Bill Text: NY J02117 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Town of Babylon, New York
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2022-03-22 - ADOPTED [J02117 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-J02117-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 2117 BY: Senator BOYLE COMMEMORATING the 150th Anniversary of the Town of Babylon, New York WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commemorate the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Town of Babylon, in Suffolk County, New York; and WHEREAS, The Town of Babylon is located approximately 30 miles east of Manhattan, New York, and is considered a suburban community with the benefit of being located along the beautiful shorelines of the Great South Bay; the Town is positioned in geographic proximity to the beating heart of New York City and in a lively area that provides to its citizens a variety of opportunities; and WHEREAS, As of the 2020 census, 218,223 citizens live in the Town of Babylon; and WHEREAS, The very first settler in the territory later to be known as the Town of Babylon was Captain Jacob Conklin, who arrived in 1710, and built the first home in the area now known as Wheatley Heights; he served the pirate Captain Kidd and earned a large sum of money he decided to invest in lands; and WHEREAS, Captain Jacob Conklin's son Nathaniel, a patriot serving in the Revolutionary War, named the location Babylon in 1803; the name caught on quickly and in 1830, the Federal Government provided official recognition by changing the name of the post office from Huntington South to Babylon; and WHEREAS, Huntington South started expanding and flourishing, and disagreements arose between the two areas of the cities, North and South; a road project in the Village of Huntington was the final straw, and on January 27, 1872, a referendum was held, and the voters supported a two-town division; and WHEREAS, A commission was established, and new boundaries were drawn under the suggestions and supervision of James T. Morris of Amityville, New York; the bill was introduced to the New York State Legislature on February 17, 1872, and approved on March 13, 1872; and WHEREAS, A new government was formed and candidates for public office were nominated, and Elbert Carll became the first Supervisor of the Town of Babylon after winning a close election; and WHEREAS, On April 2, 1878, the official seal was authorized, an American eagle representing the nation surrounded by symbols that characterize the main industry of the new town; the seal has a blue center surrounded by an outer circle of white; and WHEREAS, At the first Town meeting, five resolutions were approved, the first of which was an appropriation of $1,500 to support the poor, forever engraving the Town's willingness to help those in need; and WHEREAS, The construction of a railroad brought an influx of people to Babylon in 1842, when it reached Deer Park, and again in 1867, when it came directly into Babylon Village, and the arrival of the automobile after the turn of the 20th Century caused a major impact on Town government; and WHEREAS, The taxpayers in 1917, voted 667 to 462 on proposition 18 to erect a Town House or, as it would later come to be called, a "Town Hall" which would be located in the Village of Babylon; and WHEREAS, On November 6, 1918, the first meeting for the Town Board took place in the new Town Hall, which became the center for the town business until the increase in staff required the need of a new structure; and WHEREAS, Today, under the brilliant leadership of Supervisor Rich Schaffer, the Town of Babylon stays true to its mission of being a home for work, community, and play, and a prosperous and welcoming town for its residents; and WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Town of Babylon continues its commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive business, institutional and educational climate, and providing all essential services; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Town of Babylon, recognizing the significance of the role it continues to play in the life of the community of the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Rich Schaffer, Supervisor, Town of Babylon.