Seaford
HERALD Citizen
Vikings sign letters of intent
Teachers, children say farewells
MacArthur actors take prizes
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VOL. 68 NO. 24
JUNE 11 - 17, 2020
Congressional hopefuls discuss protests By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com
Christina Daly/Herald-Citizen
Coming together, voices raised Hundreds of people from across Nassau County gathered in front of Hempstead Town Hall last Friday, joining the nationwide chorus of protest of racial injustice, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
In the past week, many Long Islanders have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and systemic racism and to honor the life of George Floyd. While many reiterate the importance of voting and have encouraged others to register, local candidates are also listening to the concerns of their prospective constituents. All four hopefuls for the seat in New York’s 2nd Congressional District spoke with the Herald about the Black Lives Matter protests ahead of the June 23 primary.
“The death of George Floyd was a heinous act,” said Republican State Assemblyman Mike LiPetri. “There have been peaceful protests, and that’s great. However, we cannot be [painting with] a broad brush against all law enforcement.” LiPetri spoke about the impact the police have on people’s everyday lives. Police officers, community leaders and citizens agree that the actions of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin were “evil,” LiPetri said, and everyone can unite around peaceful protest. “As a result of the outcry, protests occurred,” he said. “ProCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Local physical therapy practice is Long Island’s ‘Best’ By TIMOTHY DENTON tdenton@liherald.com
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, milestones are celebrated. The almost daily stream of car parades to mark birthdays, anniversaries and graduations bear witness to the desire to revel, despite the grim conditions. So it was hardly surprising that NY Physical Therapy & Wellness marked two occasions last week: the 20th anniversary of the organization’s founding, and its selection as a winner in Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s annual “Best of Long Island” competition. The awards, presented for the
past 15 years, are among the area’s most coveted. NYPT’s selection means that many clients and patients view the organization as the No. 1 choice for physical therapy. N Y P T h a s 1 0 l o c at i o n s throughout Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties, including one each in Seaford and Wantagh, and employs more than 100 people. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ronald Bredow said he attributed the practice’s success to “building strong relationships between patients and their therapist-coaches.” The result, he added, has been “high patient retention [and] a high number of
positive online patient reviews, new friends and family referrals.” According to Bredow, patient referral has been the most significant driver of the practice’s growth. Classified as an essential business, NYPT’s offices have remained open throughout the coronavirus crisis. But the majority of physical therapy sessions have taken place remotely, in the form of telemedicine. “Before the crisis, telemed wasn’t a large part of the way we treated patients,” Bredow acknowledged. “People tend to think of PT as strictly hands-on. But we can tell a tremendous amount about a patient’s condi-
tion just by watching how they move as they describe their symptoms to us, or even by their tone of voice.” Bredow was enthusiastic about the way the crisis has led to an expansion of telemedicine as a treatment option. “A lot of what we do can be done equally effectively via telemed,” he said. “It’s often better for the patients,
because they don’t have to spend time coming in or waiting to see a therapist.” This is especially true for elderly patients, he said. And some assessments, like range of motion, are easily done remotely. “In many cases, it’s better for us, too, because we can help more patients,” he said. Bredow, 48, described one CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020 Photos courtesy Seaford Schools
BAND DIRECTORS BARBARA Sherwin, left, Charlotte Loake and Nick Coacci were among the elementary and middle school music teachers to show their support for seniors.
