Smart Talk Update
November 4, 2005
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VLI NEWS & EVENTS
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2005 Smart Growth Summit November 18th, 8AM to 4PM at the Huntington Town House |
It's the educational and networking event of the year!!! Check out the flyer!! (pdf)
As many feel our biggest struggles revolve around runaway energy and housing costs, it is fitting that the Long Island Power Authority has stepped up to become a Visionary Sponsor of our 2005 Smart Growth Summit. Thank you, LIPA, for your outstanding commitment to the future of Long Island!
How will Long Island survive these crises? The key to these, and so many others, lies in a better understanding of how the issues work together, and how they are all impacted by the way we choose to develop and grow.
Come to this unique land-use conference and work with Long Island's experts and decision makers to help ensure a prosperous future for our region. Seven Town Supervisors and the Nassau County Executive have committed. Federal leaders are expected. Scores of experts, advocates and professionals from a broad range of sectors are actively involved.
| Featured Speakers Include | |
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| Dr. Lee Koppelman Long Island Regional Planning Board |
Laura Hall Fisher & Hall Urban Design The SmartCode |
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| Ashok Gupta, NRDC Washington DC Update on Energy |
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Check out the flyer for details!! (pdf)
Reserve space now. Sponsorship packages are available. Registration form is available on our website, www.visionlongisland.org . Check back soon for a full schedule of the day. For more information, contact us at 631-261-0242, or by email at info@visionlongisland.org.
Shop Downtown for the Holidays!
The holidays are coming! Let Long Island's small businesses help you find the perfect gift. Last year, we offered a sampling of our favorite local shops. Check 'em out: Shops in Nassau County, Shops in Suffolk County. The full map is available here (pdf)
Help us highlight the region's best small businesses! Tell us about your favorite shops. Let us where they are, what they sell, and why they're special. We'll help spread the word!
VISION's Eric Alexander -- Nassau Small Businessperson of the Year!!
VISION Executive Director Eric Alexander was recently honored by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commcerce as the Chamber's selection for Small Businessperson of the Year!
The Council held its "20th Annual Small Businessperson of the Year & Legislative Breakfast" on October 22nd at the Crest Hollow Country Club. The prestigious awards breakfast featured Small Businesspersons of the Year selected by Chambers of Commerce across Nassau County. Keynote Speakers included US Senator Chuck Schumer, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, and LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel.
Congratulations, Eric!!!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES & ACTION ALERTS
ACTION ALERT! Public Meeting and Comment Deadline for Nassau Coliseum Site
The most talked-about concept for the Nassau Coliseum area is The Lighthouse offered up by Charles Wang's Lighthouse Development Group. However, it's not the only idea out there. Developers who have submitted proposals will be presenting at a public meeting on Thursday, November 10th from 4-9pm at One West Street in Mineola.
This is an important project! Let your voice be heard!! Comments and questions in connection with this RFP (#CEO8120557) should be submitted in writing to Mr Frank Ryan, Nassay County Director of Purchasing by November 18th.
For details including a list of clarification questions specific to the Lighthouse proposal, check out the County's public notice: http://www.co.nassau.ny.us/RFP/RFP-CE0812-0557update1027.pdf
VOTE 'YES' on Proposition 2: "Rebuild and Renew NY Transportation Bond Act"
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign, NRDC, the NY League of Conservation Voters, the Long Island Association and others are urging us to vote 'Yes" for Proposition 2 on November 8th.
The "Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act" provides $900 million vital to advancing the first segment of the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access projects. Combined with previously allocated funding, this would give both projects more than 70 percent of the total funding needed, practically ensuring their completion. More than $125 million is also included for maintaining roadways in the five boroughs, and $450 million will be made available for new subway cars and buses, improving tunnel lighting, replacing tracks and repairing rail bridges on Staten Island.
The East Side Access project is an obscure name for a vital mission -- linking the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal. This long-awaited alternative to Penn Station will provide greater access to more of New York City by train. It will reduce the bottle necks that now limit the number of trains that can go in and out of the city, while easing commuter blues for those who work on Manahttan's East Side. All in all, the project stands to ease traffic congestion and to remove 800 tons of polluntants from the air by replacing thousands of car trips to the city per day.
