Sustainable Long Island
July 21, 2010
Sustainable Long Island Newsletter
The one-stop-shop...
For all Sustainable Long Island news!
In This Issue
Youth-Run Farmers' Markets
Turn a Value-Meal into a Meal-of-Value
Long Island Farms
What to Buy and What to Eat
Board of Directors
Ruth Negron-Gaines- President

Kevin McDonald - Vice President

The Nature Conservancy 

Charlotte Biblow, Esq. - Secretary

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Lauren Furst - Treasurer

Russ Albanese

Albanese Organization Inc.

Lennard Axinn

Island Estates

Peter Bogan

Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III
SUNY College at Old Westbury

Dr. Miriam K. Deitsch

State University at Farmingdale

Michelle DiBenedetto

Long Island Housing Partnership

Pat Edwards

Citibank

Donald J. Fiore

IBEW, Local 25

Richard Grafer

Amy Hagedorn
Hagedorn Foundation

David Kapell

Jeff Kraut

North Shore - LIJ Health System

George O'Neill

Mitchell H. Pally

Weber Law Group, LLP

Dr. Robert A. Scott

Adelphi University

Ron Shiffman

Pratt Institute

Robert Wieboldt


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Farmers' Market Project Partners
Long Island Farm Bureau

Roosevelt Community Revitalization Group

NuHealth (Nassau Health Care Corporation)

The Greater Bellport Coalition

Suffolk County United Veterans

The Boys and Girls Club of the Bellport Area
Food Equity Advisory Committee 
Community Partners

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Department of Family Medicine at Stony Brook University

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

Hobbs Community Farm

Island Harvest

Long Island Cares

Long Island Farm Bureau

Slow Food Huntington

Food Equity Supporters
Angela and Scott Jaggar

Greater Bellport Coalition

JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Levitt Foundation

Long Island Community Foundation

Nassau County

Rauch Foundation

Senator Gillibrand

Suffolk County

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Greetings!

Despite the heat wave that has hit Long Island lately, we at Sustainable Long Island have felt as fresh as ever. Maybe it's because our two community-based youth-run farmers' markets have finally opened, providing fresh, healthy food to the communities of North Bellport, Roosevelt, and Long Island as a whole. In this month's newsletter we detail these projects and much more - so check it out!

Farmers Market
    
Bellport FlyerRoosevelt Flyer
Youth-Run Farmers' Markets
United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins Sustainable Long Island and The Long Island Farm Bureau for announcement of youth-run farmers' markets

Press Conference

Two Youth-Run Farmers' Markets Will Create Seasonal Jobs For Local High School Students While Making More Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Available In Underserved Communities

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop joined Sustainable Long Island and the Long Island Farm Bureau to launch a new seasonal jobs program for local students in Roosevelt and North Bellport. The Community Youth Farmers' Market program has created two youth-run farmers' markets, which provides seasonal jobs for local high school students while making more fresh fruits and vegetables available in underserved communities.

Senator Gillibrand is the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, and is helping lead the fight in the Senate to combat child obesity and promote good health. 

"Obesity and diabetes rates are reaching crisis proportions in our country and it is time to take aggressive action," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "By improving access to fresh produce to communities across Long Island, we can give people the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives, save billions in health care costs, and create good-paying jobs." 

"These farmers' markets will provide much-needed summer work for local youth and help underserved communities enjoy the many benefits of fresh produce," said Congressman Tim Bishop.  "This program will be a model for improving access to healthy fruits and vegetables throughout Long Island."

Press Conference

The USDA has found that 23.5 million people in America lack access to a supermarket within a mile of their home.

Customers patronizing corner stores often find retail prices as much as 49% higher for a selection of food long on canned goods and short on fresh meat and produce. Many communities on Long Island lack access to healthy and affordable food for a number of reasons, including: limited availability of grocery stores, inaccessibility of existing stores, high cost of healthy food options, neighborhood safety and limited individual resources such as time, income and transportation.  Lack of access to healthy food can lead to high rates of hunger or food insecurity, or conversely and more prevalently, high incidence of diet-related diseases including obesity and diabetes.