Seaford senior’s special send-off For the past few months, Seaford faculty and administration have participated in car parades, driving their vehicles through the neighborhood to show appreciation for the students of the district. On June 1, though, teachers, administration and sports coaches were watching from outside as the Seaford High School class of 2020 passed through the high school parking lot in a procession of cars driven by family members, while their teacher cheered them from both sides of the parking lot. While the seniors have not stepped foot inside the school building since midMarch, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have finished their education online, using distance learning. They have even participated in many virtual spirit-building exercises since then. Due to social distancing guidelines, the class of 2020 will not have the traditional cap and gown commencement ceremony as originally scheduled, but on June 1, the seniors rode into the north parking lot as high school students, and exited as high school graduates. While May 1 is typically National College Decision Day for high school seniors, this year, it was moved to June 1. Seniors decorated their cars to celebrate the colleges they will be attending. Some students will be going as far away as Alabama and Florida. As the cars entered the lot, they passed underneath an arch of green and white balloons. The cars were greeted by high school principal Scott Bersin. They then proceeded to go down the two lanes that were set up. At the midpoint of the course, Superintendent Dr. Adele Pecora and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction John Striffolino were there to congratulate them. Teachers from all four of the district’s schools attended, standing in marked spots 15 feet apart. The cars drove slowly past as they cheered, waved goodbye, and screamed “Good luck!” As the cars funneled out of the lot and turned back on to Seaman’s Neck Road, seniors could pick out for pictures of themselves that hung on the fence parallel to the road.
PRINCIPAL SCOTT BERSIN welcomed Meredith Muirhead to the senior celebration. DAMON DASKALAKIS WILL study at Adelphi University in the fall. BROTHERS CHRISTOPHER, LEFT, and Ryan Demino celebrated their college commitments at the senior car parade on June 1 at Seaford High School.
June 11, 2020 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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Candidates discuss BLM protests CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE tests evolved. Peaceful protests we can unite around. Rioting and looting we cannot. Rioters and looters are taking the good name of the peaceful protesters.” He added that “antagonistic opportunists” are destroying the purpose of the peaceful protesters’ message with their actions. “You know, I’m glad that you’ve interviewed all the candidates, because I might have a unique perspective among them,” Democratic candidate Jackie Gordon told the Herald. “One, I’m a black American. Two, I spent 27 Andrew Garbarino Jackie Gordon Patricia Maher Mike LiPetri years in the military as a military police officer, so I have a law enforce- cratic nominee in the 2014 congressio- and order, you can’t just have it some LiPetri echoed that sentiment, and ment background.” nal race, who is now working on an of the time. A cop was arrested for Maher said that since she has never Gordon, a for mer Babylon town advanced law degree at Hofstra, said murder. You then can’t support the loot- been a member of a police department, councilwoman, said she was heartbro- she believed the key to bridging any ing if law and order is what you’re she couldn’t speak on the topic. Gordon ken when she saw the video of Floyd’s gaps between police and protesters is striving for.” said she respected law enforcement death. “The first thing I saw officers, but conceded that Garbarino added that the mediation by community was my son’s face [super] it would be hard for her to leaders. “I would like to Legislature “must not be imposed on his face, just for say definitively that there have regular meetings with reactive, but proactive.” He a moment,” Gordon said. isn’t a possibility of “some police de par tments and is cur rently working on “Then my military police form of systemic racism in community leaders,” she reading new bill proposals background came to mind. a n i n s t i t u t i o n l i ke t h e said. “If we had these on a in the Assembly. “We need Our creed is to protect and police.” large scale, these meetings to create legislation that d e f e n d . Po l i c e o f f i c e r s ’ addresses the problem and within communities of Gordon said, “I would say creed is to protect and color and with communities d o e s n ’ t s w i n g t o t h e the most important thing to serve. In those minutes, finding it difficult to be extremes every time,” he take away right now is that George Floyd wasn’t being understood, letting them said. “Our job is to not every American life matters. protected or served.” come forward and speak, stoke the fire. We want to In order for us to move forG o rd o n s a i d s h e h a d ANDREW and having police be there bring everyone to the midward as a nation, we have to been to a number of proto listen. I think that would dle and go, ‘OK, what do acknowledge that every sinGARBARINO tests in the past week, and you want, and how do we be very beneficial.” gle life matters. When one is she commended the Nassau Republican Maher added that she get there?’ Ask community [ex]tinguished, it cannot be and Suffolk County police candidate believed in the police, and and ask police. We need to just discarded like trash.” for their handling of those that a mixture of dialogue create legislation so that Maher finished by saying and more nuanced anti-bias the same things don’t hapshe attended. “I think the that “change in America comes, but it doesn’t come departments have done a great job,” training for cadets would benefit the pen.” W h i l e p ro t e s t e r s a re JACKIE GORDON easy sometimes.” she said. “I’ve been to one in Nassau community. The fourth candidate, Republican fighting for their needs to Garbarino said he was County and a few in Suffolk County. Democratic happy that peaceful protestThey were great. The police did their Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino be met, police officers, Garers were using their voice to job. At some they stood on the side, spoke about the Long Island protests b a r i n o s a i d , a re u n d e r candidate institute change, but did not monitored and were watchful to make from Albany. “Peaceful protests are heavy scrutiny, and feel that sure the people were safe. [At] other how this country was built,” he said. their jobs are becoming more difficult agree with the demonization of police. LiPetri ended by reiterating that the protests, they became more engaged “Protesting for something they want, due to the actions of a few “bad actors” they’re doing that. They have to stay that most police officers do not want to 2nd C.D. needs strong elected officials and interacted with protesters.” D e m o c r at i c c a n d i d at e Pat r i c i a peaceful. When they start talking about protect. He added that he doesn’t to advocate for and appreciate first believe there is any inherent or institu- responders, which he would continue Maher, a former executive of a nonprof- things like calling for the defunding of to provide if elected. it health care agency and the Demo- the police — if you’re going to have law tional racism in the police force.
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eaceful protests is how this country was built.
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olice officers’ creed is to protect and serve. In those minutes, George Floyd wasn’t being protected or served.
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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. Stuart Richner Publisher srichner@liherald.com 1091720
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June 11, 2020 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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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. on June 4, 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 Wynta-Amor 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.
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.
Her words left me thunderstruck. 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?
SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020
WyntA-Amor rogerS, 7, marching during the Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick on June 3. The Herald’s video of her chanting, “No justice, no peace!” had more than 20 million views on Twitter as of June 5.
By Scott Brinton
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WHAT’S NEWS IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
HERALD SCHOOLS
Courtesy of Greg Kalkau/Line2Line Sports
A DOZEN SEAFORD High School seniors have recently finalized their commitments to play for college teams.
Vikings set sights on new athletic ventures Despite a senior year that was anything but normal for the Seaford High School class of 2020, some students are looking forward to a return to normal life through athletics. Twenty talented student athletes will take their skills to the next level after successful high school athletic careers. Twelve of those committed recently, during the spring semester. Seniors will attend universities and colleges scattered across the Northeast in a number of sports. The boys’ lacrosse team has four players that have signed letters of intent. Frank Gargano will play for Molloy College; Timothy Russell will play for SUNY New Paltz; Andrew Searing will play for Stevenson University; and Connor VanDusen for St. Joseph’s College. Three members from the baseball team will also be playing at the next level, including Tom Lynch, who will play for Concordia
College, and Rich Apollo and Brian McCloskey, who will join the Nassau Community College roster. Isabella Diodati has committed to play volleyball at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Paige Donovan will bowl at Sacred Heart University. Julia Galante will be cheer for LIU Post. Jason Linzer will runn cross country and outdoor track at SUNY Stony Brook and Luke Sulli will be a member of the track and field team at Adelphi University. “Participating in sports at the collegiate level is a big commitment, balancing academic and athletic commitments, and we are confident Seaford’s student athletes will succeed both on and off the field,” said Kevin Witt, the Seaford Schools’ director of physical education, health and athletics. “They made us proud as Vikings, and we know they will continue to make us proud with their new teams.”
Eric Dunetz/Herald Courtesy LIU Instagram
JULIA GALANTE WILL be on LIU Post’s cheer squad.
JASON LINZER, RIGHT, will run cross country and outdoor track at SUNY Stony Brook.
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.
SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — 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 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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WHAT’S UP NEXT DOOR AND AROUND THE CORNER
HERALD NEIGHBORS
Photos courtesy Seaford Schools
SEAFORD HARBOR ELEMENTARY School students and parents waved as teachers and staff drove by their homes on May 29.
