Vote on Matinecock Court tabled as local high school students and others speak in support of affordable housing development

Community members who showed up and were prepared to hear discussions on the Matinecock Court affordable housing development’s future at Thursday night’s town board meeting were left hanging when the amendment was removed from the agenda last minute, a move that would have delayed a vote until next year.

When questioned why the amendment was removed, Councilman Ed Smyth said “nobody would sponsor it,” adding that he only just received the legal language of the amendment, which wasn’t enough time to review and make a decision. But the night unfolded differently than expected after several passionate speakers, including students from Northport High School, voiced their disappointment with the board for yet another delay on this project, which has been in the works for over 40 years.

Although the resolution on Matinecock Court was removed from the agenda, residents were permitted – and ready – to speak on the topic during the public portion of the board meeting. Sadie Callahan, a sophomore at Northport High School and member of the Huntington Youth Court, spoke first in support of the Housing Help Inc. project. “With this housing project, we have the chance to bring people from all different backgrounds together,” she said. “It’s inspiring to think of the people that I can soon become neighbors with.”

She expressed her belief that the Northport-East Northport School District and greater Huntington area will benefit from the new students this housing development could bring into the classrooms. She said that they’d contribute “new ideas, new cultures and new opinions” and would help the future of Northport become more diverse.

Inara Denise, another Northport High School student and member of the Students for 60,000 club, spoke on behalf of Doctor Richard Kubek, president of the Huntington Township Housing Coalition, who wasn’t able to attend the meeting. Inara read his testimony, which noted that there’s a lack of affordable housing options for many Huntington residents and he cannot believe that he’s forced to address this issue with the town board, again.

Northport High School freshman Grace Mulroy also attended to speak about the affordable housing project. She said she’s a “very lucky girl” because she’s receiving a quality education in the Northport school district, is part of many clubs including Students for 60,000, and has “food to eat, clothes to wear and a roof over my head.” She said that many kids her age don’t have these same opportunities simply because they can’t afford to live in the area, which is why Matinecock Court “needs to take place,” as it will ensure “equity and equality for everyone that moves into the area.”

Many other residents spoke in support of the affordable housing development. Lois Fricke from the Long Island Builders Institute called out Councilman Smyth, noting that she was disappointed in his Facebook posts leading up to the meeting that called the new limited equity co-op structure “deceiving.” Councilman Smyth said that this amendment was added to the agenda behind his back. He asked why this is “being done at the last minute, why the fire drill?” and said he found out this past Saturday that the amendment was being voted on during the meeting, when the board had previously discussed waiting until next year.

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson said Councilman Smyth “created a poisonous atmosphere” going into this meeting, and to Councilman Smyth’s claim that he didn’t have enough time to discuss the resolution and come to a determination, Councilman Cuthbertson said, “We’ve discussed this in prior months, it’s not coming out of thin air.”

Pilar Moya, the executive director of Housing Help Inc., also spoke and asked the board to add the resolution regarding Matinecock Court to the agenda by the end of the year. She spoke about the importance of this project for low income residents and people with special needs and said the town needs to ensure that families have the “adequate housing that they need and deserve.”

In total, dozens of speakers questioned why the board was pushing off a resolution after 43 years of work on this project. “I know that Mr. Smyth would like to take control of this, but I’d like to say that I have been a proponent of a limited equity co-op structure,” said Councilwoman Joan Cergol. “I’m prepared to support it and I’m prepared to sponsor it. Do I have two other votes?” Her statement was followed by a round of applause.

“This enables people to get into a home,” the councilwoman said later, while the board discussed adding the resolution back to the agenda, four hours into the meeting. “No, this is not your traditional cooperative, it’s a limited equity co-op. I think the developer has been quite crystal clear on that issue from the beginning. I don’t think there’s been any deception,” she said.

Councilman Cuthberton seconded the resolution and Councilman Eugene Cook joined to vote in favor of adding it as a “late starter” to the agenda. Councilwoman Cergol said that she’d agree to, as requested by Councilman Smyth, hold off the resolution and “table it” until the December 14 meeting, at which point they will vote to accept or reject the limited equity cooperative structure for the development.