Franklin Square/Elmont Herald

Franklin Square/Elmont

HERALD Haitians struggle during pandemic

Graduations are postponed

Sewanhaka staff helps families

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Vol. 22 No. 24

JUNE 11 - 17, 2020

Residents, officials call for police reform By MEliSSa KoENiG mkoenig@liherald.com

Melissa Koenig/Herald

MEMBErS of tHE Valley Stream Presbyterian Church’s WANTED Project and elected officials gathered outside the Nassau County Supreme Court on June 4 to express their support for police reform legislation.

Mimi Pier re-Johnson, of Elmont, has marched in protests against police brutality since George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. But on June 3, she decided to take her activism a step further, and created an online petition calling for Nassau County police officers to wear body cameras. “ I t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o p ro t e c t eve r yo n e involved,” Pierre-Johnson said, explaining that body cameras are used by law enforcement across the country to provide “a factual record of what occurred in all encounters between police officers and civilians.” Without them, she said, there is no accountability for police officers’ actions. She recounted how her son-in-law was once stopped by a Continued on page 8

Business owners prepare for Phase 2 Salons, offices and outdoor dining allowed to reopen on Wednesday By MEliSSa KoENiG and Scott BriNtoN mkoenig@liherald.com

Business owners throughout Franklin Square and Elmont were deep-cleaning everything at their stores and offices as they prepared to reopen on Wednesday for the first time since March. Shaheen Shah, owner of Fancy Cuts, in Franklin Square, said she had hired a company to sanitize everything at the hair

salon, and Lisa DelliPizzi, who owns a real estate business in Franklin Square, said she was in the process of organizing documents, and would be able to resume operations immediately. Lorraine Quagliozzi, the office manager of the Century 21 real estate agency in Franklin Square, said she also had the office deep-cleaned, and noted that only half of the firm’s agents would be allowed in the office at a time. Still, Quagliozzi said, “We’re

just excited to get back to a little more normalcy.” The Century 21 office has been shut since Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all “non-essential” businesses to close in March, and its agents have since been showing homes virtually. But now that real estate offices will be able to resume operations under the second phase of New York’s reopening plan, they will once again be able to show prospective homebuyers houses inperson and return to their offic-

es, which, Quagliozzi said, would provide more structure and allow for more human contact. Phase Two of the reopening also allows many other businesses to resume operations, including offices; in-store retail; vehi-

cle sales, leases and rentals; retail rental, repair and cleaning; and commercial building management. A d d i t i o n a l l y, C u o m o announced on Saturday that Continued on page 17

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020 Peter Belfiore/Herald

JuNe 1 sAw roughly 300 people hit the streets of Elmont and Valley Stream protesting racism and police violence against black people. There, some recounted their own experiences of racism.

Residents recount experiences with racism By Nicole AlciNdor

often experienced racism in the classroom from his white teachers while growing up in Queens in the 1970s, and For the past two weeks America has although it left him angry, he said he faced a reckoning over racism and doesn’t believe that violence is the police violence against black people answer to eradicating racism. after the police killing of George Floyd “The solution starts with younger in Minneapolis on generations of all May 25 sparked races talking and c o n t i n u i n g educating themnationwide proselves about ractests. ism and the Black Among the Lives Matter largest in Elmont m o v e m e n t and Valley Stream because they are was on June 1, t h e f u t u re, ” h e when roughly 300 said. “Black Lives demonstrators Matter is a beautitook to the streets ful movement, to demand equaliand more people ty. There, many of all races need black protestors t o g e t i nvo l ve d spoke of not just because black peothe anguish Floyd ple are still fight— and other vicing for our civil tims of racial viorights.” lence — had Alexa Pier re, brought, but also 21, also from Peter Belfiore/Herald Elmont said she their own experiences with rac- while sPArked By the police killing of experienced racism. George Floyd. many protestors expressed ism recently when “ I t l e f t m e long-simmering racial grievances that they after she accidenscar red forever, hoped the demonstrations could resolve. tally cut another but it also motidriver off while vated me and it driving to Kingspushed me to be the proud Black man borough Community College, the drivthat I am today,” longtime Elmont resi- er proceeded to follow her to the school dent, Jon Johnson Sr., 52, said as he parking lot and park his car next to recalled a moment in which his third hers. grade teacher referred to him using a “He then rolled down his window, racial slur, and told him he would and he screamed, ‘you stupid n*gger, amount to nothing. “America doesn’t this is why I don’t like you guys,’” she want to talk about racism, but we need recounted emotionally. “I just stared at to face it head on, and talk, because him in shock and I wanted to be the that’s the only solution.” bigger person because I was afraid of As a black man Johnson said he what could be.”

nalcindor@liherald.com

Nicole Alcindor/Herald

AlexA Pierre, 21, of Elmont said she had recently experience racism first-hand. Pier re, who identifies as black, believes that the solution to racism is to continue the peaceful protests, adding that she felt loved while attending the June 1 demonstration. “It’s emotional seeing so many people gathered here for this protest, and if we don’t do this who else will,” she said. “This is the change that people need to see and they can’t stop us.” Others said they believed the size and energy of the June 1protest was a good sign of things to come. “It means so much that Valley Stream and Elmont can come together for this event,” Valley Streamer Cody Suffrant, 27, said. “Long Island doesn’t

do protests very often and I just feel so loved and respected because so many people came to this protest to unapologetically be one.” “I’m an Elmont resident and I’m proud to be part of this event,” said Sybilla Douglas, 57. “We are the voices of those who have lost their voices to racial injustice.” Douglas, said she too has experienced racism first-hand and thinks the key to combating racism is speaking up about the injustice. “I have been called N*gger and it makes me feel angry and frustrated,” she said. “It’s not an education issue. Hatred is a choice and love is a choice.”

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Carey art teacher nominated for Life Changer of the year award H. Frank Carey High School art teacher Michael Cartolano has been nominated for the 2020 - 21 national LifeChanger of the Year Capstone award, which is designated for educators retiring at the end of the school year. Cartolano was nominated by a family member, Lori Tarantino, for his dedication to connecting with and mentoring students. He strongly believes that art education has the potential to positively impact and transform students’ lives, and is beloved for creating an easygoing, fun learning environment and inspiring students to pursue their passions. “Mike Cartolano is one of my greatest role models,” said Domenick Russo Jr., a former student. “He lit the fire that inspired me to pursue my career as a photographer and graphic designer. Some of my greatest memories in high school were in his classroom. Whether it be a group project he’d cooked up or a movie he thought was inspiring, whatever was on the docket was sure to be the highlight of my day. It was in this classroom I developed skills that helped me grow into the man I am today. I couldn’t think of a better recipient for this award.” Cartolano also provides guidance to students struggling with their mental health, and actively participates in various activities and fundraisers around the school. “I have had the pleasure of working with Mike for 18 years,” said Christopher Schepf, a colleague. “ I first met him when I was the school psychologist for a program for students with severe emotional disabilities. He did tremendous work with these students. He brought out their talents and made them feel like they mattered in this world, which was no easy chore.” Schepf also recounted how Cartolano came to him with some serious concerns about one of his students when he was working as a school psychologist. As a result of his intervention, Schepf said, that student was able to receive the help that he needed. “The world is a better place with people like Mike Cartolano,” Schepf said. The LifeChanger of the Year award, sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, recognizes and rewards the best educators and school district employees across the United States who are mak-

Courtesy National Life Group Foundation

carey art teacher Michael Cartolano has been nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year Capstone award. ing a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. Each school year, it receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Eighteen individual LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given during the 2020 - 21 school year. The Capstone Award Winner will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school and district. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee comprising former winners and education professionals. Nominees must teach kindergarten through 12thgrade, or be school district employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must: ■ Make a positive impact in the lives of students ■ Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride ■ Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level ■ Possess a proven record of professional excellence ■ Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning ■ Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards To view Cartolano’s LifeChanger of the Year nominee profile, visit www. LifeChangeroftheYear.com.

Franklin Square/Elmont

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Christina Daly/Herald

Graduation ceremonies in the Sewanhaka Central High School District have been postponed until July 25.