Students, teachers reuniting from the Harbor Seaford Harbor Elementary School students and their families, physical connections with teachers, aides, secretaries and administrators have been missing since mid-March. That changed on May 29 when staff from the Harbor gathered at Cedar Creek Park, preparing to parade through the streets of southern Seaford, known to some as the “harbor” area of town. Children anxiously awaited the arrival of their teachers, hoping to catch a sighting. Families helped the young students create handmade signs so the Harbor School staff could see their appreciation as they rolled past their pupils. Teachers also decorated their cars with balloons, signs and streamers. Physical education teacher Suzanne Mooney organized the event. She said that the excitement that was shared by both the staff and the families made it a truly amazing day. Although the moment seemed fleeting, Mooney explained, the happiness lasted long after the parade ended. “It started out as ‘we need to do this for the students,’ and then you see them, and we realized how much we needed to see them as well,” Mooney said. “The teachers were so happy to see their kids. It’s just not the same when you’re on a computer doing a lesson.” Even former Harbor students, as well as parents of students who have since moved on from the elementary school came to cheer and greet the staff. “The feeling of love throughout the whole community, that’s really what makes it great,” Mooney said. “It’s why I tell the kids that Harbor is the best school in the world, because everybody wants to be a part of something special.”
ANTHONY AND MIKEY Krussman were ready to see their teachers for the first time since the middle of March. PRINCIPAL TOM BURKE joined physical education teacher parade organizer Suzanne Mooney at the starting point at Cedar Creek Park. CHILDREN GATHERED ALONG Willoughby Avenue, anxiously awaiting the teacher parade.
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SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — 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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hometown heroes
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Gary Glick
east meadow director oF literacy, east meadow school district
I
am also lucky enough to be working for the school district as the director of literacy for the past five years. As social media has grown, you see several opportunities to use your platform and get your message out to a wider audience. That’s what I’ve been doing with Twitter and in this instance, Facebook. I created the East Meadow Literacy Facebook page and before the pandemic, it started as weekly read aloud on Sunday nights. I’d get on and read to the kids and their parents. Now I’ve been doing it daily. I want to help kids who don’t necessarily have access or want to relax and hear a good story. I’ve been working with the PTA to collect books of various levels. Some of our schools have food collections so something we will continue to have is access to books through donations of our community members. The community is donating books, I’m taking the books, breaking it down into appropriate grade levels — K through 1, 2 through 3 and 4 through 5 — and I repackage the books in Ziploc bags to create literacy to-go. I have this position because this is a passion of mind and helping kids find out who they are as readers and writers. For some people, it takes a while and I think that whatever we could do to nurture that, it’s our responsibility to continue to do that as best as we can. During this pandemic, we still need to out there helping kids find out who they are through reading and writing.
e and a group of veterans got together in early May to start our website called We-Are-Vets.US. We started this website from nothing. First, we put it out to all veterans’ groups, and we’re slowly but surely bringing in info on their vets to keep them informed. By making our site, we share people’s stories — from World War II and the Korean War to Vietnam. We have connections to the Northport [Veterans Affairs] Hospital and the Stony Brook nursing home, and veterans can also find some shopping discounts. I was one of the lucky ones when I went into the service. I signed up in 1969 and never had to go to Vietnam, but it took 40 years to find out about all these other guys that did go or went to other wars and served our country. Now we’re getting them the help they need — that’s the key. I’ve been in the background, and I like being in the background. If people would come out of the woodwork to help others, we could help many, many more. Especially younger people with fathers, mothers and relatives that are veterans. I think our work helps keep people connected. Many of our Jewish War Veterans are much older than me, and it’s hard for them to join Zoom calls — many don’t even know what a computer is. We share people’s stories on the site, including a recent memorial fund, which is still going.
