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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
A.g. wants to block protests
BOCEs leader dies suddenly
Fun day of soccer in Uniondale
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AUgUst 3 - 9, 2023
Boxing program packs a punch By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
Steve Solomon, left, demonstrates some defensive moves to Kareem Ross as part of the boxing program at Friedberg JCC.
The boxing program at the Friedberg JCC is the undisputed heavyweight champion locally, and has taken off during the past year under the leadership of Steve Solomon. The JCC offers three boxing classes — a class for those with special needs, another for those with Parkinson’s disease and a third for the general population. When the JCC was looking for a boxing coach, Solomon was recommended for the position after he worked with a family’s autisContinued on page 14
Tenants at 590 Fulton Avenue say they’ve had enough By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com
They won the battle, but it was short-lived. Tenants at 590 Fulton Ave., were among those who convinced the Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board to opposed any rent increases for rent-stabilized units in and around the village in June. But now those same tenants have new battles to wage — this time against their landlord. Last week, the nearly 400 tenants of the Hempstead property say they received a notice the gas bill for the complex has gone unpaid, and that National Grid is now owed more than
$90,000. The problem? Tenants say they’ve already paid their share, through their rent. Yet, if payment isn’t made by next week, these same tenants might be out of gas. For many of those who live at 590 Fulton, this was the last s t r aw — e s p e c i a l ly t h o s e already organizing complaining about what they describe as inadequate conditions. It also was too much for Nassau County legislator Siela Bynoe, who says she has been closely monitoring the situation. Luckily, next week should come and go, without gas being turned off. “I have been in contact with National Grid’s gover nment
liaison on multiple occasions to monitor ongoing service delivery to the building,” Bynoe said, in a statement. “National Grid advised me that a payment agreement has been reached, which has enabled them to recall the disconnection order.” Tenants held an emergency meeting last week to try and determine what their rights were, and the next steps they could take. Under the guidelines of the state housing and community renewal division, landlords must provide and maintain “required or essential services for tenants.” Bob Elliot, a community activist with the Poor People’s Campaign and New
York Communities for Change, emphasized that tenants have the right to an inhabitable environment, as per their lease and the state regulations. “The legal defense as a tenant is that when you sign a lease with a landlord, you have an expectation of living in ‘a safe and livable environment,’” Elliot said. “And when utilities are shut off, that is no longer a
safe and livable environment.” B e fo re t h e n o t i c e f ro m National Grid, tenants of 590 Fulton were holding meetings to address building issues and plan legal action against landlord, Karen Singh. Elliot said tenants who signed a petition against Singh faced retaliation and harassment — something he also points out is illegal, and Continued on page 14