Sewanhaka CHSD graduations postponed By melissa KoeniG mkoenig@liherald.com

Graduation ceremonies in the Sewanhaka Central High School District have been postponed until the end of July, Superintendent James Grossane posted on the district’s website on May 29, as Long Island begins to reopen its economy. District officials originally said graduating seniors would go to their respective high schools on June 27 and 28 in their caps and gowns, cross the stage one-at-atime to receive their diplomas, and have their pictures taken by professional photographers. Families would be given individual time slots for the students’ ceremonies, and two family members would be able to accompany each one. A more traditional ceremony, complete with speeches and the reading of the graduates’ names, would be recorded and broadcast on the website. At a virtual Board of Education meeting on May 26, Grossane explained that he waited as long as he possibly could before making an announcement about graduations, but felt that he should release the district’s preliminary plan on May 21, abiding by Cuomo’s guidance at the time. But, he said in the announcement last Friday, by deciding to postpone the ceremonies to July 25 and 26, “we hope to provide a more traditional graduation for our seniors that is not currently permitted under the Executive Order.” At the ceremonies, students would be seated on their school’s fields, and spectators would be in the stands. Social distancing measures would be adhered to and guests would likely be required to wear masks. He made this decision after New York State Senators sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking him to perit high

school graduation ceremonies during the coronavirus pandemic, and students in the graduating class created an online petition saying they would like to have traditional ceremonies on the schools’ fields. “Our students have advocated how important it is for them to graduate with their classmates,” Grossane said. “While we are still unclear as to what the guidelines will dictate in the future, it is also our hope that it will be a significant enough change, so that we can provide the best possible experience for our students and families.” If restrictions do not relax, however, the district would proceed with its plans for individual ceremonies on July 25. The Sewanhaka Central High School District is also finalizing its plans to reopen in September. Grossane said the New York State Education Department will be providing guidance about reopening in the coming weeks, and every school district would be required to submit its plans to the Education Department in July for approval. Their plans must consider social distancing, the use of Personal Protective Equipment and safe-cleaning solutions. Additionally, district officials are developing plans to help re-acclimate students to the schools. “These times have tried us all, but we are hopefully emerging from all of this very soon,” Grossane said. “I look forward to seeing everyone, in school, very soon.” The last day of school will be on June 10, but students will have until the 16th to turn in any late assignments. And in Elmont, Superintendent Al Harper said the last day of school would be June 18, with academic summer school beginning on July 6, and continue through July 30.

Elmont’s Haitians struggle with pandemic Elmont’s Haitian population has had to struggle with language barriers, financial and mental stress as the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected minority communities. “Many immigrants across Long Island work in essential roles that put them at risk for exposure or live in precarious housing situations with exposed workers,” said Samantha Pfaff-Goldstein, the immigrant community navigator for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN). “Then these families and individuals have to deal with difficulties and fears in accessing health care services or meeting their basic needs.” She explained that language-access issues have caused significant difficulties for many immigrants over the years, which was essential during the pandemic. Though English and Spanish resources are common, health information in languages such as Haitian Creole are rare to come by, a notable problem in towns like Elmont, which is home to one of the largest Haitian populations in the country. Mimi Pierre-Johnson, president and CEO of the Elmont Cultural Center, said language barriers are a key issue affecting the Haitian community, and expressed concern for senior citizens and the mental health of the larger Haitian community, which has struggled in recent months. “There is a sense of sadness and fear when you speak to people that are accustomed to fighting for the right to exist, whether at work, politically, and most of all, family,” she said, adding that remote learning and working from home has been a daunting challenge. “I now have a sense of urgency greater than before to make sure our community gets the information and help it needs to prepare them for a Covid-19 world.” Additionally, the community has had to deal with financial losses, which has been a significant stressor for many entrepreneurs who are working to build new lives on Long Island. “It’s been a mentally overwhelming time,” said Maryse Emmanuel-Garcy, co-founder

and executive director of the Haitian American Family of Long Island. “One of the hardest things is for the families who have not been able to go through burial rights and are trying to cope with grief.” To make matters worse, CARACEN officials have said that immigrant populations have been left out of government programs designed to help people struggling during the pandemic. “Around 85 percent of the CARACEN clients we spoke with in the early weeks of closures were under-employed or unemployed,” PierreJohnson said, “many immigrant workers don’t qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.” The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, for example, she said, as one that excluded mixed-status families from receiving stimulus checks. So, to help, Sewanhaka High School has been providing social, emotional and academic support to all of its students during the endemic, and of Haitian families in particular. “Sewanhaka’s Haitian population is a strong, vibrant and caring community,” Principal Christopher Salinas said. “I cannot underscore the devastation this pandemic has wrought on communities such as ours.” He said it widened the gap in learning and development “in particular for families who don’t have ready access to resources in transitioning to remote learning,” noting that the school administration is keenly aware of these disparities and has therefore made equity a primary focus. “This year has brought with it extreme difficulties,” said Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages. “While Haitian-Americans are collaborating here to provide the necessary critical services, there is also a sense of anxiety because of the potential effects this pandemic could have on Haiti as well.” She stressed the resiliency of the Haitian-American people, expressing confidence in the community’s strength. “The Covid-19 crisis has forced us to share resources and advocate for each other in new ways, and I look forward to engaging with all of our stakeholders so that we may continue to build on our organizing.”

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

By VISVajIT SrIraMrajaN

Courtesy CARACEN

HaITIaN STudENTS STudIEd English in CARECEN’s Pathway to English class. Experts say language barriers have made it difficult for Haitian immigrants to get information during the coronavirus pandemic.

Record-breaking opening day for Belmont Park By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Originally scheduled to open April 24 for a 51-day spring/summer meet, live thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park got underway June 3 with all health and safety protocols in place and without fans. The 10-race opening day card generated a record-breaking all-sources handle of $10,972, 254, surpassing the previous opening day mark of $10.7 million in 2010. Highlighting the day was the first of 40 stakes races planned for the abbreviated 25-day meet, the Grade 3, $100,000 Beaugay at 1 1/16-miles on the turf, won by Rushing Fall with jockey Javier Castellano aboard. “I give all the credit to Mr. [Chad] Brown,” Castellano said. “He told me in the paddock that he wanted me to be on the lead. I saw two horses that had speed, but he’s the master. He knows what he’s doing and he knows the horses so well. I just followed the instructions.” The first race at Belmont in 2020, a 6 ½-furlong dirt event, was captured in dominant fashion by Star of the West, ridden by Reylu Gutierrez. Owned and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Star of the West won by 5 ½ lengths.

Courtesy NYRA photos/Adam Coglianese

STar Of THE West captured the first race of 2020 at Belmont Park on June 3. “It was a great trip. My horse helped me a lot,” Gutierrez said. “We were a little slow out of the gate but [Rodriguez] was very confident if this horse got the lead or a forward position, that we would be in a great position to finish. I just didn’t want to let go of my position,” he added. Before the opening race, the jockey colony stood in the paddock for a

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moment of silence in honor of those lost to Covid-19 and to pay tribute to the medical professionals, first responders and front-line workers. The colony then took a knee after the moment of silence in solidarity with peaceful protesters across the country. “There’s a lot going on in the world right now and we wanted to show respect to all causes, and to all people, and to show that we here at NYRA support everybody,” Gutierrez said. June 3 marked the first time the New York Racing Association conducted a card in 80 days. The Aqueduct meet was suspended in mid-March due to the pandemic and never resumed. Beginning this week, racing will be held Thursday through Sunday, with a first post time of 1:15 p.m. The meet will conclude Sunday, July 12, before the action shifts upstate to Saratoga through Labor Day. Racing is expected to resume at Belmont during the second week of September. A condensed stakes schedule for the spring/summer meet will feature races worth $7 million, including 22 graded stakes. Anchoring the schedule is the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 20, as

the first leg of the Triple Crown series, a historic first for the crown jewel of thoroughbred racing. Traditionally run at 1 1/2-miles, this year’s edition of the Belmont will be contested at nine furlongs (1 1/8-miles) and broadcast live on NBC. “The return of live sports, especially New York institutions like the Belmont Stakes, is a welcome sign of progress that will bring some sense of normalcy back to our everyday lives,” NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. The Belmont Stakes will offer Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the topfour finishers, with 150 going to the winner, 60 for second place, 30 for third, and 15 for fourth. The Kentucky Derby will be held Sept. 5, while the Preakness will serve as the last leg of the Triple Crown on Oct. 3. All Belmont Stakes Racing Festival tickets are subject to full refunds. Fans who purchased directly from the NYRA Box Office or a NYRA sales representative can request a refund or account credit. Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster should receive an email directing them to log in to their Ticketmaster account to request a refund or credit.

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of George Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They came to show solidarity and protest in the hope that the laws will change and people of color will be treated equally. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence.

