Rocky Visits Here To Spur Proposition 1 Yes Vote
Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller visited Long Island this Thursday"
in an attempt to gain support for Proposition Number One,
the $ 2.5 billion Transportation Bond Issue on the November 7th
statewide ballot.
The Governor met with members of the press at a luncheon
held at the Holiday Inn, Plainview.
The $ 2.5 billion transportation bond issue would provide$ 1.25
billion in highway construction; $ 1 billion for modernizing mass
transportation facilities and $ 250 million for improved aviation
facilities.
The $ 2.5 billion bond issue is believed to be the largest ever
undertaken by a single state. Despite its size and despite the vast
planning powers the enabling legislation puts in his hands, the
Governor adroitly sold the package to the Legislature last spring.
To do this, he had to jump the hurdles of a Democrat- controlled
Assembly and the suspicions of upstate Republicans, who are
ever concerned that the metropolitan downstate area will grab
more than its share of transportation money. Now the Governor
is attempting to sell the bond issue to the voters. He has proved
a good salesman in the past. Last year he sold a $ 1 billion
pure- water bond issue to the electorate.
Rockefeller had initiated the legislation that set up the Metropolitan
Commuter Transportation Authority of which his former
personal aide, Dr. William Ronan is the head. It took over the
bankrupt Long Island Railroad. Already plans are in the works
for a 100- mile- an- hour train and the elevation of the railroad
crossing which will be made in Massapequa Park. Massapequa
also stands to gain an escalator with the new turn of events.
A group called the Non- Partisan
Civic Association, based
in Locust Valley has been particularly
active in opposing the
bond issue fearing that monies
would be spent on a bridge from
Oyster Bay to Connecticut. However,
the Governor promised that
the monies would not go for any
bridges.
This week, Martin Victor,
President of the Non- Partisan
Civic Association labeled the
transportation bond issue " ahidden
tax bomb in the voting booth
for the average taxpayer.
A group called the Council for
Better Transportation Planning
of which a Robert F. de Graff
of Oyster Bay is the spokesman
called it a " port- barrel bond issue'*
and a " blank check" for
Albany politicians.
" The enabling legislation for
the expenditure of this vast sum
of money establishes, at most,
vague and meaningless guidelines
which easily enable public
funds to be used to gain political
advantage," charged Robert de
Graff of Oyster Bay, spokesman
for the Transportation Council.
" In effect," Mr. de Graff said,
" voters are being asked to assume
the higher taxes which will
inevitably result from a 2 1/ 2
billion dollar debt but have no idea
and little if any assurances as
to how the money would be used.
The Transportation Council
notes with interest that the Department
of Public Works requested
that 5000 acres be released
from the Forest Preserve
for roads as yet unspecified. The
publicly avowed reasons were to
create " better access" and
something called a " Nuway."
Over public resistance they developed
a " Quickway" and the
' ' Northway,'' now apparently they
have found a " Nuway." Will the
Forest Preserve remain forever
wild?
The hotly disputed Long Island
Sound Bridge is characteristic
of the smoke- filled room politics
that surrounds the bond issue.
For years Robert Moses has
wanted to build his Oyster Bay-
Jack Lamabe of Farmingdale, right, pitcher with the World
Champion St. Louis Cardinals, accepts the keys to a new car from
Oyster Bay Councilmen A. Carl Grunewald and Ralph J. Marino.
Lamabe's wife won the automobile on a television program.
Lamabe was traded from the last place Mets in mid- season to the
pennant winning Cardinals. The Lamabe's also had a new baby
recently.
WARNING
FOR THE EASILY FRIGHTENED
DON'T LOOK AT VAN RYCKS
HALLOWEEN WINDOW AT NIGHT
INSTEAD COME IN DURING THE DAY
FOR OUR FABULOUS SELECTION OF
THINGS TO KEEP THE GOBLINS
HAPPY
Van Ryck
CHOCOLATES, GIFTS, PARTY GOODS, CARDS
PARK BLVD. - opp. Massapequa Park Post Office
( Open Sunday 10 A. M. • 3 P. M.)
Rye Bridge. And ever since his
election Mayor Lindsay has had
an imponderable problem with the
New York City Subway system. It
is apparent that Albany politicians
made a deal to satisfy both
Moses, by giving him his bridge,
and Lindsay, by offeringhim substantial
help with the subway
problem, in exchange for their
support of the highly controversial
bond issue and the rest of
the massive transportation package.
A group called the South Shore
Committee Against the Bond Issue,
based in Massapequa expresses
the opinion thattheblank
check might mean the revival of
the " Atlantic Expressway" on
Sunrise Highway, which they say
is a hindrance to Massapequa
business interests.
An organization called " Action"
for Transportation in New
York State Inc. of which Keith S.
McHugh is the Chairman is
pressing for a " yes' vote; This
group points out that without these
funds there willbe little or no improvement
of existing facilities
which will lead to a transportation
crisis and economic stagnation.
Farmingdale will also be probably
directly affected since there
is a strong possibility that the
Metropolitan Commuter Authority
would take over Republic Aviation.
Then the District # 22
Board of Education would be
concerned about compensating
for a loss in taxation.
In the meantime the Mayors
organization of New York State
has come out in favor of the
Transportation bond issue was
well as the Long Island Association
of Commerce and Industry.
The group cited the many improvements
which would benefit
Long Island.
Both Supervisor of the Town of
Oyster Bay, Michael N. Petito
and Republican Candidate Ralph
Marino came out against the
transportation referendum.
May Get Aid For Historic House
Town Councilman Ralph Diamond
today said that the Town
is applying for state aid from the
New York State Historic Trust
" for development and restoration
of local historic sites."
Diamond said Wilbur E.
Wright, executive secretary of
the New York State Historic Trust,
had advised him that the Trust
would provide matching funds
if a house has historical significance,
is owned by a local unit
of government and is administered
by an agency fcfr historical
and public use to qualify
as a municipal historic site project.
He said the necessary forms
are being prepared for the Wight-man
House, which was recently
moved to a town - owned lot
off Summit Street in Oyster Bay,
for historical preservation as it
predates the American Revolution.
Diamond, who was the town
board counsel for state and federal
aid before becoming a councilman,
said he was hopeful that
part of the cost of moving the
house could be reimbursed.
The Oyster Bay Historical Society
had urged acceptance and
restoration of the house, recommending
that it be used as a museum
for artifacts until a fireproof
building could be provided.
The house was offered to the
town by Bruce Wood Hall.
To wn Officials Agree
On Night Hearings
Oyster Bav Town Supervisor
Michael N. Petito and the Town
Board agreed to a resolution
this week calling for night public
hearings when requested by a petition
signed by more than 100
Town voters.
The petition must be presented
according to the resolution at
least five days before the date of
the subject hearing.
" Under my provision of my
resolution," Petito said, " night
hearings won't be called frivolously
because 100 voters will
have to sign a petition for one
first. Getting that number of
names on a petition will guarantee
that the night hearing will be well
attended.
The resolution does not
eliminate the daytime hearing
on any matter but provides
specifically that both a daytime
and nighttime hearing be held if
the required petition is submitted.
Farmingdale High School principal John McLennan, ( rear center) and Hotary Club President
Emyr Griffith welcome a group of Rotary- sponsored overseas students now attending school on
Long Island at a social held last Friday at St. Luke's Lutheran Churclu The group was welcomed
by Interact Club members. Students present were from Europe, South America and Australia.
Observer Hhoty by l> okres »
Farmingdale OBSERVER Thursday October 26, 1967 PQQ* b3
