Everyone is doing it. Those cool green signs are posted all over the neighborhood, indicating a household in support of making Mastic Beach an incorporated village. Is it peer pressure or do you really want to be a village?
Having been employed in municipal law for over a decade, I am well aware of the positive and negative elements of becoming an incorporated village. In some instances, communities gain much-needed organization and assistance. Often this occurs in tiny communities with little other opportunity for a voice.
Mastic Beach is a large area. While many people claim we won't pay more taxes as a village, that simply isn't true. I've seen these plans in action over the years in many areas. We will pay more taxes and can the residents of Mastic Beach really afford that? What about seniors who lived here their entire lives? Disabled veterans and their families barely getting by now? Will this new village financially force these people out? Where will they go after building this community, often considered one of the "last hopes" on Long Island? Is this a way to thank them, the PEOPLE of Mastic Beach?
I don't see it impacting the slumlords, who are all integrated into our school district, government and community organizations. They will tailor laws to suit their own needs, creating an area with the "have's" and "have-nots" instead of the wonderful, struggling middle class community we are.
It seems to be another way to pick the pockets of residents of our community. Ultimately, more people will be in "power" with greater control over our lives, homes and money. We know what government officials have done with that power in the past. Is this what we really want?
Frankly, I was for this Village idea for all of ten minutes until I started to reconsider the harsh realities. It seems to be wiser to band together to demand our already elected officials DO THEIR JOBS. If everyone did their jobs, this would not be an issue. Our government is already top heavy with little real representation for the people. Though I don't see it in the media or local papers, many people I talk to do NOT want the village and feel it is a mistake.
How about signs for us? Let's stand up and be counted.
4 comments:
YES! Whoever wrote this obviously missed a year's worth of educational meetings regarding the Village that were posted on signs all over town. Perhaps you don't even live here. Please before spouting anymore mis-informed comments go to our website www.masticbeach.org and catch up. Our Village is not like you think, we are not doing our own plowing, highway or garbage. Our officials are not going to be salaried. When you catch up with the information you will understand hopefully, why we are not increasing any taxes. Come to our next meeting 9/8/09 7PM at the Mastic Beach Fire House. If you do not live in Mastic Beach you will not be able to vote on the Village so please don't waste our time or offer any more information about something that you know nothing about. Thank you
For the cost projections for Mastic Beach the Village, see http://masticbeach.org/costs.html It has all been scoped out. And do come to the meetings--usually the first Monday of each month--at the Mastic Beach fire department. See http://www.masticbeach.org for latest news. And see all the enthusiasm for making this happen!
There are so many questions to be answered about the Village of Mastic Beach.
The most pressing questions I have are:
1. Who is planning on running for Mayor?
2. Who is writing the Village Constitution?
3. What will be the Village hierarchy? (Mayor, Village Superintendent, Village Council, Judges etc.)
4. How will the Village be broken up as far as representation? (Assuming we're going to have council members, will they come from different areas of Mastic Beach or will it be most votes wins. Meaning the entire Village Council can be comprised of people living on Pattersquash Creek Area and the people living on Wavecrest Area will have no one on the council.)
5. Why does the map of the proposed Village go into Shirley and Mastic? (I am particularly concerned with the weird area from Flower to Hollywood to Neighborhood back to Flower what, or better asked who, is that for?)
6. How will the Village handle abuse of power? Read the first aggressive comment above and you can see this is a real concern. (I hear a lot of "We'll condemn houses, make the owners accountable" while I love the idea of people being accountable for their property, who gets the power to decide what is right and what is wrong? What will be the code of conduct? Or will their be more strong arming i.e. disagree with Pxyz and Vqr towers over you invading your personal space in a very threatening way.)
All these questions have never been answered. The feedback I get is "First we need to vote to see if there is going to be a Village" Which I find scary. I wouldn't loan money to anyone without a business plan, why on Earth would I vote for a Village without plan.
Enthusiasm isn't enough. Personally, I'd rather the citizens of my town (yes, I live within the borders of the proposed Village and I have attended meetings) spend their time cleaning up their yards, cutting their lawns, pick up litter and cigarettes that they—the citizens of Mastic Beach—throw from their car windows, and formulate a serious neighborhood watch and positive community programs. Instead of the pie-in-the-sky-wave-a-magic-wand-now-things-are-better-we're-a-village plan.
What I see is a lot of talk. All that is going to happen is a bunch of whiney people will complain to the the new mayor instead of the town of brookhaven councilperson. Constantly saying "THEY did this, THEY did that" while wearing pajamas in the afternoon.
Why don't we live our lives like we're already a Village?
Hello, I'm Honest Frank.
I say that everyone should Vote No to
The Village Of Mastic Beach, NY 11951,
to Stop Mastic Beach from becoming
The Mastic Beach Village because
if it does become a Village,
it means that many
Wonderful, Good, Honest, Hard Working
Poor People In Need will be
HOMELESS and some will even
LOSE THEIR JOBS.
Is this how you
Heartless, Selfish, people
that want Mastic Beach to become a Village
Reward these
Wonderful, Good, Honest, Hard Working People
that put up with living in apartments
and Slave away in
Factory's, Warehouses, Sweat Shops
and other disgusting places
so that you don't have to.
If it wasn't for them,
you would have to do it yourself
otherwise you will not be able to
buy from Grocery Stores, Clothing Stores, etc.,
because they are the ones who
stock the shelves and do
all the things that you don't have to do.
You people who are well off
and don't care about the Poor
make me sick to my stomach because
you are only lucky that you have a
better job and a better life.
Just because some people
don't have the mentality
to help themselves like you did,
that doesn't mean that you have to
destroy their lives.
All you care about is
fixing up the town so that your homes
have more value.
If you are not happy and content
here in Mastic Beach with the
Wonderful, Good, Honest, Hard Working People
Get The Hell Out Of Here
And Go Live Somewhere
That's Already A Village!
Otherwise, stay here and help
People In Need so that you can
go to Heaven.
Please visit my web site
http://www.HonestAndFrankVideos.com
to watch all of my
Honest and Frank videos,
before you decide to make
The Village Of Mastic Beach, NY 11951,
The Mastic Beach Village.
Thank You.
Sincerely Honest And Frank,
Honest Frank
of
http://www.HonestAndFrankVideos.com
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