Protest held at Hempstead Town Hall By chriStina daly Dozens of protests have taken palce across Long Island since the death of George Floyd, 46, on May 25. Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held a rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall last Friday in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. Belinda told the crowd, “I’m tired. I’m tired of telling my son it’s not safe to go outside. I’m tired of shedding tears. I’m tired.” More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They gathered to show solidarity. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence. Other signs stated, “It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody,” “No Justice, No Peace,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Silence=Violence,” “All lives can’t

matter until black lives matter,” “My skin color is not a crime,” “I can’t breathe,” “This is not a riot, this is a revolution” and “It’s not white vs black, it’s everyone vs racists.” Hempstead Deputy Mayor Charles Renfroe, the Rev. Sedgwick Easley of the Union Baptist Church and Barbara Powell of the NAACP Hempstead Branch attended the protest outside of town hall. As drivers went by, they honked and yelled in support, which was met with cheers by those gathered along the street. One of the few young protesters at the event, 8-year-old Maleah Malone, said, “I care about black people, and I’m marching for them. They shouldn’t be treated this way.” Her mother, Shaunte Malone, she said her children would be the ones living in the world protesters were working to create. Dorothy Goosby said it’s so important to get people involved. “I’ve been going through this, what they’re going through, my whole life,” she said.

Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held the rally in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. “no juStice, no peace,” chanted Maleah Malone, 8, and her brother Kendrelle, 9, as they held their signs high. Their mother said they would be the ones to live in the world the protesters were fighting for.

During the rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall, Julia and Daniel Tellerman registered participants to vote.

ProteSter SteFanny cardona held her sign toward the police officers across the street who lined the sidewalks outside of Hempstead Town Hall.

What a little girl is teaching the word about racism sbrinton@liherald.com

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, I stood atop the Long Island Rail Road trestle in Merrick, looking out on the sea of people who filled Sunrise Highway as far as I could see, east and west. Officials later estimated the number of demonstrators who attended the Black Lives Matter protest at 3,000 to 4,000. The next morning, I tried to imagine Sunrise Highway with 20 million people. Would they even fit along its 120.6 miles? Twenty million was the number of Twitter users who had, as of Friday morning, watched a 15-second video I shot of 7-year-old Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale, marching beside her mother, Lakyia Jackson, at a different Black Lives Matter protest through Merrick and Bellmore, on Wednesday. (The views climbed to nearly 23 million by Monday.) In the video, taken around 6:30 p.m., Wynta-Amor chants with the protesters, “No justice, no peace!” Many among the thousands who commented on the post described WyntaAmor as “fierce.” Yes, she was. Her hands moved to the beat of the chant. Her fingers pointed furiously. At the end, she raised her fist, seemingly in anger. Her fiery spirit was evident in her eyes. Wynta-Amor, it appeared, had fully inter nalized the emotion of the moment. She was breathing it in, living it. I was live-tweeting the protest to chronicle it for the Heralds. When I posted the video, I never imagined it would go viral. By the time the protest ended two hours later, 25,000 people had viewed it. By midnight, a million had. Thirty-six hours later, 20.2 million, and counting. People from all parts of the globe viewed it. In effect, this little girl broadcast a central message of Black Lives Matter for all in the Twittersphere to see: We must have justice to find the lasting peace our society seeks. Later on Wednesday, Wynta-Amor’s mom tweeted to thank me for the support that day. “We have to show our kids the right way,” Jackson said. “Yes, Wynta-Amor,” she added, “mommy will help make your future better and all the rest of the kids in the world.” Thursday morning, my wife said she went to bed the night before with Wynta-Amor’s words ringing in her ears. She couldn’t escape them. There was a certain melody to them, a righteous power. Wynta-Amor wasn’t the only one whose passion you could feel that afternoon. There were also 21-year-old Adriana Brutus, of Elmont, and her 24-yearold brother, Matt, who are black. They gave impassioned speeches at the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station, about a half-hour before I took the video of Wynta-Amor. “I’m scared every time I come outside,” Adriana said through tears. Her words left me thunderstruck.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

AdriAnA BrutuS, 21, of Elmont, a nursing student at NYU, said through tears that she does not feel safe leaving her own home.

ProteSterS At the June 3 demonstration marching on Sunrise Highway toward Babylon Turnpike.

As it happened, I later learned, Adriana had been communicating via Instagram with my own 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra. They’re both NYU students. Adriana is studying nursing, and Alexandra, business and technology management. Why must Adriana be afraid all the time? I thought. What sort of society do we live in that she must worry for her life because of her color? My daughter has never felt that level of fear, nor has my 17-year-old son, Andrew. As black people, Matt Brutus said, “We can’t buy property. They redline us. They say you have to go to school here.” BLM protesters aren’t saying they want to take anything from white people. They’re just saying they want an equal shot at life, liberty and the pursuit

of happiness — but that’s hard, if not impossible, for them when racism seems woven into the institutional fabric of our nation. A number of Merrick and Bellmore residents stood on their stoops and on street corners applauding the protesters on Wednesday and Thursday. They cheered and banged on pots. Now and again, though, someone called out, “All lives matter!” Sometimes the protesters ignored those shouts. Sometimes they chanted, “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” louder and louder. The all-lives-matter folks just don’t get it. The BLM protesters aren’t saying black people’s lives matter more than anyone else’s. What they’re saying is, in

the eyes of a society with a centuriesold history of systemic racism, black lives have never mattered as much as white lives — but they should. They must, if we are to live in harmony with one another. To chant “Black lives matter!” is to affirm that the lives of black people do, in fact, matter. White people don’t have to proclaim their lives matter because they already do, according to society. In the past, a black man could die by noose because he looked the wrong way at a white woman. The George Floyd case, a number of pundits have said, is a modern-day lynching, captured for all to witness on cellphone video. The question is, what will each of us do about it?

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

WyntA-Amor rogerS, 7, marching during the Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick on Wednesday. The Herald’s video of her chanting, “No justice, no peace!” had more than 20 million views on Twitter as of Friday.

By Scott Brinton

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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State legislation would reform police departments CoNTiNued from Page 1 police officer while he was on his way to see a movie, and said the officer told him that he “looked like a good boy” because he was wearing khaki shorts and boat shoes. “We live these things every single day,” Pierre-Johnson said of the larger black community, adding, “As a human being with a soul and a heart, you know what’s happening is wrong.” As of last Friday, the petition had more than 400 signatures. It can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2Xzh3xY. This isn’t the first time body cameras have been proposed for police in Nassau County. In 2015, then County Executive Ed Mangano and former Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter proposed purchasing body cameras for 31 officers who patrolled predominantly minority communities, like Elmont. But members of the Nassau Police Benevolent Association and the Superior Officers Association filed a complaint with the state Employment Relations Labor Board, saying county officials excluded the police unions from its discussions of the program, and it never moved forward. Now, however, county officials are once again in the process of negotiating collective bargaining agreements with police unions, which, Legislator Carrié Solages said, should include a renewed discussion of the body camera program. Solages and Legislator Siela Bynoe sent letters to County Executive Laura Curran earlier this month. Bynoe, a Democrat from Westbury, wrote that the collective bargaining process “presents the best chance to bring law enforcement on board as a willing partner,” and Sola g es, a Democrat from Valley Stream, noted that the transparency the body cameras provide could “save the county money in litigation, and protect our police officers from false allegations.” In response, Michael Fricchione, a county spokesman, said that Curran’s administration “is in favor of exploring any tool that will increase transparency and safety.”

Melissa Koenig/Herald

sTaTe assemblymaN Phil Ramos led a rally on June 4.

in this great counBlack, Puerto try, do not have Rican, Hispanic access to peace, jusand Asian Legislatice and liberty.” tive Caucus have Solages said that proposed a legislachange must haptive package compen before another prising a dozen black person loses bills that would his or her life, and increase transparA s s e m bly wo m a n ency, create more Taylor Darling, a oversight of police Democrat from the departments, Village of Hempensure that susstead, said there pects get medical could be “no bad attention, establish Nia adams, a community organizer for apples” in the strangulation as a the Long Island Progressive Coalition, police department. crime in the state said that repealing Section 50-a of the To ensure that and ban police happens, they are from using racial state’s Civil Rights Law is the least legisadvocating for the and ethnic profil- lators can do. full repeal of Secing. tion 50-a. The proviAll of these bills sion makes all police officers’, firefightare currently sitting in committees. “This is not sexy legislation,” Assem- ers’ and corrections officers’ personnel blyman Phil Ramos, a records “confidential and not subject to Democrat from Suffolk inspection or review” except by court County who chairs the order. “We don’t want to reform 50-a,” caucus, said at a rally to Solages said. “We want to repeal it.” The law prevented the New York Civil increase support for these bills on June 4, “but these Liberties Union from getting records The state’s efforts are things that are neces- from the Nassau County Police DepartState officials are also sary to dismantle and take ment that it requested under the Freedoubling down on their dom of Information Law. “It’s time for a down that blue wall of ef for ts to pass police real cultural change by and for the silence.” reform legislation. Floyd’s death is just the police, and for those who need their proGov. Andrew Cuomo latest incident of police tection,” said Susan Gottehrer, director tweeted last Friday that violence against black of the Nassau County chapter of the he would work with mempeople in the U.S., activists NYCLU, “and it’s time for oversight and bers of the State Legislasay, and as a result, black accountability.” ture this week to pass a But in order to get these bills passed, legislators and residents “Say Their Name” reform Phil ramos say they are worried about Gottehrer said, legislators need to gain agenda, including revisthe fate of their children. support in the State Senate. “If you’re ing Section 50-a of the State assemblyman “It pains me to think that marching with protesters,” Gottehrer state Civil Rights Law to one day he walks out the said, “you’d better be in [the Capitol] allow for greater transparency of police officers’ prior disciplinary records, ban- door and he might not return, and not legislating tomorrow.” Nia Adams, a community organizer ning chokeholds, prohibiting false race- by the hands of an accident, but by the based 911 reports and designating the hands of a police officer,” Assembly- for the Long Island Progressive Coaliattorney general an independent prose- woman Michaelle Solages, a Democrat tion, said that the repeal of Section 50-a cutor in matters relating to the deaths from Elmont, said of her young son. is “the least” state legislators could do, “The notion that anybody has to prove and added, “Today and tomorrow and of unarmed civilians at the hands of their humanity is disgusting,” she said, every day, black lives matter.” law enforcement. Additionally, members of the state’s adding, “It hurts me to know that we all,

