Saving Westbury... (New York, New Cassel, Jericho: apartments, renters, houses)

[Johninwestbury]

Why is our village suffering? The problem I am realizing has a large factor due to the school district. My idea is to merge Westbury and Carle Place to combine the entities of the school buildings in Westbury village and Carle Place. New Cassel residents would no longer be allowed to attend Westbury schools and would have to form its own district. As a result there would be a surplus of space in the existing school buildings...especially the High School, which is located actually in Old Westbury, on the other side of Jericho Turnpike and Post ave.
It would prob make things easier on C.P. with additional school buildings in the new district. Having New Cassel in the Westbury school district is dragging the district down, and dragging the village of Westbury along with it.
Westbury S.D. has one of the highest poverty rates on L.I., and it's mostly from New Cassel.
I think the village's fate would have been very different if New Cassel wasn't part of our district. Instead of families moving out and having their homes turned into flophouses, more families would be buying those homes instead because the district was better. But because Westbury S.D. is so bad, no young families move here, and the population is aging and the illegals have an opportunity and they are exploiting it.
The difference at the school district line is like night and day. On the Carle Place side the homes are so much nicer and there are many families around with kids. On the Westbury side it doesn't look as nice and you will see more trash and decrepid lawns and cars with out of state plates. What citizens that live on this side are aging, its hard to see any families or young couples, except those who appear to be illegals.
Any family moving to an area considers a school district's status paramount. But when the school district is bad, those folks choose not to move in. Those aging folks who are selling their homes, will have more trouble selling it to a family. Eventually they will sell to a landlord or reality company who will turn the house into a rental where more illegals will move in. This is what happened in the Linden Ave area.
Now before you start bashing me for "discriminating" against New Cassel, why should it be Westbury's burden to deal with New Cassel's problems?
And to those who say it would make Westbury "unaffordable", why do you think that? Carle Place isn't much pricier than Westbury, esp around the downtown area. It remains an attractive place for young families. But because most of our village is in a ghetto district, few young families Moderator cut: .. are coming here.
I know the chances of New Cassel getting seperated from our district are small, because it is so un-PC. But the village's fate may depend on it.

[Walter Greenspan]

In New York State, changing the borders of any unit of government, such as a school district, would require an Act by the Legislature as well as a vote by the residents of the different communities in the district(s).

[LIOC]

After living here got most of 27 years you intend to kick me out of the Westbury community? You who rent and does not own a home here. You how hates the town I hold close to my heart? I went to Westbury HS and graduated with pride. I have then gone on to do many things in my life and look to do many more. All from WHS, all From New Cassel.

Please. I would take the "ghettoness" and undesirables way before we have any more people like you move in here.

Can you tell me what you do for this community? I pay taxes, volunteer, and take pride in my home. You do not even pay to stay in the place you are complaining about. I do for you with my tax dollars. You are no better then an illegal as least they work. All the effort you use tearing down my home could be used working somewhere.

I hope you do leave when your lease is up, and leave those of us that love and are part of the community to work on it and do more then just complain, fear, and suspect our neighbors.

[Johninwestbury]

You do not realize that there are many people who live in this village that feel the way I do, LIOC. All you can do is mock me. That's a pretty low blow....

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

In New York State, changing the borders of any unit of government, such as a school district, would require an Act by the Legislature as well as a vote by the residents of the different communities in the district(s).

I did not know it was that involved. I hear discussion of mergers or splits with other communities, so I figured it was a decent idea.
If I didn't care about the village I would just be silent and leave. But I am not going to let my town be invaded without a fight.

[LIOC]

Originally Posted by Johninwestbury

You do not realize that there are many people who live in this village that feel the way I do, LIOC. All you can do is mock me. That's a pretty low blow....

And there are probably just as many that feel the way I do. You are the one that moved into this community and are now proposing to kick me out.

And how did it become your town and no longer mine? Was there a memo? Since I was here 1st I decided you are an invader and need to be forced out.

