You Can’t Make This Up – Spencer Revitalizes Northport Village

August 30, 2013 8:06 am | Filed under: News,OPINION | Posted by:

Spencer - Revit. Npt

 

Below is the Press Release that was sent out by Spencer’s office.  It is exactly how we received it, including the title, the graphic directly below, the $$$ signs and the exclamation point.  

Spencer - Northport 2

 Legislator Spencer Announces Northport Village Application Approved for County Downtown Revitalization Grant $$$! 

Northport, NY – – Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer (D-Centerport) stood with Northport Village officials and representatives from the Northport Chamber of Commerce, Northport Arts Coalition, and Northport Historical Society and other interested parties, to announce that the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizen’s Advisory Board has approved Northport’s application for grant funding for a kiosk and information board project.

“The goal of Suffolk County’s Downtown Revitalization Program is to create positive economic impacts on our communities through sales tax increases and job creation.  Making Northport Village an even more attractive and vibrant place to visit, shop and enjoy family and friends is a smart way to not only improve our quality of life but also to improve the economy of the County as a whole,” said Legislator Spencer.  “I commend the Northport Chamber of Commerce, Northport Arts Coalition, Northport Village officials and everyone else who made this possible.  Finally, I want to thank the Citizen’s Advisory Board for reviewing and approving this project and my Legislative colleagues and County Executive Bellone for their continued support for this program.”

The Downtown Revitalization Program provides funding for the redevelopment and revitalization of Suffolk County downtowns. Funds are awarded on a competitive grant basis using a merit based scoring system. Applications receive points for leveraging of additional funds, economic impact, reasonable expectation of completion, overall downtown improvement, and proximity to downtown. Since the project’s Round I of funding in 1999, through the most recent Round X of funding in 2011, a total of $6,753,941 has been appropriated for various downtown revitalization projects.

On April 22, 2013, the County Executive announced that the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizen’s Advisory Board would be accepting applications for Round XI grant funding in the amount of $250,000. As per the announcement, applicants had to be organizations that represent a downtown area and as well as partner with their local municipality. Organizations that represent downtown areas include business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, civic associations, historical societies, beautification societies, and local development corporations.  In this case the Northport Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Northport Arts Coalition supported by Northport Village, the Northport Historical Society, the Northport Rotary, Vision Long Island and many other organizations, applied for the grant.  The purpose of the project, according to the application, is to “create a place where not only village residents but also out-of-town visitors can go to and avail themselves of all the businesses, shops, restaurants and museums within walking distance in the Village of Northport.  The historically designed building will be Northport’s place to go for any and all information on cultural events, schedules for nonprofit community events and outreach, and a rich visual history of The Village of Northport.”  An 8’X7’ kiosk building and two kiosk boards will be strategically place in the Village Park.

Northport Village passed a resolution supporting the project in June, 2013.  The Suffolk County Legislature will vote on the final resolution approving all of the Round XI projects at the beginning of October, 2013.  Legislator Spencer would like to encourage residents to contact his Legislative colleagues to encourage their support for this resolution.  Contact information for the Suffolk County Legislature can be found on our website at http://legis.suffolkcountyny.gov/.

Pictured in photo are: (left to right) Steven King, Northport resident who designed kiosk and board concepts; George Doll, Northport Village Mayor; Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer; Debi Triola, President of the Northport Chamber of Commerce; Keith Barrett, 18th Legislative District Representative on the Downtown Revitalization Citizen’s Advisory Board; Dan Paige, Executive Director of the Northport Arts Coalition; Henry Tobin, Northport Village Deputy Mayor.

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9 Responses to You Can’t Make This Up – Spencer Revitalizes Northport Village

  1. “Doc” Spencer is an outstanding public servant and we are lucky to have a man with his passion, education and concern representing Huntington in the Suffolk County Legislature. That the Huntingtonian could twist and mock this very positive press release in such a childish and disrespectful way is sad and unprofessional.

    wundaboy
    September 2, 2013 9:17 am at 9:17 am

  2. I understand your concern wundaboy but sometimes people relate to humor better than a long story or a list of facts. I admit we are pretty obvious about the politicians we don’t like. It is not about political party affiliation. It is about that people are really being hurt by the policies of these public servants. There are some very serious issues in our Town that need to be addressed. Frivolous photo ops should be called out. That’s the way we see it. If you need me to post a list of stories that would better explain why we have an issue with certain elected officials in this town, I would be happy to do it. Just search this site, there are tons of stories that will support our position. Read the next Huntingtonian where we provide a list of ways that Petrone and Cuthbertson have lied to or intentionally misled the public on various matters. Now that is “disrespectful, sad and unprofessional”, as you put it.