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his is not sexy legislation, but these are things that are necessary to dismantle and take down that blue wall of silence.

The legislative package Members of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus are pushing for legislation that would: 1. Repeal Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law, which makes police records confidential 2. Make falsely reporting an incident as a hate crime an offense 3. Establish an Office of Special Investigations for deaths following police encounters 4. Allow the chief administrator of the courts to release data to evaluate criminal justice policies 5. Affirm the right to record police officers 6. Repeal limitations on the removal of police officers 7. Require law enforcement to provide needed medical attention to those in custody 8. Establish the crime of strangulation, and create penalties for the disregarding of banned procedures 9. Impose criminal liability for the failure to obtain medical care for a distressed person in custody 10. Ban racial and ethnic profiling 11. Reduce arrests for low-level offenses 12. Expand the use of body cameras

Nominate a senior for a Herald superlative How to enter Nominate your favorite graduating high school senior today at www. liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives or on Instagram (see @longislandherald for instructions). The categories, among others, include: ■ Most likely to be at the beach ■ Most likely to become a billionaire ■ Most likely to change the world

painting again, which was an activity that I enjoyed in my childhood. Not only does this give me an opportunity to express myself in a new way, it also allows me to prepare artwork for my future college dorm. I will look at these paintings on my wall with pride, knowing I turned an upsetting situation into a positive one. And to be recognized as a Senior Superlative means a lot.” Her father, Michael Stein, said “Adina has loved to paint and draw from an early age and has shown improvement the past few years. She has spent her free time during the quarantine period painting various art projects on canvas with plans to decorate her college dorm in the fall. Her cre-

ativity and artistic skills will complement her academic endeavors in the future.” “We thought this was a fun way to honor these high school students who are graduating in extremely atypical times,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “We would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations from the community that stepped up to sponsor the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives to allow these graduating students to be recognized.” Sponsors to date include Sacred Heart Academy, Oceanside Family Dental, Ritz Jewelry and Tim White Home Improvement.

■ Most likely to find a cure for cancer ■ Most likely to invent the next iPhone ■ Most likely to be an Instagram star ■ Most likely to be a future firefighter ■ Most likely to raise a family on Long Island ■ Most likely to become a movie star ■ Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize

HERALD

We want to honor your grad! BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT Visit https://liherald.honormygrad.com to post and for more information

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Post a FREE photo and listing of your grad’s sports, honors and activities — or make a splash with family photos, highlights and more! Opportunity to publish in June 25 HERALD Class of 2020 Issue.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Opportunity to be recognized as “Nassau’s best” and to win $500 Richner Communications, publishers of Herald Community Newspapers, is now accepting nominations for the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives. Nominations are currently open through Instagram (see @ longislandherald for instructions) and online at www.liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives until June 15. Winners will be published in the Herald’s commemorative Graduation 2020 section, presented by Molloy College, on June 25. Parents, family, classmates and friends are encouraged to nominate graduating high school seniors for the chance to be crowned Nassau County’s Most Likely to Succeed, Most Likely To Cure Cancer, Best Artist, Best Athlete, and more. Students can even nominate themselves. Additionally, each Herald 2020 Senior Superlative winner will be entered into a drawing for a $500 VISA gift card, presented by Herald Community Newspapers. Adina Stein, a senior at George W. Hewlett High School, said, “This is a great way to be honored this year. Finding out that my senior year would be cut short was very upsetting to me. I realized I wouldn’t be able to have my last school spirit week, prom, a traditional graduation, and other fun events we have spent many years looking forward to. After realizing that I can use this time to work on my productivity and look forward to my college freshman year, I decided to try

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Herald ScHoolS

Photos ourtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District

The sTaff aT Sewanhaka High School has been collecting food donations for distribution in the community.

Sewanhaka faculty helps families in need The faculty and staff at Sewanhaka High School have been providing food and household items to families in need in the school community. Along with the daily grab-and-go meals, the staff has been actively collecting and distributing donations every Wednesday and Friday. Dean and teacher assistant Mike Ryan and retired faculty member Julie Fanelli have been running the operation with the assistance of Doris Brown, Deidre Kelly, Liliana Bascetta, Jose ph Botka, Kerry Jansen and

Maryanne Contarino. They collect items and food from the community and staff every Wednesday, then put together at least 70 bags to distribute on Fridays. Some Fridays, Fanelli said, they c o n t i n u e t o m a ke b a g s because they have received so many donations. The donation bags can contain diapers, hygiene products, dog and cat food, detergent, toilet paper, paper towels and other essential items. –Melissa Koenig

Kerry Jansen, Isabelle Acosta and Maryanne Contarino helped out with the efforts. JulIe fanellI and Mike Ryan stuffed donation bags. VolunTeers lIlIana basceTTa and Deidre Kelly organized the canned food.

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

GETTING BACK TO OUR LIVES BEGINS WITH OUR HEALTH. To our fellow Long Islanders: For months, we’ve all endured a crisis that has reshaped our world. And, although our daily lives will be affected for some time to come, we’re beginning to move towards some sense of normalcy and optimism. Along with the desire to protect lives, we all want to get back to living. And living well starts with your health. Your total health. That’s why we’ve instituted extensive safety measures throughout our hospitals and physician offices. There’s no need to ignore health issues or postpone procedures, because we’ve made it safe to get the care you need. The new summer is here. Now is the right time to refocus on your greatest asset of all—your health. Just know that, at Catholic Health Services, we’re here for Long Island and, most of all, we’re here for you. Sincerely, The Catholic Health Services Medical Staff Learn more at HereForYouLI.org

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St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® • Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center • St. Charles Hospital St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center • Mercy Medical Center • St. Joseph Hospital

Covid-19

Hometown Heroes

Gabriel boxer oxer

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Don PuPke ke

Hewlett CHief marketinG offiCer, tHe kosHer Guru online

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t the beginning of this pandemic in March, a friend of mine messaged me saying that he knows the head of a Covid emergency department unit at [Mount Sinai] South Nassau [hospital] who told him about how hard the staff had been working. After reading that message, I immediately ran to the store to buy food and drove it over to Mount Sinai South Nassau. This led to the creation of the Kosher Response Project, an effort in which our goal was to feed as many first-responders as we can in the tri-state area. Since then we have come up with a couple more initiatives to help those in need; this includes the “Feed A Family Fuel A Restaurant” program that we started with Community Chest South Shore. The goal is to help feed families in need of food while also supporting local restaurants. We truly thank Community Chest South Shore for helping make this possible. Most recently with the help of World of Giving organization, we were able to arrange for an entire tractor-trailer load of freshly harvested tomatoes to be dropped off in our community. We were able to distribute thousands of cases of tomatoes to community members. I would like to thank the entire team and family of the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC who opened their home to us and teamed up with us to help distribute this farm fresh produce to our community.

