Amityville Magazine

13/11/2025

Downtown Revitalization Meeting: But What About the Bigger Issues?

This Saturday the Village of Amityville will present a Downtown Revitalization meeting on marketing, branding, and way-finding. The meeting will be held 11/15 from 11:00am - 1:00pm, third floor court room of Village Hall.

This meeting is part of the larger $10 million grant the Village received from New York State to revitalize the Downtown.

While we are curious to see the presentation, much clarity is lacking regarding the entire Downtown Revitalization project, such as:

What is the update on current projects that were awarded funds via the DRI grant?

While there has been some movement on projects (Amityville Music Hall) others seem to be at a stand still (LIRR/Downtown Connection, Outdoor Beer Garden and improvements to 137-157 Broadway for example).

The revitalization has tapped 8 new apartments to the old Village Hall- however, this was awarded before Mesita opened and the apartments next to Mesita were developed.

Weekend evening parking has become a chaotic free-for-all with visitors parking illegally and often times impeding intersections and crosswalks at Greene, Broadway and the lots running behind the shops on the West side of Broadway.

Village Hall has recently reserved at least 4 spots from the lot on the East Side of Village Hall for “Village Vehicles” despite having parking in front of Village Hall, immediately to the West, and behind it dedicated for the police, further tightening available parking.

Between reserved spots for Village Hall and the new apartments, visitors to the downtown are oftentimes seen looping around non-stop, creating dangerous conditions on the dimly lit streets and Village parking lots.

Village business owners and workers have no dedicated spaces to park (unlike Farmingale & Babylon that reserve spaces for employees) adding to the mix.

Nightime lighting continues to be an issue as visitors to our town attempt to find parking and cross either at the crosswalks (or jay walk); the dimly lit expanse of Broadway and Park Avenue is a literal accident waiting to happen.

Over $5 million was awarded to the Village as part of the Downtown Revitalization for roadway and pedestrian improvements, comprising the lion’s share of the award.

Why has there been no movement to address the above concerns?

As Village businesses continue to thrive -despite Village and parking concerns - a meeting focused solely on logos and signage feels like a missed opportunity and isn’t the update the community really needs at this time.

13/11/2025

Amityville School Board Recap – November 12, 2025

No copies of the financial presentation were provided to the public until Trustee Messmann requested they be made available.

The evening’s discussion focused not on the 2026–2027 budget, but on justifying the district’s $10.6 million surplus from the 2024–2025 school year. Interim Assistant Superintendent of Finance Mr. Snyder appears fascinated and solely focused on building and expanding reserves, despite the district already holding over $8 million - about 50% above the allowable limit.

Public education is not a for-profit enterprise. Funds are meant to educate students and maintain facilities, not be stockpiled. Tonight’s meeting appeared less about planning and more about protecting and justifying prior financial decisions.

Trustee Messmann questioned why the district needs a $120 million budget when only $107 million was spent last year, pressing for clear projections for 2025–2026.

Snyder initially said he could not provide them but conceded after Messmann insisted that major expenses, such as salaries and benefits, are already known. While Messmann requested this information in the immediate future, he only agreed to present figures in January.

Trustee Leon pushed for returning excess funds to taxpayers as the raising taxes was an unnecessary burden on the community and Messmann was interested in this as well.

Snyder was clear that he wants to raise taxes next year to increase reserves. As a reminder, Canestro, Fanning, Leon and Messmann voted to terminate him. When Nehring took office, he helped reverse the termination along with Johnson, Kretz, and Seehof. Remember this at election time.

The board was told in July that 2024–2025 would end with a $2 million surplus, only to learn in September that it had ballooned to nearly $11 million. Explanations cited insurance “unknowns,” state aid delays, and special education savings - items that other districts routinely forecast (and state aid numbers are known in January).

During last year’s budget season, minority trustees cited bringing special education students back and declassifying others was financially motivated rather than in students’ best interest. Parents continue to challenge these actions through due process hearings.

The narrative presented to the public last year now appears vastly different from reality. The community was told there was a $6 million deficit, faced the threat of closing Northeast School, a claim now debunked, and endured staff cuts. There was no transparency from the superintendent during the budget process, and a balanced budget was never shared with the board or community until the actual budget meeting in April 2024.

Critics said the district padded the budget, froze spending, and cut opportunities for students, including field trips, while taxpayers paid more and academic performance continued to decline.

Trustees Messmann and Leon should be applauded as they stood firm for accountability, transparency, advocating for a 0% tax increase next year and reinvesting in students, while the majority voting bloc trustees largely defended the administration’s handling of district finances per usual.

The bottom line is this meeting did not result in any decisions on how to spend the $4 million overage in reserves nor were there promises to hold the line on taxes with no increase next year.

