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Vol. 33 No. 11
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VALLEY STREAM
Parents raise concerns over Dist. 13 budget Their bone of contention comes from what they say is ambiguity surrounding terms There is supposed to be noth- like “extension,” “renovation” ing more public than how local and “redesign.” elected officials spend taxpayer An architectural diagram of money. But a $2.3 million project the Dever Elementary project, labeled simply as a obtained by the Herclassroom legislaald, calls for the tion flew under the demolition of two radar when the Valclassrooms, the ley Stream District removal of at least 1 3 s ch o o l b o a rd p a r t o f a p l ay adopted its budget ground, and what last spring. And that would become larger perceived lack of office space for the openness has parsuperintendent and ents and other taxthe administrative payers worried this offices. project isn’t quite But there would what it’s billed to be. be space created for I t ’s k n ow n a s educational pursuits Proposition III, as well — especially which pulls from the in the arts, with a district’s capital new music wing r e s e r v e s f u n d , lAuRIel housing both a chointended to pay for ral and band room. MoRAleS the “extension and “This is poor renovation of class- District 13 communication r o o m s p a c e ” a t resident from the school disJames A. Dever Eletrict to the commumentary School. It’s nity,” said Vincent also earmarked to fund renova- Toma, who said he voted “yes” tion and redesign of a board- on the budget last year. “In norroom and business office — mal long-term planning, there space critics say benefit the are capital construction assesssuperintendent and administra- ments — roofing, grounds, secution more than it does students. Continued on page 16
By KARINA KoVAC kkovac@liherald.com
y
Juan Lasso/Herald
JettA KINGSBeRRy wItH her handwritten sign outlining her confrontations with her neighbors over the course of several months.
Valley Streamer claims she has been racially harassed By JuAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com
Last summer, when Jetta Kingsberry bought a home tucked away in a quiet Valley Stream neighborhood on Wingate Road, occupied mostly by retirees, she thought it would be a safe and charming place to raise her two daughters. “We saved our money,” Kingsberry said of herself and her husband, Val, “and decided that after renting an
apartment in Queens after 10 years, it was time for us to get a house and let our kids grow up in a better district.” But since they moved in, said Kingsberry, who is Black, her family has endured ongoing racial harassment by her nearby white neighbors. Because her husband is an electrician who works at all hours, Kingsberry has mostly been at home alone with her daughters, who have faced the brunt of the racist taunts and intimidation. Last fall her
older daughter, who Kingsberry said was living in fear, left to live with relatives in Suffolk County. “I do fear for my kids … it’s been a nightmare,” Kingsberry said. Some of the tactics her neighbors have used, she said, have verged on the criminal. The tires of her car have been slashed, and the rear windshield has been shattered. Her house has been broken into Continued on page 13
ou don’t even know what you’re voting for . . . a clear outline . . . should have been provided to the community.