[VillageOfWestbury]

Originally Posted by Johninwestbury

Why is our village suffering? The problem I am realizing has a large factor due to the school district. My idea is to merge Westbury and Carle Place to combine the entities of the school buildings in Westbury village and Carle Place. New Cassel residents would no longer be allowed to attend Westbury schools and would have to form its own district. As a result there would be a surplus of space in the existing school buildings...especially the High School, which is located actually in Old Westbury, on the other side of Jericho Turnpike and Post ave.
It would prob make things easier on C.P. with additional school buildings in the new district. Having New Cassel in the Westbury school district is dragging the district down, and dragging the village of Westbury along with it.
Westbury S.D. has one of the highest poverty rates on L.I., and it's mostly from New Cassel.
I think the village's fate would have been very different if New Cassel wasn't part of our district. Instead of families moving out and having their homes turned into flophouses, more families would be buying those homes instead because the district was better. But because Westbury S.D. is so bad, no young families move here, and the population is aging and the illegals have an opportunity and they are exploiting it.
The difference at the school district line is like night and day. On the Carle Place side the homes are so much nicer and there are many families around with kids. On the Westbury side it doesn't look as nice and you will see more trash and decrepid lawns and cars with out of state plates. What citizens that live on this side are aging, its hard to see any families or young couples, except those who appear to be illegals.
Any family moving to an area considers a school district's status paramount. But when the school district is bad, those folks choose not to move in. Those aging folks who are selling their homes, will have more trouble selling it to a family. Eventually they will sell to a landlord or reality company who will turn the house into a rental where more illegals will move in. This is what happened in the Linden Ave area.
Now before you start bashing me for "discriminating" against New Cassel, why should it be Westbury's burden to deal with New Cassel's problems?
And to those who say it would make Westbury "unaffordable", why do you think that? Carle Place isn't much pricier than Westbury, esp around the downtown area. It remains an attractive place for young families. But because most of our village is in a ghetto district, few young families (except for illegals breeding anchor babies) are coming here.
I know the chances of New Cassel getting seperated from our district are small, because it is so un-PC. But the village's fate may depend on it.

Johninwestury,

Your sweeping and inflamatory statements do more harm than (if any) good. Your statements are outrageous at best. At the risk of sounding elitest, you presume that I would want you in my district as well. It's quite amusing to read many of your rantings when you simply rent. What if I say that I as of tomorrow all renting is illegal. Where would you live? What if I said that in order to ensure that the "right" kind of people live next to me, my civic association make a pact not to sell to people without professional degrees and incomes north of $200K. Where would that leave you? Are there illegals within the 11590 zip code....Yes....on L.I.....Yes.....in the Country...Yes.

Truth be told the westbury schools have significantly improved despite being primarily attended by New Cassel residents. But we've already established on this forum that even if a minority s.d. was the number one on L.I., it's demographic make-up would create "discomfort" for many young white families....understood.

Westbury Village particularly the areas north east/west of the parkway are, in my opinion, prettier than CP. Many of the homes in the VoW attending CP schools are significantly more expensive than a typical CP home (Woodcock area for example).

[Johninwestbury]

I have no problem with rentals...legal rentals. Such as an apartment building or a house divided into two apartments (legally). But I do have a problem with houses that are turned into illegal apartments, often with 15-20 people living in one home that's supposed to house a single family. Such as the case as what's happened on Linden ave and other sections of Westbury (mainly east of Post ave).
Great Neck Plaza has loads of rentals, and yet it is one of the safest, nicest communities to walk around in Nassau. That's because they are legal rentals, not illegal rentals or rooming houses like we have here in Westbury. Great Neck plaza actually does a good job at attracting younger single professionals, something that Maple Tower and the other building projects were supposed to do, but they were too expensive and I dont see alot of activity in them. Especially considering the problems in that area.
I'm sorry folks are offended, but I see the changes in the community and I dont think they are for the postive.
Alot of people would be happy if we just denied the problems. But denial is a dangerous thing. That's what New York went through in the 70s and 80s.
I care about this village. That's why I want it cleaned up. It has great potential. It's central location to shopping and LIRR makes it great for young people. But they aren't going to feel comfortable moving into a community that has some serious problems. The village needs to come together and fix these problems. It's just a shame that some folks aren't bothered by the changes, and I worry as time goes by it will be too late.

