Huntington Station Action Coalition Issues Recommendations

Huntington Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Suffolk County Legislators Jon Cooper and Lou D'Amaro today released the final report of the Huntington Station Action Coalition, recommending both concrete proposals that can be implemented quickly and longer-term approaches to both addressing the continuing security issues in the community and supporting Huntington Station's continued revitalization.

Composed of 20 community leaders, including Huntington School District Superintendent John Finello, Board of Education President Bill Dwyer and  Jack Abrams Intermediate School principal Mary Stokkers, the Action Coalition members, appointed by Supervisor Petrone in October 2009, was charged with identifying the root causes of Huntington Station's problems and developing possible solutions. Supervisor Petrone named Legislators Cooper and D'Amaro as co-chairs. 

"This report contains an impressive set of recommendations and marks a major milestone for the Coalition in setting an agenda whose timeline stretches from the next few weeks to the next couple of years," Supervisor Petrone said. "I thank the Coalition members for their hard work so far, but we all agree this is only a beginning. The Coalition's subcommittees will now start implementing the action plans that will realize our broad goal of addressing Huntington Station's needs."

  "I am very proud to be part of such a productive, forward-thinking and action-oriented group.  Residents should start to see real results as the action plans contained within this report are implemented," Legis. Cooper said.  "No more talking.  Now we are taking the actions necessary to make Huntington Station the safe, healthy and wonderful place we all know it can be.  Together, with this plan, we will forge a better future for all Huntington residents."

  "The efforts of the Huntington Station Action Coalition are a perfect example of the two-step approach that we are using to help revitalize our community," said Legis. D'Amaro.  "Law enforcement is just one of the tools we're focusing on in our efforts to combat crime in Huntington Station.  Increased police patrols, which are both necessary and effective, are only a short term response to achieve a long term goal.  In my view, we also have to attack the causes of the problem affecting our community, and not just treat the symptoms.  That is why we are committed to a multi-level approach that not only utilizes law enforcement, but also focuses on education, alternatives for youth, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization. Through the work of the Coalition, progress is definitely being made on all of these fronts."

 The Coalition formed six subcommittees, each of which issued its own set of long-term and short-term recommendations: Community Organization/Civic Group Development; Immigration Management; Housing and Code Enforcement; Policing and Enforcement; Education, Human & Social Services; and Huntington Station Revitalization. Common to all the subcommittees, however, was the conclusion that cooperation is needed among all levels of government, law enforcement, not for profits and relevant community groups to address issues that cross jurisdictional lines. The Coalition also noted that Huntington Station's revitalization will not be complete without a reawakening of the civic involvement that creates pride in community and a common resolve to meet all challenges and work toward a unified set of goals.

The report concluded, "Huntington Station remains an area with considerable problems, but also with considerable promise. By continuing to work cooperatively, by engaging the community and by obtaining the necessary resources from all available sources, a fully revitalized Huntington Station will become a reality."

 Coalition members include: Keith Barrett, President, Huntington Station BID; Peggy Boyd, Vice Pres for Community Services & Advocacy, Family Service League; Bill Dwyer, President, Board of Education, Huntington Union Free School District; John J. Finello, Superintendent of Schools, Huntington Union Free School District; Robert Fonti, Representative, Huntington Housing Authority; Rev. Larry Jennings, Bethel AME Church; Tom Jerideau, President,  Board of Directors Whitman Housing Development Corporation; Robert Moore, Chief of Department, Suffolk County Police Department; Ed Perez, Director, Community Affairs, Suffolk County Executive's office; M.J. Pulling, Director of Development, Pederson Krag Center; Bishop Stephanie B. Riddle-Green, Joshua Baptist Cathedral; Debbie Rimler Regional Director, TRI-CYA; Rob Ripp  Chair, Town of Huntington Economic Development Corporation; Rebecca Sanin, Community Advocate; Mary Stokkers Principal, Jack Abrams Intermediate School; Dolores Thompson, Executive Director, Huntington Station Enrichment Center; Al White, Community Advocate.