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volunteer, our laDy of lourDes CHurCH, malverne

he idea behind the food bank at Our Lady of Lourdes Church is to have a store of food available in the event that this Covid-19 virus hits the community hard, and people aren’t able to get out from their homes due to sickness. It’s also for those who can’t afford food to due to the fact that they’ve been laid off. I had talked about this idea with Father Michael Duffy, and we pitched it to Mayor Keith Corbett. Once he spoke with the other church leaders in the community, they were all in agreement to run the food drive through our parish. The support we’ve gotten has been overwhelming. The reason we did the collection is because we anticipated that there would be severe restrictions placed on everybody. We also put together a community outreach for senior citizens in the community. We assigned 25 of our volunteers with call lists of local seniors, and we’ve been calling them about every other day to see if they have any needs. It works out better for the community this way. The idea is, as a community, we can act much faster than the government, and we can assess people’s needs on an immediate basis rather than having to go through the bureaucracy of government.

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters Michaelle Solage SolageS gertrude nation elMont Valley StreaM PaStor, grace united MethodiSt church Valley StreaM

aSSeMblywoMan, new york State 22nd diStrict

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s a lifelong resident of Elmont, it has been my honor to be able to give back to the community that has embraced my family and heritage. The Covid-19 pandemic has deeply impacted every aspect of our lives. I have seen and felt the struggles of our communities, as they lost all sense of normalcy. The fear and anger felt when everything they have worked hard to achieve just vanishes. It is extremely difficult and completely frightening. Yet, even during these unprecedented times, we have shown that we are more than capable of uplifting one another. My staff and I have worked to coordinate resources to ensure that services are being provided to all constituents in our district. It was humbling to work with members of the community, faith leaders and local organizations to help empower our vulnerable neighbors in their time of need. Although we have seen the exhaustion of front-line workers, tackled food insecurity in our community and felt the pain of loss, we have also seen the generosity, compassion and humanity of our communities. That spirit of resiliency will live within me. This type of unity is key to the path forward through the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

ertrude Nation started working as a pastor in 2008 and began as the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream in 2015. “The pandemic has really affected me in ways I haven’t imagined,” Nation said. “There is a lot of sickness, fear and stress that I hear from church members, family, friends and colleagues.” For Nation, she said that exercising faith in God during this time has helped her to do her job. Even though most of her pastoral work has been done from home during the pandemic, she said that she finds that she is handling more telephone calls, emails, WhatsApp communication and Zoom meetings than ever before. She also said that she finds herself relying on other church members to help facilitate the needs of the church during the pandemic. “I ask congregants to reach out to other members, especially the elderly, who might need someone to get them food from the store or they might need a call if they are alone,” she said. “During this pandemic, I am growing and focusing on my congregation, my ministry and on keeping people connected because that is important.” Despite the ability to interact virtually, Nation said she still misses her job before the pandemic. “I miss seeing the people and talking to them in person,” she said. “I miss greeting my church on Sunday services and fellowship time after church.”

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I My Community Enjoy the best local news for your area with Herald Community Newspapers. Stay connected with the schools, high school sports, local government, shopping, dining and more!

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Every life matters to us … We live and work in this community. The lives of each and every one of you is important to us and we are here to tell your stories — from beginning to end. That includes the final chapter. At this difficult time, I want to remind you that obituaries in all Herald Community Newspapers are, and have always been, completely free. COVID-19 has taken far too many, far to soon. Let us help you commemorate the life of your loved one with a story and photo celebrating their life. Contact our Executive Editor Scott Brinton, sbrinton@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000, ext 203, if you would like to memorialize a loved one in the Herald, regardless of their cause of death.

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Stuart Richner Publisher

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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CLASS HERALD

e k a s p e Ke n o i t i d E

2020 OF

PRESENTED BY

PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 25 • SPACE & COPY DEADLINE: JUNE 11

SAY CONGRATS TO OUR GRADS: While 2020 grads can’t walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive their diploma — and they may not be able to celebrate their achievements with family and friends gathering from near and far —graduation remains a special time worthy of recognition. FAMILY & FRIENDS CONGRATS ADS:

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MSSN poll: Residents reluctant to return to normal tial vaccine,” Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Aaron Glatt said. “However, we’re hopeful that as one is developed, tested, and proven effective, people’s attitudes will change, Although a vaccine is still some months away, early research shows promise that a vaccine could prevent a resurgence of Covid-19. Science is on our side. Right now, there is still too much unknown about a potential vaccine, and I assume that uncertainty is what we are seeing reflected in the poll results.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a phased reopening of Long Island’s economy. During Phase One of the reopening, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Valley may begin construction staging to prepare for resuming projects, curbside retail, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing. However, most residents made it clear they are not willing to resume their pre-pandemic activities, the poll showed. New York City is the only region to remain on New York’s Pause, Cuomo’s 10-point executive order to keep New York safe during the coronavirus outbreak, but it was due to start reopening June 8. One-third of area residents polled have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or know someone who was. Nearly all respondents said they will continue to wear a mask to protect themselves until circumstances change. Only 3 percent of respondents reported that they do not wear a mask. “Very few aspects of day-to-day life have remained unchanged during the Covid-19 era,” said Dr. Adhi Sharma, the hospital’s executive vice president for clinical and professional affairs and chief medical officer. “It is a positive sign that the vast majority of people remain reluctant to resume normal life post-Covid-19. The public health education that has been going on during the last two months has made a lasting impact, which is good. The virus is still out there and active. We must remain vigilant in our social distancing effort. There is good reason why we should not be returning to life as normal just yet.” New York City has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Long Island and Westchester County also have been particularly hard hit. This is Mount Sinai South Nassau’s second Truth in Medicine poll, sponsored by Bethpage, on the region’s response to coronavirus. The first poll, conducted February 5-9, found that 62 percent of respondents were very concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. However, at the time, residents saw the flu as a more serious threat

than coronavirus. A majority of respondents in this poll said they felt comfortable receiving medical care, going to an emergency room and returning to work, only if safety precautions were followed. Fifty-two percent said they would go to a beach or park with social distancing and sanitizing practices in place. Nearly one in 10 respondents has either personally delayed seeking treatment or has a family member who did so for chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness in the limbs or slurred speech due to fear of catching the virus. Thirteen percent of those who had been infected with the virus or had a family member who was have delayed care. As the rates of Covid-19-related hospitalizations and deaths decline, some 25 percent of poll respondents said they would still not visit an emergency room. Sixty-three percent said they would seek emergency care only if social distancing guidelines and sanitizing measures were enforced. There is concern among physicians about the impact of delayed medical care. For example, individuals with chest pain who avoided the emergency room could damage their heart muscle and cause additional blockages or, worse, a severe heart attack. “People should not delay seeking care, including going to an emergency room if necessary,” . Sharma said.. “Visits to emergency rooms remain low compared to pre-Covid-19, which is an indication that people are delaying seeking treatment due to coronavirus fears. We have taken all necessary precautions, including deep cleaning and segregation of Covid-19 versus non-Covid-19 patients in our ER, so people should not put their health on hold. It’s more dangerous to sit home when you are experiencing serious symptoms.” In every case of the poll, men are more willing than women to resume public activities, both with and without restrictions. Respondents under age 50, especially parents of children under age 18, are more likely to return to the workplace, go to the beach or a park, attend a religious service, eat in a restaurant/go to a bar, attend a sporting event and go to a movie than older respondents and those without children. Courtesy MSSN; compiled by Mike Smollins

Businesses to get marketing grants under proposed bill By Melissa Koenig mkoenig@liherald.com

A bill in the New York State Legislature would help small business owners better market themselves and promote their businesses, as Long Island’s economy begins to reopen. Under the “New York First” bill, A10473, money from the State Department of Economic Development and the New York State Urban Development Corporation would be used to provide small business owners grants of up to $10,000 for marketing campaigns, consultation services and search engine optimization lessons. The business owners would have to apply for the funds, detailing how they would use the money and listing any additional business assistance services they receive. They would also have to identify the specific target audiences they are trying to reach, and explain how they would measure their success. Additionally, local Chambers of Com-

merce, business improvement districts and other nonprofits that support local businesses could apply for the funding to create cost-effective ways to encourage New Yorkers to shop local. “We need to do everything we can to promote small businesses,” Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican from Franklin Square who introduced the bill in the State Legislature on May 22, said at a news conference last Wednesday, adding that the state already has the money set aside for economic development. That money could instead be used to promote the state’s “mom and pop” shops, he said, rather than the large online retailers that New Yorkers have been buying from, since Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued the New York on Pause order in March. The order declared that all non-essential businesses would be closed statewide to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Only “essential” personnel, including health care workers, grocery store employees and phar macists, were

allowed to continue working. But Kevin Hyms, president of the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce who expressed his support for the legislation at the news conference, said, “All businesses are essential,” and Assemblyman Doug Smith, a Republican from Holbrook, noted that 95 percent of the businesses in New York are small businesses. “Our communities are built on small business,” said Eric Alexander, of the Long Island Main Street Alliance. “Now is really the time to let the communities know it’s time to reopen.” Long Island began to “un-pause” and reopen its economy on May 27, when construction, wholesale trade and retailers were allowed to restart operations for curbside pickup. If the number of deaths, hospitalizations and new Covid19 cases remain stable or decline, professional services, finance and insurance, real estate and leasing companies could begin to reopen this week.