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don’t know how many trips I made to the hospitals [for donations] honestly. I can’t give you that number, and we also gave to some families that needed a little help. I wouldn’t mind helping out anyone who needs a meal. I’m more than happy to help. My businesses are all food-related. I have Cara Mia in Seaford. Once they gave us the heads-up that we can’t open dining rooms for public, we had to adapt. We did takeout only, and the community stood by us. I’ve been in Seaford for 14 years now [with the restaurant], so it feels like my home. My wife works at Lenox Hill Hospital in the city. She works in the surgery department. She’s been busy every day, but lucky for her, she’s been able to do a lot of her work from home. We basically had to flip our work into a way we never had to do it before. Even though we were only open at the restaurant for a few hours, it was more stressful. Usually you have a longer period of time to prepare those orders, but we didn’t have that. But online, tons of Seaford people, and even Wantagh and Massapequa, were writing about the restaurant and to support local business, and it was nice to see that support. I wanted to give it back, and we did, in donations.
ne of the first questions that comes to mind in speaking with Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds is: How does a person with so many responsibilities find any time to sleep? Yet, the president and chief executive officer of FCA (Family and Children’s Association) not only sleeps; he is also a triathlete and a runner of marathons. The Garden City resident’s work at FCA bears more than a passing resemblance to a marathon. It is harder to find a need FCA doesn’t address than to list what the charity does. Founded in 1884 to help indigent children, FCA now serves a wide variety of material and mental health needs across Nassau County, including substance abuse, human trafficking, homelessness and a host of issues affecting seniors. One of its shelters is in Wantagh. “The economic stress is as high as I’ve ever seen it, and a lot of the issues we deal with are hard to quantify. But the ripple effect is going to be huge. “Many who lost their jobs also lost their health insurance coverage and may not be able to afford COBRA payments. People who were on prescription pain medication might look for cheaper alternatives, like street drugs. But the heroin supply has been pretty dry lately, so we’re also seeing a big increase in day drinking. “I worry about what happens next, as we [continue to] flatten the curve...A lot of people are falling through the cracks.”
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SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020
their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters Sergio DeCiantiS Dr. Jeffrey reynolDS eynol MaSSapequa
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June 11, 2020 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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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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Therapy practice is honored as best on L.I. “In many cases, PT is a more cost-effective solution to these patient who torn ligaments in his problems,” he said. “But PT isn’t a upper arm, a diagnosis that was ‘quick fix,’ like pills or surgical clear even before he began to procedures claim to be. It’s a lifedescribe his symptoms. “I just style change. You can’t just do it a watched how he moved,” Bredow couple of times and then forget explained. “In his case, I thought about it.” he’d probably need surIn cases of serious gery, so we were able n e r ve d a m a g e, fo r diagnose him, set up example, “It takes a the MRI and get him a long time to rebuild referral to a surgeon, those pathways.” he if it tur ned out he said. needed one, all in “We’ve seen how about 15 minutes.” pain medication has A graduate of been overprescribed,” Chaminade High Bredow noted, adding School and Loyola Unit h a t eve n s u r g e r y versity Maryland, Breshould be seen as a last dow trained as a physiresort. “If the limb is cal therapist at Mercy dead — completely College, graduating in unresponsive — then 1999. He opened his surgery’s probably necfirst practice in Frankessary.” lin Square with his RONALD He described cases business partner, Mark BREDOW in which patients’ Diaz, in the fall of 2000. hands or feet no longer CEO, At the time, patients functioned due to neuin need of physical NYPT & Wellness rological damage. “In therapy required doccases like those,” he tors’ prescriptions. “In said, “surgery might be the only 2 0 0 9 , t h o u g h , t h e l aw w a s option.” In less severe cases, he changed,” Bredow said. “Since suggested physical therapy first. then, patients can access PT direct“Even where surgery is recomly, without going through a physi- mended, most patients need PT cian.” afterward to make a full recovery,” According to Bredow, spinal Bredow said. issues and arthritis are the most Since its inception, NYPT has common complaints among his been committed to full patient patients, and the most common accessibility and satisfaction, he courses of treatments, apart from said. “That’s why you don’t need physical therapy, are medication or an appointment to visit us and be seen at any of our locations.” surgery.
SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
W
e can tell a tremendous amount about a patient’s condition just by watching how they move.
Courtesy NY Physical Therapy & Wellness
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP right, Deanna Deliguori, Caitin Laquidara, Daniel Molinaro and Jasmine Negron welcomed patients to NY Physical Therapy & Wellness’s Seaford office after learning of the 2020 Best of Long Island award. THERAPY EQUIPMENT AT the Seaford facility, one of 10 locations NYPT operates across Long Island.
Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen
NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS
MacArthur actors lauded for performances Two aspiring thespians from General Douglas MacArthur High School were recently recognized in the 2020 Roger Rees Awards Program for their performances in the school’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Senior Jake Schuader was presented with the Best Actor Award. Sophomore Cassidy Baltazar earned the Up and Coming Actress Award. The Roger Rees Awards Program recognizes achievements and gives awards to high school thespians for their work in musical theatre. Registered schools from across New York submit two students to represent their musical productions. Due to social guideline restrictions, student performers were asked to submit audition videos this year. Professionals in the theatre industry then determined the top 25 male and female nominees, based on their videos. Schauder and Baltazar were announced as winners during an online awards presentation on the Broadway Education Alliance YouTube channel. After being announced as the winner, Schauder expressed how special this recognition was. “Cassidy Baltazar is my best friend,” he said. “We’ve been doing theatre together through all of my
15
years in high school, and I think being a part of this together has just solidified that even more, and it has been such an unforgettable experience to go through with her. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this time we shared together.” “It’s been a joy to watch them both grow and develop their talents over the years,” said Lisa Levenberg, MacArthur High School music teacher and drama director, who has watched the two students shine on stage since they were in middle school. “They are both so deserving of this honor. They put their all into every role they perform, and it is a joy for me as a director and teacher to work with them. I am so incredibly thrilled and proud to see them recognized for their fantastic performances!”
MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL senior Jake Schauder earned the Best Actor Award, and sophomore Cassidy Baltazar earned the Up and Coming Actress Award in the 2020 Roger Rees Awards Program.
Courtesy Levittown Schools
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June 11, 2020 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020
Courtesy John Scannello
THE NCPD SAID in a statement that yellow crosses spotted around various Long Island communities have no relation to recent protests.
NCPD: Yellow crosses not associated with protests Gordon secures more
Courtesy SEIU Local 1199
JACKIE GORDON RECEIVED three more endorsements from local unions last week, including SEIU Local 1199, the largest health care local in the nation.
Since protests against police brutality and institutionalized racism have become more prevalent across Long Island the past week, many residents have been active on social media, voicing opinions and sharing photos and videos. At the same time, many residents have noticed and photographed a series of yellow crosses spray-painted in their communities. Photos have been posted to social media sites showing the yellow crosses on telephone poles, electrical boxes and dumpsters. According to the Nassau County Police Department, residents have sent in inquiries on whether or not the graffiti has been done by or in support of the recent protests that have taken place in the past week. The NCPD has officially denounced
this on their Facebook page. “The message being communicated via numerous social media platforms is that these crosses are being used to identify locations where protestors should leave bricks and other items to commit acts of criminal mischief during protests. Current investigations have found that the yellow crosses and the words “Jesus Christ Is God” have been observed for over a month and have NOTHING to do with the current protests occurring throughout Nassau County and the country. Please share this post with your family, friends, and neighbors,” department spokesmen wrote in a post. Historically, yellow crosses were worn by men and women whom the Roman Catholic Church convicted of heresy.
