Community Garden a Good Idea 'In Theory,' Says One Neighbor
As the Town of Huntington clears the woods to make way for a community garden at the corner of Lowndes and New York avenues, at least one nearby resident said the opportunity for drive-by shootings just increased.
A resident of the area around the area that is now called Gateway Park that is being developed in to a community garden says the idea is good "in theory." But said he believes that someone will be shot there in the first or second year. He asked that Huntington Patch not use his name or photograph for fear of retribution.
At the Huntington Town Board's February meeting, it approved a resolution to authorize a license agreement with the Long Island Community Agriculture Network Project of Starflower Experiences, Inc. (LI-CAN) in connection with a pilot community garden at Gateway Park. Clearing began several weeks ago.
"I've been living here ten years and it's good idea in theory but realistically someone is going to die. Because it's going to be all open. If they build a wall on that side, on the New York Avenue side, maybe it will be okay. If not, there will be 'drive-bys,' for sure," he said. "Six weeks ago they're shooting at the deli from that fence. They shot them by the basketball court. They shot my son's friend as he was walking to the train station. They can do 50, 60 miles per hour down New York Avenue. I feel sad about that."
He said if the town really wanted to do something for the neighborhood kids, a swimming pool would have been a good idea.
"If they wanted to build something nice for the kids, build an indoor community center with basketball courts and swimming pool. If they want to swim they have to go to Dix Hills. How are these kids supposed to get to Dix Hills? They have to ride their bikes. That's a far ride on a bike from here. And those kids in Dix Hills, they have pools in their backyard. They don't need a community pool there. They need one here. I heard they're building a skate park nearby. How many black kids you know who ride skateboards?"
He said that in order to feel safe he either has to move or make his home more secure.
"I am putting bullet-proof glass in my house. Sad to say, I've been in this house for ten years, but me and my wife are getting out of here. We want to go anywhere but here. We don't want to get shot."
He said that people are afraid to challenge the gangs and criminals because many times people living illegally don't have anything to lose.
"Don't go near that job hiring site, either. One of them guys could cut you on your face and go to Hempstead," he said. "He doesn't even need to leave the country. Or he could go out east. Just stand on the line out there. They would never be able to catch him. They don't need a license or social security card or all of that. I believe every man should be able to feed his family, make a living but pay your taxes like I do. I used to work doing cement and all those guys used to tease me, 'I don't pay no damn taxes.' Don't throw that in my face. They need to tell them go inside or get charged with loitering. If it were black guys, they would charge them."
He said that if the town's code enforcement department would pay just a little bit of attention to what's going on, maybe something would get done. He also said it's as though his neighborhood was invaded.
"Eighteen people live next door to me. The point I'm making is, white people it don't bother because it's not in their neighborhoods, but in my neighborhood. It's like we were invaded. They took over the whole neighborhood. I was born in Huntington Hospital. I have lived on Prime Avenue, Canyon Street, Ninth Avenue . . . now I'm here. I sit on my porch and watch this going on. I see all these politicians, big shots, taking pictures, shaking hands . . .saying how great it is. Saying, 'We cleaned up their neighborhood.' For them to come like they did some big freakin' thing makes me so mad, but you mark my words, somebody is going to die here. If it ain't the first year, I give it two. The only way I see it not happening is seeing a police precinct right here. But probably not even then. They have the police here every day, but s*@t still happens. And this ain't stuff I'm making up. But I don't want my name in no damn paper because I got my family to worry about. And the MS-13 writes their s*@t right on the fence down there."
He said the Bloods and the Crip gangs can be dangerous but the MS-13 members are the real danger "because they're killers."
meryl otis kessler
7:39 am on Friday, April 30, 2010
Powerful Story. Not acceptable in our town. We really need a community center as part of Frank's revitalization efforts.
Meryl Otis Kessler
Kelly Campbell
12:42 pm on Friday, April 30, 2010
Thanks, Meryl. I agree that some kind of community center is needed in the area.
ABBY
4:56 pm on Monday, May 3, 2010
Did we really need a SECOND ice rink in Dix Hills?? for 16 million dollars.
Lawrence Foglia
6:04 pm on Wednesday, May 5, 2010
For his senior thesis at Brown U., my son did a two year photo study of a community garden in Providence overseen by the Southside Land Trust. It is a full city block and is cultivated by people of all ages from over a half dozen nationalities including people from Mali, Cambodia, Haiti, Tibet, Cambodia.....The police say this area is held in high esteem in the community and there is little if any violence there compared to other areas of that section of the city. The photos were exhibited in City Hall and all of the people who gardened were celebrated, coming to City Hall in their native festive garb, bringing food prepared in the style of their ancestral cultures. The city's Children's Museum commissioned a permanent exhibit of the photos, a wall of photos backlit in display. On opening night they also celebrated the families who garden ...people who might never have come to the museum came to be celebrated and to see photos of themselves gardening in the exhibit.....who knows where LICAN will go..I have hope that gardening will change a community; Huntington Station and wherever LICAN facilitates Community Gardens.
