Friday, July 13, 2018 The Garden City News
20
GARDEN CITY
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Email: Editor@GCNews.com From page 2
Large One Bedroom Condo in the heart of downtown Garden City. This 800 sq ft Condo boasts newly finished Hardwood Floors, Dining Room, brand new Bathroom & Kitchen with d/w. Low maintenance & taxes.
By Owner - No Brokers. $569,000 Call: 646-499-1684
Bilingual German After School Program
New York State Accredited Program Low Tuition No Previous German Necessary Classes Meet Once a Week From 4:30-6:15 Playgroup Ages 4-5 Kindergarten Age 5-6 Other Classes Ages 7-15 Three convenient locations in the Greater New York area: Manhatten (Upper East Side); Franklin Square, Garden City
Cl as se s s t a rt 2 nd we e k o f S e p te m be r
For registration information go to:
German-American-School.org Teaching German Since 1897
Or call:
212-787-7543
municipal rating on all of Long Island. • The village workforce has been reduced from 316 to 245 employees in the last few years saving the residents millions by strategically outsourcing some non-essential services. The job of a trustee requires a love of this village and a desire to maintain and improve every aspect of village life. When people recklessly and without basis maliciously comment that someone must have been “paid off”, or the trustees “lied” about receiving a petition, or the door to a meeting was locked to prevent people from commenting on an issue, or that something nefarious was at hand for not recording phone calls, or that “kickbacks” influenced the decision making or we should start a class-action suit, such comments need to be loudly criticized as irresponsible and improper. These comments are not only careless and degrading but also reckless and pejorative and do nothing to make Garden City a better place. In fact, they hurt us all because why would anyone volunteer for a position if they get nothing but criticism and reputational harm? It is very easy to criticize. But correct information is important. Just because someone says something at some forum, it doesn’t mean it is accurate. Those statements then get repeated over and over and quoted in an article and others take that to mean it contains the truth. If you want a change in our village government structure (which costs taxpayers Nothing, ZERO), then get involved. Take the time to know the issues, talk to your trustees, ask questions, delve into the agenda. Don’t show up once to a meeting in the 10 or more year that you have lived here and, with no background of information except rumors circulated at a soccer game or on some blog, and with no experience in municipal finance, municipal labor
laws, zoning law or affordable housing, and offer your “expertise” on some particular topic. Imagine the reception you would receive in your office if you offered your opinion on a matter under those circumstances. The village website is full of very useful information. Transparency is a constant in Garden City and all meetings are open to the public. We can be thankful that over the last hundred years our fellow residents have stepped up and offered themselves as volunteers and elected trustees. The Village Boards and commissions are comprised of citizen volunteers. The Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Review Board, Environmental Advisory Board, Recreation Commission and Library Board are all non-paid positions. You might not agree with every decision made by the Board of Trustees or other Boards and Commissions, but try to understand them and the context in which they are made. I know each of the current trustees and the mayor and I can assure you that each one of them cares very deeply about the Village, works hard, knows each and every issue and always does what is right for Garden City. If you check the Village website under the Fair Housing tab, you will find the “Memorandum of Decision and Order” which explains the Federal court’s decision in the Fair Housing Case. Before you speak out against “affordable housing” or apartments, read the decision and order of a United States Federal Court. The tab labeled “Zoning Change Committee” will take you to the section explaining the recommendations of the Committee regarding the proposal for multi-family housing at 555 Stewart Avenue. Dennis Donnelly
Pop-Up Book and Bake Sale Garden City Library on July 14th On July 14th from 11am to 2pm, The Friends of the Garden City Public Library will hold a special “Pop-Up” Book and Bake Sale on the lower level of the Library. Many of the novels on the PBS Great America Read List will be available for purchase at discount prices. Tasty treats prepared by the Young Adult Department will be offered for sale. When you come, you can nominate your recommendation for the Great Garden City Read List. Your choice can come from, but is not limited to, the PBS list. At the August Pop-Up Book Sale, the Friends will use the Great Garden City Read List that you created to choose
the featured books along with a variety of other novels by popular authors. Proceeds from the Friends’ sales generate funds to provide additional programs for children, teens and adults at the Library. The Friends thank you in advance for the community’s support of these efforts. Come visit the Pop-Up Book Sale on Saturday, July 14th from 11am to 2pm on the Lower Level of the Library. For more information on The Friends of the Garden City Public Library, please contact the Library at 516-742-8405 or visit the website www.gardencitypl. org/friends-of-the-garden-city-publiclibrary/