Next Meeting:            Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.
Place:                          Elmont Memorial Public Library
Topic:                         Community Issues.

A year has passed since the New York State Senatorial Hearing at the Elmont Memorial Public Library. Our civic President was a speaker at this hearing, and she voiced the concerns and interests of the neighborhood organization that borders Belmont Park. At this meeting, a year ago a statement urging the State to focus on the residential area where we live and take notice of the families and educational facilities that border or are in close proximity to Belmont Park. A request for sound and smart economic development and revitalization was stated, seeking out a small outlet center promoting local jobs, concentration on the location’s racing heritage and incorporation of an integrated family oriented museum, park, facilities and businesses.

A year has passed since that meeting and the real neighbors of Belmont Park spoke their concerns and interests. However, week after week individual(s) living miles away urged for a Hotel and a Casino (racino) on the grounds. Our elected officials sadly followed, failing once again at an opportunity for smart development. Fortunately, as seen in the last two weeks of local newspaper publications the focus perhaps been corrected. We see the harsh realizations that Hotels do not bring revitalization and often times brings intense hardships as we see happening in our neighboring hamlet of West Hempstead.

Some missed our September Meeting and it was a great meeting. However, there was a troubling consensus. E-mails and letters received, individuals at the meeting voiced their concerns and complaints about the lack of services that we once had regularly. How our elected officials from the local level, to the State and all the way to the top in our Federal Government had failed us.

Aside from our great schools and we must give credit for where it is due to our elected officials in that regard. However, when it comes down to maintaining our roads, (Town and State), keeping the lights on, cutting the grass, following up on requests, following through on summonses, helping to prevent foreclosures, helping neighbors to prevent eyesores such as abandoned properties and in plain words: doing their complete job, it has been a sad disappointment.

The October meeting should be a very informative meeting and most beneficial for all residents in our area to attend. Since this will be our last meeting before the November election, our doors are open for all candidates to express their platforms. We ask all candidates to call 516-488-2858 or e-mail mail@elmontcivic.com if they plan on attending for agenda planning purposes.

We urge all voting citizens to vote responsibly. As this organization remains non-political and non-committable, we urge everyone to research their candidates. Visiting a website such as votesmart.org shows candidates voting records, and approval ratings from various interest groups.

The Locustwood Gotham Civic Association, formerly and still often referred to by past and present members as Locustwood Estates would like to thank the Elmont Herald for allowing our organization to publish our monthly announcement.

As an Englishman once said to his son, “Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth by your eyes than by your ears. People can say what they will, but they cannot look just as they will; and their looks frequently reveal what their words are calculated to conceal.”

We cannot be fooled or rely upon on weekly biased and self-promoting propaganda. Instead, we urge everyone to come with your family, neighbors and friends to our meeting on the 16th at 7:30 P.M. sharp at the Elmont Memorial Public Library and become a proactive component of our community. We have nothing to hide, and we embrace everyone as family.

We remind our old and future members to pay your civic membership dues. December 19, 2008 is the last date that you would receive free annual subscription to the Elmont Herald for the 2008-2009 year. We look forward in seeing you there.

Lastly, we extend our gratitude to our nation’s military service members, both active duty and veterans, for their dedication, courage, accomplishments and sacrifices to protect our everyday freedoms.