To begin to address these problems with tangible solutions, Sustainable Long Island has partnered with the Long Island Farm Bureau and local partners to establish this program that will bring fresh, nutritious foods to those communities that are currently underserved by food retailers and markets. The markets will provide jobs to local youth, give community members greater choice of fresh produce and healthy food options, promote nutrition and education, contribute to a sense of place, and boost the local and regional economy.  Simultaneously these markets will allow farmers to devote more time to tending their farms rather than traveling back and forth, spending time at the markets, making participating in community farmers markets more appealing and financially sound for farmers.

Press Conference

"Access to health foods that are affordable is essential to ensuring our residents are able to choose a healthy lifestyle," said State Senator Brian X. Foley. "The lack of supermarkets in some areas leads to a lack of healthy, budget-friendly food options. I commend Sustainable Long Island and the Long Island Farm Bureau for taking the initiative to create a program that addresses this concern.  But this program will do more than simply feed our residents.  It will employ local high school students, teaching them business skills that they will be able to carry with them through life."

Press Conference


"Improving the quality of life for the residents in North Bellport is a top priority of my administration," stated Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko.  "Our support of Sustainable Long Island's Farmer's Market will be another positive step toward change by providing healthier food alternatives for families, and jobs for our young people. This program will make a significant impact on a community that has been traditionally under served by large supermarkets and food retailers."

"I regret not being able to attend today's event, but I do want to send the message that I will continue to work with the Greater Bellport community to fully realize their vision of which this Farmers Market is a part," said Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert. "It has been my great pleasure to work closely with the community every step of way, from the inception of the visioning back in the Spring of 2006 to late last year when the community came to me with a plan for the Farmers Market  for which I was able to secure $10,000 for their start up costs.  I am always energized by the community's dedication in revitalizing this area and am thrilled about the well deserved attention their efforts are receiving today with Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Bishop, Senator Foley and Supervisor Lesko visiting this market."

Senator and Sarah

The Pilot Project is a youth-supported (and supportive) community farm stand and has two main objectives: 1) establish two weekly markets which make locally grown produce available to currently underserved communities and educates them about the benefits of healthy eating, and 2) establishing young adult entrepreneurial program in which high school students run market stalls under the supervision of a market manager, learning basics of business, customer service, nutrition and local agriculture.

The goals of the pilot project are to:

  • Expand the availability of fresh, healthy food options in a underserved Long Island communities
  • Provide jobs for local youth and increase economic opportunity both for regional farmers and local young adults
  • Improve health and nutrition of community members by providing an opportunity and incentive to purchase fresh, healthy foods
  • Educate the community about health, nutrition, agriculture and about the food available in local retail markets (delis, bodegas, supermarkets, etc.)
  • Bring diverse people together - Create a space in which community members can gather, socialize, get to know one another - in essence build community capital
  • Establish a creative semi-permanent or seasonal re-use of an underutilized property within an underserved community, bringing that space to life
  • Teach young adults important business skills, money handling, etc.
Press Conference

"The launch of these two markets brings hope to these communities, along with countless others on Long Island, that fresh, healthy, affordable food alternatives are available," said Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director, Sustainable Long Island. "No more will they have to settle for high fat, sugar filled, greasy snacks and meals; they will now have what every community and every person deserves: an option."

"The best farmland preservation program we know, is for farming to be profitable," stated Bob Nolan. "We welcome marketing opportunities that allow the public to access our produce and products and at the same time allows our economic viability the market project with Sustainable LI  is a win win win for all Long Island."

In addition, through these pilot project markets, the Health and Welfare Council and NuHealth will be able provide information on healthy eating, nutrition, supplemental nutrition program information (SNAP and WIC), and other vital resources to underserved communities.

