Every table in the cafeteria was bustling. Roughly 250 people had come to Christ the King High School in Middle Village for a general information meeting of the newly-formed the Glendale-Middle Village Coalition.
The coalition was established with one sole purpose in mind: To tie up the establishment of a warehouse-style DHS homeless shelter facility at 78-16 Cooper Avenue using the legal system, and hopefullyin so doing to cause such a ruckus that DHS backs down and abandons their plans for the site.
The ad hoc steering committee of the coalition was populated by representatives of the Glendale Civic Association, the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce, the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, the Juniper Park Civic Association, the Middle Village Property and Residents Association, and the Glendale Property Owners Association.
Reacting to the swollen crowd gathered before her, Glendale Civic Association (or as it’s known in the neighborhood, ‘The Facebook Page’) President Kathy Masi said. “Obviously everyone here is very concerned about our community, and should be.”
The initial volley from the coalition comes in the form of intent to file Article 78 proceedings before the end of next week. This action would challenge the integrity of the environmental assessment performed by a contractor on behalf of the DHS. According to Chris Murray, who has been hired as the head lawyer for the group,
Following the filing of the Article 78, the coalition promises to bring further action to courts on the local, state and federal level to keep fighting.
One of the key elements of the Wednesday night meeting, beyond the fundraising function, was the block captain sign-up. About 50 people signed up for this position, which would have them working as a liaison between the coalition and their neighbors to disseminate new developments, champion fundraising efforts and bring forward any concerns.
So far, just over $30,000 of the group’s $130,000 goal has been raised in just five weeks.
The next meeting of the group will be Friday, October 24, at Yer Man’s Irish Pub.