spacer.png, 0 kB
spacer.png, 0 kB
spacer.png, 0 kB
Home
mpbanner

Come To The Next Manor Park Civic Meeting!

Help To Give Our Community Its Voice!!

Latest News

Welcome to the Manor Park Civic!

The Manor Park Civic Association has been serving the community since 1983. The Association was formed over concerns that the Town of Brookhaven intended to expand the operations at Brookhaven Muncipal Airport and was already in the process of seeking to condemn homes in Manor Park for expansion of the airport. Ultimately, the Town was successful in taking only three homes to provide a buffer zone for the Airport. These buffer zones have been a source of concern for the residents of the area who must be constantly aware of activity at the Airport in order to ensure that the peaceful and small nature of the Airport is not destroyed by inappropriate development.

Oddly enough, this has been a recurring battle for the residents of Manor Park for the almost 25 years, as the Town seeks to ever increase its revenues from activity at the Airport at the expense of the quality of life of nearby residents.

Additionally, the Manor Park Civic Association is a strong and steadfast proponent of preserving the entire Mastic Woods. The 254 acre Mastic Woods surrounds Manor Park and has been the target of relentless development pressure and abandonment by elected officials for many years.

The Mastic Woods is home to the headwaters of the embattled Forge River and the residents of Manor Park were among the first to call for its preservation and restoration. President MaryAnn Johnston even filed a successful Article 78 to stop the Town from permitting a massive PRC to be built with a Sewage Treatment Plant at the headwaters of the Forge River, or as the Town proposed cesspool systems for the project located at none other than the Town owned Calabro Airport.

The Mastic Woods is second on the critical preservation list of the Long Island's Last Stand group and is now the subject of a Planning Steps Resolution by Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning. The efforts of the Manor Park Civic Association were critical to convincing the developer to sell the Mastic Woods for open space preservation.

Manor Park continues to be an advocate for our residents and aims to preserve and enhance their quality of life now and for the future.

Manor Park Re-paving
Written by Webmaster   
Friday, April 09, 2010
The MPCA has been informed by the Town that only certain blocks on the west side of North Titmus Drive are scheduled to be repaved this summer.  Origially the town had informed the Civic that due to our efforts the Town would be re-paving the ABC blocks (Abbott to Cranford and points in between) in Manor Park.  Now only certain blocks will get repaved, others only resurfacing.  Winters Drive and other blocks are moving forward, but we have not recieved an expanation for why residential blocks are not being paved while dead-end access roads to Calabro Airport are. The civic Association is pleased that our community is getting some attention from the Highway Department, many of you have answered the call to complain about the condition of our roads and at long last some of us have been heard.  Athough there is expected to be some inconvenience the end result will be something that enhances the appearence of our neighborhoods.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, July 28, 2010 )
 
Special Civic Meeting August 11th
Written by Webmaster   
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
 
Attention Manor Park Civic Association Community
The Executive Board has called a SPECIAL MEETING of all members and community residents for August 11, 2010; at 7:30 PM at Dowling College, room B-201 to consider by-law changes and/or other alternatives necessary to strengthen our effectiveness as your civic organization. 
  • Manor Park and its neighboring communities are presently confronted with several proposed development projects which, if approved, will forever negatively impact the quality of life in our area. 
  • First and foremost,  Calabro Airport has been offered by the TOB to the Shinnecock Indian Nation as a gambling casino site ,  the plan is promoted by officials at the State, County and Town as well as federal regulatory agencies.   Casinos at the airport or another nearby location would forever transform the rural/suburban character of your community into a gambling and commercial mecca. 
  • If permitted the project could easily overwhelm our schools, police, social service agencies and bring enormous traffic onto our roadways...
  • Casinos next door will lower the value of our homes and quality of our neighborhoods, and will produce no tax revenue for the town or school districts, as Reservation land CANNOT BE TAXED LOCALLY. 
  • The MPCA and more than 25 other civic and community associations have formed a coalition to oppose this threat. All working to preserve your quality of life.
  • MANOR PARK IS GROUND ZERO IN THIS FIGHT!
  • Our Agenda will consider enlargement of  the MPCA geographic boundaries as defined in our by-laws. As this action could change the structure and composition of the Manor Park Civic Association, the Executive Board and Trustees have agreed to notify via  E-mail residents of the community.
  • Even if the Casinos are placed elsewhere, it appears that the town may have already determined that the Airport can be developed or sold off; Town has hired a law firm to explore the consequences of these actions.
  • Noting that all members and residents may not be able to attend this special meeting, we are requesting those unable to attend contact the Civic Association through its the Contact Us link on the MPCA website at www.manorparkcivic.org, by e-mail or phone. Please include your name, address and contact information for verification of residence.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

