I really dont know why some ppl think LI is great (Hempstead: transplants, foreclosed)

[Dedalus]

It's disguised as a "donut shop", but they make great egg sandwiches, with the yolk still runny, as the egg sandwich fancier of taste demands. Although Asians are great culinary geniuses in their own right, they're slow to pick up on how to make a good egg sandwich, or pizza.

It's also on Broadway, on the corner a few doors down from where the movie theater used to be, in Hicksville.

[nancy thereader]

You're a good friend. dedalus.

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by cricketfan

So, which means what? That you've lived everywhere in Florida? And if youve been miserable everywhere you've been, it might not be the places that are miserable.

I was very happy on Long Island. I will return someday. I just plain don't like Florida at all.

[NYrByChoice]

Originally Posted by Joe L

Like I alway's say if those type of changes were so good so many people would not be against it.

Actually, the public has been generally mislead by the old political machines of Nassau County that the 3rd track is bad. For example, in Floral Park village officials were drawing red lines thru the pool and ballfields adjacent to the tracks. This was an out and out deception because the LIRR right of way has plenty of space for the 3rd track.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by Johninwestbury

I know we have beautiful beaches and pine barrens. But I think that seems to be where it ends. I have been taking some trips up to Westchester county. The first thing that strikes me is how clean, friendly, and reliable the Metro-North train service is compared to LIRR. The LIRR, although an MTA railroad, seems to be completely inadequate to serve the commuters. Metro-North has alot of trackage and electrification much further out. Why hasn't the LIRR kept up like they have? The attitude of the crew on Metro-North is more professional, the LIRR's crew often close cars on crowded trains and are not always helpful when it comes to making announcements about the all-too frequent delays. Without an adequate transportation system, I think Long island's future remains bleak. The LIRR needs a mainline 3rd track and 2 tracks to Ronkonkoma. ESA access to Grand Central is also vital so the LIRR can increase service between New York and Long Island. I have noticed the bus system in Westchester is better in alot of ways too, they have more routes and express routes. They also have extended buses (articulated) to handle the crowds on the busier routes. MTA LI Bus only has 40 foot buses and almost all the routes are overcrowded. Suffolk Transit is a joke altogether, wont even mention them.
I have noticed how much more land was preserved as parkland in Westchester, and there were even deer roaming around Saxon Woods, which was just a short 5 minute bus ride away from White Plains. You have to go much further away from the city on Long Island, at least mid-Suffolk, before you see deer. The development, instead of sprawling all over the place like Long Island, seems to be confined more to the towns and cities. Take White Plains, which seems to be doing very well, with lots of new shops. There are lots of offices, shopping, transportation, and residential all within walking distance. This would be the perfect redevelopment plan for places like Hempstead. Instead they sprawl all over the place, in Riverhead they get rid of whatever nature was left on route 58 and build strip mall after strip mall, while the downtown languishes. Suozzi's "Nassau Hub" is not smart growth. Nassau already has a Hub in Hempstead and Mineola. Why not build the "Lighthouse" in Hempstead? Why tear down more woods & fields when towns already suited for development, have LIRR and bus access, have been neglected and turned into ghettos?
Bulldoze the projects and the ghetto buildings and a new modern city can rise.
All I know is I am thinking about my future here, and the more I see in places like Westchester, the more I want to leave Long Island for good. It seems we just cant do anything right here.

I grew up here and LI is in a fast decline.

For one.. the LIRR thing WILL never happen.. yeah they all think it's a great idea until the "not in my backyard" attitude kicks in.. people here are too afraid of change or any positive growth.

LI is becoming Queens.. particularly Nassau County.. there's just too many people, not enough affordable housing.. not enough affordable RENTAL housing for it's college grads, etc. It's a HUGE problem.. but again, we all know it's a problem but if affordable housing IS suggested the community get up and arms and say "not in my neighborhood".. god forbid the word "affordable" gets put in front of anything and the snobby LI'rs immediately think their town will become the projects.. meanwhile they don't realize that the idea is to make it affordable for their children from middle income homes to live here after college , etc. So instead some builder comes in and wins out the space for commercial buildings to be built.. yeah citizens are against that too.. but they're given the argument that "it will lower your taxes".... which it may slightly.. but still.. our taxes are ridiculous and keep goingo up and up and up regardless..

LI is too expensive.. but I hear Westchester is too. I'm looking at PA.. I have a lot of exploring to do. I'm born and raised here.. and now have a son .. but we don't see our future here AT ALL.. there's just no quality to our life.

[ncc1701]

Well, I know its very expensive but I love Long Island. The best schools, the best recreation, healthcare, shopping, great restaurants, proximity to the city, proximity to my family, access to good paying jobs......LI has it all. Are property taxes high? Yes but keep in mind we don't pay city taxes. And I rarely have a problem with the LIRR. For me its 90% reliable.

Is the cost of real estate out of control? Sure is. But there is ONLY ONE reason for that.......The demand from the thousands of people who want to live here.

[rocafeller05]

Originally Posted by ncc1701

Well, I know its very expensive but I love Long Island. The best schools, the best recreation, healthcare, shopping, great restaurants, proximity to the city, proximity to my family, access to good paying jobs......LI has it all. Are property taxes high? Yes but keep in mind we don't pay city taxes. And I rarely have a problem with the LIRR. For me its 90% reliable.

Is the cost of real estate out of control? Sure is. But there is ONLY ONE reason for that.......The demand from the thousands of people who want to live here.