The Roosevelt and North Bellport community farmers' markets will open on Sunday, July 11th

Joining them were the Greater Bellport Coalition, Suffolk County United Veterans, Boys and Girls Club of the Bellport Area, Roosevelt Community Revitalization Group, Health and Welfare Council, and the student participants.

Press ConferencePress Conference
Press Conference
Turn a Value-Meal into a Meal-of-Value
Long Islanders spread the word on the exciting project

Farmers Market

Newsday - July 7, 2010:

Teen-staffed farm stands aim to boost healthy eating

Standing in scorching temperatures nearly hot enough to cook the vegetables in front of them, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and a host of local officials launched teenager-staffed farm stands they hope will boost local agriculture and encourage healthy eating.

Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Wednesday she will seek $100,000 in federal funding for the project, which will have teenagers from Bellport and Roosevelt selling produce on Sundays starting this weekend through the end of October.

The stands - on Montauk Highway in North Bellport and on Nassau Road in Roosevelt - are expected to sell 300 pounds of corn, squash, cabbage, beets, lettuce and other produce each Sunday, according to Sarah Lansdale, executive director of Sustainable Long Island, which is coordinating the program.

Gillibrand said the program will also help fight the region's growing teenage obesity rates.

"They've all promised me they're going to try every vegetable that is sold on the farm stand," she said. "So they're going to learn a lot about nutritious foods as well."

Farmers Market


Brandon Jackson, 16, of Roosevelt, said he's excited to be able to learn about eating healthier. He said he's looking forward to trying the zucchini and radishes he'll be selling.

"I'm overweight," he said. "This is a great opportunity for me to learn about new ways to eat. It'll be a great skill and one I can pass along to others."

Kiana Scipp, 16, of Bellport, said the North Bellport farm stand will mean her family won't have to go to Patchogue for fresh vegetables. "We don't have a lot of stores with fresh food near here," she said.

Other politicians on hand included state Sen. Brian X. Foley (D-Blue-Point) who said he enjoys cooking fresh beets al dente, lightly salted with "a little pepper," and Rep, Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), who said he takes his corn with "a little butter" but no salt.

Gillibrand said she enjoys all vegetables but is a beet novice. "I've never cooked a fresh beet," she said. "That's my challenge this summer."

Bishop admitted he prefers pizza when in Washington, D.C., but said he eats locally grown corn, squash and zucchini when on Long Island. He did break with Foley and Gillibrand on one matter.

"I don't eat beets," Bishop said. "Just so you know."

Farmers Market

Newsday: Editorial - July 8, 2010

Farm-fresh produce coming to North Bellport and Roosevelt

Farmers' markets opening this Sunday in North Bellport and Roosevelt are an elegant solution to some daunting problems: unavailability of fresh food in economically distressed areas and lack of youth employment. And they give local farmers an expanded market.

In planning the Sunday markets, Sustainable Long Island and the Long Island Farm Bureau have worked closely with community groups. The need to do something about "food deserts" arose during the community planning processes that Sustainable has been facilitating. That led to an examination of food marketing programs run by young people in the City of New York. Those city programs will help train the teens chosen by the Long Island communities to staff the markets.

For the teens, the benefits are clear: income, and training in both marketing and community building. For the farmers, the stands provide a new outlet for their fresh produce, without tying them down and draining time they could be spending on the land, growing more food.

Farmers' markets are springing up all over the Island, even in communities such as Hicksville, where there's a lot more food access than there is in North Bellport or Roosevelt. Whether the markets are based on food equity, convenience, nostalgia or just fun, they're a welcome turn of events. And they're a salutary reminder that local fresh food makes for better health - for farming, farmers and the rest of us.

Click Below to View Newsday's Video:

Video

Long Island Press - July 8, 2010

Farmers' Markets to Open in Roosevelt and Bellport

Long Island has more fast food restaurants than grocery stores on record, and for those with low incomes, access to locally grown, fresh, affordable produce is severely limited. Inspired by the notion of food equity-the idea that access to fresh, healthy food is not universal and that some communities are at a disadvantage in the regional food system-Sustainable Long Island has established two farmers' markets, one in Bellport and one in Roosevelt, to close that gap.

