(This article represents the opinion of the author.)
The current budget proposal for Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County, NY, indicates that it will no longer support the Holtsville Ecology Center. The community has been pleading with our politicians to maintain support for our treasured facility, to no avail. Residents have been signing a petition and voting on Facebook; at last count we had 27,000 signatures and "likes." Our politicians still refuse to listen to reason!
Our Ecology center is not just a facility; it's a venue! Many if not all of our children go there on school trips. Our children get to enhance their perception of their surroundings, by doing ecology related crafts. This is so important for their emotional growth! Moms and Dads get to spend quality time with their children, at our Ecology Center. What is more important than that?
The Pool is a must! The availability of a Pool, has a monumental effect on the emotional development of a child.
Almost all of the plants that you see throughout Brookhaven are grown at this facility.
Residents go to the Ecology Center to clear their minds; they walk, they jog, and also, some bring their bikes. We are talking about the emotional well being of our adult community; in this case the 20 and "30 something" crowd.
The EC has crafts for the adults. Many residents attend the Master Gardeners Club, events.
The issue is not just about animals; it is about an emotional bonding experience between parents and children. This facility is an inseparable part of our community.
Let's put the animals last! Closing the Ecology Center will have a lasting negative impact on the children and adult residents of Brookhaven Town.
Closing this facility will be more than stupid, but criminal! Lord protect us from our misguided politicians!
The Ecology Center Facebook page has a few good suggestions that should be considered before aimlessly closing our wonderful facility.
Charging a small fee for non residents perhaps but then wouldn't that include employees to do accounting or would that be just another pocket liner??
I think that the human element is the only argument that can alter this decision. You might want to view a few photos of the animals at the Ecology Center. http://mapleavenuenw.blogspot.com/2012/10/holtsville-ecology-site-to-be-closed.html#links
Think this could be arranged?
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/SaveHoltsvilleEcologyCenter Kevin, I agree with you; we need a huge protest protest, but the HEC Committee does not know how to play Hardball. They must have a Press Release, and invite Newsday, the LI Advance, Channel 12 News, Diane Sawyer, and Patch. I would bet that the fate of this property is already "poured in Concrete." PLAY BALL!!!!
Brainstorm with the people and the board to find out alternatives. Above all, those who vote for the closing must be warned that their political futures are in danger, we wont forget.
I get it now. nevermind.
I too would rather not pay any fee, but we are budgeting ourselves into a sterile community. How about administering a season pass? NEIGHBORS would you be willing to pay a fee?
I don't understand why every other town beach or park can figure out how to generate passes for residents and charge non-town residents for access but Brookhaven can't do this with the Ecology Center? I would pay $50 for an annual resident parking pass to the site. Let non-residents pay a higher price if that's Lesko's and the board's big concern. I'm tired of fighting for this every year. We elect these people to come up with solutions to issues, not to take the easy way out and just close down resources that are so valuable to children and families, not to mention animals.
This Country wasn't founded by cowards--I think we need to demonstrate that we're just as willing to stand up physically to these know-nothing bullies on the Town of Brookhaven board who seem incapable of comprehending that they're simply and utterly WRONG!
It belongs to the taxpayer, residents ofBrookhaven Town, not the members of the Town board. They are not our Masters, we are not their serfs. Rather, they, supposedly represent us, collectively. Not special interests, not real estate interests, not big business. Although I'm sure a WalMart could be built there. Let us hope for a large turnout for the next Town Hall meeting.
Agree with ALL of your points save the WalMart one--If memory serves the site (being a landfill) could NEVER be built on--especially any facility which involved food (for humans) which a WalMart would have. It'd take someone with better memory-knowledge of the terrain and ecology to provide that info. Mr. Rouse comes to mind for info. since he's been a strong advocate for Holtsville Ecology to remain the beautiful park it is as were the previous Highway Dept. people before him. The only problem (as I see it) with Town Hall meetings is their limited space and near silence/lack of publicity after the fact. Something else has been troubling me: the volunteers there and the Highway Dept employees working at the EC seem to have been shut down from speaking out but they surely should have a major voice in this since they've been instrumental in turning it into the beautiful place we love so much. AND: there are many people on Long Island who don't spend time on computers who simply might not know of this underhanded move to close it down. They NEED to be made aware--and soon, of what this Board is doing. I'd like the name of every single board member who is FOR the closing of the site to be published-somewhere, so we can know just whom we're dealing with. WE need to stop them.
A Gag-order is usually issued by a judge when legal proceedings are in progress or pending. In the case of the Ecology Center there is no litigation, so pressuring employees to "keep their mouth shut," could be considered as bullying. The Healthy workplace bill, is close to becoming law in NY State; the employee could then sue his boss for bullying. Amen! Enough is enough!
Don't make waves. As to the Center being built over a garbage dump, therefore making it unusable for building Shopping Centers, residences or any other commercial purpose, all it takes is a zoning change, a new local law enacted etc. Remember the Golden Rule: "He who has the gold, makes the rules. "
A zoning change is exactly what I suspect. I feel that the fate of the EC has already been "written in stone."
http://www.guccibeltstb.com/ Gucci Belt http://www.coachoutletonlinetdy.com/ Coach Outlet Store Online http://www.cocoachoutletonline.org/ Coach Outlet Online