_________________ FREEPORT _________________
HERALD Long Island Choice Awards Winners Guide
Freeport’s Easter celebration
VOL. 88 NO. 17
APRIL 20 - 26, 2023
1211653
Page 3
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Mayor touts the village’s achievements By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Randy Milteer/Freeport Public Relations
FREEPORT MAYOR ROBERT T. Kennedy shares updates on the village’s progress with the Chamber of Commerce during a breakfast meeting at Freeport Recreation Center.
Freeport Mayor Robert T. Kennedy and Trustee Jorge Martinez focused on fiscal responsibility and reduced crime in their address to the Freeport Chamber of Commerce. During a breakfast meeting held at the Freeport Recreation Center on April 4, Kennedy presented many updates on the Village, including the reduction of its debt, an increase in the number of police officers and its improving economy. He highlighted the village’s
financial stability by pointing out that despite the increasing services and improvements made in every department, there has not bee a property tax increase in 10 years. That is a unique achievement for the village, because it is evident that its elected officials have been prudent in managing the resources available to them, a feat few surrounding village has been able to replicate. The meeting also highlighted the village’s remarkable 56 percent reduction in crime, which Kennedy attributed to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Nassau County minority leader will not seek re-election By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
The Nassau County Legislature’s minority leader, Kevan Abrahams, of Freeport, will not seeking re-election after more than two decades in Mineola. His current two-year term will come to a close on Dec. 31. “After 22 years of serving the First Legislative District and the residents of Nassau County, I have decided to not seek reelection,” Abrahams said in a statement released on April 14. “It has been a great privilege and an honor to serve my constituency and advocate for change. I am grateful to all my
colleagues for their support throughout the years, and to my constituents for allowing me to continue to represent them for over two decades.” Abrahams stated that his main focus during his tenure was making government more responsive to the community, which he achieved through hosting over 300 community meetings and ensuring that people didn’t have to leave their communities to be represented. He will maintain his full-time job as director of strategic planning and regulatory process at Northwell Health, a position he has held for 23 years. Among Abrahams’ accom-
plishments has been overseeing numerous road projects in the county, aiming to improve traffic flow and making roads safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Also notable are significant investments in parks and nature preserves in the district, and improving and expanding public recreational spaces, including the building of Martin Luther King Park Jr. Park in Freeport. “I mean, in terms of accomplishments, the road projects have made Nassau roads safer,” Abrahams said. “Opening up access to some of our parks and preserves and protecting our environment is also great. We
were able to build a Martin Luther King Park, which, to me, is my most significant aid, because of the things that Martin Luther King did for this country.” In terms of public safety, Abrahams was instrumental in implementing the ShotSpotter program in several municipalities in his district, including
Hempstead. ShotSpotter is gunshot detection technology that uses acoustic sensors to pinpoint the exact location of gunfire, allowing law enforcement to respond more quickly and accurately to incidents. Abrahams had a long list of legislative and community projects that he could proudly presCONTINUED ON PAGE 10