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VOL. 24 NO. 3
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Reacting to county orders Blakeman directs school districts to vote on mask mandates “More than half of all states in the nation have no set policy on masking at educational instituResidents of Franklin Square tions, leaving the decision up to and Elmont had mixed reactions local governments to decide to new County Executive Bruce when and how to enforce mask Blakeman’s Jan. 6 order direct- mandates.” ing local boards of Blakeman also education to vote lifted the mask this month on mandate for all whether their discounty agencies tricts should manand the state’s temdate mask-wearing porary mask manin schools. date for those in As a result of public places. the order, school Local Democratboards will vote “to ic elected officials determine whether representing parts or not parents and of Elmont and children should be Franklin Square granted the consti- MICHAEL released a statetutional right to ANDERSON ment decrying reject mask man- Teacher’s aide, Blakeman’s order. dates while in the “Over the past two classroom.” The Dutch Broadway School years 3,435 of our orders read in part, friends, neighbors “Given the historical data on and loved ones in Nassau County Covid-19 and the ongoing debate have died from COVID-19,” read over whether masks are more the statement, from State Senaharmful than beneficial to chil- tors Todd Kaminsky and Anna dren and to school environments K a p l a n , A s s e m b l y wo m a n in general, we should protect the Michaelle Solages and others. freedoms and statutory rights of They called Gov. Kathy students and parents by resting Hochul’s mask mandate a “simwith the parents the decision ple precaution” in schools that whether their children should works to “keep our schools open wear masks in school.” The order further states, CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
By ROBERT TRAVERSO rtraverso@liherald.com
T
Courtesy James McGovern
A VIEW OF ongoing construction at the UBS Arena, just on the other side of resident James McGovern’s fenceline.
Residents riled up over noise
Horns, lights at UBS Arena have them up in arms By ROBERT TRAVERSO rtraverso@liherald.com
Months after expressing concerns about construction at the UBS Arena in Elmont, Floral Park residents who live close to the arena — within 1,500 feet of it — are voicing complaints about horn honking, triggered vehicle alarms, public urination and other disturbances after events at the arena. Bill Kelleher, of Floral Park, who has accused arena
developer Empire State Development of failing to clearly communicate construction plans for the building’s Emerald parking lot, has also expressed concerns about the quality of life for homeowners in the neighbohood. Kelleher described the Emerald lot, formerly known as the north parking lot, as “the bane of my existence.” Since the arena opened in November, Kelleher said, he and his neighbors have been subjected to late-night horns
and other noises from arenagoers. Although New York Arena Partners put up signs prohibiting tailgate partying and honking in the parking lot, Kelleher said that both have become common. He also said he had seen people hop over fences bordering the arena to avoid paying for parking, as well as public urination in the Emerald lot, which, he added, was “witnessed by many people.” Kelleher’s neighbor James CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
he only way to get a handle on this is for all of us to get on board with the rules