Just when you thought you would have to fend for yourself, the Village of Great Neck Plaza stepped in to save the day once again.
Progress happens in a number of different ways…some quite obvious, and others less so. I am not sure where this one falls on the spectrum, but let’s all applaud the village for printing a new parking brochure! There is no question that when one defines the needs of this community, a new brochure ranks pretty high on the list.
In fact this publication was so impressed by the story last week, they dedicated the better part of a page to this nonsense. It was almost as if the reporter found this more newsworthy than writing about the last three pedestrians recently struck by motorists in the village, or the continuation of businesses shuttering throughout the Plaza, or the excessive amount of money (and benefits) lavished upon our local officials to sustain their self interest and personal preservation.
However, since I am often averse to recognizing the many versatile talents of our local leaders, I decided to take a closer look at how this new parking brochure will help Great Neck. So journey with me through la la land and fasten your seatbelts, as we all know that Great Neck Plaza can be a dangerous place, for pedestrians at least.
If one was to read between the lines in the new parking brochure, not only would they see the number of available parking spots, but they would also be able to see the enormity of empty storefronts.
Not to worry, all those empty stores are part of the plan to help relieve the parking problem that “doesn’t really exist.” In the same brochure, if one was to read between the lines when identifying parking garage locations, they could also read a list of recently closed restaurants – Poncho’s, Tulip and Crave to name but a few.
This too helps the parking situation by freeing up spaces for our local leaders (to park for free) as they head back to the trough to gorge themselves on the more than $200,000 they cost us annually.
If a person kept reading between the lines as they identify landmarks and such, they would be saddened by what has come of this community.
In only a few short years, Middle Neck Road has become a blemish on a once thriving Gold Coast destination. Gussack Plaza’s politicians have become as useful as Tammany Hall’s were trustworthy. Defunct and competing business groups, a lackluster investment in our infrastructure, and a fading memory of what previously made Great Neck “great” continue to shroud the possibilities of what it would take to revitalize this community.
But let’s face it, our problems are a thing of the past now that the Village of Great Neck Plaza has printed a new parking brochure.
Michael S. Glickman
Great Neck
