tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post2898343920283612637..comments2019-06-29T21:02:23.987-04:00Comments on Let There Be Light(house): Why We Must Show Up on TuesdayNick - Lighthousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319878304631872148noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-92202891969562622742009-08-02T22:00:50.775-04:002009-08-02T22:00:50.775-04:00MW - I bow to your clairvoyance, and I agree with ...MW - I bow to your clairvoyance, and I agree with your comments 100%.<br /><br />As for your question, I plan to call the Town of Hempstead tomorrow to confirm all the details. Stay tuned for an update tomorrow.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753698648862261183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-17602563842237273382009-08-02T18:34:31.884-04:002009-08-02T18:34:31.884-04:00Nick - as always, this is a terrific and well writ...Nick - as always, this is a terrific and well written piece. You always talk about how young you are - but you write like someone much older with a lot of experience and wisdom. I have come to rely on you for information and perspective on this critical project. Thanks. <br /><br />Anyway, here comes what I wrote about last week. The Garden City opposition is just what I feared. I can only hope that there are no other surprises, and that we have gathered enough momentum that their transparent and ridiculous load of crap will fall flat and be irrelevant. <br /><br />Should we have outlawed department stores because they would hurt local merchants? Oh, wait a minute - Garden City HAD department stores. So I guess retail is OK as long as it in their town done their way. Maybe we should outlaw web shopping also, at it hurts the local merchants as well. I could go on and on but I think you will get the point. <br /><br />One more question - there is no way I can be there all day on Tuesday. I will try to get there for at least an hour or 2. But how is it going to work? If the building is full will we just have to wait outside in case someone leaves? Any idea where to park? <br />Thanks, Nick. Sorry for the rant.mw147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-63410469584589186902009-08-02T10:30:29.064-04:002009-08-02T10:30:29.064-04:00mrlbem - Garden City is notoriously provincial, so...mrlbem - Garden City is notoriously provincial, so they believe anything that is done on Long Island affects them. I remember at that hearing when Kate Murray was discussing all the proposed projects within 15 miles of them, and all they could talk about was "their village," with one resident finally standing and screaming "You say this takes time...how long does it take to say NO?" This resident got a thunderous round of applause.<br /><br />Uniondale is the community that should be accommodated and negotiated with, especially since the debacle 40 years ago which kept a lot of tax money out of the community (this is why the schools issue was so big this time around). Unfortunately, Garden City will be there, and they will be loud, so we need to counter their negativity with our positive advocacy for this.<br /><br />TMC - I'm glad there are exceptions to the rule, since you also saw that they claimed 99.9% of "their village" doesn't want the Lighthouse. According to recent population figures, that would mean 22 residents want it. Give me a break.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753698648862261183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-47718481374273248782009-08-01T23:04:57.756-04:002009-08-01T23:04:57.756-04:00The elitist arrogance of these Garden City blowhar...The elitist arrogance of these Garden City blowhards is unreal. There is no way that investment in a nearby neighborhood that is unquestionably lacking will hurt them. They are so ignorant, so foolish, they are an embarrassment to the rest of LI and to the reasonable people who live in their neighborhoods. My mother lived in Garden City for years. My first job was in Garden City. I went to school in Garden City. Not everyone is an ignorant elitist NIMBY fool, despite how these idiots want it to look.<br /><br />Outstanding article Nick, as usual. Im looking forward to seeing you on the 4th! :DTheMetalChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06627766622392257867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-16335056697853611592009-08-01T14:50:42.995-04:002009-08-01T14:50:42.995-04:00Thanks for dealing with this. I posted the link t...Thanks for dealing with this. I posted the link to the article on IPB. What I don't quite understand is why these people think it will affect them any more than any other village on LI. I can see the argument that the people of Uniondale have--the Project is within their village and it will have a direct effect on their quality of life. Garden City does not abut directly on the area where the construction will take place. Hofstra, NCC, the remainder of the Mitchel Field complex, Stewart Ave., Roosevelt Field, Clinton Rd. and the Village of Hempstead combine to serve as a large buffer zone. It seems to me that one can live in Garden City, go about their daily business at work or play, and never be affected by this project.mrlbemnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-55125309401651961492009-08-01T13:32:51.925-04:002009-08-01T13:32:51.925-04:00Jimmy, excellent points, especially the ones on ph...Jimmy, excellent points, especially the ones on philosophy. Of course Hobbes' point about the selfish man and life in the state of nature being "nasty, brutish, and short" really led to the modern theory of the social contract. Therefore, in essence these residents have implicitly accepted that they are subjugating some of their "natural rights" to gain "civil rights" within a society.<br /><br />However, their reasoning is completely backward. At the risk of sounding like George Costanza, we can't live in a society when certain elements want nothing to do with improvements. The current philosophy in Garden City seems to be "We're in favor of things that improve the area - as long as they're not located in and do not in any way affect us." That's a simply unrealistic goal.<br /><br />You're right that non-approval of the Lighthouse will in the long run cause more harm to Garden City than approval, but many people don't have such a long view, and, even more importantly, many of the local politicians will be out of office by the time the Lighthouse is fully complete and operational.<br /><br />They're clearly jonesing for a fight, so let's be ready for them. Stan Fischler tweeted earlier today that a strong showing could permanently tip the scales in favor of the Lighthouse....let's do that!Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753698648862261183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420070021149211641.post-12823277935087963812009-08-01T12:21:48.673-04:002009-08-01T12:21:48.673-04:00it goes back to a concept given to us by Thomas Ho...it goes back to a concept given to us by Thomas Hobbes, man is a selfish creature who will do only what they feel is in THEIR best interest. Often it has been criticized as being radical and not applicable to single individuals but rather how "nations" or "communities" act. This is a perfect example regardless of the easy to see benefits of the project for the greater good Garden City will do what is in their best interest because for whatever reason they do not see the best interest of the whole really is their best interest. <br /><br />If the project fails, property values around the NVMC will drop, as those drop the wave will increase because the closer you live to an impoverished neighborhood the more your property value suffers. Lets see what Garden City says when the pockets of poverty extend to their backyard and their property values plummet and no businesses want to go there.<br /><br />Whereas if the project passes it could serve to boost even Garden City's economy. The project will lure businesses to the region not all of which will look to the Lighthouse as its home. They will explore the surrounding neighborhoods and thus may boost the commerce of villages like Garden City who could possibly reestablish themselves as the Fifth Avenue of Long Island.<br /><br />But why look to the benefits when you can scream traffic?Jimmynoreply@blogger.com