Voices of Long Island: Downtowns

Michael Kennedy, 48, of Smithtown, an accountant and lifelong Long Islander who visits downtown Sayville often. He believes Main Streets should limit traffic to two lanes and speed limits to 15 to 20 mph.
"True Main Streets should never be of a design so that they are considered by commuters as an alternate means to speed up their trip. All the programs in the world cannot correct the problems in Smithtown until the road is redesigned."

Julia Morales, 49, of Lindenhurst, has lived on Long Island for 18 years. She is a stay at home mom, as well as a writer and singer. She believes downtowns should create art centers, family-oriented theaters and venues for live bands.
"Community is all about family. There should be a community meeting place where people can get to know the people who live around them.”

Jerry Tuthill, 63, whose family owns the waterfront Claudio’s restaurant empire in Greenport, is one of the larger employers downtown — 130 people in season, though they close for the winter. He touts the village as a vital transport hub, with one of the most scenic waterfronts on Long Island.
“Greenport used to be a hidden secret. Now it's like Times Square. It's all about location, location, location, mostly all waterfront. And there's a lot of transportation--the ferries, the train to New York City, a bus terminal. We have hotels, and a lot of retired people are moving out here."

Anthony Galvin, 33, of Holbrook, is a sales clerk who has lived on Long Island all his life. Galvin said he loves shopping at downtown stores, and says good customer service is key.
"A lot of little shops, no chains, just very nice area where you feel safe and you feel like you're getting a better product. Employees must be attentive to the customer and not on their last text message or the conversation they are having with their co-worker.”

Isaac Kremer, 29, of Oyster Bay, has lived on Long Island for two years, and is executive director of The Oyster Bay Main Street Association, a nonprofit pushing for the revitalization of downtown Oyster Bay. He believes government fast-tracking zoning permits for news businesses is a key to bringing back downtowns. The only way to create sustainable change is having someone there who is pushing the agenda forward every day.

Lisa Schinasi, 48, of Lindenhurst, is a private caterer and has lived on Long Island for 16 years, and believes building an inviting downtown must start with protecting assets, including the beach near her home.
"People are just jumping the wall because that way they don't have to pay. I need to know that your kids are safe," and that officials are enforcing rules.

Melissa Willis, 25, of Hempstead, is a nursing student who has lived in Long Island for the past six years. She believes Hempstead needs a variety of businesses, such as bowling alleys and movie theaters.
"I would just like to see more corporations coming into the community. Hempstead should be somewhere where people can come and relax and just enjoy themselves."

Elsa Vasquez, of Farmingdale, has lived in Long Island for 14 years and works as a Domestic Violence program director at Circulo de la Hispanidad, a nonprofit.
For her, it's all about security and police patrols, “So that people can feel more comfortable walking around. I hang out in Farmingdale because it's safer. I would like to see more security patrols, especially when you go to the malls."

Bill Allan, 58, of Miller Place, has owned a Minuteman Press printing shop on Main Street in Riverhead for six years. He’d like to see a lot more businesses, and a parking garage to help accommodate those they attract.
“We’ve probably lost 15 or 20 businesses in the last six years. There’s no reason for anyone to stay here anymore...I’d like to see a grocery store, or the movie theater open. I’d like to see things like a (another) restaurant or clothing stores or other small businesses. A reason for people to walk around, like Sayville or Babylon."

A.J. Haque, 55, of East Meadow, manages Wyandanch Drugs in Wyandanch. He said he would like to see the downtown area cleaned up so that businesses can flourish. A new sewer system is key.
“We need a good sewer system — a cesspool is no good. (Trash around the train station “needs to be cleaned. It would look better. Do something for the good of business.”

William Pruitt, of Westbury is executive director of the nonprofit McCoy Center Family and Youth Services in New Cassel. He thinks the community needs a bank, a pharmacy, housing, and grocery stores.
“I think that will be a great place for children to utilize. Just new construction in New Cassel in general will improve people’s feelings about their community.”

Jessica Laforest, 23, of Hempstead, works at a family business in Mineola. She said the biggest concerns for Mineola’s downtown are parking and road maintenance.
“I have people who come in, then stop shopping because they have to run and put a quarter in the meter. If you’re able to make it more convenient to be downtown, they won’t have a problem frequenting the stores.”

Linda Colombo, 53, of Port Washington, owner of Frank’s Pizza, said downtown Port Washington is clean and charming.
But it has one big problem: parking. “It’s crazy because you just drive around looking for a place to park.”

Gail Hoag, of Patchogue, who declined to state her age, executive director of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce.
“People want to come to Patchogue because they know it’s a thriving area and it is a growing area ... You certainly don’t want it to stay at one level. You want it always to be growing and changing.”

Compiled by Yamiche Alcindor, Jennifer Barrios, Mitchell Freedman, and Mark Harrington, and Patrick Whittle