I agree with alot you had to say about LI. But do you think LI is the only place that has good schools? Good healthcare? Good paying jobs? etc. I mean, come on lets get real. NYC is not the only city in good ol' USA. Geesh. There are many of suburban sprawl areas like LI out there. But not all are an island: alot of people I know stay here b/c of the beaches. Even though they can only use them 3 months out of the year??

[ncc1701]

Oh I'm not saying LI is the only place with those features. I'm just responding to the OP's question about why some people think LI is great. There are many just as desirable places in New Jersey and Westchester, But if you want suburban living and a good place to raise a family in the tri state area, LI IMHO has the best blend of advantages.

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

I grew up here and LI is in a fast decline.

For one.. the LIRR thing WILL never happen.. yeah they all think it's a great idea until the "not in my backyard" attitude kicks in.. people here are too afraid of change or any positive growth.

LI is becoming Queens.. particularly Nassau County.. there's just too many people, not enough affordable housing.. not enough affordable RENTAL housing for it's college grads, etc. It's a HUGE problem.. but again, we all know it's a problem but if affordable housing IS suggested the community get up and arms and say "not in my neighborhood".. god forbid the word "affordable" gets put in front of anything and the snobby LI'rs immediately think their town will become the projects.. meanwhile they don't realize that the idea is to make it affordable for their children from middle income homes to live here after college , etc. So instead some builder comes in and wins out the space for commercial buildings to be built.. yeah citizens are against that too.. but they're given the argument that "it will lower your taxes".... which it may slightly.. but still.. our taxes are ridiculous and keep goingo up and up and up regardless..

LI is too expensive.. but I hear Westchester is too. I'm looking at PA.. I have a lot of exploring to do. I'm born and raised here.. and now have a son .. but we don't see our future here AT ALL.. there's just no quality to our life.

I have lurked for a loong time but thought I would pull a Puxatony (spelling?) Phil and come out to see my shadow...just to contrast your recent points (but not exclude it...read this slowly again if necessary) LI is a good place for some people. Some of us like it, are happy with the schools, and have careers here that have brought them middle and upper-middle class success. Also, not everyone bought a home during this finite '02-07 period, which means others (not all, some others) afford it here, have families here and like it. And some who are affording to live here are not wealthy snobs, or handed everything from their parents (and yes, some are). For those who bought during the bubble, there can be some struggles. There are 3 million people on the island, if everyone felt they had to leave because it was the worst place on earth, then the traffic across the bridges would be even worse than it is today . Things do need work, in reference to taxes, getting more good jobs to remain and come into the region, and housing for young people/families (amongst other items). But I would rather be here focusing on fixing the tax burden (while in good schools) than the suburbs of Detroit, or the collapsing disaster that Florida has become. Just my opinion. I see areas (like Patchogue's village, Bayshore even) where things are actually on an upswing, not decline. I understand people's frustration with the McMansion run that much of the smaller Nassau communities are battling, but replacing an aging and decrepit cape with a large but new house for the extended family is not always a bad thing. Not always good, either. I think that hysterics on either side that Long Island is either the center of the universe and everyone who knocks it are idiots, or that it will soon be a chasm of third world poverty and CEO's in there mansions is false. CEO's and execs are not going to be moving into the towns off of the southern state anytime soon and I do not see any of these towns turning into impoverished ghettos. I see couples in their 20's and 30's buying dormered capes off of Sunrise highway in Wantagh who have solid middle class jobs. This housing correction will thankfully bring more reality into the housing market and get back to a time when considering a home here was more of an option. Long Island is far from perfect but over-dramatizing a region's issues and claiming the entire thing is in decline lacks some perspective. Again, I am not devaluing your feelings about your situation and your perspective on LI, I just have a different opinion.

Read this twice before you reply....

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by Jrprofess

I have lurked for a loong time but thought I would pull a Puxatony (spelling?) Phil and come out to see my shadow...just to contrast your recent points (but not exclude it...read this slowly again if necessary) LI is a good place for some people. Some of us like it, are happy with the schools, and have careers here that have brought them middle and upper-middle class success. Also, not everyone bought a home during this finite '02-07 period, which means others (not all, some others) afford it here, have families here and like it. And some who are affording to live here are not wealthy snobs, or handed everything from their parents (and yes, some are). For those who bought during the bubble, there can be some struggles. There are 3 million people on the island, if everyone felt they had to leave because it was the worst place on earth, then the traffic across the bridges would be even worse than it is today . Things do need work, in reference to taxes, getting more good jobs to remain and come into the region, and housing for young people/families (amongst other items). But I would rather be here focusing on fixing the tax burden (while in good schools) than the suburbs of Detroit, or the collapsing disaster that Florida has become. Just my opinion. I see areas (like Patchogue's village, Bayshore even) where things are actually on an upswing, not decline. I understand people's frustration with the McMansion run that much of the smaller Nassau communities are battling, but replacing an aging and decrepit cape with a large but new house for the extended family is not always a bad thing. Not always good, either. I think that hysterics on either side that Long Island is either the center of the universe and everyone who knocks it are idiots, or that it will soon be a chasm of third world poverty and CEO's in there mansions is false. CEO's and execs are not going to be moving into the towns off of the southern state anytime soon and I do not see any of these towns turning into impoverished ghettos. I see couples in their 20's and 30's buying dormered capes off of Sunrise highway in Wantagh who have solid middle class jobs. This housing correction will thankfully bring more reality into the housing market and get back to a time when considering a home here was more of an option. Long Island is far from perfect but over-dramatizing a region's issues and claiming the entire thing is in decline lacks some perspective. Again, I am not devaluing your feelings about your situation and your perspective on LI, I just have a different opinion.

Read this twice before you reply....

Didn't need to.. it was a good post.