[LIOC]

Originally Posted by Johninwestbury

I have no problem with rentals...legal rentals. Such as an apartment building or a house divided into two apartments (legally). But I do have a problem with houses that are turned into illegal apartments, often with 15-20 people living in one home that's supposed to house a single family. Such as the case as what's happened on Linden ave and other sections of Westbury (mainly east of Post ave).
Great Neck Plaza has loads of rentals, and yet it is one of the safest, nicest communities to walk around in Nassau. That's because they are legal rentals, not illegal rentals or rooming houses like we have here in Westbury. Great Neck plaza actually does a good job at attracting younger single professionals, something that Maple Tower and the other building projects were supposed to do, but they were too expensive and I dont see alot of activity in them. Especially considering the problems in that area.
I'm sorry folks are offended, but I see the changes in the community and I dont think they are for the postive.
Alot of people would be happy if we just denied the problems. But denial is a dangerous thing. That's what New York went through in the 70s and 80s.
I care about this village. That's why I want it cleaned up. It has great potential. It's central location to shopping and LIRR makes it great for young people. But they aren't going to feel comfortable moving into a community that has some serious problems. The village needs to come together and fix these problems. It's just a shame that some folks aren't bothered by the changes, and I worry as time goes by it will be too late.

Once again you missed the point and see what you want to see.

He was saying just like you decide the people of New Cassel are not worthy to be part of the Greater Westbury area, is just as crazy as him deciding renters (i.e. you) are as unworthy in his eyes to be part of it.

You state nothing is being done to improve the community, but then in the same breath talk about some of the improvements just to go on to bash them.

And if places like Williamsburg, Dumbo, Red Hook, and to some degree Bushwick have been gentrified I don think, young people won’t be too scared of Westbury. Build the right type of housing and they will come. If these other places are any indicator the people you loath so much will be priced out at some point anyway. You better watch out be you might be priced out along with them.

And do me a favor stop throwing out random numbers for things. You have no way of nothing how many people live in a house unless you are sitting outside them and counting. In some of your videos you state there are over 100 people(or disease carrying raoches as you call them) one bus. Pulling numbers out of the air does not make you sound more credible.

I think your biggest issue is you assume the town/world should be based on your sensibilities. People are working to make this a better place but because they are not doing it your way means they are doing nothing at all. You talk about about how the place has changed when you have no even been here very long. There have been ups and down but any long term RESIDENT you tell you that there is more going on to make the place better then ever before.

[Snapsbestfriend]

WOW...I have been reading these boards for a few weeks, and now I feel its time to say what has been going through my mind...........John in Westbury....let me begin by sharing with you, that my family migrated here from Italy....I was born and raised on Breezy Hill, my grandparents were very well known, at one time my Dear Uncle, who really was my cousin, but we respected him as an Uncle, was the Mayor of Westbury....That is how PROUD I am to be still part of this community. Anyway....I need to butt in about the schools...I am parent, 100% italian, whose child is attending the Westbury Middle School..YEP...you read this correct, my child IS IN this WONDERFUL school district!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All you had in your head is such hatred for these illegals...these children in our distric did NOT ask to be born. Yes, you're correct about the illegal appartments, by the way, I am still on Breezy Hill, inherited my parents house, which my Grandfather built, and I have a LEGAL 2 family house, and I am proud of this village, of our Westbury Fire Dept, our recreation center, our Village board....and again..the district. They have gone above and beyond what any district has done for their children. The Middle school has WONDERFUL teachers who CARE for these kids, who go steps beyond than Carle Place, I know this for a fact!!!!!

I can go on and on, what you need is prayers that what ever your gripe is, it can be released, and maybe, just maybe, one day I can see your smiling face as I walk down beautiful Post Ave and smile at everyone, NO MATER what their color, or ethnic background is...just so you know every neighborhood has its quirks....just accept it, let go ouf your anger and walk proud to be living here.