Melissa Koenig/Herald

asseMBlyMan ed Ra, at the lectern, proposed legislation allowing business owners to get marketing grants from the state. He spoke about it at a news conference on June 3.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Two-thirds of Long Islanders and New York City residents would not attend a sporting event, watch a movie or ride mass transit because of Covid-19 fears as Long Island reopens, the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital public health poll shows. Eighty-six percent of respondents said they would not shake someone’s hand, while most were still eager to have children return to school. Seventy-one percent of respondents with children under the age of 18 said they will send their children back to school in the fall, although 52 percent will do so only with appropriate social distancing and sanitizing practices in place. Sixteen percent said they will not send their children back to school in the fall. A majority of parents believe remote learning has gone “very well” or “well.” Concern about coronavirus returning in the fall is high. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “not concerned at all” and 10 meaning “extremely concerned,” the mean level of concern was 7.71. Concern is higher than average among Hispanic respondents, women and those 65-plus. The Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, is a quarterly survey of Long Island and New York City residents that aims to gather data about attitudes on key public health topics and help spur education to improve public health. The poll was conducted May 11-14 via landlines and cell phones with 600 residents in New York City and on Long Island. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. The latest findings showed that the majority also is uneasy about flying on an airplane, eating in a restaurant, or going to a bar, the poll showed. Despite 100,000 recorded deaths due to coronavirus nationwide, notably, 55 percent of area residents said they are either unsure (30 percent) or would not (25 percent) roll up their sleeves for a vaccine, if one were available. In a previous Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage, conducted in early February before the height of the outbreak, 55 percent of respondents said they would get vaccinated compared to just 45 percent now. Respondents 65 and older remained committed to getting a vaccine, with 53 percent saying they would get vaccinated in both polls. This poll showed that interest in a vaccine also increased depending on whether or not the respondent was diagnosed with the virus or knew someone personally who was. “It’s disturbing that there is reluctance about a poten-

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Spread the news(letter) not the virus! Stay up to date with the latest Nassau County news. Sign up for an online account at www.liherald.com to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox.

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What you need to know today.

Continued from page 1

Courtesy Vito Cortesiano

Vito Cortesiano is renovating the courtyard behind Salvatore’s of Elmont to allow for outdoor, socially distant dining.

Public Notices

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the fiscal affairs of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District of the Town of Hempstead for the period beginning on January 1, 2019 and ending on December 31, 2019 have been examined by an independent accountant and that the external audit by the independent accountant has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons pursuant to section 35 of the General Municipal Law. The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire District of the Town of Hempstead may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the report of external audit or management letter by independent Public Accountant and file any such response in my office as a public record

for inspection by all interested persons not later than ninety (90) days from the date of said report of external audit. BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS FRANKLIN SQUARE & MUNSON FIRE DISTRICT Attest: Kerry Santina Fire District Secretary June 5, 2020 122066

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of My Moment Chocolat LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 3/02/2020. Office located in Nassau. SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC My Moment Chocolat, 723 Rose Street, Franklin Square, NY 11010. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 122063 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.mypublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE Separate sealed proposals for residency Consultants will be received by the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, at the Elmont Road School, located at 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, New York, at which place said bids will be publicly opened and read, at the time and date specified, for the furnishing of the following: BID OPENING DATE OPENING TIME RFP-12-20/21 6/19/20 10:30 AM Request for Proposal forms may be secured at Elmont UFSD Business Office between the hours of 8:45 AM and 3:45 PM on weekdays beginning 6/11/20. A signed original proposal must be received by Diane Tool, Business Office, Elmont Union Free School District, 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, NY 11003 by 10:30 AM on June 19th, 2020. The outside of the envelope must be clearly marked

“ R E S I D E N C Y CONSULTANTS.” Any proposals after that time will be returned to sender. If you should require additional information or have any questions, please e-mail Fernando De Bartolo at fdebartolo@elmontschool s.org. Mr. De Bartolo will respond to concerns raised as soon as practical. Responses to questions/inquiries will be provided to all parties in writing by FAX or e-mail. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities in said bids, and/or to accept the bid which seems most favorable to the interests of the School District. By Order of the Board of Education Date: June 11, 2020 Diana Delahanty District Clerk 122062

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com

places of worship could reopen on June 10 with 25 percent occupancy and socialdistancing measures in place, after saying on June 3 that restaurants would be able to offer outdoor dining in Phase Two. To prepare for that, Vito Cortesiano has remodeled Salvatore’s of Elmont’s courtyard area with a garden and a “calming water feature” that will allow him to set up outdoor tables that are six feet apart. “We have been very lucky to maintain our customers during the Covid-19 crisis,” said Cortesiano, who owns the restaurant, “and being able to now offer this outdoor space will be like inviting our family back into our home.” The updated reopening schedule is the result of a continued drop in new Covid19 hospitalizations, intubations and deaths, according to Cuomo. There were only 35 deaths statewide on Friday, the fewest since late March. And in Nassau County, there were no deaths on Friday, County Executive Laura Curran announced on Saturday. “Always remember that the actions we took together saved countless (likely thousands) of lives,” she tweeted. Curran has been in favor of reopening certain industries ahead of schedule. She called Cuomo’s decision to allow hair salons and barbershops to resume operations “great news,” and proposed a plan in May to allow villages, towns and cities to shut down certain streets for outdoor dining, thus reducing the need

for table capacity within eateries and enabling them to maintain social distancing. She is calling it “Open Streets.” “Continuing the county’s efforts to support the revival of our downtowns and business districts,” the Nassau County website reads, “the county will be fast-tracking permitting approvals for temporary road closures, with a decision within a week of receiving an application. Additionally, Curran praised the state government for giving “our business owners the certainty they need to reopen safely.” The state is requiring business owners to prepare reopening plans, detailing how they intend to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the safety of workers and customers. The plans must include wellness checks for employees and customers; disinfection and cleaning routines; social distancing protocols’ and protective personal equipment for employees and customers. Business owners must also affirm that they agree to operate according to state safety mandates. To help with that, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency is spending roughly $500,000 to provide 1,000 small businesses and nonprofits with PPE. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees, minority- and women-owned businesses, and businesses in economically distressed communities are eligible for the program. Business owners can apply at www.nassauboost.net.

News brief

School budget, board election deadlines extended Saying “No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the deadline for mailin ballots in local school budget and school board elections, originally scheduled for Tuesday. Hand-delivered ballots still must be received by 5 p.m. on June 9, according

to a news release, but mail-in ballots may be received until June 16. In the same executive order, the governor allowed absentee ballots in the state’s presidential primary to be counted if postmarked no later than June 23. This means voters may mail their ballots as late as the day of the election.

Christina Daly/Herald File Photo

n.Y. goV. andrew Cuomo extended the deadline for mail-in ballots in local school budget and school board elections to June 9.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Businesses reopen as coronavirus cases drop

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

HERALD

Free estimates...Best Price For High Quality service

Installing a bidet: no simple project Q. Because of this crazy time, we couldn’t get toi-

let paper, so I saw an advertisement for a bidet that attaches to the bottom of the toilet seat and ordered one. After weeks of waiting, there seemed like toilet paper was back in the stores, but then the bidet arrived. With no job to run off to, I decided to put the bidet on, and the instructions looked simple enough. That’s when I discovered that, like you often say, nothing is simple, and you’re right. My toilet is the kind that is sleek and modern, called “low profile.” Since we have never replaced the toilet seat, I didn’t know that the seat was Ask The attached with hidden bolts Architect that can’t be loosened or taken off. After going on YouTube, I saw in an instructional video by Kohler, the maker, that with a special-order kit that includes a flat tool, new bolts and special expanding sleeves, which I would need to use with a bunch of drill bits, a screwonte eeper driver and a mallet, I could do this “simple” job. I called a plumber, who looked at it and made one of those sounds like air rushing out of a balloon, and he said, after he couldn’t get the screw to loosen, either, that the toilet might get damaged if they drilled it out but they could try. If it got damaged, he said, as a backup, be prepared to replace the toilet and select what you would want to replace it. Even though I’m now searching for a new model toilet, I thought other readers would want to know about this problem before they go through this, as well. It all started with a simple roll of toilet paper that could have been available if people hadn’t swept them off the shelves in a panic. What would you do in this case?

M

L

A. I not only got calls from people I knew that they ordered the bidet attachment around early April, but I ordered one myself, and learned from your question that there were many who are experiencing the same issues. I’m often told by prospective clients that they want a simpler look, something more modern and “updated.” People seldom want to hear the truth when they have an idea about how to make things simpler, and I didn’t imagine that the engineers of that type of sleeklooking low toilet, with no indents or hidden places to clean, would actually be more complicated to work with. Who would have imagined that changing a toilet seat would mean changing a toilet? When people see something in a magazine, like an incredible staircase with no walls underneath or a fancy sports car, I wonder if they really understand the amount of complicated engineering that goes into the “simple” design. I would drill out the bolts with the kit standing by from the manufacturer and have the toilet selected, readily available to purchase for installation. Good luck!

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© 2020 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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HErald

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opinionS

S

table neighborhoods are the backbone of every community. But in places like New York state, where housing costs continue to rise dramatically, housing stability is threatened for far too many, particularly families and individuals who rely on public assistance. On any given day, more than 92,000 New Yorkers are homeless. The gross inadequacy of housing subsidies is a critical factor in the rise of homelessness and housing instability. Long don Island is home to FRiedMan about 1,800 homeless households staying in shelters, while another 3,200 or so families and individuals struggle to get by on public assistance allowances that cover only 40 percent to twothirds of their monthly rents. These households are on the brink of becoming homeless, and most will find themselves facing eviction, having to double up with family or friends, or living in shelters or places not fit for human habitation. This crisis is manifest throughout our

D

state, where, for example, more than 150,000 children experience homelessness over the course of the school year. Many of the more than 80,000 public-assistance households that struggle to pay their rents every month will constitute the next wave of families and individuals to lose their housing. These families will need to find shelters, hotels, tents, abandoned buildings, cars or sofas where they can spend a night, a week, a month, a lifetime after literally losing the roofs over their heads. We have learned a great deal about the impact of housing instability and homelessness on individuals and families. Children who experience the intense stress of these hardships don’t do as well in school, and are more likely to have behavioral issues; adults are less likely to secure jobs and keep them, and more prone to mental and physical health problems; and families are often less able to succeed as cohesive units. But it doesn’t need to be this way. There is a solution in the form of legislation that has been pending in Albany for the past few years called Home Stability Support. HSS is a common-sense remedy

H

to the homelessness crisis that is supported by 129 members of the State Assembly, 37 state senators, more than 100 faith leaders, including the New York State Council of Churches and the New York State Catholic Conference, as well as dozens of local officials and scores of human services agencies and other advocates. The design is simple: HSS would bridge the divide between public-assistance housing allowances and reasonable rents in order to enable homeless and at-risk New Yorkers to leave or avoid the impermanent shelter system and secure stable housing of their own. Critics of the bill point out that the state had no resources for a program like HSS even before the coronavirus pandemic. But with homelessness in the state at record levels, shelters are overcrowded, and it costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year to leave this problem unsolved. HSS would not only help our homeless neighbors and those at risk of becoming homeless to become stably housed, it would also contribute to neighborhood stability and benefit taxpayers by preventing evictions, helping those

ousing instability turns the lives of children and adults upside down.

fleeing unsafe homes and reducing the use of costly shelters. Moreover, the pandemic has exposed longstanding systemic inequities: wealthy families have been weathering the crisis away from dense metropolitan areas, while low-income workers have lost their livelihoods or continue to be exposed to the virus. While some have been able to work from home, others have neither a computer nor access to the internet. For the rich, the pandemic presents investment opportunities never seen before, but for the poor, it means the total depletion of their savings. Now that New York state is slowly coming back to life after the lockdown, it is critical that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders recognize the need to end the vicious cycle of homelessness for families. Almost everyone in the Legislature agrees that Home Stability Support would be the immediate solution to our statewide, cyclical homelessness crisis. Now it’s now time for Cuomo to ensure that the post-pandemic comeback isn’t built on the backs of low-income communities. Don Friedman is a former managing attorney of the Long Island office of the Empire Justice Center, a statewide legal services and advocacy organization for low-income New Yorkers.

My own silver lining is in the mirror

on’t go changing to try and please me . . . Don’t change the color of your hair.” —Billy Joel

Why would women stretch out on their backs with their hair floating behind them in vats of lye? Apparently, in the 1600s that was the price of beauty for fashionable women in Venice. It was what one did on the Rialto to bleach one’s hair into “golden” locks. I mention this because my husband and I recently had “the talk.” There are lots of pandemic-fueled talks going on now Randi in America, and while this one kReiSS started in a jokey kind of way, with a slow burn, it quickly ignited. The accelerant was oldschool ageism. I realized we were talking about identity. I asked him if he liked my hair, which has been growing in gray since I decided not to risk Covid-19 by going to a hair salon. (As businesses open, I realize this

is now my personal choice.) Yes, it is a loaded question from spouse A to spouse B. Of course, just by asking, I’m making his opinion of my appearance important. And it is. As an older, pretty traditional couple, that has been the way we roll. We tell each other if a sweater looks too worn or pants are too tight. We accept opinions on new shoes or eyeglasses. We have an actual agreement that we don’t say anything negative about each other’s appearance before we go out for the evening, but upon returning, we are allowed to say, “Burn that shirt.” When I asked about my going gray, he said, “I like your hair dark.” Well, I liked it better when my hair was dark, too, but it can’t get dark unless I go to a salon, or color it at home, which is a project I am not taking on. Besides, why should I? Why was I hitched to a wagon that dragged me to a salon every eight weeks for a “touch-up”? When I said I didn’t plan to change my hair, he said, “Well, OK, but I like it better the other way.” “Well, OK,” I said, “I liked it better when you had wavy black curls and rip-

i

pling muscles in your arms.” The double standard suddenly popped out in high relief. Why is it OK for him to have gray hair and not think that it diminishes him in any way, and I have to dye my hair in order to “improve” my appearance when I start to show signs of aging? If the pandemic had not struck, confining us to home base and prohibiting socializing, I probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done. Every eight weeks I’ll go to the theater instead, for the same money, should the theaters ever open again. Meanwhile, stuck in the house, I’m getting comfortable with the me in me. I’ve outgrown that woman with highlighted hair and ritualized applications of makeup. While we’re at it, let’s burn the bra. I see my husband’s eyes scan my upper torso and I know what he’s thinking. I go for it: “I’ve decided not to wear a bra anymore.” “I noticed,” he says. “Don’t you think your clothes look better when you wear a bra?” “My clothes would look better on a mannequin with Barbie Doll measure-

probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done.

ments,” I say, “but I am an imperfect human woman, and bras are uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be pinched and wired into place anymore.” I mean, why don’t fat guys wear Spanx? I know some men color their hair, but most don’t, whereas some 70 percent of American women color theirs. The selfimprovement industry comprising hair coloring, makeup and dieting has been largely aimed at women. We have been all too willing to believe that we aren’t thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough in our own skins. Especially as we get older, it’s big business to convince women to cover the evidence of aging by dyeing hair, applying more makeup and submitting to surgeries. This is a very old story, but it has been made new again by the coronavirus, which reminds us what is important in our lives. In the age of masks, it is unmasking us. When your partner asks what you think of her going without makeup, a bra or hair color, or he asks if he can forgo the haircut, there are only eight acceptable words to utter: “I love you just the way you are.” Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Include Home Stability Support in the recovery phase

22

Herald editorial

Franklin Square/Elmont

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD Established 1998 Incorporating the Franklin Square/Elmont Record Peter Belfiore Editor Melissa Koenig Assistant Editor Donna laWlor Advertising Account Executive office 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: fseditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ clifforD ricHner stUart ricHner Publishers MicHael Bologna Vice President - Operations ■ scott Brinton Executive Edtitor JiM HarMon

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Protests should lead to reforms in New York

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assau County wound ing on the sidewalk. That led down a whirlwind police to escort the BLM proweek of Black Lives testers around the counterproMatter protests testers. through local neighborhoods The next day, roughly 2,000 last week that were, with one BLM protesters turned out in exception, peaceful and upliftMerrick and marched through ing. local streets, from Sunrise Tens of thousands marched, Highway to Merrick Road, on to from Valley Stream to Bellmore Bellmore and back to Merrick. and from Hempstead to Long They chanted and cheered, Beach. They came seeking jusrapped and sang. This time, tice for George Floyd, killed by many local residents came out a Minneapolis police officer to welcome them. who pressed his knee into The day after that, 4,000 proFloyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 testers turned out, and they seconds. kept coming every day through At the same time, the protestlast Sunday. Outstanding! ers said they wanted social jusOn Saturday, a group of tice for all people, regardless of about two dozen protesters skin color. rushed at Nassau County police It’s about time that protests officers while to protest on the of this magnitude happened Meadowbrook Parkway in Merhere in Nassau. Often in the rick in the rain, according to past, when protests of this kind authorities. One officer’s ankle took place in response to an was broken. Another suffered a injustice, they happened in big bruised nose and a scratched cities like New York, Washingcornea. ton and Los Angeles. That left This should never have hapGov. Andrew Nassau residents with the dispened. No one should have Cuomo tinct impression that the social attempted to protest on the injustices that black people parkway, particularly when it have faced were not their concern. This was wet and slick. As one Facebook user time, protesters brought the demonstracommented, to do so would have been a tions to our otherwise quiet suburban “death wish.” neighborhoods, making them impossible More important, police never should to ignore. have been injured. The NCPD did an excelBravo! lent job of maintaining the peace and And these protesters weren’t taking no keeping everyone safe throughout the for an answer. In Merrick, a group of week. They didn’t deserve this. about 30 people, a number of whom were There were only 11 arrests of protesters from local neighborhoods, tried to stop 150 last week, all in Merrick, and all were Black Lives Matter protesters from march- among those who tried to jump onto the

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don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.