"It's baffling to think about," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) from a North Bellport parking lot and future home of the Bellport Community Farmers' Market. "Since we are such an agricultural community, that some parts of our community do not have easy access to affordable, good, nutritious food, is really unacceptable."

Long Island has a 22 percent childhood obesity rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in under-served communities that rate goes much higher. There is a 50 percent obesity rate among the children in the Roosevelt community, according to the Roosevelt NuHealth clinic. The town only has one supermarket. But in two days, residents will have locally grown fruits and vegetables within walking distance of their homes.

"No more will they have to settle for high fat, sugar-filled snacks and meals," said Sarah Lansdale, executive director of Sustainable Long Island. "They will now have what most every community on Long Island has, which is an option-an option for healthy, fresh food."

The new farmers' markets will be manned by local students from both communities and they will supplied by Long Island farms. Veterans groups will bring the produce from the farms to market.

"There's no downside to this-everyone wins," said Rep. Tim Bishop (D-New York).

Farmers Market


Even the farmers.

Since the turn of the century, Bob Nolan's farm has been a family-owned and operated business.

"This gives us another opportunity to sell our product," said Bob Nolan,  former president of the Long Island Farm Bureau. "We are very happy to participate in this and I wish the market all the best. I think it's going to work out."

Suffolk county farmers, including Nolan, donate more food to Island Harvest and other food banks than any other county, not only in New York State, but in the entire country.

"We all know how important it is to preserve open space here," said Bishop. "And the best way to do that is to see to it that farmers can make a living doing something they love doing."

The Bellport Farmers' Market is located at the corner of Montauk Highway and Michigan Avenue and is open every Sunday, July 11-October 31 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cash, WIC, Senior Checks and EBT Cards accepted.

The Roosevelt Farmers' Market is located at 380 Nassau Road in the parking lot of the Roosevelt-Freeport Health Clinic and is open every Sunday, July 11-October 31 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cash, WIC, Senior Checks and EBT Cards accepted.

Farmers Market


WSHU Public Radio (Click to Listen):
Teens to run farmers market

Coverage also featured on News 12 Long Island, FiOs 1 News, TV Channel 10/55 News, and more.

Long Island Farms
Participating farms providing produce for markets

Anderson Farms

Farms

Anderson Farms, a 3rd generation farm, is located in Riverhead, New York. They farm approximately 200 acres growing a wide variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, beans, broccoli, cauliflower and much more. Their sales primarily focus on wholesale to other farmstands as well as local restaurants and small food distributors. The Anderson Farmstand can be found on Route 58 in Riverhead which serves as a small retail location for local residents and visitors.


Deer Run Farms (Bob Nolan)

Farms

At the turn of the 20th century, Cord Lohmann began farming in Middle Village in Queens, New York. The farm gradually moved its way east on Long Island stopping in Bethpage and Valley Stream. Throughout its lifetime, the farm has been a family owned and operated business. Today, Janet, Robert's wife, runs the farmstand along with their daughter Valerie, while Robert and his son, Samuel, run the planting and harvesting, specializing in many types of lettuce.


Phil Schmitt & Sons Farms

Farms

Phil Schmitt & Sons is a family run multi-generational farm business on the East End of Long Island. The business began in Farmingdale and Melville before the operation was moved to Riverhead in 1979 where Phil, his father, and brother in law operate the 140 acre farm. Everyone in the Schmitt Family has a part to play. They grow about 20 different varieties of vegetables, including specialty vegetables. The main crops are spinach, twelve varieties of lettuce, cabbage and corn. Phil lives on the farm with his wife Debbie and three children. All three children are involved with the farm.