Public Notices
LSEA1 0611
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO PROPOSERS The Board of Education of the Seaford Union Free School District hereby invites sealed proposals for providing transportation for the 2020-2021 school year for each of the following contracts: (1) In-District and Out-ofDistrict Transportation (66 passenger bus/Van), (2) Field Trips and (3) Athletic Trips. Proposals will be received until June 19, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Administration Office, 1600 Washington Avenue, Seaford, New York. Specifications may be requested via email (mdonnelly@seaford.k12. ny.us) prior to the time and date specified for the receipt of said proposals. For further information
please contact Marie Donnelly, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations at (516) 592-4004. By order of: SEAFORD DISTRICT CLERK SEAFORD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT 122068
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE The Seaford School District has conducted a survey among the parents to determine the need for a state-required breakfast program. The New York State Education Department is requiring school districts to provide a breakfast program in September for all students in grades 1-6, unless the district can document a lack of need for such a program. The
students would be required to pay for the breakfast, but it is partially aided by the State. Based on the response received from the parents, the Seaford School District will be requesting a waiver from the State to exempt Seaford from the breakfast program. According to the State requirements, the district must receive at least a 33% response from the parents in order to be valid. Over 47% of the parents replied to the survey and of that total, 85% indicated they would decline the program if it were offered.
Based on these results, Seaford School District officials believe participation in this program would be extremely low and will be requesting a waiver from the State. Any resident wishing to express their concerns or opinions regarding the school district’s decision to waive participation in this program is welcome to do so at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. It is unknown at this time whether the meeting will be via YouTube or held physically in District. Please check the School District Website closer to the meeting for more upto-date information concerning time and location. Any questions please call Carmen Ouellette at 592-4003. 122061
labor endorsements
By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com
Jackie Gordon, the Democratic candidate in the race for the seat in New York’s 2nd Congressional District, announced on June 5 that she has received three new endorsements from local labor unions: SEIU Local 1199, UFCW Local 1500 and the New York State AFL-CIO. SEIU Local 1199 is the United Healthcare Workers East, the largest health care workers local in the nation. The union boasts 450,000 members throughout New York, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, DC. The New York State AFL-CIO is a “federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector and building trades unions throughout the state, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families,” according to the union’s website. “The New York State AFL-CIO is proud to support Jackie Gordon to represent the 2nd Congressional District. As a former educator and union member, she understands the priorities of working men and women. We need someone in Washington who will protect our health care, create more jobs, fight for fair wages and make workplace safety a priority. We look forward to educating and engaging our members to ensure a victory for Jackie Gordon on primary day,” said Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO. UFCW Local 1500 is New York’s Grocery Workers’ Union. The union has more than 20,000 members in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Local 1500’s members are employees of companies such as Fairway, King Kullen, D’Agostinos, Stop & Shop, Gristede’s, and Shop Rite.
These three are the latest in a series of endorsements Gordon has obtained. Others include the NYSUT (the New York State Union of Teachers), the United Auto Workers, the New York State Council of Machinists, the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and the New York State Nurses Association. Gordon’s opponent in the June 23 Democratic primary, Patricia Maher, vo i c e d h e r d i s a p p o i n t m e n t t h a t the New York State Nurses Association’s endorsed Gordon “I worked really hard for the nursing endorsement in 2014. I didn’t even get an endorsement form in the mail,” Maher said in late May. “I’m thoroughly annoyed at this. I think it’s a bit ridiculous that they endorsed Jackie Gordon. It reeks of bad politics.” Since 2011, Maher has been working to help World War II nurse cadets and their families receive benefits, paid retroactively not only to the former nurse cadets who are still alive, but also to the families of those who died and those who are sick, to help them afford medical bills and burial plans. Maher is the daughter of a cadet. Gordon now has secured endorsements from a coalition of health care professionals, educators, retail workers, and working families across Long Island. “It means so much to receive the endorsements of these labor organizations, particularly at this critical time, when so many of our brothers and sisters in the labor movement are serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gordon said. “It is an honor to have the AFL-CIO, UFCW, and SEIU place their trust in me as their next representative.”
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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?
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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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OPINIONS
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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
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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
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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-
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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.
SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — June 11, 2020
Include Home Stability Support in the recovery phase
22 Seaford
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Protests should lead to reforms in New York
N
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.
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-
SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN — 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 — SEAFORD HERALD CITIZEN
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