Skip to main content

East Meadow Herald 03-30-2023

Page 1

_______________

east meadow

______________

HERALD

Property tax savings for our neighbors and friend s.

Get Results. Sign Up To day!

Successful 18/21 itc FG string Demi Condensed artists in E.M.

Story time 18/21 itc FG for Demi Condensed first-graders

Page 5 xx

Page 19 xx

Vol. xx 23 No. No.x14

MARCh 30 - APRIl 5, 2023 MoNth xx-xx, 2021

DEADLINE APRIL 3RD

LAST CHANCE

18/21 itc FG THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TA Demi Condensed X REDUCTION Sign up tod ay. It only takes sec onds. Apply online at mptrg .com/heraldnote or call 516.715.1266

Page xx

$1.00

Maidenbaum Property

Tax Reduction Grou

p, LLC 483 Chestnut

Hablamos Español Street, Cedarhurst, NY 11516

$1.00

School district to look into its hiring practices By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

The East Meadow School District has hired an investigator to look into the undercover video that was released on March 8, showing David Casamento, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, discussing hiring practices and how diversity, equity and inclusion are being taught covertly. At the March 22 Board of Education meeting, the board voted to hire Matthew Mehnert, of Guercio & Guercio, a Farmingdale-based law firm specializing in education law, to review the video of Casamento and his statements. The board made it known that the district does no business with the firm, and selected it because it is a “completely impartial and independent party to this matter and (has) expertise in education law.” In the video, Casamento is shown discussing hiring practices “in light of DEI.” He also mentions that conservative-leaning job candidates tend to get weeded out, based on their responses to some of the questions they are asked.

This angered parents, residents and others, and the packed room at the meeting was evidence that they wanted answers. Attendees got a look into the school district’s hiring practices, after board President Alisa Baroukh called for a public review during the March 8 meeting. “To the community, we hear you and we hear how frustrated you are and we understand,” Baroukh said at last week’s meeting. “This board of ed has reacted swiftly and expediently to address this matter in the most transparent way possible out in the public arena so that our community can see and understand.” Mehnert gave the audience an overview of what the process would look like, and explained that he had begun collecting information from district personnel, “third parties” and his own research. He also said he would speak with “witnesses.” “The scope of the investigation,” Mehnert said, “is whether or not, in connection with the statements that were made . . . there are any policies of the district that were violated by any of the conduct that was indicated through the statements made by this district employee.” Continued on page 4

Courtesy East Meadow School District

Signs of the times Commack High School juniors Amanda Taveras, left, and Allie Schuval signed the song ‘Satisfied,’ from the musical ‘Hamilton,’ at East Meadow High School’s ‘American Sign Language Idol’ on March 23. They were runners-up in the contest. Story, more photos, Page 3.

East Meadow and Salisbury weigh in on proposed casino By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

The grounds of the Nassau Hub are only a short distance from East Meadow and Salisbury, and residents are not all in agreement when it comes to the idea of building a casino on the property surrounding the Nassau Coliseum. After the Las Vegas Sands — a luxury casino and resort company — announced earlier this year that it would bid for the Uniondale property and build a casino, the idea has been met with mixed opinions. Las Vegas Sands said it would invest upward of $4 billion to

develop the 72 acres around the Coliseum, bringing new tax revenue and skilled jobs to the area. While a casino is part of the overall proposal, the developers say it’s just one piece of several, including shopping and entertainment. “A big no to the casino,” East Meadow resident Cindy Rein posted on Facebook. “How about a place for families to go and walk around like a mini zoo/ museum/amusement park that’s not costly. Something small scale for children. Lots of families moving here and not much for them to do. Especially cost-wise.” She wrote that she’d rather see some suggestions that are

geared “more towards children and families and not towards gamblers, drinkers, and trash.” East Meadow resident Ronni Fauci, though, wrote that she is happy about the planned casino. “It will bring more jobs to the area,” she wrote, “as well as tax money.” County Executive Bruce Blakeman has kept an open mind, outlining in his recent State of the County address his requirements for the new casino. It must be “world-class, with a luxury hotel and entertainment component.” It must bring “significant revenue,” to the county, and the areas around it must create permanent jobs.

Blakeman’s third requirement is the proposal must have the community’s backing before being approved. The influence of a casino on crime has been generally inconclusive, according to numerous studies. A 1999 project from the National Gambling Impact Study Commission concluded communities with casinos are just as

safe as communities without. Despite that, some local residents have formed a group, Say No to the Casino Civic Association, calling on the county legislature — a necessary vote of approval to make such a project happen— to say “no.” On March 20, a group of protesters congregated at the Nassau County legContinued on page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
East Meadow Herald 03-30-2023 by Richner Communications, Inc - Issuu