MaryAnn Johnston, President

Peter Viscardi, Treasurer

John Paulson, Membership Secretary

Eric Paulson, Sgt @ Arms

Susan Sineo, Trustee

 
Casinos NYTimes Editorial
Written by Webmaster   
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Wonderful Editorial New York Times
 
Editorial

Gambling Fever

Published: July 4, 2010
Gamblers aren’t the only ones prone to jackpot delusions. Politicians all over see casinos as magic revenue chests that will help them avoid painful spending cuts, escape the trap of no-tax pledges and make budget gaps vanish. New York is no exception. Gov. David Paterson wants to bring slot machines to Aqueduct, the crumbling racetrack in Queens. (Three previous attempts to strike a deal collapsed.) The new Nassau County executive, Edward Mangano, wants the Shinnecock Indians to build a full casino in the center of his county. A Suffolk County legislator, Wayne Horsley, wants the tribe’s casino out in his neck of Long Island — but not, of course, in the posh Hamptons, where the Shinnecocks actually live. The federal government has finally granted the Shinnecocks recognition as an Indian tribe, more than 30 years after they applied. That is great news for the Shinnecocks, whose reservation is a pocket of poverty in a zone of immense wealth. As an official tribe they will have access to benefits like federal funds for housing, education, food programs and health care. Unfortunately, what they prize most is the right to run a casino, and the host of suitors it has already attracted. Casinos are a magnet for tainted money and promote addiction, crime and other ills. The tribe should be finding other ways to use its valuable real estate and its long-denied recognition. The state’s politicians should also stop chasing gamblers. At a time when casino revenue is slumping across the country, it doesn’t even make economic sense. They need to make hard decisions on taxes and spending, and focus on developing stable industries, improving education and working their way to growth. If they keep holding out for a false jackpot, everyone will lose.
 
Civics Rally Against Casinos
Written by Webmaster   
Sunday, June 27, 2010

Protesters in Shirley rally against proposed casino

A group of Brookhaven residents staged a protest at a busy Shirley intersection Saturday to voice their opposition to the prospect of a Shinnecock casino.

Cars lined William Floyd Parkway, blaring their horns in support of the 20 protesters rallying at the intersection with MontaukHighway.

"The time to talk is not when the shovel is in the ground," said Ira Brickman, 62, of Middle Island, who is concerned about what he sees as overdevelopment in Brookhaven.

Other protesters were concerned about the potential for increasing crime, traffic and pollution in their residential area.

"We want to make [the community] more economically viable but money isn't everything," said Delia McKernan, 40, of Shirley, president of the Smith Point Beach Property Owners. "The integrity of the community is more important."

The protest was staged outside the Floyd Harbor Centre shopping mall, less than a mile from Brookhaven Calabro Airport, one of six sites under consideration for a Shinnecock Indian Nation casino following the tribe's recent federal recognition.

The status gives the tribe the right to open a casino on tribal land. The tribe has said it wants to open one within commuting distance instead.

"Their recognition is long overdue," said Jamie Reason, 63, of Mastic Beach, a member of theMastic Peninsula Historical Society. "But this area is inappropriate for a casino; it is one of the most historic sites on Long Island," he said.