Larry Foglia, Founding member of LICAN, Farming in Huntington for 45 years
Nancy
7:23 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
The community garden itn itself is not a bad idea. I think that it would not be likely that families would garden there with the violence but, there is a much bigger issue that is a stake!
At the recent town board meeting on Tuesday at 2pm in the hearings section:
"3) Consider the aquisition of certain real property located at the southwest corner of New York Avenue and Lowndes Avenue,Huntington, New York 11743, pursuant to section 201 of the Eminent Domain Procedure Law. (SCTM#'s 0400-094.00-03.00-045.000 and 0400-094.00-03.00-046.000) (2010-M-19)
Nancy
7:24 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
CHAPTER 21 ENVIRONMENTAL OPEN SPACE AND PARK FUNDS
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Huntington 9-15-1998 by L.L. No. 39-1998.
Editor's Note: This local law passed at mandatory referendum 11-3-1998.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
§ 21-1 Purpose.
§ 21-2 Legislative intent.
Continuing development within the Town has demonstrated a compelling need to acquire, improve, preserve, protect and maintain land for active and passive park and recreational facilities and preservation of open space to enhance the general quality of life and the environment of the town, and thereby benefit the residents and taxpayers of the town. In order to achieve these goals, the Town requires a cogent mechanism creating the capacity to purchase land, easements or other real property rights and interests quickly and efficiently and make original improvements and embellishments thereto, as the need arises and opportunities are identified, and appropriate fiscal planning is an essential component of fulfilling this goal.
§ 21-3 Legislative findings.
Nancy
7:25 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Town Board hereby finds that, in order to more effectively implement the powers and authorities granted to towns by New York State General Municipal Law § 247, which recognizes the value of open space areas and the need to preserve such land and empowers municipalities with authority to acquire real property to preserve as open space, and to more effectively implement the powers and authorities granted to towns by various sections of New York State Town Law, which recognize the value of active and passive park and recreational facilities and empower municipalities with authority to provide for original improvement and embellishment of such facilities, including acquisition of real property and/or rights and interests in real property for such purposes, the establishment and management of opens space park funds pursuant to the laws of the State of New York is necessary.
Nancy
7:27 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
§ 21-4 Environmental Open Space and Park Capital Fund.
A.
Fund accounts. The Town Comptroller shall establish and maintain separately designated accounts to be known as the "Environmental Open Space and Park Capital Fund Account" and may establish one or several such accounts for the purposes set forth herein, as may required by proper accounting procedures.
B.
Scope of fund. These accounts shall be used to fund the acquisition, protection and maintenance of ownership, rights and interests in real property in the town's remaining natural areas, wetlands, trails, waterfronts and greenway corridors and to fund the acquisition, protection and maintenance of ownership, rights and interests in real property, and improvements and embellishments thereof, in the Town for active and passive park and recreational facilities. Said expenditures may be made directly from dedicated, general and special revenues, and need not be bonded, in the sole discretion of the Town Board.
Nancy
7:27 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
C.
Deposits. These accounts shall be the repository for all revenues specifically designated for expenditure by the Town for the purposes set forth herein, including bond revenues, dedicated fees, general or special municipal revenues and from such sources not derived from real property taxes as the Town Board may determine, in its sole discretion, where permitted by the laws of the State of New York, including, but not limited to those set forth hereinbelow.
D.
Additional deposits. The Town shall also pursue and attract, for deposit in and use in accordance with this fund, where permitted by the laws of the State of New York, additional funds, gifts and grants from foundations, private donations, any additional private or public sources and federal, state and county matching funds.
E.
Prohibitions. Monies from this fund shall not be used for any purposes which are not specifically set forth in this chapter.
Nancy
7:37 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
No where do I see that you can use Eminent domain to take someone property for a community garden just because you want the garden to have a nice rectangular shape. Eminent Domain should be the last resort for project such as roads, bridges etc. In addition the home owner declined the low ball offer and then was given notice of this action on Saturday night which is less than 72 hours to be represented by a lawyer which he was unable to do. In this country you are not allowed to just take someone's property for any reason you want! Plus the garden can still be built without this parcel.
Kelly Campbell
7:41 pm on Thursday, May 6, 2010
Taking of property by eminent domain is a serious issue. Seeing the property owner speak at the Town Board meeting really brought it home. I am working on a story on this, as well.