What have village leaders accomplished?

To the Editor:

While at home recuperating from surgery, I recently took a walk with my home health attendant to Barrett Park, which is very close to my home. When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the goose excrement on the grounds and walkways. It was virtually impossible to walk. The fields where children play soccer and other sports were also covered. While there, I made a couple young children playing there aware of what they were actually walking in. I dread to think about children playing at the park and rolling around on the grounds.

Last year, I raised this very issue in the mayoral campaign. I think for the most part it was downplayed by the public and press. Well, the campaign is long over and the new administration has had a year to begin instituting its programs. As most people know, the skate park has been portrayed as a major accomplishment. After I left Barrett Park, I decided to go over to the skate park and look at this pillar of accomplishment. Interestingly enough, on a sunny, relatively warm February day on which the schools were closed, there was no one there besides me. However, I would like to note that the facility and the grounds around it were pristine and feces-free. I do not know how the administration does that, but perhaps they can extend that accomplishment to Barrett Park where there were young children.

My recent venture to the park inspired me to look at the events and accomplishments of this first year of the present administration, particularly as two of the incumbents are uncontested for re-election. So what is it that they have or have not done?

Well, they are seeking to revitalize and beautify the Rockaway Avenue business district, although there is no physical change indicating this. Their construction projects on Sunrise Highway appear to be progressing at a speed reminiscent of that of the ancient pyramids. Actually, I think the pyramids made more visible progress.

Of course, the village’s programs exclude any visible progress on Gibson Boulevard, where a row of decaying buildings continues to be boarded up. I remember a meeting of the village government in early autumn, when the new village clerk told me that we would see progress there in a relatively short period of time. If we really want to see progress there, I would suggest that the present Village Hall be sold and that those buildings on Gibson Boulevard become the new seat of the entire village government.

Of course, last but not least is the administration’s empathy for the residents of the “AE” flood zone, who are within nine months of a potential economic “earthquake.” We were told by the administration several months ago that they are sympathetic to the plight of the flood zone residents and that they even wrote letters to FEMA. Well, although I am sure that effort may have exhausted them, they might have tried the following:

1) Join the National Conference of Mayors and bring the issue to the door of the president while developing alliances with other communities nationwide similarly situated.

2) Conduct public hearings in the village to determine who might be making financial windfalls on the local level with regard to FEMA flood insurance requirements (particularly after the freeze on rates expires on Dec. 31).

Although the upcoming village election results are inevitable, with two uncontested candidates for trustee positions, I might make a suggestion. I am voting and writing in a name not on the ballot (by the way, it will not be my name). There is no chance that my selection will win, but it is my way of sending a message. Imagine if a thousand people in Valley Stream did this. It might inspire some soul to come forward in three years to clean up a mess that is symbolized by vacant buildings, empty lots and infinite amounts of goose excrement.

Well, I have to continue my recuperation. Perhaps we will bump into each other at one of the local recreation facilities. Just be careful of where you walk.

By the way boys, I am back.

Joseph Margolin
Valley Stream