Residents disagree over potential stop signs for East Island

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You would think a simple way to prevent speeding in residential areas would be to install stop signs. However, residents of East Island have different opinions on whether stop signs will deter young drivers and taxis from flying through intersections.

Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello opened a public hearing on the matter at the city council meeting on June 27 because he said he needed convincing from residents that the stop signs were really necessary. The roads under consideration were Westland, Eastland, Shell and Soundbeach drives.

“We decided as a community that we needed some stop signs,” said Madelyn Fugazy, an East Island resident for 33 years. “Part of the problem is that we have a lot of young children who ride their bikes, who play in the street, and people come down here and they just zip around, or nobody has any consideration that there are kids out.”

At the City Council meeting President of The East Island Association Brian Liebowitz, said they had sent out a survey asking residents if they believed that stop signs were necessary.

“I’m sure there were people that said no, but the majority said they wanted it,” said Carolyn Boz, who has lived on East Island for 36 years. “My children are grown and gone, but new families move in with children, and there’s a lot of children now playing in the street.”

However, Rosemary Dilgard, who has lived on East Island for 39 years, said a stop sign would not hinder speeders. Dilgard, who lives on Mansion Drive, has her daughter’s family staying with her, which includes three young grandchildren. “I’m in front of that bus stop with them picking them up, the young adults just have no concept of speeding,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned, the stop signs are not going to stop them.”

Dilgard said she would like to see more of a police presence in the area to not only deter young adults from speeding, but also alert taxi drivers and distracted sightseers. “I spoke to the police and the mayor and they said they would try, but I’m sure they have their hands full,” added Dilgard. “I haven’t really seen [police] down there.”

“We really don’t utilize stop signs to cure speeding problems,” said Deputy Police Chief Chris Ortiz. “They’re more to control traffic and to make intersections that are unsafe, much more safe to travel.”

Ortiz said when they are thinking of installing stop signs the department looks at accident and some speeding data, resident complaints, and other external factors.

“In this particular instance we were approached by the neighborhood association,” said Ortiz. “There is a boat ramp right there and people do trail boats in and out of the water, and it creates a difficult situation in terms of cars possibly causing an accident.”

Ortiz added there haven’t been many accidents on East Island, but they have heard from residents regarding “close calls.” He said the best way to prevent speeding is to put an officer with a radar gun in the area, but the department does not always have the manpower to do that.

The city has not made a decision yet whether it will install the stop signs, and Spinello is still seeking resident feedback.