Is It Time for More Villages in North Hempstead?

Every day I receive phone calls and emails from neighbors, civic members, local business owners who, upon hearing a "rumor," call or email to advise the civic leaders of the "goings on" within the New Hyde Park community.  Had it not been for these "tips" we would NEVER have known about the new 7-Eleven on Union Turnpike or the new 7-Eleven on Hillside Avenue and New Hyde Park Road or the King Kullen that will move into the Ace Hardware Shopping Center on Nov. 8.

How can our elected leadership, Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilperson Lee Seeman, think it's acceptable to not advise local civic leaders of changes within their community that will impact traffic, lifestyles and possibly safety? This current administration has grossly failed this community. 

Civic leadership is consistent and usually has the same people; this current administration knows our phone numbers and email addresses.  Guess Supervisor Kaiman and Councilperson Seeman don't want to deal with the backlash/criticism from civics when their proposals come up significantly short.  Do they know there's a food service truck parked on Union Turnpike and Lakeville Road in front of the Citibank next to one of the proposed 7-Elevens?  Probably not. Do they come into our community to see the consistent deterioration of the plans they keep approving - other than to campaign?

Past administrations, specifically former Supervisor Newberger and Councilman D'Urso, made sure New Hyde Park civic associations were kept informed. We knew what was being planned and, imagine this, actually had a say in the discussions.  We were treated with respect and were not viewed as a "negative" voting block or politically motivated. We were invited to meetings held at the Town prior to the proposals going before the Town Board.  Our opinions were solicited because the prior administration was actually concerned with maintaining the entire Town from North to South, East to West. Too bad we can't say the same for this administration, who has gone out of their way to block, trip-up and stumble any civic interaction.

As a civic leader, I am concerned with how the current leadership at Town Hall continues to blatantly disregard the needs of greater New Hyde Park when they should be seeking information from the community to make our neighborhood a safer and better place to live.

It is a sad commentary and makes me wish I lived in a Village where the local
government is in tune with the residents and really listens to what they say. Roslyn Country Club is another perfect example - we are told what the Town will do, no referendum, no input, just a few words at a public hearing where they may or may not be heard. I have to believe this is not just happening in New Hyde Park but elsewhere in the Town.