Macellaro for Supervisor
By Maureen Rossi
Richard MacellaroRichard Macellaro is a Democrat who ran for one of two empty seats on the Town Board in November. Last week, he addressed a lengthy letter to community leaders and the press with his proposed idea to establish the Smithtown Planning and Development Association (SPADA). The grandfather who lives in Kings Park hails from Brooklyn where he was extremely active in Community Planning. His plan comes on the heels of Councilman Thomas McCarthy’s proposal for a new Task Force to mitigate the zoning issues, primary zoning infractions in the Old Northport Road industrial area.
However Macellaro says a one-issue Task Force is not the answer. What he is proposing for SPADA is gathering community and business leaders to come together to work on a host of issues and problems facing the township of Smithtown. He feels like this new association should be void of all elected officials. What the consummate community activist has laid out is impressive at the very least. It includes many facets of government and has enormous merit.
He feels it’s imperative that the community be involved in the planning process. Makes sense right? However, that’s already happening, there are several very well oiled civic groups that work hard to make sure development is done in the proper geographic areas.
Macellaro quotes Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” So it makes sense that following that quote, SPADA calls for a Master Plan. Does Smithtown have a Master Plan? If so where is Smithtown’s Master Plan? Despite the call for such by many Civic groups, The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce and many community leaders, Smithtown finds itself without one. We find ourselves without one for a very long time. Councilman Thomas McCarthy informed me during the last election that we did not need a Master Plan because the town was already built out. I disagree, many people disagree. Marcellaro disagrees.
SPADA would also have a say in and work on the following issues:
RE-DEVELOP TOWN PARKS
SMART GROWTH PLANNING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TOWN BUDGET PARTICIPATION
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICATIONS
LOCAL TAX COLLECTION
GOVERNMENT COMPLEXES
BIG BOX STORES AND INDUSTRY
REVITIALIZE SMALL BUSINESSES
TAX INCENTIVES AND ABATEMENTS
MODERNIZE ZONING CODES & REGULATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
BUILD AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING
YOUNG FAMILES ACTIVITIES
YOUTH ACTIVITES AND DRUG PREVENTION/COUNCILING
PROMOTE & EXPAND ASSETS, RESOURCES
Macellaro offers himself up quite generously to be the facilitator or coordinator of what he calls a noble venture. When I look at this list, this Herculean list of things that need to be done in Smithtown, all I can think of is that we already have a Park’s Department, A Planning Board, a Tax Assessor, A Building Department, A Zoning Board, A Youth Bureau, a Drug Prevention Agency and they all have a squadron of clerical workers and department employees.
In addition we have an elected Town Board who has staff at their disposal. We already pay these people a lot of money to do what Marcellaro is calling for his proposed new organization to do.
Why don’t we have a Master Plan? Why are the vast majority of businesses in the Kings Park Industrial Area out of compliance with regard to zoning? Why aren’t our governmental leaders meeting with Smart Growth experts like Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island; why aren’t they touring other areas on Long Island where Smart Growth has been implemented? INACTION, STAGNATION, APATHY.
In the fall of 2013, two of the three candidates running for Supervisor called for change, much of the same change Macellaro is proposing for his SPADA. Those same two candidates met with Smart Growth leaders, they toured Long Island neighborhoods where it is successfully being implemented. However, one leader, the one who won the race – called for Status Quo. He said everything was fine the way it is.
Macellaro’s Report is impressive and comprehensive. It reads like a list of work Smithtown taxpayers expect our local government to do. I have my own quote by Arnold Toynbee for Marcellaro and our elected officials: Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal, with takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.