Franklin Square residents pay for PUBLIC transportation but can't use it. Why is it that we are EXCLUDED from using the LIRR? Because we are shut out of parking! In both the parking lots and on the streets, vast stretches of empty spots are held exclusively for Garden City residents. After years of living in Franklin Square and being repeatedly irritated and frustrated about this issue, we are finally writing and calling politicians, newspapers, MTA, etc.  We are tired of being OUTLAWED, SEGREGATED, EXCLUDED, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

Garden City monopolizes all FIVE station in our area: Nassau Blvd, Stewart Manor, Garden City, Country Life Press, Merillon Ave. Only two of these stations have teensy tiny lots that are open to the public, but they are filled by 6am. Just as upsetting as the restriction on the lots, is the fact that even street parking is restricted within a mile radius surrounding the stations. Clearly the obvious reason to have "No Parking" signs on these blocks is to blackball us from parking and using this PUBLIC transportation---that we pay for with our taxes.

Friday, I am seeing the pope in NYC, and as usual it involves a complex plan which involves a drop off and pick up from family and neighbors. My 22 year old son has started working in NYC in the Plumbers Union, my 22 year old nephew has started working in NYC in a PhD program at CUNY. They, like many more Franklin Square residents are dependent on endless, daily cycles of drop offs and pick ups. They can't enjoy a night out in the city after work because they rely on these rides. How is it possible--how is it legal ?!?--to so completely and absolutely SHUT US OUT of using the rail road that was created for all LONG ISLAND residents? How can we expect young people to stay in our neighborhood if they can't commute to their jobs? If my son remains as a resident on Long Island, I fully expect that he will move to Massapequa or Bellmore or one of the many,many neighborhoods with huge, welcoming parking lots along Sunrise Highway. My son can't even ride a bike to the station because after only one week of doing so, his bike was stolen at the Nassau Blvd station! The Garden City police had zero interest in this when I called--they told me to call the MTA. How is it possible that they own the parking spots along the tracks but don't own the bike rack which is further away?  

I personally had a wonderful, great paying job, working at McKinsey&Co for 10 years and I had to give it up when I moved to Franklin Square--something I still regret 20 years later. Due to this parking nightmare, I was confined to using the Malverne Station, but--as I single mother-- I felt terribly uncomfortable relying on a station with such infrequent service. When your child has an emergency, it is not practical to depend on a train that leaves NYC every two hours.  

It's finally time that we fight for Franklin Square residents. This is a big issue that absolutely needs to be resolved. We don't want to hear how it's always been, we want to hear about what CHANGES will happen so that Franklin Square residents are no longer EXCLUDED from our PUBLIC transportation.

I have already contacted Kate Murray, Ed Ra and Ed Mangano.  I will continue to contact everyone possible to get things changed.  However they need to hear from ALL of US.  Please sign the petition and start writing and calling to get this changed.

Kate Murray: 516-489-6000

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano: 516-MANGANO

District 19 Assemblyman Ed Ra: 516-535-4095

District 22 Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages: 516-599-2972

LI Herald: 516-569-4000

#katemurray #edra #MichaelleSolages #mangano #nasrinahmad #NassauCountyGovernment #MTA #LIRR