Lynbrook residents speak out

Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony J. Santino and Lynbrook Mayor Brian Curran co-hosted a town hall meeting at Village Hall on June 17, which Santino described as a “great opportunity to interact with local residents.”

The purpose of such meetings, Santino told the dozen or so attendees, is for elected representatives to hear from the public. “If you have an issue of town concern, I will make sure to address that,” he said. “I don’t know what we could do about anything on the national level, like oil spills, but you can vent on that, too.”

Al Lipski, a 40-year resident, addressed several issues, including what he called a dangerous corner at Blossom Heath Avenue and Merrick Road. “My wife has been hit at that corner,” Lipski said.

“We have tried to make sure there is police enforcement at Blossom Heath and Merrick Road,” Curran responded, “and have written to the county to do a traffic study to get a traffic light at that intersection.”

Lipski said he was also concerned about the Regal Cinemas’ parking issue on Merrick Road as well as commercial property space leasing of 10 units on Curtis Place. “We did a parking study to see about [creating] 73 municipal spots at [Regal],” said Curran. “We talked with Astoria Federal Savings Back and Bank of America here to see if we could use some space in their parking lots as well ... but the village board cannot consider a parking garage at this time.” Curran said in September 2009 that building a parking garage at that location could possibly be a solution to Lynbrook’s parking problem.

Curran also noted that the building next to the Regal Cinemas is for sale, but there are plans to build a new theater around that property sometime this year. Curran will immediately check on the commercial property leasing on Curtis Place.

Resident Michael Jacobs said that he noticed a decrease in the number of trees around his neighborhood. “People are cutting down trees left and right,” he said. “It is very shameful and it takes 100 years to grow trees.”

Lynbrook sets aside $40,000 each year to plant trees, according to Curran. “I grew up here and there were trees on each lawn,” he recalled. “There are blocks where you see no trees, and we want to replenish them.” Curran shared a story about three local children whom he remembered hugging a tree to prevent someone from taking it down.

The Town of Hempstead offers a service to plant trees, according to Santino, who added that the town plants hundreds each year.

Santino thanked those who attended, saying, “Input from residents is essential to maintaining an effective representative government. Free will discussion can turn into fruitful discussion.”

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