Push Continues to Re-Designate E. Garden City as Uniondale

Nassau political leaders are joining together to push for East Garden City to be re-designated as Uniondale.

The 3-square-mile area that Nassau Coliseum, Hofstra University, Roosevelt Field Mall and more call home was designated as separate from Uniondale years ago by the U.S. Census Bureau. The move has increasingly infuriated Uniondale residents and community leaders are saying it’s time for a change.

Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-Garden City, announced Tuesday that representatives from the Census bureau agreed to attend a May 29 meeting where Uniondale leaders will voice their concerns over the designation.

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In a letter to Jeff Behler, the New York Regional Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Rice said the designation “undermines the identity of the larger Uniondale community” and “divides a community that should remain whole.”

“We know there’s no such thing as ‘East Garden City,’” Rice said. “I look forward to getting together with all stakeholders to make our case for why this designation must be changed.”

Uniondale community leaders are voicing their appreciation of the push.

“It’s troubling to me that part of our community has been taken away from us, and I’m hopeful that through this meeting we can come to a resolution and keep Uniondale united,” said Uniondale Fire Commissioner Richard Harris in a statement.

Dr. William Lloyd, the superintendent of Uniondale School District, said he looks forward to the meeting and the possibility of getting the area re-designated.

“The Uniondale School District relies on the entire tax base of Uniondale, and the possibility that part of that tax base will be taken away has worrisome implications,” he said in a statement.

Town of Hempstead officials are echoing the concerns of the community and voted Tuesday to formally ask the Census Bureau to drop the designation.

“You’re making it crystal clear you represent us . . . and not developers trying to steal the core tax base,” said Greg Maney, a Hofstra professor and co-facilitator of the coalition, according to Newsday.

Hempstead Town officials have been pushing for the re-designation since 2012, around the same time they removed signs claiming the area was East Garden City, according to the report.

Photo via Google Maps

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