just some of the work Vision has taken part in this year:

• 10th Annual Smart Growth Summit in November: The conference drew 1,000 participants and featured 110 speakers, 15 breakout panels, the fourth annual Youth Summit & Charrette, about 50 participating elected officials, speeches by U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and CNU President John Norquist, great networking and much more. Read full coverage of the event here.

• 10th Annual Smart Growth Awards in June: Over 650 attendees gathered to honor a dozen people, projects and policies advancing Smart Growth on Long Island, including Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Hoyt’s leadership on passing the NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act, Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone for the Wyandanch Rising project, the Westbury Theater project, Glen Cove Piazza, and many others. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Read full coverage of the event here.

• Long Island Smart Growth Working Group met twice this year to discuss and monitor state and local policies that impact Smart Growth on Long Island. Guest speakers included NYS Senator Charles Fuschillo and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

• Long Island Lobby Day Coalition: Formed in 2009, this group of over 45 diverse organizations periodically travels to Albany to speak with one voice and advocate for a legislative agenda including sewer infrastructure financing, clean energy, transportation investments and more. The growing coalition has helped pass the Complete Streets bill, the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Act, Pesticide Free Schools legislation and Energy Star Homes standards.

• Small Business outreach: Vision partnered with the American Communities Institute at Dowling College to complete a federally-funded study on the needs of small businesses. Two small business symposiums were held at Dowling, and several local focus groups met with the leadership of the LI Business Council. Recommendations will be sent to federal, state and local governments.

• Hicksville Downtown Revitalization progresses: Vision, the Hicksville Chamber and the Hicksville Community Council have been moving forward with revitalization plans. A community forum was held in May with over 100 participants to present the Hicksville Downtown Revitalization Plan. The community has enjoyed the second season of the Hicksville Farmers Market, a leveraging of local dollars for beautification and local projects beginning to move forward.

• Vision’s e-newsletter, SmartTalk, reaches 20,000 Long Islanders each week with community and regional updates, action alerts and more.

• Vision’s social media outlets grow to reach thousands of Long Islanders instantly, with our iPhone application, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages updated regularly.

• Complete Streets laws pass at state and local levels: New York State joins 5 Long Island towns in passing local safe streets legislation.

• Long Island Bus advocacy continues as the system faces service cuts under the recently approved privatization plan.

In addition, there has been enormous progress on LI this year:

Pictured: West Hempstead Courtesy Hotel demolition, People’s Hearing for LI Bus, Hyatt Place in Riverhead, Artspace Patchogue, Paramount Theater trolley, Glen Cove Piazza rendering

• Approved: Sandy Hills in Middle Island, Glen Cove Piazza, Avalon Bay at Huntington Station, Mt. Sinai Village Centre, The Meadows in Yaphank, master zoning plan for additional housing in the Village of Farmingdale, The “C” in Freeport, Gordon Heights Land Use Plan, Cortland Square in Bay Shore.

• Opened: Paramount Theater in Huntington, Artspace lofts in Patchogue, Hyatt Place and Aquarium in Riverhead.

• Progress: Glen Isle, the Nassau Hub, casino plan for Belmont, Heartland Town Square, Ronkonkoma Hub, Wyandanch Rising, Alexan at West Hempstead, traffic calming in Smithtown, New Village in Patchogue, Summer Wind Square in Riverhead, the Winston in Mineola, Glen Cove Ferry.

• Proposed: Coram theater revitalization, Connect LI plan including several strengthened TOD communities and a new center in East Farmingdale.

• State policies: 2011 Complete Streets law passed, 2010 Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy law implementation progresses, increased sewer infrastructure funding, funding for Smart Growth projects through Regional Economic Development Councils.

• Downtowns: a rise in downtown activity, with more festivals, family fun nights, farmers markets, movie nights, arts events and 'buy locally' campaigns.

Let’s keep up the good work, but acknowledge that it’s not enough. We have a long, uphill battle in front of us as we work to reverse the impacts of sprawl and create a sustainable future. Some of our biggest challenges of 2011, ranging from funding the Long Island Bus system and moving forward redevelopment at the Nassau Hub, will continue to be challenges in 2012.

With your community spirit and financial support, we continue to fight these battles and we know we can win.

Please donate today online here or email or mail in the donation form below.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242 or info@visionlongisland.org.

Sincerely,

The Board and staff of Vision Long Island

Thank you for supporting Smart Growth this holiday season!

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