I really dont know why some ppl think LI is great (New York: how much, homes)

[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.

[fopt65]

I would think the local geography and topography of Westchester explains why it has pockets of development instead of generalized sprawl: it is hilly with terrain that is sharply inclined in spots thereby preventing extensive growth. Not all of the land is easily buildable, and it is kind of expensive to blow up half a mountain to put in a strip mall.
Long Island is mainly flat, and very easy to build on.

[GCGuy]

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.

While I agree LI needs to built more cities like White Plains and New Roc, I dont' think any of your other arguements make much sense.

More parkland...are you sure...do you have numbers to back that up?

LIRR vs. MN - has nothing to do with anything other than the MTA. ESA is on the way, perhaps downtown access, too. We already have a direct connection to JFK. 3rd rail on the main line is being discussed.

Other than that, Westchester is very nice, but to say that it is markedly better than LI (Nassau?) is surely opinion over fact. Some things are better, maybe, but not everything.

[Dedalus]

I was in White Plains the other day - it's a real city!

It was for a job interview. Oh, happy day...bye bye LI 4 ever...

The third track plan has already generated lots of opposition...like everything else resembling development or improvement around here, there's a huge slice of the population....Brontosaurus suburbanicus, that screams like it was being crucified when ever it's mentioned.

[HockeyMom72]

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 have been all over the state. Although having lived for 20 years on LI and 25 in NYC, to be perfectly impartial, I consider the Hudson Valley area to be the most beautiful part of the state.

Stuck in miserable (see one palm tree, see them all) Florida.

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

Stuck in miserable (see one palm tree, see them all) Florida.

You're not stuck in miserable Florida, you're stuck in miserable Naples.

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by cricketfan

You're not stuck in miserable Florida, you're stuck in miserable Naples.

Been to Tampa, St. Pete's, Sarasota, Bradeton (all family/friends homes), Orlando, Miami, Key West. Yes, it IS miserable Florida.

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

Been to Tampa, St. Pete's, Sarasota, Bradeton (all family/friends homes), Orlando, Miami, Key West. Yes, it IS miserable Florida.

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.

[Rachael84]

She just doesn't like Florida period. It isn't a big deal. Some people just aren't fans of general areas.

[Joe L]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

I was in White Plains the other day - it's a real city!

It was for a job interview. Oh, happy day...bye bye LI 4 ever...

The third track plan has already generated lots of opposition...like everything else resembling development or improvement around here, there's a huge slice of the population....Brontosaurus suburbanicus, that screams like it was being crucified when ever it's mentioned.

Like I alway's say if those type of changes were so good so many people would not be against it. The people have spoken.
There are plenty of new built up mainland citys people are free to move to if they want to look at concrete, smog and light pollution.