Editorial - Smithtown Needs To Address Its RDD (Responsibility Deficit Disorder)

Faux-countability ? Nah, Smithtown has a Responsibility Deficit Disorder (RDD)!

Ruth Marcus, a Washington Post opinion writer, wrote an article, “Benghazi, Obamacare and the absence of accountability”, posted on the Washington Post website, January 21, 2014.  In the article Ms. Marcus makes the point that in every political scandal there is an accountability moment where someone accepts responsibility.  She explains that recent political accountability moments are too often about political point-scoring rather than problem-fixing… “Faux-countability” she calls it.

Here in Smithtown many people would undoubtedly welcome accountability… even faux-countability. In Smithtown, residents deal with a different diagnosis -  Responsibility Deficit Disorder (RDD). Here in Smithtown, no one (government and business owners) accepts responsibility for anything. 

One needs only to look at the Old Northport Road corridor to see how the manifestation of RDD negatively impacts residents and businesses. 

Business owners in the Old Northport Rd. corridor routinely blame the town for lack of planning, necessitating their illegal business practices. If only the town would adopt a plan, we would abide by it. We have been in business for decades, we need to violate town code to be profitable. The town needs to change its code to allow for this. We are violating the law, but it is not our choice.

The town’s position is: We “tried” to stop the illegal activities and have been unsuccessful in the courts; we are not responsible. Or the BZA approved it, the Planning Board gave it the go-ahead, the DEC etc., we are not responsible.

For years businesses in the corridor did whatever they could get away with and they got away with a lot: illegal mining, dumping, outdoor storage, etc.. There were court cases and fines, but the lucrative business practices continued for decades.  Occasionally, a business received unappreciated attention from the media… think - Izzo tire storage and fire, or the proposed power plant. The residents reacted, the town reacted, and the issue went away.  But town code remained and enforcement efforts remained unchanged. 

Residents living around the corridor learned to live with “status quo”. Not happy with what was happening in the area, but convinced that it was not going to get better, and hopeful that they could prevent things from getting worse, they formed civic associations. The associations stepped up the monitoring of the area and complaints were brought to officials privately and publicly. Their message: We are not going to disappear; We will work to protect our quality of life, there is a town code, and we expect you to enforce it.  

Businesses exist to make money. Successful business owners reinvent their business to maintain their competitiveness and to make more money.  As businesses in the corridor reinvented their business models and new practices were adopted, residents became incensed. Homeowners appealed to Town Board members to protect them from the practices that were destroying their quality of life. There were complaints about horrific odors, non-stop noise, 18-wheelers on residential roads,etc. . Town officials once again looked into the problem and discovered that there were no politically digestible solutions and therefore more work needed to be done to find the correct solution.

The town once again seems hamstrung. Some business owners have adopted a new business strategy publicly calling for planning and zoning changes. Residents are becoming more vigilant.

A major part of the problem can be traced back to RDD. Without businesses being held culpable for the illegal practices in the area, residents cannot feel confident that altering existing code will lead to compliance. Without Smithtown accepting responsibility for diligently enforcing its code, residents have no reason to belive that a new zoning category will lead to change and correct decades of violations.

It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to address its Reponsibility Deficit Disorder. It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to step up to the plate and find a solution to the Old Northport Rd. corridor. It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to stop delegating their responsibility to appointed boards. It’s time for Smithtown to aggressively enforce its zoning code. It’s time to up the fines for commercial entities who violate Smithtown Town Code so it is no longer profitable to do so. And it is time to create a zone that includes reasonable outdoor storage, which does not allow environmental contamination, and protects residents from noise, odors and hazardous traffic in neighborhoods. 

Can Smithtown’s RDD be cured? Yes, but…

Pat

Stay Off The Roads And Allow Highway Workers To Do Their Job!

With forecasters predicting 15 inches of snow, high winds gusting up to 35 mph and temperatures as low as 12 degrees, most people are more than happy to stay inside until the roads are clear. That is exactly what workers clearing roadways would like you to do, stay off the roads. 

“So far so good,” pretty much sums up Smithtown Superintendent of Highway Glenn Jorgensen’s sentiment at 2:30 this afternoon. Mr. Jorgensen said that highway workers have been out on the road since the snow began falling earlier today and that crews will continue with snow clearing throughout the evening. They will begin again in the early morning. An emergency crew will be available overnight. 

Currently, according to Mr. Jorgensen, highway workers are keeping up with the roads. He urges people to stay off the road if they don’t need to go out and to “allow his workers to do their job.”

Earlier this year there was some criticism of the decision to close the Long Island Expressway in anticipation of a major snow event. Saying “Better safe than sorry” Jorgensen supported that decision but adds that he has not received notification from the county that there would be a similar road closure.

“There is a lot of traffic on the roads with backups slowing down the plows. if you must drive, allow yourself plenty of time, go slow and do not park on the street” said Jorgensen.

