Recently, I informed you that, thanks to the work of Commissioner Bernadette Castro, the Nissequogue River State Park had expanded by adding the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center property to protect over 360 acres.
In the past month, I have repeatedly sought assurances from Governor Spitzer's Administration indicating that they will respect the commitment the previous administration made to the people of Kings Park and Long Island - and to date I have not received the commitment I need.
The collective silence of the new administration, including that of Carol Ash who has been nominated to continue the work Commissioner Castro started, forces me to conclude that they are not committed to this transfer and that their dedication to this environmentally friendly transfer is nonexistent.
But as they cast doubt on their intention with this land, I wanted to assure you of some facts:
-The joint effort to protect this land was successful and this land is now solely to be used for enjoyment and conservation
-The $25 million in cleanup funding I secured last year is still available to the new administration to create the park our children and our community deserve
-And I will continue fighting until the rights of this community are respected and the future of this site is secure
This transfer was the result of a great deal of work by many people and it is the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do in December, it was the right thing for our community when Governor Spitzer was sworn in and it remains the right thing now.
Sincerely,
John Flanagan
New York State Senate, 2nd District
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