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Friday, September 29, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 39
March in Hicksville in support of DACA
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FALL CLASSIC
BY GARY SIMEONE
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino (second from right), Town Councilwoman Michele M. Johnson (third from right), Town Councilman Thomas P. Hand (right), and Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr. (third from left) recently attended the Special Olympics Long Island Fall Classic at Cantiague Park. Supervisor Saladino and his colleagues kicked off the morning with athlete and torch-bearer, Marion Nabar (center). The day-long event featured competitions in bocce, cross country running, golf, soccer, and softball.
Town says it would welcome Columbus statue BY GARY SIMEONE Columbus Day is quickly approaching, and Town of Oyster Bay officials, as well as local Italian-American organizations, honored the famous explorer at a ‘Save Columbus’ Initiative at the Massapequa Triangle on Monday. Officials such as Town Supervisor, Joseph Saladino, Councilman, Lou Imbroto and Town Clerk, James Altadonna Jr voiced their opinion about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recent proposal to remove the iconic statue from Columbus Circle. “We are here two weeks before Columbus Day to preserve and protect the legacy of the great Italian explorer, Christopher Colum-
bus,” said Supervisor Saladino. “We’re also here to call on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to abandon his pursuit to remove statues honoring Christopher Columbus.” Saladino added that if de Blasio and the City government do decide to remove the long standing statue, the Town of Oyster Bay would be honored to have it relocated to the Massapequa Triangle. “Make no mistake, Christopher Columbus’ iconic statue in Columbus Circle belongs right where it is. However I’m more than happy to welcome this or any Columbus statute to the Massapequa Triangle, the heart of our Hamlet.” Two important organizations
within the Massapequa community, the Columbus Lodge Order of the Sons of Italy and the Italian American Political Action Committee, attended the ‘Save Columbus Initiative.’ Former President of the Sons of Italy, Tony Ventiera, said that he was outraged by the mayor’s proposal to remove the historical statue. “This is an outrageous school of thought by people and it mocks an important figure in our country’s history,” said Ventiera. “First they’re going to eliminate Columbus Day and now we’re taking down statues!? This is a horror and I support this initiative all the way.”
On September 9th, 50 members of the immigrant community held a march starting in front of the LIRR station in Hicksville. The march was held as a result of President Donald Trump’s termination of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. Protestors marched from in front of the LIRR station to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s regional office on Old Country Road. Organizations who were part of the march included groups such as the Long Island Dream Act Coalition, Long Island Federation of Labor and the Long Island Immigrant Student Advocates. “As an organization that represents over 250,000 workers across Long Island, the Long Island Federation of Labor stands with DACA recipients and is in outrage over the termination of the Deferred Action Program,” said Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the LIFL. “Immigrants make up 20% of Long Island’s workforce, and without DACA, many workers across Long Island will lose their right to work legally, lose workplace protection, and the ability to fight employer retaliation.” The marchers took to the streets to ensure that Governor Cuomo would keep his promise of passing a new DREAM Act, passing driver’s licenses registration, and enforcement of a non-cooperation policy between ICE and local police departments. Nelson Melgar, a Nassau County resident and a DACA recipient was one of the marchers standing proud in support of the DACA program. Melgar, a member of the Long Island Immigrant Student Advocates, said that he and his fellow hard working immigrants would not be denied their rights. “Those who do us harm want nothing more than to see me retreat into the shadows,” said Melgar. “That won’t happen, I did my time in the shadows. DACA or no DACA, I will remain in the light.” Victoria Daza, of Long Island Jobs with Justice, said that it was important that local police departments not have a warped view of the immigrant youth population. “On Long Island, the local police’s anti-gang rhetoric combined with their cooperation with ICE has manifested itself as a war against immigrant youth,” said Daza. “Without DACA, over 10,000 youth are at risk of being detained by these predatory policies. We are urging Nassau and Suffolk counties to keep our communities safe and end police- ICE cooperation.”
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