"Letter to the Editor": Sent to NHP Local Newspapers on August 21, 2007

August 21, 2007

Dear Editor,

On Monday, August 13, representatives of the Save Our Village Association, Inc. attended the NHP – GCP Board of Education meeting. Although the focus of this meeting was related to a rather controversial issue, it was uplifting to observe concerned citizens as they exercised their right to free public comment regarding a matter which was perceived to have jeopardized our community’s values and ethics. SOV New Hyde Park Association wishes to positively recognize the citizens who respectfully expressed their concerns about this issue in order to protect the values and traditions that New Hyde Park-Garden City Park families have held so dearly over the years.

It is this uplifting experience which has inspired the SOV New Hyde Park Association to reach out to all those concerned citizens who attended this Aug. 13^th meeting. As you may know, SOV New Hyde Park Association, Inc. is a new civic association which was organized in response to another critical issue that can potentially endanger the suburban lifestyle and quality of life we value so dearly in our community. This issue relates to the “LIRR Mainline Corridor Improvement Project” and the detrimental effect it will have on the lives of our neighbors and friends as well as the economic stability of all those who reside in the “11040” area.

As a result of the LIRR proposals, senior citizens will be burdened with packing up their lifetime homes and possessions, negotiating the purchase of a new home on a fixed income, and relocating to unfamiliar areas which are void of the support network that they have come to rely upon for many years. Families who are close to paying off their home mortgages and children’s college educations will now have to put their American dream on hold while they dig deeply into their savings to purchase another home. Prominent members of our community, some of whom have made significant contributions to our civic associations, religious congregations, and volunteer organizations, will no longer enjoy the community network which they helped to establish in our community. New and young families, who came to New Hyde Park to provide their children with a quality education and safe environment, will have to uproot their families once again and face uncertain futures in unstable economic times. Hardworking homeowners and taxpayers, who have devoted their time, money, and labor to beautifying and modernizing their homes, will likely lose a good portion of their largest personal investment. Due to the nature of eminent domain laws in our country, the properties of these homeowners and taxpayers will, no doubt, be rendered valueless as the negotiation process continues to unfold. These “human costs”, coupled with the serious environmental and economic effects imposed by this project, will have long-lasting negative effects on our community.

Regarding our schools, SOV New Hyde Park strongly believes that the scope and severity of LIRR Project will negatively influence the daily operation of regular school business in New Hyde Park. Thus, one can reasonably expect that our children’s educational experiences will be compromised in the process. It is evident that the parents of the NHP-GCP School District value high educational standards and advocate for a myriad of educational opportunities and experiences for their children. Sadly, SOV New Hyde Park believes that the LIRR Project promotes a serious “human cost” - namely, an anticipated negative impact to the educational process of our children. Recently, representatives of SOV New Hyde Park shared a documented analysis of this negative impact with members of the NHP-GCP Board of Education. We appreciate the Board’s anticipated active role in disseminating this information and motivating parents to learn about this issue’s critical impact to their children, their property values, and their overall quality of life in our neighborhood.

This is a critical time for the residents of the “11040 community.” The MTA/LIRR and NYS Dept. of Transportation have made serious proposals that can inflict permanent changes and challenges to our neighborhood and our suburban quality of life. The potential urbanization that may result from these proposals threatens our quality of life, our economic stability, and the quality of our children’s education. The condemnation and elimination of residential homes and small businesses via eminent domain will force our neighbors and friends out of New Hyde Park because they will not be fairly compensated for the loss of their homes; other neighbors will lose parts of their properties. Remaining taxpayers within the “11040” area will be burdened with increased property and school taxes to make up for the loss of tax revenue.

Clearly, the parents and friends of the NHP-GCP School District demonstrated that there is power in collective voice! SOV New Hyde Park cordially invites their support on behalf of our neighbors, our friends, our families, and our children. It is important to note that SOV New Hyde Park is planning an upcoming educational event on October 29^th for which we respectfully request the attendance of all residents who seek to preserve our suburban lifestyle. Please look for further details regarding the time/location of this special event in our local newspapers and our blog site so that you may reserve this date. Your support and attendance will be perceived as a valuable contribution toward the future stability of our community!

SOV New Hyde Park Association, Inc. may be reached at 103 Covert Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, phone: 516-328-1171, email: SOV.NHP@gmail.com and blog: http://nhpsaveourvillage.blogspot.com

Respectfully submitted,

President Robert Femminella, MS MS CNS

Vice President Diane Bentivegna, BS.Ed., Ed.M.

Vice President Cristina Prieto-Maroney, Esq.