Community Watchdog

A couple of reader reax based on an item in the Community Watchdog column published Sunday dealt with freight trains parked over Deer Park Avenue (Route 231), and one issue that goes farther back about a Hicksville couple who wanted a large tree removed so their sight-line wasn't impaired.

On the freight train issue (see below):

I agree 100% with the LePore's. These trains are parked every weekend on the 231 train overpass. I have called the town and nothing has been done. Have you ever noticed the signs that say town beautification program at this overpass? A beautiful clock,brickwork and landscaping below this overpass were put in. Why would an elected official let these trains park on the top of this overpass after all the time and money was spent to beautify this area? I bet our town supervisor wont take a new picture of that area with the trains parked overhead standing next to the town beautification sign. These trains must also be putting a strain on the overpass with all the consent weight on it. God forbid something broke with these trains parked over the cars sitting at the red light. What else can I do to get the town to move these trains 100 feet in either direction? The President Victor Paul is lying when he says 10 or more cars. There are never more than 10 cars parked up on that overpass and they are still there over the entire weekend just about every week. Please forward this to Mr. LePore so that he can contact me and I will join him in the fight to get these trains moved. What a joke it is getting these trains moved 100 feet in either direction. I am sorry to be a little negative but the elected town officials work more for the businesses than they do for the people who live in the town these days.

On the tree issue:

Please stop cutting down trees! That is not progress, nor is it necessary to kill a hundred yr. old tree so someone can see out of their driveway. Tell them to back out slowly & they will see just fine. Not every problem deserves the easy solution. People have to live in the environment & with the environment. Sidewalks can be replaced w/o cutting down trees. New trees will take decades to provide shade or make a dent in CO2 removal. Please consider the consequences of your actions. Thank you.

Alex and Kathleen LePore say freight trains stored by the Deer Park Avenue overpass ruin the look of their community.

Graffiti-laden freight trains used by the New York & Atlantic Railway are constantly parked over the Deer Park Avenue-Route 231 LIRR overpass. It’s a major eyesore in our community. All we are asking is that the cars be moved off the overpass farther down the tracks to eliminate the eyesore. Our contacts with the company have gotten us nowhere.

We called New York & Atlantic Railway President Victor Paul who said he’ll instruct workers to move cars as far east as possible in an effort to ease the eyesore. If 10-11 cars are stored, they should clear the overpass. But if more cars have to be stored there, they will be visible.

Deer Park is his place of last resort for storing freight cars, used only when all other storage areas provided through NYAR’s contract with the Long Island Rail Road are filled.

Paul said if there are special events being held in the community, such as a parade, he will try to have the trains moved temporarily for aesthetics and return them when the event is over.

The number of cars stored on L.I. mirrors the economy, he said. The slower the economy, the more freight cars stand idle.

LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto said in prepared statement, “The LIRR has had discussions with the New York & Atlantic Railway on the issue...in response to concerns raised by residents, elected officials and Newsday’s Community Watchdog. The LIRR and NYAR are exploring alternate locations for the storage of these freight rail cars and, in the near term, the NYAR is preparing protocols for the storage of the cars to the east and/or west of the trestle.”

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