Greenlawn, N.Y. – On July 28th, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.) presented an innovative lesson in civics at the Harborfields Public Library, entitled “Your Roads, Your Input.” The purpose of the program was to inform the public on the process associated with making improvements to the roadways, including everything from installing advanced traffic control devices to filling potholes. By involving representatives from the various road-related components of government from New York State, Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington, Bontempi ensured that a wide variety of questions and concerns would be addressed competently.
“At one point or another, many of us think of something involving our roads that could be improved and we reach out to a government office,” said Bontempi. “However, we soon find out that the process of initiating a change can be quite difficult, as it often involves studies and potentially a lot of time. Understanding the process can empower the residents, or at least ease some frustrations.”
Fortunately, addressing certain road-related matters is not as complex or time consuming as some may believe, in fact, all you need is access to the internet. To this end, the representative from Huntington’s Department of Transportation and Traffic Safety gave an in-depth tutorial on how to submit a road repair request on the Town’s webpage (https://www.huntingtonny.gov/highway). This user-friendly online service that is already available to the public was a pleasant surprise to many attendees, who were not aware that such an option even existed.
“The fact of the matter is that government relies heavily on the input of the residents in order to do its job as effectively as possible,” said Bontempi. “I strongly encourage concerned residents to contact the appropriate government office as soon as an issue arises. If one is not sure who to call, he or she should feel free to reach out to my office and we can help determine the best point of contact.”
Due to the enormous success of the “Your Roads, Your Input” program, Legislator Bontempi is considering holding one again in the future, in addition to similar programs that educate and engage the public.
“As a former teacher, I know how important it is to be a lifelong student, and when it comes to civics, there is always something to learn,” added Bontempi.