Additionally, the Transportation Act includes the allocation of 250 clean fuel hybrid-electric buses—a statewide initiative that will provide alternative fuel buses to communities across NYS, helping to reduce emissions, enhance air quality, and increase bus fuel economy. Additional funds would be used for rail and port upgrades, a Kennedy Airport rail link and operational, safety and security improvements to highways, bridges, canals and aviation facilities throughout the state.
Pollution produced by vehicles has been shown to be directly linked to an increased incidence of asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer and premature mortality. The stressed-out agony of life lost to traffic congestion on the LIE can't be much better for us. By giving us a way to keep cars off the roads, this bond act can help us reduce both pollution and traffic congestion. Vote 'Yes' to that!!
Middle Island Land Use Plan Comment Deadline: November 25th
In 2002, VISION worked with community organizations and others to lead a visioning for Middle Country Road in Coram and Middle Island. Since then, the community has been working hard to advance their vision. Recently, The Middle Country Road Renaissance Project wrote with an update:
"The
'Middle Country Road Land Use Plan for Coram, Middle Island & Ridge'
has been released for public comment. November 25, 2005 is final date
for public comments but comments should be submitted to the Town by November
14, 2005 for inclusion in the public hearing portion of the process.
The document is available via the Town's website at: http://www.brookhaven.org/press_room/view_press_release.asp?document_id=302
[If you are unable to acccess it via this link, log on to the Town of
Brookhaven website,]
It is over 300 pages so you will need a high speed connection to download
in a reasonable time. For your convenience, the Longwood Public
Library has a copy available
for review at the reference desk."
Learn more about the vision at the Middle County Road Renaissance Project website: http://middlecountryrdproject.org/index.html
HELP WANTED
New York League of Conservation Voters:
Long Island Policy and Advocacy Director
The New York League of Conservation Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization, is seeking to fill the position of Long Island Policy and Advocacy Director.
This position will be based in NYC, with regular travel to Long Island and interaction with our Long Island Chapter Board, local environmental and civic organizations as well as local, state and federally elected officials representing Long Island. It will involve periodic travel to Albany.
Send cover letter and résumé to:
Jobs
NYLCV
29 Broadway, - Suite 1100
New York, NY 10006
Email: jobs@nylcv.org
Fax: 212-361-6363
Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA):
Executive Director
The Long Island Immigrant Alliance is an alliance of diverse community, religious, labor, and immigrant organizations working together in solidarity with all immigrants who are an integral part of our Long Island communities. They support immigrants in their struggle wherever they live on Long Island, and affirm their legal and human rights. They are committed to shared leadership, and to using collective strength to oppose hatred so that the communities involved can have their needs and concerns met peacefully, fairly, and justly.
The Executive Director will work closely with the organization's Board of Directors to develop and implement campaigns to influence local, state, and federal laws and policies impacting immigrants, mobilize interested groups around immediate issues concerning immigrants on Long Island (LI), strengthen and further develop LIIA, liaison with national and state immigrants rights coalitions, interact with media, maintain and increase membership, facilitate communication among members, and fundraise.
Any person interested in applying should send a résumé and cover letter by e-mail to LIIA Executive Director Search Committee c/o aullah@afsc.org or fax (212.529.4603). E-mail is preferred . Resumes and cover letters are due no later than 5:00 P.M., November 28, 2005. For more information, call Arif Ullah at 516.365.5575.
Arif Ullah
Project Coordinator
Long Island Immigrant Alliance
Project Voice Regional Organizer
American Friends Service Committee
1421 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset , NY 11030
516.365.5575
212.598.0958
aullah@afsc.org
For more information about Vision Long Island, please visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at:
Vision Long Island
24 Woodbine Ave. Suite One
Northport , NY 11768
(631) 261-0242 Fax: (631) 754-4452
info@visionlongisland.org
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