THE NEW COMMUNITY JOURNAL
FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2013
Islip NY: New York Communities for Change and LEEP held a press conference today to release NY Communities for Change’s study Nowhere to Swim: The Disparate Impact of Town Of Islip Pool Closures on Working- Class Communities of Color. The report highlights the communities that will be most affect by the proposed closure of Roberto Clemente and Casamento pools. The report found that the closing of these pools, but especially Roberto Clemente, would isolate communities of color in the Town of Islip and take away a necessary service that the community relies on. The report found that with Roberto Clemente closed someone without a car would find it nearly impossible to take public transportation from Brentwood to any of the pools that will stay open. Currently Roberto Clemente is only a few blocks from the nearest bus stop. The report also found that the areas in which the pools are closing have a significantly lower median household income then the neighborhoods in which the pools are staying open and are larger population centers then the areas in which the pools are staying open in. Speakers at the press conference highlighted the importance that the pool has had for their community as a safe and cheap place for them to bring their kids in the summer. “We need to stop cutting services in communities of color. The town decided to close the only pool in Black and Latino communities,” said Rosa Quiles, a member of NY Communities for Change and a Central Islip resident for 40 years. “The people of Brentwood and Central Islip deserve to have the same park services as everyone else in the town.” Lorraine Jackson, a mother and Central Islip resident stated, “With all the problems in the community and all the things working against parents, Roberto Clemente pool was a great resource to take my daughter. Now that it is slated to close, I don’t know what parents are going to do. The Town needs to find the money to open the pool this summer, our community needs it.” April Ortiz, of LEEP, also spoke and presented 750 petitions they got signed by community members who want to see the pools open.
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Nowhere to Swim: The Disparate Impact of Town of Islip Pool Closures on Working-Class Communities of Color” An analysis of what communities will be most affected by pool closings Introduction This report uses demographic information to show that the proposed closure of either of the two public pools serving Central Islip, Brentwood, and North Bay Shore (Roberto Clemente and Casamento Parks), among others would disproportionately impact lower income neighbor‐ hoods with high concentrations of people of color., is a de‐ cision based on the racial concentration and economic dis‐ parity of these neighborhoods. By allowing these factors to determine their decision, the Islip Town Council is setting a precedent of racist and classist policy‐making that will fur‐ ther disenfranchise the already struggling communities they represent. Background Information On Tuesday, Jan. 29th, the town of Islip’s board of trustees voted to close two of five public pools as a result of budget cuts.i The two pools slated for closure are located at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, and Casamento Park in West Islip, but also serve residents in Central Islip, Brentwood, and North Bay Shoreand other communities. “Speakers ranging from longtime northern Islip resi‐ dents and community activists to a representative from New York state Assemblyman Phil Ramos' office spoke against the closure at Tuesday's town board meeting and complained that the public wasn't informed. Bay Shore resident Mary Reid said residents would only have known had they read the finalized budget closely.”ii “Supervisor Tom Croci said the pools are temporarily closed in part because the town is short on cash to imple‐ ment much‐needed repairs." We had assigned some capi‐ tal money for that, but unfortunately due to the hurricane [Sandy], when we went through the budget we had to put those monies into repairs," he said, adding that federal of‐ ficials have not yet reimbursed the town for storm expen‐ ditures.”iii After widespread criticism from residents following the initial decision on Jan. 29th, the Islip Board of Trustees announced on March 5th the possibility of reopening one of the pools this summer. “There’s no guarantee either pool will reopen this (Continued on page 12)
NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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