W&K Farms

Farms

John Kennedy and wife Sally Kennedy moved to Manorville in 1982 where they started W&K Farms. Their 120 acre farm, not far from the Long Island Expressway, grows a variety of different products, including bedding plants, hanging baskets, sweet corn, beans and pumpkins. They sell their products wholesale to supermarkets such as Whole Foods and Fairway. Residents and visitors can also stop in to pick up locally grown vegetables and plants at their farmstand on corner of Wading River Road and South Street.


What to Buy and What to Eat
Available produce at each market

Farms

The markets opened to great success the first two weekends, with multiple items selling out before the end of each day. Customers came out in large numbers from each of these historically underserved areas to help support their community and purchase fresh, healthy, affordable food.

"Thank you for bringing a wish into reality, we have officially started the Roosevelt Community Farmers Market.  Sunday we came together as a community to make a positive impact towards the revitalization of (our community).  We had so many positive responses from the community to make the farmers market a reality," said Jessica Kim, the Roosevelt Market Manager.

"This was our first two weekends of opening these markets and already the feedback and community participation has been incredible," said Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director of Sustainable Long Island. "In the coming weeks as the word begins to spread, and more fruit and vegetables are offered to the residents of North Bellport and Roosevelt, the success we have already obtained can only grow."


Come down every Sunday to enjoy the freshest local produce* including:

  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cauliflower
  • Chicory
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Escarole
  • Herbs
  • Boston, Green Leaf, Red Boston, Red Leaf, and Romaine Lettuce
  • Peppers - Green and Red
  • Pumpkins
  • Spinach
  • Sprouts
  • Squash - Green and Winter
  • String Beans
  • Tomato - Red, Grape, and Plum
  • Watermelon - Red and Yellow
  • Zucchini - Green and Yellow

And much more as the season progresses!*


Tomatos

*Produce offered at each market is contingent on harvest, product demand, and farmers availability.


In the News
A look at a few press clippings



Anton Papers

Cablesvision Editorials:
Right Side of the Tracks: Huntington

Many opponents to (the AvalonBay Proposal in Huntington) have let out a cry of "Not in my Backyard," but if housing units can be developed within the next few years and bring numerous benefits to this community, then why all the commotion? Young people looking to settle down won't have to pack up and leave, and older couples looking to retire won't have to search high and low for a place to live. Instead all different kinds of residents will have an affordable option to call home.

Newsday's The Future of Long Island: Environment
Long Island faces tough environmental balancing act
Others want to retrofit the region. One idea: Instead of building residential developments on virgin ground, recycle old industrial sites near the railroad or underused commercial properties such as Long Island's shuttered auto dealerships located along bus lines. "It's an opportunity to reimagine a place," said Sarah Lansdale of Sustainable Long Island.
Networking Magazine:
Two Page Feature: Sustainable Long Island 4th Annual Sustainability Conference

LIPA Celebrates Major Milestone for its Refrigerator Recycling Program:
:
Authority announces 1,000th customer to participate in LIPA's version of "Cash for Clunkers"


"This unique Refrigerator Recycling Program has turned what use to be a chore to many residential consumers, into a hassle-free way to replace one of their old machines. The program provides numerous benefits, as customers receive rebates and save money by partaking in this initiative, while also helping out the environment by recycling and replacing their old refrigerator with a low-cost, energy-efficient appliance," said Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director, Sustainable Long Island.
 
Followers Feature
A glimpse into Sustainable Long Island's online community

FacebookTwitter

We have over 1500 followers, fans, and friends that are apart of our online community. Many are engaged and active, not only online, but in their local community as well. Every day they share their thoughts, express their opinions, and show us exactly what Long Island is made of. They have often praised the work of Sustainable Long Island, but today we would like to praise them; we couldn't do it with out all of you. Here is just a few examples of what our friends have to say:

In regards to a Green Economy:

