Many STOMPers received a response from Legislators Jacobs or Walker to our last Action Alert, a response that included a standard, scripted message from the Department of Public Works (DPW). This response contained misstatements that contradict facts and data. We are writing to alert you to these inconsistencies. STOMP currently represents over 2,000 residents, many homeowners residing on or in proximity to South Oyster Bay Road. These residents and property owners were never contacted, informed, questioned, consulted or involved in any decision-making or preference-based discussion related to trees, grass, and this overall road project. The DPW has stated in their recent message that residents have requested "no trees" and "no grass" on a public, County road. This is false. STOMP has logged over 30 business and residential property owners (name, address, contact information) on S. Oyster Bay Road who were never consulted or even contacted. Phase II for this project, from Woodbury Road to Old Country Road, in Plainview and Hicksville, included a contractual line item for grass at the mere cost of $18,000. The Department of Public Works instead conducted a ‘change order' in the field without informing the community. The County is intent on laying red cement throughout this entire residential region, at a cost of over $225,000 to taxpayers. This is not okay. This is not what the community wants. Tree pits were also not properly designated, there is no way possible at minimum one for one replacement will be achieved without immediate change. Trees will never survive surrounded by impermeable cement; they will thrive only with grass or permeable pavement. STOMP attended the Hicksville Gardens Association civic meeting last week, and not a single resident in this group (of 60) was notified in advance of the impending destruction on the roadway. STOMP reached out to the civic group leader regarding tree removal back in September 2014 when not even the local Legislators in the area provided them with any insight--despite the fact that internal planning for this project began in 2013, despite the fact that it was bid upon in May 2014, and despite the fact that it was discussed through the Legislative Body meetings during July 2014 where, the wastewater engineer (who made the decision that this project wasn't worthy of an environmental review) informed the Legislators he would provide an electronic listing of every roadway in the County that was to undergo repaving and related work, a list STOMP requested in December 2014 and still has not received. Every single resident at the Hicksville group meeting expressed how devastated they are by the lack of trees, the lack of greenery, and, most importantly, the lack of community involvement and input. They could not fathom how their neighborhood was destroyed without them even being a meaningful part or contributor to the design process. And, when they reached out after seeing the white X's or missing trees, they were ignored and disregarded. There were hundreds of residents making and still making the same calls, sending e-mails, protesting on the traffic laden streets week after week last fall, and, sadly, many resident inquiries and concerns have still not been addressed. It wasn't until STOMP went to the Legislative Meeting on November 17, 2014, where we finally had a chance to see many of the Legislators who ignored us. Seven residents waited hours to speak, to make a public comment, and the Presiding Officer, denied them that opportunity. I (Tanya Lukasik), was the only one allowed to speak, for three minutes, before being rushed off the podium because no one wanted to listen to what I had to say, which was a narrative of all of our collective voices. After numerous requests for a public meeting involving the entire community of stakeholders over the past seven months, STOMP is finally being offered a meeting with the DPW Commissioner, Ms. Shila Shah-Gavnoudias. We want to understand how we can redirect the course of the remaining aspects of this project to finally have it work to benefit the entire community. I, this group, the residents at the Hicksville Gardens Association, other partnering civic associations and groups, the thousands of members of STOMP, want a moratorium on the red cement laying. We want greenery. We want this barren roadway to be restored. Tree pits were finally designated last week in a few sections after our outcry, but, tree pits were not cut out further south, the red cement is still there, and additional red cement was laid, not grass. The cement work to date is messy, the pits are not adequate, it’s not involving enough green. Further, the trees to be planted there are not likely to survive without proper water and care, especially in light of the heavy truck travel in this region. There have been promises made about replanting. We want an outline of the actual plan, not a verbal statement because so many promises have not been delivered. We will continue to keep the community updated. In the interim, if you have not yet contacted your Legislator, please do so today. We are meeting with all local legislators tomorrow. They need to hear your concerns. They need to hear you want to be involved, you want to see this roadway restored, you want to see adequately sized trees, appropriate design, and grass. Every e-mail counts, and we thank you so much for your ongoing support. A quick link to the contact information of your legislator is located here: http://tinyurl.com/contactyourlegislator Lastly, please remember Nassau County Roads run through every neighborhood in our region. If you have not shared our petition or Facebook account with your friends and family, now is the time. Thank you! Tanya M. Lukasik, Director Operation STOMP: Save Trees Over More Pavement E-Mail: OperationStomp@GMAIL.com STOMP Petition: http://tinyurl.com/stomppetition "Like" us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/operationstomp Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperationSTOMP