There are a lot of street vendors in Uniondale — at least according to the Nassau County Police Department.
But are they safe? Do they hinder traffic? Are pedestrians in any danger? Are the vendors creating unfair competition?
They don’t just want to pause rent increases in rent-stabilized apartments in Nassau County. They want to go back to 2021, before the Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board allowed 2 percent increases on one-year leases, and 3.5 percent on two-year leases.
Those tenants, along with politicians supporting them, banded together at Hempstead Town Hall last week to issue those demands, which were set for a final vote on Wednesday, after the Herald Beacon’s publication deadline.
The rent guidelines board is responsible for imposing rent caps on rent-stabilized apart-
ments in the county, a quarter of which are in Hempstead. Rent stabilization was implemented in 1962 to help prevent the displacement of low- and middle-income residents from excessive rent increases in an effort to provide affordable housing.
Buildings offering rent-stabilized units are typically larger properties built before 1974 that are privately owned and operated.
“Democracy is a participation sport, and it’s essential that people go out and voice their concern,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages said.
Last week’s demonstrations were organized by the Long Island Progressive Coalition, the Continued on page 8
Those are the kinds of calls law enforcement receives practically every day, primarily from business owners reporting vendors setting up stands near their storefronts. The department, however, seeks to strike a balance between supporting businesses and ensuring vendors operate lawfully.
Food vendors must obtain permits and follow guidelines, according to the county health department, such as wearing disposable gloves or using suitable utensils to handle all ready-to-eat food. They also need to wear a clean apron over street clothes, and maintain
clean and sanitary food service operations.
But it’s not just police receiving calls about vendors. So is Pearl Jacobs. The same business owners have reached out to the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association president expressing concerns about how many street vendors there are.
“I receive calls … several times a day,” Jacobs said, “and it’s not that the people are calling me against the street vendors. They’re talking about health and safety and oversight.”
Despite the permit requirement, vendors can easily set up shop without them.
“Last week I saw signs that said ‘seafood,’ and thought there was a new seafood spot open,” Jacobs said. “But I turned the corner, looked around, and there was someone there with a giant cooler selling fish. We can’t have that.”
But “safety” is usually a word thrown around too much to Continued on page 8
t hey lie because they think we don’t know anything, that we don’t know the law. That we don’t know our rights.
DANNy PEREZ street vendor
Four staffers from Herald Community Newspapers earned recognition last week for their work over the past year during the annual Press Club of Long Island awards dinner in Woodbury.
Reine Bethany, currently the editor of the Uniondale Herald Beacon, won third place in the government and politics category for her stories focusing on the Cleveland Avenue athletic field controversy in Freeport while she was editor of the Freeport Herald. Elected leaders from the village and the school district have been at odds over what to do with the green space, as plans for a distribution center there could bring millions of dollars into the community.
Ana Borruto, editor of the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald, took third place in the crime and justice category for her web story “Justice for Julio,” about residents in Hell’s Kitchen holding a vigil for a Bay Shore High School graduate while writing for GreaterLongIsland.com.
Borruto joined Herald Community Newspapers as a senior reporter last November, and was promoted to editor of the Franklin Square newspaper a short time later.
“Our whole editorial team has shown a knack for understanding their communities and following the stories vital to their readers,” Michael Hinman, executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers,
said. “Recognition from the Press Club of Long Island — itself a chapter of the esteemed Society of Professional Journalists — is greatly appreciated.”
Longtime Herald staffer Laura Lane was recognized as one of the best print reporters on Long Island as she picked up
a third place award in the Reporter of the Year category. Lane’s stories that contributed to the honor included one that talked about who cares for the caregivers at Glen Cove Hospital, how ex-interns led Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan’s congressional campaign, the limited options
facing refugees, and the funeral of famed Teddy Roosevelt impersonator James Foote.
Lane, who has been with the Herald for roughly 20 years, serves as senior editor for the Glen Cove Herald, Oyster Bay Herald, and Sea Cliff/Glen Head Herald.
Barely a year after he started working full-time at the Herald, Michael Malaszczyk placed second in the environment narrative category. His story, “New York state adds to South Shore Estuary Reserve Act,” was highlighted.
Malaszczyk began freelancing for the Herald in March 2022 while a graduate student at Hofstra University. He became a full-time reporter a few months later in charge of the Seaford Herald and Wantagh Herald, where he was since promoted to senior reporter. All while continuing to pursue his graduate degree at Hofstra.
“There are many dedicated and hardworking journalists on Long Island, and Herald Community Newspapers is proud to be a part of that community as well as the communities our papers serve,” Jeffrey Bessen, the company’s deputy editor — and a Press Club of Long Island board member — said.
The Press Club of Long Island was established in 1974 as an independent press club after a reporter was jailed for failing to reveal a source. It is now one of SPJ’s largest pro chapters. It has honored member media organizations with an annual awards presentation since 1982.
On Monday afternoon, cheers and applause resounded through the auditorium of Hofstra’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Building.
The audience of families and friends were lauding the 147 graduates of Academy Charter High School, which has campuses in Hempstead and Uniondale.
Prior to the ceremony, photos of the graduates flashed up on two large screens, listing the students’ names and the colleges they will attend.
The Academy Concert Band performed Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” while the students proceeded to their chairs. Many of their caps twinkled with glitter, feathers, flowers, beads, and even a perfectly drawn spider.
The day’s theme of freedom was chosen with direct reference to the date of the commencement ceremony: Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865, when the news that slavery had been outlawed in the United States was finally announced in Texas, then the westernmost state.
“Juneteenth Day tells us that ignorance enslaves,” said Bishop Barrington Goldson, founder and CEO of the Academy Charter School. “It’s your freedom day. You are world-class scholars, ready to compete anywhere in the world and become leaders who will be servants. In fact, I need to take out my shades, because your future is so bright.”
With tongue-in-cheek humor, Goldson put on sunglasses, while colorful lights flashed over the crowd. His listeners—like the student body, nearly 100 percent people of color—roared their approval.
The theme of overcoming was dramatized by two student-presented sketches. One depicted a teenager aspiring to become a doctor, which her own family worried was too far out of reach; the other showed a qualified candidate of color being turned down in a job interview because, said the interviewer, “You’re just not what we’re looking for.”
The song that followed, “Who I Am,” expressed the young people’s determination to achieve their dreams despite opposition.
Student singers Ashley Chinnis, Cyndi Orr, Marcus Derice, and Ivanna Rivera sang with professional power.
The speeches by valedictorian Jocelyn Escobar, salutatorian Iseli Reyes, and “spotlight graduate” Jacqueline Beauzile-Badette underscored the students’ persistence, while affirming their cultural heritage.
Reyes spoke of how she overcame the depression she experienced while striving for perfect grades.
“I decided to give my heart first to God,” Reyes said. “Don’t get me wrong, my grades are still a big priority. However, I realized I don’t have to be perfect. I can have fun and I can be anyone I want to be.”
Reyes thanked her family and friends in both English and Spanish.
Escobar, referring to herself as a “prideful Hispanic,” and also used both Spanish and English to thank her supporters, including her twin sister Ashley, whose GPA was third highest in the graduating class.
And Beauzile-Badette, who lost her mother suddenly in October 2022, spoke of persistence through struggle. She thanked her family and friends in English and Haitian Kreyol.
Tom Suozzi, the keynote speaker, whose 30 years of public service include six years in the House of Representatives, addressed societal impediments to education for people of color.
“There are still structural problems that exist in our society that prevent the practical exercise of freedom,” he said. “If you don’t have access to a quality education, how free are you in a world in which education is so important? In America, every statistic shows, the more
The New York State Education Department website records a 96 percent graduation rate at the Academy Charter School.
Of the 147 graduates in 2023, 47 percent hold Regents with Advanced Designation diplomas.
The high school offers five Advanced Placement courses and four Pathway to Leadership STEM programs.
–Reine BethanyAs an Academy star, I pledge to be here every day on time. I will keep myself and others safe. I will strive to have a positive attitude. I will always try to do and be my best. I will respect myself and others. I will accept responsibility for my actions. Today I will learn. Tomorrow I will lead and serve.
–Reine Bethanyyou learn, the more you earn. Today, we celebrate the high-quality education you have received here at the academy.”
One of the loudest cheers went up near the end of the entire ceremony, when Principal Travis Holloway announced, “The Academy is making an investment in you of $500 for every graduating scholar this year.”
On behalf of the Academy Charter board, administration, and staff, Holloway then formally presented the Class of 2023. The students moved their mortarboard tassels from right to left while applause shook the rafters.
■ On June 12 at 12:07 a.m., Dulce Urbieta of Tucson was arrested for driving while intoxicated at the intersection of Pine Street and Nassau Road in Uniondale, police said.
■ On June 9 between 3 a.m. and 4:15
a.m., the driver’s side window of a vehicle parked at 60 Marvin Ave., was damaged by an unknown person or persons, according to police.
■ Between June 10 at 6 p.m., and June 11 at 1 a.m., the rear license plate of a vehicle parked at 900 Braxton St. was removed by someone unknown, authorities said.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
The public is asked to call Crime Stoppers if you have any information about any crimes.
A Farmingdale man who allegedly caused roughly $1,000 of damage to a house of worship in Uniondale on June 15 was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, Nassau police said.
Police responded to a call at 614 Uniondale Ave., the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as a man later identified as Sami Issa, 49, of Conklin Street, allegedly entered the parking lot driving a white van.
Issa then reportedly got out of the van with a large knife and struck the front doors of the building with the knife, according to police. A short time later, he got back into the van and left. Witnesses recorded information on the vehicle. No one was hurt.
After the subsequent investigation, police found Issa. Issued an appearance ticket, his next court date is June 29 at First District Court in Hempstead.
Uniondale resident Morris Porter was charged in an alleged stabbing of another man after a fight in the parking lot of Golden Crest Jamaican Restaurant at 540 Jerusalem Ave., in Uniondale on June 17.
Nassau police responded to a hospital where a man, 41, was being treated for stab wounds to his right arm and right side of his neck that were considered non-life threatening.
Porter, 35 of Jerusalem Avenue was found by police inside the Glazed and Grill restaurant at 566 Jerusalem Ave., with bloodstains on his clothes and face and cuts and abrasions to his hands. A Swiss Army–style pocketknife was recovered from Porter when he was arrested, police said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Porter was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
To learn more about Paws With A Cause and to find out how you help, just download this app and watch the story come to life!
He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on June 18.
–Reine Bethany Issa Sami
–Reine Bethany
Morris Porter
Shortly after midnight of Aug. 12, 2017, 35-year-old Bobby Vanderhall entered the Hempstead house where he had grown up and, using hand tools, killed his mother, sister, and the sister’s friend, 29-year-old Janel Simpson.
He attacked a fourth person in the house, who escaped. Then he fled.
As police vehicles began to arrive at the crime scene, a tearful neighbor drove to Uniondale and pounded on Denis and Wendy Simpson’s door. The couple hurried to the Vanderhalls’ finding it surrounded by yellowand-black police tape and guarded by law enforcement.
The Simpsons approached a Hempstead police officer.
“Do you have children?” Wendy asked the officer, and recalled years later, “His eyes were so sad that I knew something had happened to our daughter.”
The moment that Wendy understood that Janel was gone, she made a choice that would guide the rest of her life.
“I cried out, ‘I forgive you, and I want God to be glorified by that!” said Wendy.
The Simpsons had known Bobby Vanderhall since he was about 10 years old. They knew he had mental and emotional troubles. But forgiveness, for Wendy, was not about making excuses for Bobby.
“Forgiveness is not for the person that you are forgiving,” Wendy said. “I forgive in order to free myself, so I can walk forward without resentment toward the person that I forgave.”
Friends, family and the Uniondale school district office where Wendy worked responded with prolonged, dedicated support. Buoyed by the love, Wendy began reaching out to comfort other mothers who had lost children, whether to an accident, illness, or violence.
She continues to impart the power of forgiveness and faith by sharing her story — as she did recently on “The Voice of Uniondale,” a weekly radio show hosted by Nicole Burke.
Practicing forgiveness has made it possible for the Simpsons to go forward. But their journey has not been easy.
“This is one wound that will never heal,” said Denis Simpson. “It’s something you cope with.”
“These waters that I found myself in, it’s not for the faint of heart,” Wendy said. “We still live in the same house we bought when Janel was 8 months in my belly. So many memories in the home.”
Denis found himself inspired by Wendy.
“That morning, in front of the news cameras,” Denis said, “when Wendy put her hands to the sky and said, ‘I forgive you, Bobby,’ that moment changed my life. It gave me strength.”
Nearly six years have now passed.
“From that moment until now, we support each other,” Denis said. “Wendy did bend sometimes, but she never broke. We are getting stronger, coping together as time goes by.”
Bobby Vanderhall was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison on Feb. 18, 2022. The Simpsons were in court that day. They again extended forgiveness.
“I have contentment and peace in my heart,” Wendy said. “Live! Forgive! Life is for the living.”
Enrolling your children in public schools provides them with the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a range of programs and resources. Uniondale Public Schools are also accountable to the community and operate under strict regulations, ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of their background or circumstances. With highly qualified teachers, a commitment to academic excellence, and a focus on equity and inclusion, our schools offer a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life.
there was no shortage of thrilling finishes and heartbreak on Nassau County high school athletic fields this spring, capped by a nearly 4-hourlong Long Island Class A softball championship game between MacArthur and Bayport. Here’s a recap of the 10 wildest postseason endings to the 2022-23 sports year.
1. Carey 6, Plainedge 5
Class A softball first round
The Seahawks trailed 5-1 in the top of the sixth inning but staged a comeback of epic proportions still down three with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the seventh. Caylee DeMeo had a two-run single and winning pitcher Lauren Peers followed with a towering fly that dropped between outfielders, bringing home the tying and winning runs.
2. Calhoun 6, Mepham 5
Class A baseball semifinal
The host Colts were down three runs and down to their last out in Game 3 with nobody on base in the bottom of the seventh before pulling out a win for the ages. A hit batter, a single, and a walk set the stage for Joey Goodman, who blasted a walk-off grand slam over the fence in left.
3. Calhoun 6, South Side 5
Class B boys’ lacrosse semifinal
Jayden Finkelstein had a hat trick and an assist and junior goaltender Mark Restivo made 13 saves to propel the Colts to victory. Jake Lewis, Braden Garvey and Shaun Walters also scored as Calhoun avenged a 10-5 regular-season defeat to the Cyclones.
4. North Shore 11, South Side 10
Class C girls’ lacrosse semifinal
The Vikings trailed by five goals in the first half before rallying and eventually winning in triple overtime on a goal by Kylee Colbert.
5. Garden City 7, Calhoun 6
Class B boys’ lacrosse championship
Garden City, which defeated the Colts handily, 16-8, April 21, had its hands full in the rematch on the county title stage and scored the decisive goal with 1:48 remaining off the stick of Carson Kraus. Lewis scored three times for Calhoun and had the potential tying goal nullified with seconds remaining due to a crease violation.
6. Garden City 9, Long Beach 8
Class B girls’ lacrosse championship
For the second straight year Long Beach fell a goal short of topping Garden City for the county title. A late goal by Garden City’s Kendal Morris with 2:41 left in the second half proved the difference. Delaney Chernoff had a hat trick and Delaney Radin added four points for the Marines.
7. Manhasset 13, North Shore 12 Class C girls’ lacrosse championship
The Vikings dropped an OT heartbreaker after leading 12-9 with less than six minutes remaining in regulation. Colbert had seven goals to finish the campaign with 101. Ava Bartoli and Daniela Martini scored twice apiece.
8. Seaford 1, Center Moriches 0
L.I. Class B softball championship
Scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, the Vikings captured their first Long Island crown in walk-off fashion on Kaitlyn Young’s bases-loaded single to left with one out to bring home Gabby Bellamore. Pitcher Skyler Secondino dominated in the circle with 15 strikeouts.
9. Babylon 6, Seaford 5 L.I. Class B baseball championship
One strike away from making more program history after winning its firstever county title, Seaford baseball was unable to shut the door against Babylon. The Phantoms scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it in unbelievable fashion after the Vikings plated three runs in the top of the inning.
10. Bayport 4, MacArthur 2 L.I. Class A softball championship
After defeating Clarke for the county championship in a series that went the distance, MacArthur gave everything it had in a marathon L.I. Class A title game before falling in 12 innings. The Generals tied it in their final turn at-bat on star pitcher Taylor Brunn’s RBI double.
like environment, resulting in what Executive Director Rahsmia Zatar describes as a deep and lasting connections of more than 100,000 people.
“You don’t get discharged from a family,” Zatar said. That powerful familial unit is paramount to STRONG’s success. The proof lies with the countless people who have gone through the program, grown up, and now have families of their own — lovingly calling STRONG staff members their “moms” and “aunties.” This enduring bond is a testament to the organization’s triumph in fostering a supportive community that extends far beyond a child’s time in the program.
simply providing temporary clinical support, STRONG instead creates a nurturing, family-
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Working Families Party, and Nassau Democratic Socialists of America.
Jeremy Joseph, an advocate and organizer with DSA, claims tenants weren’t notified about the open hearings regarding raising their rent.
“We knocked on a lot of doors, we put up flyers in buildings,” he said. “By the next day, almost all of those flyers were taken down by landlords because they don’t want their tenants to come out and speak their minds.
“Every year landlords show up because it’s their job to know about this. They want to raise the rent as much as they can, but they don’t tell the tenants.”
Landlords seeking another raise in rent due to inflation and because they say they want to use the extra money to help upgrade poor conditions of the buildings they own. Richard Rush, a landlord whose real estate firm owns and manages various apartments throughout Nassau, said the buildings “require a lot of repairs and maintenance to upkeep, and landlords should be incentivized to maintain their buildings for the benefit of the tenants.”
But Darinel Velasquez, an advocate from New York Communities for Change, says it is absurd landlords need to feel incentivized in order to provide an inhabitable space to their tenants.
“Landlords have been making consis-
tent profit every year while failing to maintain and upkeep the buildings they own,” he said.
Data compiled by the tent guidelines board reveals the consumer price index surged by nearly 4 percent in the metropolitan area over the past year through April. Meanwhile, Nassau landlords saw their income grow nearly 3 percent, but their expenses expand wider at nearly 4.5 percent between 2021 and 2022.
However, tenant advocates are questioning the credibility of this data, claiming it was developed by landlords and lacked independent auditing. Landlords, however, say the data inflates their income by incorporating earnings from non-stabilized units, which they say are considerably more profitable.
The state’s housing and community renewal division has found the average rent for a rent-stabilized apartment in Nassau County was $1,474 per month in 2022, resulting in a profit of more than $360 per month for landlords.
Joseph calls this new attempt to raise rents to nothing more than landlord greed, who place profits over people and already charge more than market value for their other non-stabilized properties.
“The problem with treating housing like a commodity is that its value outpaces our wages,” he said.
Some tenants shared with the rent
guidelines board their issues with their landlords, while they as tenants continue to struggle financially.”
Some tenants claimed they were pressured into signing leases without reading them, having their rent randomly raised, and even charging upward of $150 per month for parking.
That has forced some residents, like Melissa Devone, a 62-year-old battling lung cancer, to park three blocks away from her apartment after chemo treatments because she simply cannot afford that additional monthly expense.
Tenants also claimed rodents run rampant through many units, mold, a lack of security and sense of safety, lack of maintenance and upkeep, and an overall lack of quality living.
Although the vote was expected to happen this week, some organizations do offer free legal resources for tenants who might find themselves in an untenable situation. Long Island Housing Services is a private, non-profit fair housing advocacy and enforcement agency serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. They can be reached at LIFairHousing.org.
harass what’s otherwise legitimate — and legal — businesses, according to Danny Perez. He owns and operates 10 licensed booths throughout Uniondale, and has called such claims “lies.”
“The police come around and ask for our license, and we give it to them,” he said. “But then they’re looking to try and find other things, trying to get us on something.”
Perez claims police in the past have accused him and his workers of having fake licenses and documentation, threatening them with arrest and other legal consequences if they don’t pack up and leave.
“They lie because they think we don’t know anything, that we don’t know the law, that we don’t know our rights,” Perez said. “We have to keep moving. It’s better to stay in one spot, so people know where to come to find you. But it’s very hard when somebody clearly doesn’t want you to be here.”
But that’s not happening in Uniondale, according to the Nassau County Police Department. A spokesperson told the Herald Beacon in a statement that officers are operating within the law, and that, “we are just responding to the calls that we receive.”
Street vendors are prohibited from selling goods within 1,000 feet of public places such as parks, schools and churches. They can, however, sell goods in other zoning districts, as long as they do not violate regulations by setting up their carts in a way that blocks sidewalks, fail to adhere to sanitary requirements, or operate in a way that is “noisy or disruptive.”
When police force them to move, Perez says they don’t even give an explanation.
“They just say we’re not allowed here and to find another place,” he said.
In the end, Perez and vendors like him say they simply want to operate their businesses in peace, without having to work in fear every day of being shut down.
“I run a legitimate business,” he said, “just like everyone else.”
democracy is a participation sport, and it’s essential that people go out and voice their concern. michAelle solAges Assemblywoman
More women are leading businesses than ever before, and Bank of America is on the forefront to support those efforts, whether across the country or here on Long Island.
Bank Of America has been named the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Women’s Executive Summit, set for Monday, Aug. 7 at The Crescent Beach Club in Bayville.
Hosted by Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive, the WE Summit highlights how every business around the world is undergoing salient changes to the way they operate, no matter what industry they’re in.
Courtesy Bank of America
ThE inAuguRAl WOmEn’S Executive Summit — presented by Bank of America and hosted by Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive — takes place Monday, Aug. 7 at The Crescent Beach Club in Bayville.
From technology use and investment. To skill development and cultural barriers. To equal pay and going hybrid — or fully remote. Every organization must adapt, or run the risk of being left behind.
As we navigate this time of pivotal change, the 2023 WE Summit brings together thought leaders, innovators, and barrier-breaking women for conversations around the theme “The Future is Now.”
“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with Bank of America at the Women’s Executive Summit,” Amy Amato, executive director of RichnerLive, said in a release. “Since the pandemic, the work space has evolved dramatically, and we are bringing thought leadership together to help navigate these uncharted water.”
For more information on how to be a part of the Women’s Executive Summit, visit RichnerLive.com/2023-we-summit.
Last Saturday, Nassau County organized a large outdoor celebration at Clark Botanic Garden, in Albertson, in collaboration with the African American Museum of Nassau County, in recognition of Juneteenth, when the chains of slavery were officially broken.
On June 19, 1865, when Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to spread the news of freedom across the enslaved population — some two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, ended slavery.
Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe, the event’s main organizer, explained the importance of celebrating Juneteenth in the communities she represents, and acknowledged the important work that still needs to be done. “I represent a community that has the roots of this experience,” Bynoe said, “and so this is an opportunity for us to come together, commemorate and reflect on how far we’ve come, and that we have further to go.”
Bynoe also emphasized the importance of understanding “the experiences of our ancestors from 150 years ago.” Her goal, she said, was to use the event as an opportunity to celebrate freedom and liberation, while also fostering economic development, and embracing cultural experiences and elements such as food and dance.
The festivities did just that, featuring performances by the Uniondale High School Show Choir and the Everton Bailey and the Instrumental Sounds of Praise, as well as poets and other speakers; a plethora of local vendors and booths selling food and merchandise; and a kiddie corner offering games, crafts and inflatables.
“There was a time when they wouldn’t let us do this — they wouldn’t let us play music,” Everton Bailey, the leader of the youth ensemble, said, “because they knew we communicated through the drums.”
“We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams,” said Chukwuma Garvey Ukwu, the owner of two businesses, Historically Black Wall Street, and VISION — which stands for Vivid Informative System Inspiring Our Nation — a clothing line. “There are those that never would have thought, in a million years, that we, the descendants of once enslaved people, would be able to not only participate in entrepreneurship and the economy, but that we would be empowered enough to grow and continue to
build on holidays and events like this that celebrate our people and all that we have been through, and continue to go through.”
Lorna Simpson, a guest speaker and a member of the service sorority Delta Sigma Theta, explained that Juneteenth represents more than just the abolishment of slavery — it signifies the years of oppression and delaying of rights and justice that Black people in the United States have had to suffer.
“Unfortunately, even after slavery ended, after emancipation finally took hold throughout the South,” Simpson said, “Jim Crow laws were implemented, and unjust imprisonment, lynching and many other violent acts ensued against African Americans in retaliation for this new reality.”
Simpson said that Juneteenth is celebrated with “gleeful merriment,” but people need to understand that freedom is not to be taken lightly. “Our ancestors are always to be remembered, because the wealth of this country was built on their backs,” she said, adding that although it is a joyous occasion, Juneteenth reminds us of a dark period in our history and the long, continuing struggle toward equality for all people. “If one of us is in bondage,” she said, “then none of us are truly free.”
Journey
back in time to 1960s Detroit and the birth of the Motown sound, when Motor City Revue visits the Landmark stage, Friday June 30, 8 p.m. This 11-piece tribute band will have everyone dancing and singing along to the songs immortalized by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes and countless others.
From Hitsville to Soulsville, they’ll perform it all, with a passion and delivery of the true Motown sound that is undeniable. Their ability to match the vocal harmonies and instrumental mix that distinguished the original recordings is not to be missed. All will be humming along to these iconic tunes that defined a generation, in this authentic recreation of the great era that revolutionized the music industry. $47, 42, $38. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “All About Joel: A Billy Joel Tribute,” Sunday, June 25, 2:30 p.m.
David Clark’s stunningly accurate piano playing, lead vocals and an eerily similar stage look to the Piano Man himself delights audiences, while engaging everyone with wit and humor. Come hear all your favorite tunes including “Just the Way You Are,” “New York State of Mind,” “Piano Man,” and so many more. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or
Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Not only does Sands provide world-class integrated resorts, but their three-pillar Corporate Responsibility Commitment has also been recognized on the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability Index and named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” in 2023 by Newsweek.
The commitment represents Sands’ unique approach to addressing the issues most important to the business, communities and key stakeholders through three pillars: People, Communities and Planet.
Through this commitment, Sands looks to be the employer and partner of choice for team members, suppliers and guests; aims to keep its regions strong through corporate giving and partnering with local groups and organizations; and aims to minimize its environmental impact through its building design and development, operations and events.
Sands ECO360, its award-winning global sustainability program, is aligned with internationally recognized frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a specific focus on the objectives most relevant to Sands operations in the areas of energy, water
who we are:
and waste.
Through the program, the company guides its environmental impact and promotes sustainable practices through three core areas of focus:
Building design and development: Sustainability is built into the resorts from start to finish, beginning with smart design and integrated technology to reduce future impact in operations. Throughout construction, practices are implemented that preserve resources and mitigate harm to the local ecology. The approach incorporates sustainability into the entirety of buildings’ life cycles.
Resort management and operations: The heart of Sands’ environmental strategy focuses on establishing responsible practices that drive efficiency. They accomplish this objective by continually enhancing processes, incorporating the latest technologies and leveraging sustainability best practices to improve performance, all with seamless integration to ensure an exceptional guest experience.
Meetings, events and entertainment: Shaping modern meetings, events and entertainment offerings means curating experiences with environmental responsibility, wellness and community engagement in mind. Sands’ holistic approach integrates these principles into planning and execution to ensure we foster sustainability every step of the way.
Sands has proactively been working with the community to understand the environmental sensitivities of the area. Their commitment to sustainability issues across their existing portfolio is impressive and we are excited to see that dedication demonstrated in the plans they are developing.
Throughout the entire community engagement process, Sands has demonstrated their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by incorporating renewable energy solutions and environmentally responsible design. Sands has also emphasized prioritizing sustainable operations, including emphasizing the wellbeing of their employees and partners.
1999: A tribute to its famed namesake city, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas opened with great fanfare – singing gondoliers, sounding Poopets and a flutter of white
2007: The group’s vision would again transform a region. Seeing the potential to overcome Macao’s space challenges by filling the bay between the Coloane and Taipa islands, the group’s foresight led to the Cotai Strip and opening of The Venetian Macao, the world’s largest inhabited building at a time.
2008: Torging ahead with the success of The Venetian Macao, we continued to recognize the ever-changing needs of affluent travelers, who were seeking new levels of sophistication, attentiveness and privacy.
2010:
a
on
To learn more about the Sands as the world’s preeminent developer and
doves. Photo: The $1.5 billion resort became a resounding success. Fortune wrote that it led to “the overall renaissance of Las Vegas itself” 2004: The company went public, and opened their first property in Asia, Sands Macao in Macao (SAR,) China. Photo: Seeing opportunity in Asia before others, the group opened Sands Macao, the first Las Vegas-style casino in the region and the first American-based hospitality development in Asia. Photo:Also that year, Sands opened The Palazzo in Las Vegas, which displaced the Pentagon as the largest U.S. building at the time and delivered a stunning combination of understated luxury and groundbreaking design. Photo: They opened The Plaza Macao, which is home to the exclusive Paiza Mansions, the Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Shoppes at Four Seasons and an array of award-winning dining options. 2009: Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened, empowering the Eastern Pennsylvania region to overtake New Jersey as the gaming center of the Eastern United States. Photo: Located on the site of the historic Bethlehem Steel Works, the resort brought economic opportunity to the former steel town. They set their sights Singapore with $5.6 billion investment that became the iconic Marina Bay Sands, a national landmark in Singapore. Photo: In eight months, Marina Bay Sands posted an industry-record $600 million operating profit. Within a year, Singapore tourism had increased by 20% and the economy expanded by 15%.2012: Sands Cotai Central began opening in phases and was completed in 2015 with the opening of The St. Regis Macao, Catai Central.
2016: The Parisian Macao opened in September 2016. It was the crown jewel of Mr. Adelson’s vision to recreate the excitement and success of the Las Vegas Strip on the
2019: They completed the $1.3 billion sale of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to Wind Creek Hospitality.
2019: They announced a $2.2 billion expansion in Macao, including plans to upgrade and rebrand the Sands Cotai Central as The Londoner, our latest European-themed property.
2021: They announced the sale of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas to focus on their investments in Asia and development of emerging markets and geographies.
2023: Sands announces its intention to pursue the development of a multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project on the site currently home to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Sands ECO360 works to minimize environmental impact and lead the way in sustainable building development and resort operations through three key initiatives:
Continued from page 1
Sands’ dedication to preserving the planet’s natural resources is not only a promise—it’s an area of consistent leadership in the hospitality industry. Sands continuously evolves initiatives in their key areas of focus to address emerging trends, incorporate the latest technologies and environmental practices, and foster even greater environmental stewardship.
• Energy efficiency — Design buildings that conserve electricity and deploy new technologies to reduce energy consumption during ongoing operations
• Renewable energy — Seek out renewable energy solutions, including on-site solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems and renewable energy credits
• Transportation — Transition guest shuttle buses to electric and clean-fuel sources and leverage carbon offsets for hard-to-decarbonize air and ferry travel
• Water efficiency — Upgrade fixtures and systems, enact water conversation policies and encourage sensible water usage
• Water reuse — Increase use of non-potable water for landscaping, restrooms, cooling towers and other uses
• Ecosystems — Partner with regional water champions to reinvigorate biodiverse ecosystems, increase resiliency, engage communities and leverage water technologies
• Single-use disposables — Replace single-use products with sustainable alternatives and transition to reuse models where possible
• Packaging — Reduce the environmental footprint of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging in our operations
• Sustainable food — Source eco-friendly ingredients and provide sustainable cuisine in restaurants through menu offerings curated with the planet and biodiversity in mind
• Building development and renovation — Integrate energy-saving technologies and environmentally friendly products and materials
• Resort operations — Explore sustainable options for incorporation in our business processes and the guest experience
Waste
• Food waste — Tackle one of the largest waste streams through prevention, donation and diversion
• Construction waste — Responsibly handle construction waste from new developments, remodels and renovations
• Operational waste — Recycle wherever possible and find opportunities to reduce waste generation
BuILdINg dESIgN aNd dEvELOPmENt: Sands’ approach incorporates sustainability into the entirety of their buildings’ life cycles from start to finish.
RESORt
maNagEmENt aNd OPERatIONS: Sands uses the latest environmental strategies to improve performance, all with seamless integration to ensure an exceptional guest experience.
mEEtINgS, EvENtS aNd ENtERtaINmENt:
Sands’ holistic approach curates experiences with environmental responsibility, wellness and community engagement in mind when it comes to planning and execution.
Sands leads the way in award-winning sustainability Photo provided by Sands Photo To maintain sustainability, Sands builds its resorts with smart design and technologies meant to reduce future impact and implements practices that preserve resources and mitigate harm throughout construction.
Radio Flashback rocks
Eisenhower Park, Saturday, 24, 8 p.m. Highlighted by their 4-part harmonies, this is a classic rock tribute to the music, the artists and the experiences everyone fondly remembers. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassaucCountyNY.gov.
Bring your second to fifth grader to the Uniondale Public Library to build a free terrarium as an arts crafts project, Monday, June 26, 2 to 3 p.m. 400 Uniondale Ave. Visit UniondaleLibrary.org for information.
Participate in a free yoga class at Uniondale Public Library, Friday, June 23, 12:30 p.m. Limited to 20 participants. First come, first served. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org.
Instructor Lisa Colon guides adult participants on creating heart hands using different colored beans, Thursday, June 22, 7-9 p.m., at Uniondale Public Library. $3 materials fee. 400 Uniondale Ave. Register at UniondaleLibrary.org.
Stroll Old Westbury Gardens with Gabriel Willow, a New York Citybased urban naturalist and environmental educator, Saturday, July 8, 7:309:30 p.m. He will lead a walk through the gardens to listen and look for bats while discussing bat ecology and conservation. All ages are welcome. Space is limited and reservations are required. Rain date is Saturday, July 15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Kids in grades K-5 can join Miss Young for a fun seasonal craft, Thursday, June 29, 7-7:45 p.m., at Uniondale Public Library. 400 Uniondale Ave. Limited spaces available. To register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org and click on events.
Kids will enjoy a relaxing finger painting session. Tuesday, June 27, 2-3 p.m., at Uniondale Public Library. 400 Uniondale Ave. To register, visit UniondaleLibrary. org and click on events.
Enjoy shopping and family fun, Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Vendors throughout Long Island and the tri-state area will be in attendance selling custom, personalized, oneof-a-kind items. Food, drinks and sweets also available for purchase. John J. Byrne Community Center, 800 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale.
June PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY
Teenagers can learn to work with fondant and bake delicious cupcakes, with a professional baking coach, Friday, June 28, 7-8 p.m. There are limited spaces available and is open to only. 400 Uniondale Ave. Limited spaces available. To register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org and click on events.
For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, June 23, noon; Sunday, June 25, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, June 26, noon, Wednesday, June 28, noon; Thursday, June 29, noon and 1:30 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
“A GUT- BUSTING HIT! ” 1216331
BROADWAY’S FUNNIEST SMASH HIT AND INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON
It was a celebration of 30 years proving service and guidance to the young LGBTQ community of Long Island, and it was a celebration in style.
PFY — formerly known as Pride for Youth — raised thousands of dollars for its Long Island Crisis Center programs last week during its annual gala at Westbury Manor.
Special guest at this year’s event was Maulik Pancholy, the openly gay actor many would know for his roles in the NBC sitcom “30 Rock” as well as the children’s series “Phineas and Ferb.”
maulik Pancholy, acTor from shows like ’30 Rock’ and ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ shares why organizations like the Long Island Crisis Center’s PFY group are so important to helping the LGBTQ community. The gala at Westbury Manor raised tens of thousands of dollars for PFY’s programs.
“I think the gala is going to be a time for us to kind of get together and reflect on where we have come as an agency, where we need to go as an agency, and really honor the pioneering leadership and spirit that has laid
the groundwork that has made PFY what it is,” PFY director Devon Zappasodi told the Herald ahead of the event.
The organization was originally intended for young people, but grants have allowed PFY to expand to serve anyone who identifies as LGBTQ on Long Island and in Queens.
The crisis center operates a 24/7 hotline for people with mental health crises, and PFY was formed in 1993
after former executive director Linda Leonard noticed an influx of calls from members of the LGBTQ community.
“They were actually getting a lot of calls on the hotline for folks who were looking for LGBTQ services, such as counseling … or support groups,” said Tawni Engel, the crisis center’s associate executive director. “There was nothing like that that existed at the time.”
Anyone seeking more information or help can visit LICCPFY.org.
Photos courtesy Jonah Murdoch
The sTaff from Long Island Crisis Center’s PFY group that focuses on the LGBTQ community of Long Island and Queens, gather for a group picture during the organization’s annual gala last week at Westbury Manor, celebrating 30 years of the program on Long Island.
GOLD SPONSOR: SILVER SPONSORS: GIFT BAG SPONSOR: SNACK SPONSOR:
VENUE SPONSOR :
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY.
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF CVI
LCF MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST I, Pltf. vs., KEVIN HEARN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY M. HEARN, et al, Defts. Index #605631/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 15, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 1300 Pembroke Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, a/k/a Section 50, Block 03901, Lot 221. Approx. amt. of judgment is $454,709.54 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law.
SCOTT H. SILLER, Referee. PINCUS LAW GROUP PLLC, Attys. for Pltf., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY File No. 09162020.47592#100461 139839
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME
COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 20062, ASSET- BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2006-2 Plaintiff, Against DEMOFILDA BLUME A/K/A DEMOFILDA J. BLUME, MICHAEL BLUME, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 05/02/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 7/17/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 836 Hempstead Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11553, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being In The Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau, State Of New York. Section 50 Block 138 Lot 342 And 343. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $386,866.18 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 605885/2018 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee
will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. Mark L. Lieberman, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 5/23/2023
File Number: 17-303102 LD 140139
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF11 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST, Plaintiff against NASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC ADMINSITRATOR AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM J.B. CARTER A/K/A WILLIAM J.B. CARTER, SR. A/K/A JOSEPH W. CARTER, SR., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 11, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 18, 2023 at 2:30 PM. Premises known as 1063 Northgate Court, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sec 55 Block 530 Lot 16. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale (unincorporated), in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $183,448.10 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 007186/2013. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’sCovid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Lisa Goodwin, Esq., Referee AYSN382 140165
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK N.A., AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST 2006CH2 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-CH2, Plaintiff, Against MAUREEN E. HILLARY A/K/A MAUREEN HILLARY, et al.Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/15/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps
of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 7/17/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 612 Newton Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York Section 36 Block 134
Lot 507 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $388,511.23 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 11090-14 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee. SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road , Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 5/23/2023 File Number: 32669 LD 140134
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, GITSIT SOLUTIONS LLC
FKA KONDAUR CAPITAL CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. JOSE A. PACHECO
A/K/A JOSE PACHECO, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Amending Caption, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 20, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 26, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 327 Maple Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 34, Block 502 and Lots 504506 & 701. Approximate amount of judgment is $758,849.20 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614230/2018. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will
cancel the sale. Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff
140198
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR WACHOVIA LOAN TRUST
2005-SD1 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2005-SD1, Pltf. vs. LESLY ROSEMOND, et al, Defts., Index #615208/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Feb. 16, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 27, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. prem. k/a 760 Campus Street, Uniondale, NY 11553 a/k/a Section 50, Block 285, Lot 116 a/k/a Lot 116 on a certain map, entitled “Map of Colonial Gardens, Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, N.Y.” and surveyed by Robert L. Clement, City Surveyor, Aug. 29, 1936 and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County on Sept. 11, 1936 as Map No. 1083. Approximate amount of judgment is $97,196.14 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.
MALACHY LYONS, JR., Referee. STEIN, WIENER & ROTH, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 1400 Old Country Road, Ste. 315, Westbury, NY 11590. File No. 69360#100472
140258
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITAL LOAN TRUST 2019-1, Plaintiff against RICHARD PHILLIPS, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 7 Wells Street, Suite 205B, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 21, 2022, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 27, 2023 at 3:00 PM. Premises known as 346 Compass Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sec 50 Block 53 Lot 49. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, City and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $361,554.48 plus interest, fees, and
Eric Wieboldt finds its more important than ever to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms.
The Merrick resident makes regular trips to Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, the final resting place of many veterans, including a number of sites that date back to the Civil War.
Wieboldt was honored by Hempstead Town deputy supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Town Clerk Kate Murray, and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll for his time and effort cleaning veteran headstones in the cemetery.
Wieboldt, along with his family, is a longtime owner of Laundry Palace in Wantagh.
costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 610121/2019. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Malachy Lyons Jr., Esq., Referee 23000875-01 140303
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, 1 OAK RICHLAND, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. ROSA L. SARAVIA, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 21, 2023, I, the undersigned
Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 400 Hawthorne Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 34, Block 495 and Lots 234-235. Approximate amount of judgment is $159,039.91 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 601376/2021. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court
Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee Shnayder Law Firm LLC, 148 East Street Road, Suite 352, Feasterville, PA 19053, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140334
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC, V. WILLIAM F. JONES, JR, ET. AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 02, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and WILLIAM F. JONES, JR, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY
SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on July 25, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 529 LIBERTY
STREET, UNIONDALE, NY
11553: Section 50, Block 137, Lot 317: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008792/2014. George Esernio, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
140336
Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.
Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED
516-731-3000
The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819
MACHINE PROGRAMMER/ MACHINE OPERATOR Will Train
*Math Skills Helpful.
*Work In A Machine Shop. Northfield Precision Instruments
Phone 516-431-1112 Ask For Charles. E-mail Resume sales@northfield.com
Manager On Duty
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30
To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OFFICE HELP PT/FT: Computer Literate. Answer Phones, Packing, Process Orders. Baldwin Dental Supply Company. 516-783-7800
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Path Monitor
At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November
5-8 Hour Evening Shifts
Providing A Welcoming Atmosphere And Ensuring Guest Safety. Hourly Rate $20. To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/
PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR/ CANVAS FABRICATOR For Foreman Position. Experience a Must. Awning Company. Call/Text Tommy 516-250-8094; tgawnings@aol.com Send Resume
Business/Opportunities
NICHE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY THEFANWHISPERER.COM REPLACING NOISY BATHROOM FANS & PLAY EASY. I TRAIN. 1-888-888-2134
Open Houses
HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..$3,200,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-429 ba
HEWLETT HARBOR 1051 Channel Dr, OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 6/25, 12-1:30, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! 3/4 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Beautiful Ω Acre Parklike Property. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK, Spac LR/DR with Vaulted Ceiling & Fpl, & Fam Rm. 2 Car Att Gar.Endless Possibilities!
SD#14...$1,349,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429
HEWLETT HARBOR 6/25, 2-3:30, 246 Adams Rd, FIRST SHOW! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes!
SD#20..$2,500,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
Open Houses
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Apartments For Rent
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
Garages For Rent
OCEANSIDE
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
This grand home is set on park like grounds (.43 acre) just blocks away from Rockville Centre's vibrant downtown and LIRR. This grand home has all of todays most sought after amenities, combined with yesterday's master craftsman details. A gracious welcoming front porch and private rear gazebo are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Inside you'll marvel at the 11 foot ceilings, original pocket doors, multiple window seats, and irreplaceable original parquet banded floors. Any chef would delight in the expansive kitchen with high end appliances, tons of counter space, and the perfect island for your guests. Other amenities include a walk in pantry, three full baths, five bedrooms on the second level, and second floor laundry room. $1,999,999 . Please contact Maureen Lane or Theresa Ahern for a private viewing of this special home!
Q. We need some advice on how to pick a contractor. Our neighbors down the street are going through a tough time with delays, seemingly shoddy work that didn’t pass inspection and extra costs for things they didn’t want or expect. Do you have any suggestions on how to interview a contractor, and what to ask about or look for in their proposal? We want to avoid what our neighbor is going through.
2-3:30, FIRST SHOW! Elegant & Stately 4200 Sq Ft CH Col on Beautiful Quiet St. 5 BR, 4.55 Bth. Sweeping Staircase. All Spacious Rooms with Top Quality Finishes. Amazing Fam Rm with Cathedral Ceiling Overlooking 1 Acre Resortlike Prop Featuring IG Gunite Pool, Patio & Tennis Ct. XL Fin Bsmt. Upper Level has Primary Ste w/ Dressing Rm & Bth Plus 3 BRs & 2 Bths. 2 Car Att Gar. Low Taxes! SD#20 $2,500,000 HEWLETT Bay Pa RK
190 Meadowview Ave, BA, Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14. Near All.
Must See This Unique Home! $3,200,00
HEWLETT
1638 Ridgeway Dr, BA, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Well Maintained 6 BR, 3.5 Bth 3500
Sq Ft Exp CH Colonial on Beautiful St. LR/Fpl, Spac Fam Rm/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sun Rm
Overlooking 1/3 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ IG Lap Pool, Hot Tub,Bar & Gazebo. Fin Bsmt.
2 Car Gar. SD#20 $1,149,000
1193 E. Broadway # M23, BA, Move Right Into This Stunning Gut Renovated 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR.
Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED
Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don’t Want to Miss This $359,000
1599 Lakeview Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Tree Lined St in SD#14. Spacious LR, DR & Family Rm, EIK & Fin Bsmt. Att Garage. HW Flrs. Near Park, Trans, Shops & Houses
of Worship
REDUCED! $799,000
1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath
Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER! $579,000 WOO dMERE
504 Saddle Ridge Rd, BA, Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout
A. If it were up to me, I would ask them to drive me around to look at their work. This helps in many ways. One, you have more conversation and maybe a little less sales pitch while they’re navigating the streets. Two, you can tell a lot about a person by the way they drive, such as whether they obey the laws. If they blow through every stop sign, cut people off or otherwise drive recklessly, you’ll realize right away that they have little regard for others and won’t follow regulations, or your interests.
People who don’t follow basic rules we all have to live by aren’t going to do things for you as much as for themselves. If they tell you “you don’t need a permit,” give you a ridiculously low number compared with others or confidently tell you they will have the work done way before you expected, be concerned. If their proposal doesn’t spell out the process and the materials to your satisfaction, at least with milestone breakdown numbers — such as windows and doors, $40,000, concrete work, $30,000, etc. — and you feel that they’re evasive when you ask questions, then move on.
I recommend that the payments be organized by those milestones, since you can see that all the concrete work is done and write a check, or confirm that all the windows and doors are installed and make a payment, instead of guessing when 30 percent of the work has been completed or wondering why they need to get paid every Friday when nobody has been there for two weeks. It may be obvious to say that you need to feel that what the plans show is what you want, and you have to feel confident that this person and their team can give you what you need.
I often get calls and end up acting as adviser and therapist to spouses who are now arguing with each other about how unhappy they are instead of sitting the contractor down with a third party, like a building official, who usually won’t tolerate the excuses. Many inspectors don’t have the time or the patience for a contractor who is creating code or safety violations, since it can reflect on the official who lets the work be approved with cut corners. One inspector recently told a contractor who was falling short of the regulations that the official gets audited and will not accept work that can be questioned later on by an auditor.
You need satisfaction. More on licensing, insurance and experience in upcoming columns. Good luck!
© 2022 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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Last week I was at two events that, in very different ways, encapsulated significant aspects of my life. The first was in Washington, where I was invited to testify before the House Intelligence Committee, along with four other retired members of Congress — two Republicans, Frank LoBiondo and Ileana RosLehtinen, and two Democrats, Jane Harman and Jim Langevin, who had also served on the committee. Except for a few fleeting hours in February, this was my first time back in Washington since late December 2020, just days before my retirement.
The chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Republican Mike Turner, and the ranking member, Democrat Jim Himes, wanted our perspective on what the committee’s current focus should be, and on the need to restore bipartisanship, which has been sorely lacking over the past six years. In my testimony, I stressed the necessity of not losing sight of the continuing threat of Islamist ter-
rorism. None of us wants to experience another 9/11, and the terrorists are in many ways as lethal as they were on Sept. 10, 2001.
I also joined my former colleagues in strongly urging bipartisanship. The committee is a vital component of our national security, and should not be politicized.
Besides testifying, I met with Long Island Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota and joined Speaker Kevin McCarthy at a meeting in his office with elected officials from Northern Ireland. I also ran into various congressmen, Capitol Police officers and reporters I knew from my days on the Hill. And I went to my old haunt, the Dubliner, to have dinner with staff members from my office and the Homeland Security Committee.
Being back in the halls of Congress with current and former members brought back 28 years of memories encompassing victories, tough losses and challenges as well as meetings with presidents and world leaders. While I made the decision to retire from Congress and turn the page, I never regret
even a day that I was fortunate to be there. Those were almost three decades of unparalleled moments that I had never imagined I would experience.
Back on Long Island two days later, I relived different, but equally meaningful memories. Several times a year, Tom Dewey, my Brooklyn Prep classmate and a Fordham Hall of Fame track coach, organizes a get-together of a group of guys I hung out with during my high school years, just blocks from fabled Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Meeting at the Valbrook Diner in Valley Stream with Tom, Charlie, Allen, Johnny and Jackie is like going back in time. For better or worse, no one has changed. There’s the same banter, sarcasm and stories, with no one allowed to take himself seriously. In the past few years, we’ve been joined by retired Nassau County Police Department Detectives Jim Skopek and Melissa Zimmerman, who were on my security detail when I was in Congress and fit right in. Before his days as a Nassau cop, Skopek was an NYPD officer patrolling the Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, neighborhood where these guys grew up.
Zimmerman’s classic moment last week was when she asked my old friends what they thought of my recent successful cancer surgery, and she was met with blank looks, grunts and smirks. Not a hint of sympathy or concern.
Behind all this tough-guy talk, though, there is genuine friendship and loyalty, as well as a real knowledge of life and reality. These guys have all done well, but never brag about it. I’m not one of those guys who say the good old days were perfect or so much better. But during these diner reunions, I’m struck by the true authenticity of these guys — an authenticity I sense is diminishing in today’s world.
During my years in Congress and politics, I was known for not backing down or caring about what was said about me. This thick skin — or thick-headedness — was in many ways attributable to the street smarts I learned from these old friends. It’s reassuring to see nothing has changed.
All this interconnection of experiences came together for me again during those few days last week. Thanks for the memories.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Ishould point out that this is a really open letter, because my dad died four years ago.
I write because I have so much to tell him. My dad, who would have been 101 last week, loved his time on earth; he so enjoyed the rhythm and small pleasures of his days.
Every morning he woke up thinking about his first cup of coffee, and he prepared it with all the exquisite ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony. He moved slowly, and the making of the coffee could easily take 15 minutes.
RANDI KREISS
Once it was brewed, he filled his cup to the very brim and sloshed it all over the floor before he got to the table.
“Why do you have to make the cup so full?” my mother said pretty much every day for 72 years.
I like to think he’s with my mom, who died two years ago. They were married so long that they walked, talked, ate and laughed with a special kind of synchro-
ny. Hard to tell where one left off and the other began.
Dad would have been gripped by the public drama of the impeachment hearings. He died the day Donald Trump got elected, and although I’m not suggesting cause and effect, he did say,
“I can’t believe I lived to see this day,” before he succumbed to a major heart attack at 97.
He would read the newspapers at the breakfast table as breakfast lingered into lunch in his last years. He read the best parts out loud to my mother, and she was his cheerleader, damning the folks he saw as the bad guys and taking into her heart, like family, the leaders he loved. Their fierce loyalty to the Dems, going back to FDR, was part of what kept them chugging along. They cared. They followed the news. They talked back to the TV.
some time, couldn’t we, reassuring ourselves that no, the United States of America would never elect a man like Donald J. Trump, and then we did. Dad, it’s worse than we feared, but I believe in our better angels, and I’m patient. I know our country will right itself. I’ll keep you posted. Promise.
You missed the coronavirus. Missed Roku. Missed cauliflower pizza crusts.
So, Dad, I’m sorry you missed this state of affairs, this unraveling of our government and erosion of our moral center, because you would have found it fascinating, even if it depressed the hell out of you. Mostly I miss commiserating with you about it all. We could go on for
You missed the coronavirus. Missed Roku. Missed cauliflower pizza crusts.
You knew about Amazon but you missed letting it rule your life. You and Mom went to stores, right? Well we hardly do that now, because if you need anything, from the 4.0 readers you wore to rare Ethiopian pistachio nuts, you can order them online and Amazon will get them to you in hours, or days at most.
You missed some terrific books, Dad. We spent a lot of time talking about what we were reading, and even in your last months, when you were kind of dreaming your days away, you still held a book in your lap because it felt familiar. You kept saying you wanted to learn how to use a Kindle.
You missed the great-grandkids get-
Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published Feb. 20-26, 2020.
ting braces, and learning to drive, and several mitzvahs. You missed that we bought a new vacation house. I gave some thought to the idea that you might not be able to find me, but I suppose your travel rules are different. In my old place, I used to see the occasional heron on the beach or a dolphin in the surf and imagine it might be a kind of visitation.
I did see an unseasonal robin the other day that gave a wicked shake of its wing as it landed on a naked branch, and I confess, I thought of you.
Mostly, Dad, I hate the idea that you aren’t in the world, in the light, in the realm of sunrises and sunsets, just a phone call away, at the Thanksgiving table.
We all think about loved ones who have passed. Some write letters or post to websites for the departed. It all helps.
Many find that Shakespeare offered wise counsel to those who grieve when he wrote, “Give sorrow words.”
Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
In one memoryfilled setting, I was testifying. In another, I ribbed old friends.
it might not be easy to discuss the Greek playwright Euripides and the Dutch philosopher Erasmus in the same breath, especially considering they walked the earth 2,000 years apart. But they did have a shared philosophy, and it’s one all of us are familiar with: money talks. Especially in politics.
When it comes to government, if you want to make a splash, all you need is to flash — some green. The loudest voices in a campaign, or in any discussion, really, are typically those with the deepest pockets. Even running for local office can cost thousands of dollars, with that total easily hitting six digits for state office, and far more if you want to go to Washington.
Over the years, however, New York has worked hard to level the playing field. New York City, for example, has offered candidates a matching public-finance option for years. Anyone not taking large special-interest donations can qualify for public money, allowing their voice to be just as loud as anyone else’s, no matter how much anyone has raised. The option is intended to keep big business and heavily funded political movements away from lawmakers, while ensuring that taxpayer investments are returned to communities through campaign expenditures.
Lawmakers in Albany have paid attention as well, writing legislation that would provide matching funds to any Assembly candidate who raises at least $6,000 from 75 different donors in his or her district, and to any State Senate candidate who raises at least $12,000 from 150 donors.
Statewide candidates would see a
Dear Congressman D’Esposito:
match of $6 for every $1 of qualified donations. Assembly members and senators would see matching qualified donations ranging from $12-to-$1 to $8-to-$1.
Candidates would still have to campaign. They would still need to win support. But this law would help ensure that that support isn’t drowned out by opponents with massive campaign war chests, funded by special interests.
Everything was looking good for the proposed bill until the final week of the legislative session. Then lawmakers apparently had a chance to take a closer look at it, and suddenly remembered something really important: They have to run for re-election. The candidates with the deep pockets whom this law would weaken? It’s them, the incumbents. The politicians who already have a built-in advantage simply because they have “Assembly member” or “Senator” in front of their name.
So, those very lawmakers revisited the new law, and introduced some changes. Instead of raising $6,000, Assembly candidates would have to raise $10,000, from 145 donors, to qualify for matching funds. Senators would need to raise $24,000, from 350 donors.
Candidates wouldn’t need to win just some support — this is an exceedingly high bar.
In fact, the only people who would actually benefit from this bill, S.7564, if Gov. Kathy Hochul signs it into law are the very incumbents this kind of campaign finance reform is intended to humble by preventing them from winning races
before they even start, simply because of how loudly money talks. If this revised bill becomes law, the voice and reach of the incumbents would be stronger — and further — than ever before. Not only would they have the big money of special interests, but they’d have taxpayer money backing them as well. And anyone challenging them? Well, good luck.
The reworked legislation easily passed the Assembly and Senate, but fortunately, not with the help of many of our local representatives. State Sens. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Jack Martins and Steven Rhoads voted against it, as did Assembly members Jake Blumencranz, Ari Brown, Brian Curran, David McDonough, John Mikulin, Edward Ra and Michaelle Solages.
State Sen. Kevin Thomas was a “yes” on the bill, as were Assembly members Taylor Darling and Charles Lavine.
All are Republicans except for Solages, Thomas, Darling and Lavine.
A representative democracy mandates leaders who truly represent the people. If someone believes they can represent them better, they deserve to have every opportunity to prove it. The matching-campaignfunds program could have been a great start, helping this particular democracy achieve those goals.
But if the governor signs this monstrosity into law, not only will the potential gains of the earlier law be erased, but the entire democratic process will take 10 giant steps backward.
Hochul must do the right thing, and veto S.7564.
While New Yorkers choke on fumes from Canadian wildfires fueled by climate change, it’s worth highlighting the role that Republicans are playing in making the problem worse. House Republicans, including my own representative, Anthony D’Esposito, brokered a debt ceiling bill that advances construction of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline and makes it easier to build fracked-gas pipelines. This dirty deal will increase profits for the fossil fuel industry while increasing air pollution and wrecking our climate.
The dangerous air we are breathing now is only the beginning — we must reverse course and move off fossil fuels. As a grandfather and a member of Food & Water Action, I urge D’Esposito to stand up for Long Islanders, not the fossil fuel industry. And as a Long Islander, I urge my neighbors to remember the Republican dirty deal at the ballot box.
all of us owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the heroic men and women who lost their lives while protecting our country as members of our nation’s armed forces.
our end to care for them when they come back home.
Across the country, fewer than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment. An estimated 250,000 veterans are unemployed and in need of work. And with 68,000 of them homeless, there are 5,000 veterans here in Nassau who are at risk of homelessness.
■ The right to be supported in the community, in such organizations as VFWs and American Legions.
sure make them valuable candidates for public service.
JosHUa a . LaFaZan
Americans recently commemorated Memorial Day — a sobering occasion that reminds us that freedom is never free, and that in a perilous world, we sleep safely at night precisely because of those servicemen and women who are fighting for us.
After our collective pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, it behooves us to take the next step by renewing our commitment to taking care of veterans right here in Nassau County.
Some 67,000 of the 16.5 million veterans in the United States call Long Island home. And there’s no denying that while these heroes have upheld their end of the contract to protect and serve the nation, we haven’t adequately fulfilled
Those statistics should shock the consciences of every American and provide clear evidence that this moment requires immediate action. That’s why I have proposed the creation of a 21st-century Veterans’ Bill of Rights that would ensure that none of them are ever left behind in Nassau County.
Such a bill would reaffirm the fundamental rights for veterans that must be protected:
■ The right to dignified housing.
■ The right to gainful employment.
■ The right to be protected from discrimination.
In addition, the Veterans’ Bill of Rights would formally commission a study to identify where resources are needed to best serve our veterans, and recommend additional investments ranging from new technology to advancements in health care, and more. Once completed, the study’s findings would be presented at a public hearing of the County Legislature’s Veterans Committee.
My office has already taken important steps toward fulfilling the tenets of the Veterans’ Bill of Rights. In January 2022, the Legislature unanimously passed the Hiring Our Heroes Act, a measure I sponsored that exempts veterans and active-duty service members from county civil service exam fees. Not only does removing a financial burden of up to $200 from eligible applicants incentivize their return to the civilian workforce, but it also recognizes how veterans’ leadership, military experience and ability to perform under pres-
To the Editor:
As my first legislative session came to a close, I was struck by just how out of touch Albany Democrats are with the needs of New Yorkers. The concerns about rising crime rates and a struggling economy, both of which make it more difficult for many to live, work and thrive in our communities, are at an all-time high. To combat this, my State Senate Republican colleagues and I introduced a plan to Rescue New York, which fell on deaf ears. We will continue to fight for common-sense, realistic solutions to the hardships faced by families and business owners.
During the 2023 legislative session, Albany’s misplaced priorities came in the form of new laws and policies that exacerbate our hardships instead of relieving them. The budget was a month late and spent a record $229 billion, more than $8 billion over what was spent last fiscal year. It included new taxes on businesses and individuals, and provided no relief for middle-class families and struggling small businesses; rather, it allocated $1 billion for transporting and housing illegal immigrants instead of directing funds to struggling New Yorkers.
Instead of focusing on why New Yorkers are leaving the state, a bill was passed that moves all local elections to even years, over the objections of local communities and boards of election. The justification was to increase voter turnout, yet it excluded New York City, where voter turnout is the lowest in the state.
Additionally, “Clean Slate” legislation was passed allowing the records of violent criminals to be sealed while ignoring the rights of law-abiding victims. In addition, the overriding theme of the legislation passed this session was an erosion of parental rights and an increase in government control, both of which will continue to destroy the New York
by Tim BakerThis legislative measure builds on the Dignity for Our Heroes initiative, another legislative package that I sponsored and passed in 2019 that protects veterans from discrimination in housing and employment, and convened the Nassau Commission on Ending Veteran Homelessness.
While I take great pride in these earlier measures, they should be viewed as a foundation to build on. We must not cease in our efforts until every veteran in the county has access to the resources they need to meet their health care, housing and workforce needs. And it is imperative for all of us to approach this issue with compassion and care, so that we can continue chipping away at harmful stigmas that dissuade our heroes from seeking the assistance they need and deserve.
These men and women have always had our backs, and it is imperative for us to always have theirs. Please contact your legislator and ask them to support the Veterans’ Bill of Rights. And I ask you to never forget our fallen heroes, or our veteran heroes at home.
we know and love.
We deserve better than one-party rule that places political aims above all else. There’s still so much work to be done, but Senate Democrats, who hold a supermajority, continue to disregard New Yorkers’ needs. I will continue to fight for a safer and more
affordable New York while standing up for our values and working to restore balance, accountability, and common sense to our state government.
too many who have come home lack housing, jobs and mental health care.