12/11/2025

🎵 Live music is in full swing at The Warehouse in Amityville. Explore the upcoming events and plan your next night out.

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

11/11/2025

AMITYVILLE SCHOOLS: NO TRANSPARENCY: OUR TAX DOLLARS

📅 Budget Presentation: Wed, Nov 12
📍 Park Ave School | 7:30 PM

🔙 LAST YEAR:

Screamed “$6M deficit!”

→ Slashed staff, gutted Special Ed by $2.5M, axed field trips, yanked aides, limited supplies.

🔙 THIS SEPTEMBER:

Dr. Talbert drops a $10.6M SURPLUS bomb.

💸 Built on kids’ backs AFTER a tax hike and NO increase in student achievement. Kids performing 3 grades BELOW grade level.

➡️BUS ROUTE SCAM:

Opening of school: Merged Northeast & Northwest routes to “save” money despite FULLY FUNDED buses. Board never approved.

➡️Trustee Messmann demanded answers.

Majority voted every effort for transparency and accountability down.

🔴EXTERNAL AUDIT?

Closed doors. Public barred. Our tax dollars.

🔜NOW:

➡️”Work session” with no agenda. (Work sessions always have an agenda in Amityville.)

🚫No agenda = NO public comments. NO accountability.

⚠️This is the superintendent’s UNCHECKED narrative. Silencing community scrutiny, stifling questions and squashing community feedback with the majority of the board permitting it.

⸻

📢 AMITYVILLE DESERVES BETTER.

Four board seats are open in May. Consider running for Board of Ed..

🗳️ REMEMBER THE SILENCERS - VOTE THEM ALL OUT.

11/11/2025

Veteran Day Ceremony
Nov 11, 2025

11/11/2025

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans 🇺🇸
Today we thank all who served for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to our country. ❤️🤍💙

📍 Ceremony today at 10:45am at the Village triangle.

11/11/2025

🏛️ Amityville Village Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

Date: November 10, 2025

⸻

🇺🇸 Village Hall Notice

Village Hall will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in observance of Veterans Day.

📋 Board Actions

• Minutes approved
• Various Landscaper Licenses approved
• Automatic Licenses vetted by the Building and Police Departments – approved
• Cabaret License for The Warehouse – approved
• Various Trailer Storage renewals – approved
• Expenditure requests from Deputy Treasurer, Clerk/Treasurer, Fire Department, and Department of Public Works – approved

⸻

🌟 Highlights

• Grant Awarded: The Town of Babylon awarded a grant to extend the infield at the Louden Avenue ball field. It is now suitable for both Little League and intermediate play.

• Honorary Dedication: A new honorary street sign will be added to Oldfield Avenue in memory of Ex-Fire Chief George M. Lang III for his service and contributions to the Village.

• Community Project: The Kiwanis Club will build, install, and maintain a wooden rainbow bridge near the dog park at James A. Caples Park (Amityville Beach).

• Community Recognition: Congratulations to Judge Calabrese and Attorney Richard Handler for being honored by the Amityville Historical Society for their contribution and commitment to local history and quality of life.

🗣️ Resident Input

• A Kiwanis Club member thanked the Village for accepting the donation of the wooden rainbow bridge.

•A resident inquired whether the Village has ever considered, or could consider, installing lights at the Little League ball field on Louden Avenue. She suggested that the Town of Babylon might be able to provide a grant or partner with the Village on funding for the project. The Mayor responded that while he has heard some talk about this, no one has ever approached the Village asking directly for this. The resident noted that she was now making the request directly. The Mayor expressed some concerns about adding lights due to the surrounding residential area and mentioned that the cost would need to be evaluated. He stated that the Village may consider the idea. When the resident asked what would be required from the community for consideration, the Mayor recommended that the Amityville Little League submit a formal proposal or suggestion.

📅 Upcoming Events

Nov. 11 – 10:45 a.m.
📍 Village Triangle
🎖️ Veterans Day Ceremony featuring two cars from the Bethpage Armory Museum and a performance by the Amityville High School Band.

Nov. 15 – 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
📍 Village Hall, 3rd Floor
🖼️ Community Meeting: Downtown Revitalization Initiative to discuss branding, logo concepts, and new signage designs. Public attendance and feedback encouraged.

Nov. 15 – 5:30 p.m.
📍 Amityville Beach
🚤 Amityville PBA Annual Boat Parade followed by a 7:00 p.m. fundraiser at Unqua Yacht Club to benefit a terminally ill child. (Pre-buy tickets encouraged.)

🗓️ Next Village Meeting

Monday, November 24, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.

11/11/2025

Village of Amityville Meeting 11/10/25

10/11/2025

UPDATE: Tonight’s Village Trustee agenda has been updated. Meeting begins at 7pm at Village Hall, 3rd floor.