In response to a recent published interview with LIRR President Helena Williams in a local NHP newspaper, Save Our Village wishes to clarify a statement expressed by Ms. Helena Williams, President of the LIRR:
- Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association was extended an invitation to attend a MTA-LIRR public relations presentation hosted by Mr. Jerry Kramer in May, 2007. This presentation was also attended by members of the NHP School Board, NHP Fire Department, Parks Civic Association, the LIRR Task Force for the Village of New Hyde Park, Deputy Mayor Lofaro, Trustee Montreuil and his wife, Village of NHP Superintendent of Public Works (Mr. J. McCloat) and others. At this gathering, representatives of the LIRR-MTA presented an MS Powerpoint presentation of the proposed LIRR Mainline Corridor Improvement Project and entertained questions from the audience on the project. During this gathering, there were no discussions and/or negotiations of any kind about the proposals presented that evening.
- The platform of Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc. is exclusively represented by its officers: Mr. Robert Femminella (President), Diane Bentivegna (Vice President), Cristina Prieto-Maroney (Vice President).
- To this date, the officers of Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc. have NEVER communicated with any MTA and/or LIRR representatives, including Ms. Helena Williams, in a face-to-face "meeting", telephone conversation and/or any other forum of communication - ever! Any statement by Ms. Williams and/or any representative of the MTA - LIRR that suggests otherwise should be considered a blatant disregard for the truth.
SAVE OUR VILLAGE NEW HYDE PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. has always encouraged honest collaboration and a spirit of compromise to facilitate peaceful resolutions to problems. Sadly, our supporters are dismally disappointed that the MTA-LIRR and Ms. Helena Williams has chosen the path of misrepresenting the facts to promote their own goals (and profits!) at the expense of hardworking homeowners and taxpayers. First, it was the "reverse commute", and then it became "the billion dollar passing lane". Finally, the MTA-LIRR still proclaims "the project is not about freight" despite the demand for increased freight rail capacity by such business organizations as the Long Island Association, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, and the Long Island Mid Suffolk Business Action which resulted in the establishment of a new mega-freight yard in Suffolk County (Long Island Truck Rail Intermodal Project aka LITRIM Project)! We strongly urge Ms. Williams to retract her misstatement (i.e. "...meetings with Save Our Village") and take all the necessary steps to correct the record in the NHP press for the sake of restoring "good faith" relationships with the communities impacted by the LIRR proposals.
To repeat again:
Save Our Village's has ALWAYS favored the at-grade crossing elimination projects in New Hyde Park. As a matter of fact, we invite interested citizens to read the archive of blog posts (below) so that you may note our statements in favor of the NHP at-grade crossing eliminations on June 11th, Nov. 19th, and Dec. 19, 2007. We do, however, oppose the CURRENT PROPOSALS for these projects at Covert Ave., South 12th Street, and New Hyde Park Road because we believe the present plans jeopardize our economic stability, environment, and suburban quality of life. Save Our Village insists that the MTA-LIRR and all federal, state and local elected representatives of the mainline communities must:
- explore alternatives which promote safety, reduce roadway congestion, and preserve our suburban lifestyle;
- promote the best plan that inflicts the least collateral damage to family homes and properties, regardless of its cost
- negotiate respectfully with all citizens who are directly and indirectly impacted so that they do not suffer unfair economic hardship and can remain residents within their chosen community
