February 8, 2011

Legislator Kopel Speaks Out Against Proposed Closure of Inwood DPW Yard

Nassau County Legislator Howard J. Kopel attended the meeting of the Nassau County Planning Commission to testify his stern opposition to the County’s proposal to shut down a DPW yard in Inwood.  The County is planning to consolidate two yards operated by the Department of Public Works (DPW).  The functions of the yard and garage currently located at Bayview Avenue in Inwood will be consolidated into the nearby Bay Park DPW yard.

Currently, the yards house DPW vehicles responsible for snow plowing and other services.  The County plans to relocate the 15 employees from the Inwood yard to the Bay Park Yard. On behalf of the residents of the Five towns, Legislator Kopel appeared on February 3, 2011 before the County’s Planning Commission to forcefully suggest that the proposal to close the Inwood yard be reconsidered.  “I testified in favor of keeping the Nassau DPW Inwood Yard right where it is!  Closing the yard and redeploying personnel to other areas would greatly impair county services to the Five Towns community. "This is completely unacceptable to me and my neighbors in the Seventh Legislative District," Kopel said.

Residents of the community surrounding the Inwood yard have expressed concerns about impaired services, adding traffic to the new location, and overdevelopment of the 3.4 acre property after it is sold.  

Legislator Kopel has held community meetings to discuss the proposal with residents.  Kopel and his office have also been in continued contact with the County’s Real Estate Department, the County Executive’s office and DPW to convey the residents’ concerns about the consolidation.