    Ilene Fucci - Editor
    September 2, 2013 11:17 am at 11:17 am

  3. “It is not about party affiliation”? Really? Show me one instance where your paper criticized, mocked, and ridiculed a Republican or Conservative candidate or elected official. Anyway, I appreciate your response but I obviously stand by my statement. Your silly “You Can’t Make This Up” segment stoops to such a low and embarrassing level of journalism; please end it and try to use your “bully pulpit” to seek the truth and honest solutions and not to just bully our elected officials because you don’t “like” them.

    wundaboy
    September 3, 2013 1:29 pm at 1:29 pm

  5. https://thehuntingtonian.com/2013/07/20/petrone-staffers-support-lifson-to-primary-cook/

    Ilene Fucci - Editor
    September 3, 2013 3:57 pm at 3:57 pm

  6. https://thehuntingtonian.com/2012/02/13/station-lied-to-again-2/

    Ilene Fucci - Editor
    September 3, 2013 4:03 pm at 4:03 pm

  7. Here is a serious question for you Wundaboy. What offends you more our “You can’t make this up” column or the Station lied to again story? Does it offend you that Mr. Petone voted for a raise for himself, and at the same time required blue collar union workers to pay into their medical? Does it offend you that Mark Cuthbertson voted to cut the Youth bureau funding but voted for a rise for Petrone? Does it offend you that Cuthbertson, Petrone and Berland took over a parcel by eminent domain 10 years ago that is growing weeds today and it could have potentially bought $250,000 annually into the Huntington School district? Does it offend you that Petrone, Cuthbertson and Berland had photo ops and ground breakings at Northridge, 1000 New York Avenue and Columbia & Lowndes and nothing ever came of those projects? In addition, despite repeated FOIL attempts, the town won’t reveal where the grant funds are for those projects. Does it offend you that we reached out to Doc. Spencer to help us with the potential heath issues due to the fact that Avalon Bay was violating the EIS and he refused to respond to us? These are just of a few of the things off the top of my head that come to mind. There are many many more.

    Ilene Fucci - Editor
    September 3, 2013 4:24 pm at 4:24 pm

  8. Ilene, again thanks for your response and your time. While I value the differences between people in all areas of life, one could counter-point each and every situation you raise in your above comments. Additionally, there are countless other instances where the current administration has been pro-active and progressive regarding land purchases, bringing business into the town, housing for the working people and senior citizens, and many other areas including parks, recreation and tax management and many other quality services we enjoy, too numerous to mention. I am a Republican and have been a proud Huntington resident since returning from the Army in 1970 and would find it difficult to live anyplace else. We are fortunate to live in a great town. Unfortunately, you are angry and personalize every issue and elected official (Democrats only) that you don’t agree with; that approach (i.e., “You Can’t Make This Up”) will have little effect on changing peoples views. Thanks for listening and good luck to you and your mission and to all the candidates in the upcoming elections. May the best people win.

    wundaboy
    September 4, 2013 12:51 am at 12:51 am

  9. Wundaboy,
    The reality is, in Huntington the political lines are very murky. It really isn’t about party values. There are three basic groups. One is made up of Frank Petrone, Mark Cuthbertson, their lawyer friends and cronies. This group has members of all parties. There are plenty of Republicans in there. Then there is a group of politicians who don’t want to do too much or too little. They make a point to try not to piss anyone off. They don’t take a stand on much. The third group of people are the ones that are just trying to gain power to counter the first group. Hopefully, if they take power they will continue to do the right thing.
    I am happy to debate any of the issues I mentioned above. However, you would have more credibility if you did not post under an alias.
    As far as being angry. I suppose I am. Petrone and Cuthbertson are hurting many people that they could be helping, especially in the lower socioeconomic communities of Huntington.
    If you are really a Veteran, I am surprised it wouldn’t bother you that Petrone and Cuthbertson lie to the people, and manipulate the system and then stand behind the first amendment. I have provided you with two examples in the articles I posted above. I can give you many more examples if you would like.

    Ilene Fucci - Editor
    September 4, 2013 6:58 am at 6:58 am

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