February 15, 2007 - Senator Flanagan Sends Second Letter To Acting Commissioner Ash

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February 15,2007

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Carol Ash, Acting Commissioner NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic preservation Agency Building I Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12238 Dear Acting Commissioner Ash:

It has been six weeks since I wrote and met acres of parkland into the Nissequogue River State

with you regarding the addition of nearly 370 Park. At that tirrp, r requested a clear and unequivocal commitment by the office of Parks and Govemor Spitzer's administration to honor the transfer of this entire parcel into the state parks system, as well as further assurances that any redevelopment of this property be solely dedicated to park and recreational purposes. To date, I have yet to receive a response from your office; not even an acknowledgement letter that a response is being prepared. while I was pleasantly surprised to see that Governor spitzer has reappropriated $25 million in funding that I secured lasi year to assist with the rehabilitation of this property, I do not consider this budgetary action to be a definitive declaration of the administration's intentions and public-policies for how this froperty will be . treated going forward. The Kings Park community and I are deeply troubled by your continued silence on this critically important state park matter and we are as unclear of your position tod,ay,as we were six weeks ago. Therefore, we are again asking that you provide us with a written statement of your support for maintaining the recent addition of 370 acres to the Nissequogue River State park and your assurances that the Offrce of Parks will begin a fair and oprn p.o""rs for planning the future redevelopment of this property exclusively as state parkland. For your.on'u.ni.n.e and review, I am enclosing another copy of my correspondence dated January Sth.2AO7.

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(Page 2)

Carol Ash February 15,2007

Thank you for your consideration of this second request and I look forward to your prompt reply. It is my hope and expectation that the Kings Park community will soon have further positive news to celebrate beyond the reappropiiation of $25 million that was included as part of the 2007-08 Executive Budget.

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cc:

Governor Eliot Spitzer Senator Joseph L. Bruno Jeffrey Lovell, Senate Maj. Finance Committee Michael Avella, Senate Maj. Counsel/Program Darren Suarez, Senate Maj. Counsel/Program