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Vol. 25 No. 8
FEBRUARY 16 - 22, 2023
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Town board urged to reject partisan maps By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Ana Borruto/Herald
MiMi piERRE-johNsoN, RighT, was one of dozens of community members who rallied outside Hempstead Town Hall in a last-ditch effort to protest the latest redistricting map proposal by the Town Board. Critics say the map violates the state’s Municipal Home Rule Law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and New York’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. If approved, it could lead to a costly litigation, at taxpayers’ expense.
“Change the boundary, redraw the lines” was the message dozens of community members tried to articulate to the Hempstead Town Board last week. But in the end, many felt their pleas were completely ignored. Don Clavin faced some heat from the crowd after the town supervisor decided to cut the microphone feed for each speaker off exactly at the required three minutes they were allotted to speak. When Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goos-
by — who notably challenged Hempstead’s discriminatory atlarge voting system in 1988 — was asked if she had anything to say about the redistricting process, she declined to comment. The Hempstead redistricting saga is nearing its end, and opponents of the proposed maps are not giving up without a fight. A group of angry voters rallied outside of Hempstead Town Hall minutes before the Feb. 7 meeting to air out their frustrations. Former county legislator Dave Denenberg, who organized Continued on page 4
Police increase reward for Elmont acid assailant to $50,000 By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Police continued to search for clues in the acid attack against a 23-year-old Elmont woman almost two years ago, and have increased the reward to $50,000 for information that would lead to a conviction, investigators said. The victim, Nafiah Ikram, was assaulted in her driveway on March 17, 2021, at about 8:15 p.m., when she and her mother retur ned to their home on Arlington Avenue in Elmont after a shopping trip. Once her mother was inside the house, an unidentified man approached
the young woman from behind and threw acid in her face, authorities said. The attacker was described as 6 feet 2, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gloves. He was seen driving away in a red 201315 Nissan Altima with fog lights, according to the Nassau County Police Department. With the help of the FBI, Nassau police recently announced they have increased the reward money, which they hoped would help solve the case. Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said investigators believe the suspect is someone in the Elmont community. “Speaking to Nafiah and hav-
i
just want them to be found, because nobody should ever, ever have to experience this.
NAFiAh ikRAM Acid attack victim
ing that opportunity to realize how brave she is and the courage that she shows all of us is what drives us every single day,” Ryder said. “We’re going to come out with everything that we have. Somebody knows something in the community.”
County Legislator Carrié Solages said it is crucial that the community come together to support Ikram — who is of Pakistani descent — and other victims of similar incidents. County Executive Bruce Blakeman said this type of crime is “unacceptable” and commended police for their tireless efforts to solve the case.
“We will do everything we can (to) bring the individual to justice who committed this crime against this beautiful and courageous woman,” Blakeman said. Ikram spoke about her recovery process since the attack and how she continues to suffer, mentally as well as physically. Continued on page 14