Dianne raMDass Circulation Director ■

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letters D.A.: Reforms are greatly needed To the Editor: The horrific murder of George Floyd has moved millions of Americans to action, seeking to end systemic racism and mistreatment by law enforcement and a fairer criminal justice system. These issues are not new to our country, our community or to me as district attorney. We have seen large, peaceful protests across Nassau County that showcase the diversity of our communities dedicated to justice, alongside the professionalism of our law enforcement agencies, working under challenging circumstances. As the county’s chief law enforcement official, I believe this is an important moment to listen to those voices in our community calling for change, to reflect on how we can improve and to affirm our commitment to do better. I wanted to share with you what action we’re taking in my office, how we’re working with our law enforcement partners to better serve the public, to announce my sup-

Meadowbrook. We seem in this nation to be in a perpetual cycle of violence against people of color, followed by protests that at times turn violent, as they did in major cities around the country last week. It’s time that we end that cycle. Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his call for enactment of the “Say Their Name” reform agenda, saying that police have to do their jobs, but do not have the right to abuse those they police, and that society will no longer tolerate delayed justice. The Say Their Name agenda would: ■ Make public prior disciplinary records of law enforcement officers by reforming Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law. ■ Ban chokeholds by law enforcement officers. ■ Prohibit false, race-based 911 reports and make them a crime. ■ Designate the attorney general as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement. We fully support passage of this legislation, and we call on the State Legislature to act on it immediately. “Police have to do their jobs, protect public safety,” Cuomo said. “There’s also police abuse. There’s abuse of power. Protesters — most of the protesters are peaceful — they are indignant. It is righteous indignation. I don’t see anybody who can see the Mr. Floyd video and not be indignant. I don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.”

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opinions

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he largest pandemic in 100 years gave us a crash course in public health. We quickly learned the epidemiological concepts of “flattening the curve, the risk of exposure, asymptomatic carriers, incubation periods, and why we must quarantine. Even though everyone may not have understood these concepts, we all learned what to do: isolate and minimize contact with others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This was enforced here through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York State on Pause” — even marTine if you wanted to HackeTT go to school or a bar or a movie, you couldn’t because of the policies that closed them all for the sake of the public. Individuals had to sacrifice for the greater good. Eventually these policies, and changes in behavior, worked. On Long Island, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 20 percent to 2 percent over the past six weeks. The number of daily deaths in New York City

dropped to zero last week for the first time since March. Nassau and Suffolk were among the hardest-hit counties in the United States, and we have been meeting the metrics of declining hospitalizations and deaths, and are moving toward reopening. We also learned that even though a virus cannot be seen by the naked eye, we can see its effects on the body. We understand that this invisible agent can be spread without the knowledge of those who have it, and that it can be deadly. The same is true for police brutality and its root cause, structural racism. Invisible to some and supported by many who are unaware of its impact, the overwhelming police presence in communities of color takes a continuing toll on people of color. Just as electron microscopes made it possible for viruses to be visible 90 years ago, police brutality is now visible is cellphone documentation that is viewed and shared on our myriad screens. The shocking and deeply disturbing video of George Floyd’s death as a direct result of a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck made it painfully clear how racism

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icroscopes have made viruses visible, and cellphones allow us to see brutality.

LeTTers port for pending legislation to promote trust and accountability, and to remind every Nassau resident that our doors and our hearts are open to all those we serve. Please continue to share your ideas with me. I am listening. ■ My office will partner with the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University to analyze comprehensive charging and case disposition data to identify racial disparity and bias, and publicly report the findings of that review as well as any corrective action warranted. ■ We will also address the appearance of a conflict by seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor for all new cases in which police officers are credibly accused of criminal conduct in the course of their duties. ■ We will expand and enhance annual mandatory implicit bias training for all staff, and review our training curriculum to ensure that anti-bias education is an ongoing component. ■ We will continue our work to recruit and promote prosecutors, investigators and staff that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. ■ We will expand our Community Councils, which already include our African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, South Asian American, Faith Leaders, Student and Community Partnership Program advisory councils to

and law enforcement violence intersect. The fact that Floyd’s autopsy revealed that he also had Covid-19 the month before he was murdered further connects the vulnerability of black people to public-health threats. The protests that followed across the United States and the world demanded an end to systemic racism. The American Public Health Association states that racism structures opportunity and assigns value based on how a person looks. The result is conditions that give an unfair advantage to some and unfairly disadvantage others. Racism hurts the health of our nation by denying some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. We know that in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Covid-19 deaths have disproportionately affected black residents. In 2018, the APHA also recognized that law enforcement violence was a publichealth issue. Racism and injustice have resulted in the deaths of more people than the 110,000 that Covid-19 has caused thus far in the U.S. We have seen that public-health solu-

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

A virus and police brutality: two public-health problems I

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tions can work to reduce the virus’s toll. However, just talking about what to do — wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting — does not work unless those recommendations are followed rigorously. tinue t Without conscious and vigilant action, ty is th Covid-19 would continue to spread and larly fa cause sickness and death. But as we wait on pub for a vaccine and the building of herd immunity, we may one day gain control of the virus, and live our lives without thinking too much about it. There is no similar one- or two-shot solution to an unjust societal system. Eliminating the public-health problems of police brutality and systemic racism will require public-health-sized solutions: consistent monitoring; education about how structural racism, especially on Long Island, came to be a force in our schools, communities and health care system; policy changes; and changes in citizens’ behavior and attitudes. Police brutality, and the underlying causes of systemic racism, require the 3,200 o same unprecedented level of action and gle to g ances t resources we used to address the pandemic. We are all connected, whether we thirds househ see it or not. homele Martine Hackett is an associate professor facing family of public health at Hofstra University. places Thi

Framework by Christina Daly

ensure broader geographic representation of Nassau’s communities. Many jurisdictions, including New York City, have established civilian oversight boards to provide independent review of complaints against police officers. These boards investigate and recommend discipline for officers accused of misconduct, refer potential criminal conduct for possible prosecution, and use tools like mediation to help improve relationships and trust between law enforcement and the public. To promote transparency and independence, we encourage Nassau County to establish a civilian police review agency. We encourage the Legislature to increase juror pay from the antiquated rate of $40 per day to $150 per day to promote more diverse and representative juries. For those who are self- employed, rely on tips or hold multiple part-time jobs, the cost to serve is simply too high. Legislation is pending to repeal Section 50-a of the New York State Civil Rights Law, which shields the personnel records of police from disclosure. Greater transparency regarding police misconduct and discipline is important to improve policies and oversight and promote public confidence. I support significant reform to Section 50-a. However, police officers do dangerous work. The overwhelming majority do their jobs with courage and integrity. And repeal that does not afford protection of officers’ personal information could endanger officers

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Why backs w them i 1600s t fashion

An installation in Pratt Park — Glen Cove

and their families. As we work to address police misconduct, it is important to be mindful of the essential role law enforcement plays in protecting our communities, and the difficult and often dangerous situations officers face. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and other conditions, exacerbated by work stresses, necessitate the ready availability of mental health services to ensure that officers can continue to safely perform their jobs. Officer suicides have occurred at an alarming rate in recent years, and wide-

spread protests and broad-based criticism will undoubtedly compromise morale. It is important that policymakers engage with law enforcement leaders and rank-and-file officers to ensure that as we move forward to address wrongdoing, we create an environment that sup-quickly ports the good work of the thousands of school police officers who serve the people of I rea Nassau County with professionalism andty. integrity every day. I ask has bee MADELINE SINGASnot to r Nassau County district attorneysalon.

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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