It has come to the attention of the Stapleton community that the New York State Office of Mental Health community residence that was originally proposed for St. George in 2005 and has been opposed by that community ever since, is now being considered as part of a residence for autistic young adults from Eden II. We are being told unofficially off the record that as many as 44 adult mentally disabled persons who have been discharged from in patient treatment programs run by OMH would be housed in a building owned by Eden II on Beach Street in Stapleton.

None of our elected officials or community board representatives came to community leaders, business owners and residents of Stapleton to solicit our input about this proposal prior to discussing it in a secret meeting. We expect our elected officials and community board representatives to vigorously oppose such a plan, as they have been on record for doing for years for the St. George community. What would make this a better proposal for Stapleton? Surely the addition of artist and autistic young adult housing isn’t expected to make up for the addition of violence, drug use, and criminal activity these OMH patients will bring to Stapleton?

Our neighborhood is poised to have a major new housing and retail development (Ironstate), which along with the NY Wheel and the Empire Outlets Mall, is supposed to bring new businesses and new residents to Stapleton. We have been waiting for a long time for the economic opportunity that has been promised to us. We have put up with the proliferation of social services such as the methadone clinic near Tappan Park, and have had to counteract the negative perception that outsiders have had about Stapleton. We don’t believe that an ill-advised business decision made by Eden II means that we should have to say goodbye to our hopes for a revitalized Stapleton. We care deeply about this community and will no longer be silent when bad proposals are made by individuals, not for profits, or elected officials.

We are asking for a detailed explanation of this proposal and for a chance for our community to be heard publically about this.

Please contact Priscilla Marco on behalf of the concerned community groups, residents and businesses of Stapleton with your response at:Email:priscillamarco@yahoo.comCell:(646) 281-8878

Respectfully submitted,

Priscilla Marco, President, Van Duzer Street Civic Association

Mirjana Luczun, President, Mud Lane Society for the Renaissance of Stapleton

Kamillah Hanks, CEO, Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership

Alexander Federico, Stapleton Village Merchants Association

John Garcia, President, HOA

Silva Popaz, Business Owner

Geraldine Parker, Stapleton Houses, Tenant Association President