Many at the rally argued the casino should remain on the Shinnecocks' 3,000-acre land inSouthampton. "The casino is being pushed on us because we are middle class and Southampton doesn't want it," said Anne Fay, 44, of Manor Park, whose family has lived adjacent to Calabro Airport since 1972.

Others said services - sanitation, fire, and ambulance - would be burdened by a casino.

=
 
Calabro Casino?
Written by Webmaster   
Monday, May 10, 2010

Sample Image Sample Image

JETS, HELICOPTERS, WOODED BUFFER ZONES DESTROYED AND NOW STILL ANOTHER ASSAULT AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVITE PLANS FOR ..............

Sample Image

INDIAN CASINOS?

Area residents voiced their concerns and opposition
to the Town and County's plans to build casinos at the Airport.

MPCA community OPPOSES
transition of the site for gambling casinos.

THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CIVIC

JOIN... HELP US MAKE A BETTER COMMUNITY TOGETHER!

Last Updated ( Tuesday, June 22, 2010 )
 
Brookhaven Airport Casino Site? Lesko Game Changer?
Written by Webmaster   
Saturday, May 08, 2010

Eyeing casino, Shinnecocks visit Brookhaven Airport

Quick Summary

The Shinnecock Indian Nation visited the 600-acre Shirley airport to a review one of a list of prospective Suffolk casino sites.

Suffolk Countyraquo;s roster of potential

Photo credit: Getty Images | Suffolk County's roster of potential Shinnecock Nation casino sites continues to evolve with the addition of the Brookhaven Airport in Shirley and the shuttered Shoreham nuclear plant, people familiar with the talks say.

Will a casino at Brookhaven Airport fly?

The prospect was aired Friday as representatives of the Shinnecock Indian Nation visited the 600-acre Shirley airport to review one of a list of prospective Suffolk sites for a casino.

Tribal and public officials have said the review is at a preliminary stage, as the tribe awaits word of its federal recognition, which was preliminarily approved this year. Final approval could come by early summer.

PHOTOS: Possible LI casino locationsLighthouse plans | Rallies and hearings

JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Where would you put a new casino on LI?

MORE: Mangano, Shinnecocks discuss casino plan at Coliseum | Map of possible LI casino locations

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said town officials and tribal representatives had "productive and positive discussions" about the airport as a potential site for a casino, but he stressed, "These are just discussions."

A tribal spokeswoman declined to comment.

Lesko painted a picture of a Foxwoods in Brookhaven and said a casino here could create thousands of jobs. He called the casino prospect "a game changer for the community."

Three other possible sites, one in the proposed Legacy Village in Yaphank, the shuttered Shoreham power plant, and Parr Meadows near the William Floyd Parkway in Yaphank also are up for consideration. Tribal trustee Lance Gumbs has called the Parr Meadows site "a favorite" because of its location.

But whether residents will go along with the proposals is another matter.

Eric Hakam, chairman of the Smith Point Village Exploratory Committee, said a casino on the site had pluses and minuses. "We're looking to revitalize Montauk Highway," something a casino could help, but he worried about the prospect of gambling bringing more crime.

Lesko, a former prosecutor, said, "Casinos today are not what they used to be," and said the town would seek community input on whether the site, surrounded by homes, is welcomed.

Johan McConnell, president of the South Yaphank Civic Association, said her group is already opposed to the idea of Suffolk's Legacy Village in Yaphank, and a casino wouldn't help. "There will be strong opposition," she said. She also had a dim view of a casino at Parr Meadows, where a retail/residential/commercial development is already planned: "Who'd want to buy a condo in a casino development?"

Paul Breschard of the Pattersquash Civic Association and chairman of the Mastic Village Exploratory Committee said the economic benefits have to be balanced against local community input.

"It's a beautiful area," he said. "I'd hate to see that destroyed for the sake of economic benefit for the rest of the area."

Last Updated ( Tuesday, June 22, 2010 )
 
Copyright 2010, Manor Park Civic Association. All rights reserved.
spacer.png, 0 kB