Why we need to Rally When some of the women suggested holding a “Rally” by the Plaza Theater, the first objections came from those who envisioned a ‘riot’ scene on Main Street with police arresting half the neighborhood. Let me assure you that’s not our purpose nor our goal. A ‘Rally’, by definition, is “to gather together for a common purpose” or “to assist or support a cause.” The word ‘Protest’ has a similar meaning, “to express disapproval” or “to object to something”. ‘Riots’ are the result of when human pride, power and tempers take over common sense. The supposed leaders of IRAN are a perfect example of when a protest becomes a riot. The citizens there are correct. Our goal, as a community, is to peacefully and joyfully gather together for an hour or so and show our solidarity, and demonstrate by our bodily presence that we are together for one common purpose, to express our disapproval with the vacant and abandoned Plaza Theater. The owner has created such a depreciated environment that the TruValue building has followed his lead through economic hardship which the Plaza initiated. Everyone should be aware that there have been many people interested in purchasing the Plaza. It has not been vacant because of lack of a buyer. We personally know of a few parties who had negotiated with the owner only to be told at the last possible minute that he changed his mind and wanted more money. Others have been told that he decided not to sell. He has never posted a ‘for sale’ or a ‘for rent’ sign. Apparently he never intended to sell the property but to leave it abandoned deliberately to decrease its tax value and depreciate the value of business in our area. To date, he has succeeded. Main Street could have had a turn around years ago, just as the Bayshore area did, if this owner would have been a man of his word and honest in his negotiations. He could end this nightmare Now by calling the Town and agreeing to the generous figure that has been offered to him for the property. He was offered 1.6 million even in this depreciated economy. Real Estate values have dropped all over Long Island. A few years ago when the value was higher, he had asked for $1.5 million. He now has been offered more though the values of all properties have dropped. Yet this man has asked for one million more and will probably appeal when the court rules the lower figure. He can end this NOW. This information should be enough to agitate you into action. Right? Gee we hope so! Then there will be those negative folks who will say, “what can a rally do to change his mind”? Why would he care? The truth is we do not know how effective it will be, but if there are enough people, it will resonate beyond Patchogue. We will encourage other Towns and Villages. Yes, it will be good for all people. So we need to ask this owner, “Deal of No Deal”? Will you accept the Town Banker’s offer or again slam down that box over the voice of the community? Remember you have already lost opportunities by creating a distance between yourself, the Town and the community. Maybe we should speak out in a similar way as President Reagan did to Mr. Gorbachev regarding the Berlin wall. Mr. Plaza owner, TEAR THIS BUILDING DOWN! Former Supervisor, John LaValle had offered this owner Town support if he would consider voluntarily taking down his building. He could then work on a new building project. An alternate suggestion was to take down the marqee and clean up the exterior of his building. He could have even applied for a partial grant to help with the cost. We were present at that meeting in front of his property. It was agreed that he would let the Supervisor know within two weeks. Mr. LaValle or anyone in the Town office ever heard from him. He again rudely ignored a possible solution. He preferred keeping the ‘eyesore’ indicating his careless attitude toward our business community. Right now we are witnessing the results of rallies and protests by millions of people in IRAN who are protesting against their nation’s election results. They are convinced that the election was rigged. You might be saying, well it hasn’t changed anything, because the President remains in office. NOT SO. The world has watched as the credibility of their supposed President goes down the tubes. President Bush was correct in not wasting his time talking to this fool. Obviously the people’s voices have been suppressed, for many years, while he stood in front of news cameras threatening America and Israel. He hasn’t changed his hatred for either country. He is behind all the unrest and constant fighting in Iraq. Those two nations have been at war with each other for decades. These protests indicate that the voice of the people of Iraq have been on ‘mute’ by this dictator. He may have bought the election but his time is running out. Who knows what will happen in our case. Perhaps his friends will learn about another side of him. Maybe investors will be more cautious to do business with him. We do not know the full extent of how this rally will be. We do know that we want it to be tremendous. Could you imagine if all the residents of Patchogue walked down Main Street and passed this ‘Eye Sore’ while holding up signs, ‘Tear this Building Down’ or ‘Deal of No Deal”? Imagine seeing that photo shoot on all the TV stations and in the NYC newspapers where he lives and works? Imagine Arnold Diaz asking him why he has left this piece of real estate in neglect for all these years and keeping the building a germ infested slum? I wonder how many neighboring homes have been affected by the breeding of an assortment of bugs in this building? Clearly a Rally is our way of letting this owner know what we think of him and what he has done to our community. It will be a most overpowering witness to the judge when the Eminent Domain case is on trial. It is a way of letting every elected official know that we have been ignored in Patchogue, that this should not happen anywhere else in our State. We will be letter judges witness how one person can affect the lives of hundreds by acting in a nasty and vindictive way. They will be aware when such a person comes into their court. Yes, my fellow residents, we will do very well with this Rally. May I ask you to help the women who are organizing this major effort by participating in this event? We need only spend one hour out of our day. The full details are yet to be worked out but when available we will post them on line for all to see. I am excited about this. I hope you are too. God Bless. tb Archive - East Patchogue, 'The Poor Side of Town'