Battle with Commerce Bank makes Newsday
In case you missed it, we were able to get Newsday to
publish a story about our battle with Commerce Bank
on Sunday, August 10th in the LI Life section.
We would like to thank Newsday reporter Patrick
Whittle for writing our story.
Commerce Bank is building a branch across from the movie theater on Portion Road on property that was chosen by the community during the Visioning in 2004 to have a 9/11 memorial placed on it. Even though Commerce Bank knew this and went ahead with their plans.
We would like to clear up any confusion you might have about what you read. When bank spokesperson, Rebecca Acevedo, said they worked “closely with the township and community,” that was false. They told us what they wanted, heard our objections, and did it anyway. The Brookhaven Planning Board then approved all the variances they needed over our objections.
Acevedo told Newsday the bank would support a new plan for a 9/11 memorial. That is ironic, since we would not need a new plan if they had not built their bank on the original site designated for the memorial. Besides, the site was unique, being the highest point in town, with beautiful, tall evergreens. It’s Commerce Bank who should have come up with a new plan!
We must boycott this branch!! Tell your relatives, your friends, and your neighbors to join in boycotting this branch. They ignored our wishes so we should ignore theirs.
If you have not done so call 1-888-751-9000 and tell Commerce Bank about your plans to boycott. Get others to call too. We need to send a message to businesses that they cannot ignore our community. We cannot allow this tragedy to be repeated in other communities.
Commerce Bank is building a branch across from the movie theater on Portion Road on property that was chosen by the community during the Visioning in 2004 to have a 9/11 memorial placed on it. Even though Commerce Bank knew this and went ahead with their plans.
We would like to clear up any confusion you might have about what you read. When bank spokesperson, Rebecca Acevedo, said they worked “closely with the township and community,” that was false. They told us what they wanted, heard our objections, and did it anyway. The Brookhaven Planning Board then approved all the variances they needed over our objections.
Acevedo told Newsday the bank would support a new plan for a 9/11 memorial. That is ironic, since we would not need a new plan if they had not built their bank on the original site designated for the memorial. Besides, the site was unique, being the highest point in town, with beautiful, tall evergreens. It’s Commerce Bank who should have come up with a new plan!
We must boycott this branch!! Tell your relatives, your friends, and your neighbors to join in boycotting this branch. They ignored our wishes so we should ignore theirs.
If you have not done so call 1-888-751-9000 and tell Commerce Bank about your plans to boycott. Get others to call too. We need to send a message to businesses that they cannot ignore our community. We cannot allow this tragedy to be repeated in other communities.
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