  • Explore ways to keep our kids on Long Island. There's no green economy without Generation Next!
  • A public, private, community partnership is essential to advance sustainability initiatives. The will and way must be ours!
  • Long Islanders need to be made aware of what green jobs will do for our economy. The public needs to be informed and then call, write and email there local, state and federal representatives asking for incentives to be created to attract green jobs to Long Island.
In regards to the Environment:
  • Keeping LI's water, from aquifers to beaches, sound to shore, clean and pristine. GREEN. Not a passive word. A movement.
  • The biggest challenge everywhere is over population.Tearing down wilderness for housing...Long Island is a finite space. If we keep doing that, eventually you run out of space, open space, negative space. Negative space is very important in design & art & quality of life.Tearing down wilderness for housing; It seems odd to do that. Many houses remain empty & still new ones are built.Rebuilding, reusing, existing spaces in already developed areas may help this situation.Having lived through the entire history of environmental concerns,we are very aware of GREEN LIVING.We are still recovering plastic we had saved from many years ago, because it wasn't being recycled at the time. Boxes of old paper mail.Things are recycled now-a-days. Our refuse is mostly of a recyclable nature or it is organic.We believe if products are designed in "closed loop" manufacturing production, it would help everyone be able to be GREEN pain free.
  • just what I was going to say - the biggest threat to LI's environment - or "challenge" as you so pc call it - is humans. obviously.so do you mean that, as we are already here in detrimental numbers, what can we do to slow the damage? also obvious. stop overconsuming energy, material goods, food, etc. Not gonna happen, is it? but it's nice to talk about.as for me, I actually make an effort, for what it's worth. I eat local and organic whenever possible. I support small, local shops and never shop in big chains (except King Kullen). I take my kids on hikes and teach them to appreciate nature.And frankly, I would never, ever live in or near those endless strip malls that pass for civilization "up" island.The fact that many, if not most, Long Islanders live as they do - and don't seem to be aware of anything wrong with themselves - is proof enough that the outlook is not good.
  • I think our biggest challenge is our Egos. Everyone has to stop trying to be "The Man" and put more emphasis on the Movement rather than the Man. We have to put our Egos aside and all work together and realize we are all For Long Island. Unless we do that, we will never accomplish all our goals.....

In regards to Food Equity and Farmers Markets:
  • I'll be finishing my organic garden w/ 25+ veggies & herbs using companion planting! YumYum http://twitpic.com/1r8yg4
  • I am so happy to be promoting the Bellport Farmers Market with the Long Island Food Challenge! I am glad we can work together to help people eat locally.
  • This is a great project. Congratulations!
  • I love this! Keep up the great work!
  • Just left the new market in Roosevelt and I'm really impressed with the kids, quality of the produce and variety- congratulatons to everyone who worked to make it happen!
In regards to Walkable Communities:
  • We need more walkable communities!
  • Excellent study! With family connections to Babylon, I have to say how much I LOVE walking around the village. It's beautiful, Argyle Lake is a treat to walk around, the homes on various streets are nice to see, and the main streets have lots of interesting shops and restaurants. I also enjoy walking in Huntington very much. Long Island has many superlative places to walk, and people may not always know that since large portions of it was also developed in car-centric ways.
In regards to the Nassau Coliseum Site (Lighthouse, Casino, etc.):
  • The scaled down version is an economic failure. It will not attract major private investment, and the MTA will likely not add major transit access to a site with only 500 residential units. Forget light rail or an LIRR connection - how about one extra bus route? Another LI development opportunity wasted, par for the course, I guess.
  • Cover your ears!!! (about scaled down version)
  • disgusting disgraceful insult (about scaled down version)
  • (about proposed casino) I am not familiar with Brookhaven Calabro Airport or the sentiment of the communities that surround it so I can't say whether it is or is not suitable for a casino. The Nassau Coliseum site should NOT be home to a casino. It is probably the last thing the county needs right now. Rightfully so, there is going to be little or no support from the surrounding communities. Traffic and crime will go up and the center of the county will become an area residents wish to avoid instead of an area where residents can enjoy recreation, entertainment and shopping. What makes Governor Paterson, the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Gateway Casino Resorts think that the Town of Hempstead will give their nod of approval? Greater political pressure from Albany or out East on Long Island will not change a thing. The Town of Hempstead would not budge an inch under pressure to approve the Lighthouse development, and I would be extremely surprised if they approved the development of a casino. The State, County and Town should be looking for ways to develop the Nassau Coliseum area through the expansion of recreation, education, and entertainment opportunities that already exist, as well as looking to attract green companies to the area.

