To keep LI youth, open ears and minds
The Riverhead Fire Department in downtown Riverhead. Credit: Newsday / Erin Geismar
Regarding "Riverhead: Downtown plan from students" [News, May 13]: Students presented town officials with a plan to reinvent part of downtown as an environmentally friendly mix of green space and commerce. Newsday's story said that it will likely never get out of the planning stage.
This is precisely why the youth, such as myself, are fleeing Long Island. Town officials are not receptive whatsoever to sustainability or ideas for an ideal society. Why would we want to stick around when other areas of the country have vibrant downtowns, abundant green space and thriving public space?
Furthermore, as public transportation continues to lose funding and support, we see means of traveling sustainably shrinking. Infrastructure for biking is near-nonexistant, while some other suburban areas on the East Coast are expanding theirs.
Ironically, this story was published right next to the online poll about keeping Long Island's younger population from leaving.
Andrew Greco, Smithtown
Editor's note: The writer is the president of the Stony Brook University Environmental Club.
Get ready for sun and fun with NewsdayTV's summer FunBook special! From celebrating America's 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday's summer FunBook.
