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CommUNitY UPDAte infections as of Jan. 17
4,818
infections as of Jan. 10 3,912
Merrick
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JANUARY 21 - 27, 2021
Vol. 24 No. 4
Study: TOH acquisition of NYAW ‘feasible’ study concluded that the acquisition would cost closer to $465 million. A study conducted by Walden NYAW services roughly Environmental Engineering has 113,000 households in the Town deter mined that New York of Hempstead. American Water Reinhardt ratepayers in the explained to the Town of HempHerald that Walden stead would see used three differsavings between ent methodologies $70 and $383 a year to conduct its study, if the town which determined acquired a portion a range of valuaof the private utilitions of NYAW’s ty’s Nassau operaNassau operation tion, which was based on comparaproven to be “feasitive sale ($420.4 milble,” according to lion), asset cost Newsday. ($540 million) and The Herald income methods requested a copy of ($598.1 million). the study from the “The $465 million town, but had not is the weighted valreceived it by press uation of those time on Tuesday. three,” he said, Walden’s find“which falls far ings contradict a JohN BRooKS short . . . of the Dec. 31 letter from State senator actual selling price the town’s water of the company at commissioner to this point in the the state Public Service Commis- Liberty transaction.” sion, NYAW’s regulatory arm. In The town hired Walden to it, Commissioner John Rein- conduct the study last August hardt wrote that such savings after advocates called on the PSC would be “diminutive” com- to consider alternatives to Amerpared to the almost $500 million cost to acquire the system. The Continued on page 3
By AlYSSA SeiDmAN aseidman@liherald.com
o
Alyssa Seidman/Herald
SCott KAPlAN, who owns Maximum Fitness in Merrick, staggers his clients throughout the day to ensure they feel comfortable when coming in for personal training sessions.
Local business owners optimistic about year ahead By AlYSSA SeiDmAN aseidman@liherald.com
With a new year ahead and coronavirus vaccines rolling out to more qualified individuals, Bellmore and Merrick’s business owners said they are starting to feel optimistic about the future, while remaining diligent in following state-mandated safety protocols. But the presence of “for sale,” “for rent” and “space available” signs in storefront
windows around the community is hard to ignore. This reporter counted more than 20 vacancies on Merrick Road between Bellmore and Merrick, and in downtown Merrick there were 12 empty storefronts interspersed along Merrick Avenue. In Bellmore Village, roughly 10 vacancies were found on and around Bedford Avenue, and the Merrick Commons and Bellmore Plaza shopping centers each had a handful of vacancies, as well.
It’s something local business owner Jim Spohrer has noticed, too. As president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, he said nine of his members went out of business as a result of the pandemic. “Seeing empty storefronts is terrible because these smaller businesses keep the economy going,” he said. “Being an essential business, it’s been OK, but no matter what town you live in you Continued on page 7
ne of the unknowns is who owns the assets of New York American Water. If we, the ratepayers, own it, that changes the cost study dramatically.