In regards to Downtowns:
  • If we can break down the issues into categories. Look at the big picture & what is best for ALL. We can do this. Truth is, we have more in common, than we are different. Downtowns play a different role than they used to, but, many residents still do not want to travel outside their living areas. Revitalizing business or downtown areas should include creative spaces. Business in the street level studio/living space above. We need a transit system to travel NORTH & SOUTH - Monorail run on conduction power. Maybe supplied by solar means. "How to run a household", needs to be taught in schools. If the youth is to take power, they need to know how NOT TO WASTE money. This would include meals at home.
  • Downtowns can work if there is something to draw people in. Rockville Centre is a great case study. The downtown is adjacent to the train station, there is a movie theatre and dozens of restaurants and bars, which generate street life. Also, because it is laid out in a grid rather than linearly along one thoroughfare - think Long Beach Road in Oceanside or Hempstead Turnpike - everything is within walking distance. You can park your car and do all your business without having to move it to another location.
  • I grew up on Long Island moved away and then came back recently. There is a housing issue that needs to be thought out and not just one sided. 1) Affordable housing planning. As I looked for a house to purchase I was stunned to find a good 50%+ of the houses I saw have illegal apartments attached and carved out of the houses. What does this mean?a) We have many people who can not afford to purchase and they compensate by getting rent from illegal apartments.b) This causes over use of our systems; schools, trash, police, etc. Which causes taxes to rise.c) We have many people who desire to live on Long Island and can not afford it.* How to we balance the 2 sides of of this???1) We need to see how we can build affordable places people can rent & live.2) We need to regulate and enforce the regulations on illegal apartments.3) We may have to be honest and say, not everyone can afford to purchase a home. Some people may need to wait, save, and get into a better financial situation before buying a house. The recent financial meltdown is a denial of this truth!4) We may need to partner with NYC to resolve some housing needs. 5) Perhaps if people can not afford Long island it might be necessary for some people to move to another area that is less expensive? We may need to accept this and help/assist people when this is a reality.6) How can we assist familes/people who choose to stay on Long Island when they can not afford to live here? Build affordable apartment complexes? Social Services? Education? Preparation for better paying jobs, like in healthcare promoted by the county?

Check out all of this and much more today!
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Build a Better Burb
The time for cautious thinking is over

Better Burb
 
What would you do on these acres of opportunity? Build a car-free community for thousands? Plant an oasis of urban agriculture? Produce renewable energy and provide well-paying green jobs? Use landscape systems to repair ruptures in regional ecologies? Introduce armatures to enhance public space and the civic realm?
 
Building suburbia in the old way is no longer working. Statistical indicators show that Long Island is facing several pressing challenges: to build affordable housing and greater housing choice, especially for rentals; to reduce car dependency and congestion; to bring Long Island's diverse communities together in a shared public realm; to improve equity and access to opportunity for all; to meet the needs of retiring baby boomers who wish to age in place; and to fight the "brain drain" of younger residents who don't see a future here and leave.

Better Burb Better BurbBetter Burb

The Build a Better Burb jury met on June 28th in Garden City and, after a lively, wide-ranging discussion, selected their top proposals from a field of 212 submissions.

Now it's time for you to cast your vote for the Long Island Index People's Choice Award!
Select one project from among these 23 finalists to vote for. Only one vote can be recorded per computer, so visit the Build a Better Burb homepage and VOTE! And remember, check back on October 4th to see which ideas are the winners!

Donate to Sustainable Long Island Today

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By Donating you are helping promote:
  • Economic Development
  • Environmental Health
  • Equity for All Long Islanders

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Sincerely,

Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director
Sust
ainable Long Island