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news

By Nancy Vallarella

Looks like 2014 will bring some changes over at Mirabelle at the Three Village Inn.  According to Chef Guy Reuge there will be a merging of the restaurants.  I am guessing he is referring to Mirabelle and the more casual Mirabelle Tavern.  Stand by.

HEALTHY COMFORT FOOD – Oxymoron?  Not at the Whole Foods Supper Club, Lake Grove. Enjoy 4 courses for $15. Moday, January 27 at 6:30pm. To reserve spot call 588-1466. 

If you haven’t gone yet… Commack Winter Farmer’s Market is located at the Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road, Commack. They are there Sunday’s from 10 – 1:00pm through February 23.  You will find many vendors from King’s Park Farmer’s Market along with some interesting new products.  

Smithtown Student Kyle Geringer Awarded Liberty Medal By Senator Flanagan

Senator Flanagan Presents Liberty Medal To Smithtown Student

Photo Caption: Senator Flanagan and Principal Kull-Minarik (second from right) join with Kyle Geringer, his brother Matthew and his mother Diane after Kyle received the New York State Senate Liberty Medal. Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently presented the New York State Senate Liberty Medal to ten-year-old Kyle Geringer of Smithtown for his efforts in alerting his Smithtown neighbors about a chimney fire at their home.  Senator Flanagan joined Kyle and his family in his fifth-grade class at Accompsett Elementary School, which is taught by Mr. Scott Miller, for a special ceremony organized by Principal Jeanne Kull-Minarik.

Kyle was in his home on November 23rd when he saw flames rising out of his neighbor’s chimney.  He wisely informed his parents about the situation, who then contacted their neighbors to warn them of the unknown danger.  Due to Kyle’s quick-thinking action, the Smithtown Fire Department was immediately contacted and arrived on the scene to put out the fire before it could spread to the rest of the home.

 “Kyle took the initiative by acting swiftly to help protect his neighbors, which helped prevent the fire from spreading any further.  He is proof that heroes live right in our community and come in every size,” stated Senator Flanagan.  “Kyle is a hero who has set a great example for all of his classmates to follow.”

The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was created in 2000 and is one of the highest civilian honors that a New York resident can receive. It is awarded by the New York State Senate to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.

Community Activist To Town Board "Enforce Town Code"

Ms. Gary addressing Smithtown Town Board members Jan. 7th“Walk softly and carry a big stick” may have been the policy of the 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, but almost one hundred years after his death (1919), it is making a come back and has become the policy of members of the Old Northport Road / Lawrence Road Task Force. Members of the task force work vigilantly to protect their community from rogue business practices. At last week’s town board meeting task force member Michelle Gary addressed town board members, politely and intelligently. She explained the objectives of the task force, “We want the town to enforce current zoning. We don’t want it changed or new zoning, we want the current zoning enforced”.  

The big stick?  The voice of residents, voters, alliances between organizations, and the tenaciousness of home owners who are highly motivated to protect their homes, families and quality of life. The message is simple: businesses need to play by the rules and Smithtown needs to enforce them.  At last week’s meeting Ms. Gary announced a new affiliation. The task force has become a registered  Neighborhood Watch Group. This national organization, once known for providing neighbors with strategies for preventing crime, has evolved into an organization that also helps residents “combat the negative impacts of business and industry”said Gary. 

The Old Northport Rd./Lawrence Rd. Task Force along with the Kings Park Civic Association, Commack Community Association and the Fort Salonga Civic Association all have a stake in the *solutions for this corridor that at times has been referred to as the ‘wild west’.  A lightly tethered alliance has formed to resolve issues in the area that include abusive land mining, dumping, storage, environmental concerns, odors, large trucks in residential areas, hours of operation, zoning, etc..   

How successful the task force will be remains to be seen. Armed with cameras and video equipment task force members have documented illegal business practices and presented their findings to the Smithtown Town Board, Town Attorney and Public Safety. They respectfully argue that before any consideration is given to changing zoning in the area, businesses need to be compliant with current town law.  Individually, some members put a great deal of effort in the November election hoping to get a board sympathetic to “residents”. Newly elected Councilwoman Lynne Nowick is seen as a swing vote.  Ms. Gary’s appearance at the board’s first meeting of the year was used to restate the goals and objectives of the task force.

Mike Cox and Attorney V. Trimarco make presentation to Kings Park Civic AssociationSmithtown’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will meet tonight (BZA Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 14). On its agenda is an application for a zone change for a business on Old Northport Road. Property owner, Mr. Michael Cox, made a presentation before the Kings Park Civic Association on January 9th and acknowledged that he, along with many of the businesses along Old Northport Rd, is in violation of certain parts of Smithtown Town Code. In the audience was Ms. Gary listening, asking insightful questions, always respectful. When questioned after the meeting about her thoughts on the Cox proposal she reiterated the position of the Old Northport Rd/Lawrence Rd. Task Force, “We want the town to enforce its current code.” 

*article amended the word “finding”was removed.