Valley Stream Herald by Richner Communications, Inc

Valley Stream

HERALD

Memorial staff creates PPE

Parade for lIJ nurse

V.S. teachers talk remote learning

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Vol. 31 No. 20

MAY 14 - 20, 2020

A miracle for Mother’s Day Mom and daughter, both Covid-19 patients, discharged on same day By PEtEr BElfIorE pbelfiore@Liherald.com

Peter Belfiore/Herald

MIldrEd SoNgcuAN wAS discharged from LIJ Valley Stream on Friday after a 15-day battle with Covid-19. Not far behind her was her daughter, Melissa Morales.

Mildred Songcuan, 61, and her daughter Melissa Morales, 40, of Elmont, were both hospitalized at Northwell Health’s LIJ Valley Stream with Covid19, but Mother’s Day came two days early for the pair when they were discharged from the hospital together last Friday. More than two dozen staff members lined the hospital lobby to greet the two with shouts and applause as they were rolled out of the building on gur neys. Even through

shrouds of protective facial coverings, the emotion was clear on their faces. It was, however, a bitterswe e t m o m e n t fo r b o t h , because they left behind Songcuan’s husband and M o r a l e s ’s f a t h e r, I s a i a s Songcuan, 62, who was the most gravely ill of the three and had been in the hospital’s intensive care unit. As has become common for Covid-19, the disease brought on by the virus, it tore through the household, spreading amongfamily members. Continued on page 4

VSFD member reflects on volunteering amid a pandemic By NIcolE AlcINdor nalcindor@liherald.com

When an emergency strikes, two questions flash through the mind of Michael Seltzer, a lieutenant in the Valley Stream Fire Department: Where’s the call, and what type of call is it? “When I go to volunteer, my main goal is to get home safely,” said Seltzer, a former department captain. “You have to remain calm and work under extreme pressure at times.” The coronavirus pandemic has only increased the pressures of volunteering, said Seltzer, 49, who oversees the department’s emergency medical services.

Michael Seltzer He’s in charge of making sure EMTs follow new pandemic safety protocols and wear required personal protective equipment. “My biggest concern during this pandemic is making sure that the Fire Department ambulances always have enough pro-

tective gear on them,” said Seltzer, who works long hours as a Nassau County police medic and is married with two children, ages 18 and 15. “I also make sure that the Fire Department has the most up-to-date information” about the pandemic, which, he noted, “changes daily.” Last month, a longtime EMT with the department, Mike Field, died of Covid-19 after transporting a coronavirus patient. Seltzer and Field had volunteered together for 32 years, since Seltzer joined the department, and he recalled the last conversation he had with Field before he died. It was a warning. “He wanted me to tell every-

one at the firehouse that this was no joke, and to make sure they have their protective equipment on at all times,” Seltzer said. In the face of such tragedy, Seltzer said he has developed techniques to cope. “Trying to keep a sense of humor usually helps me manage my emotions,” he said. “I tend to sometimes overlook self-care, but just seeing people recover and leave the hos-

pital keeps the motivation going. “I have always wanted to help people,” he continued. “As a kid, I was always watching television shows about fire, police and emergency medical services.’” Seltzer was 5 years old when his father joined the Fire Department. In high school, he studied heating, air-conditioning, refrigContinued on page 8

WE WERE HERE FOR YOU BEFORE COVID AND WE’RE HERE FOR YOU NOW.

Don’t put off seeking help for medically necessary care in fear of COVID-19. Mount Sinai South Nassau has dedicated non-COVID patient care areas, including within our Emergency Department. All units have undergone a deep cleaning to ensure your safety. All incoming patients are tested for COVID-19 within two days prior to admission. Our frontline staff of physicians, nurses and support personnel are equipped with full Personal Protective Equipment to help halt the spread of infectious diseases. Your health shouldn’t be defined by COVID-19.

DON’T PUT YOUR HEALTH ON HOLD. COME WITH CONFIDENCE.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Mount Sinai South Nassau is certified as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE) by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Photo top left courtesy of Jeff Basinger, Newsday.

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May 14, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Memorial staff team up to make masks By Peter Belfiore pbelfiore@liherald.com

It was around mid March when emergency medical workers began issuing the dire warnings: They were quickly running out of protective gear to keep them safe while treating coronavirus patients. So when Christine Flynn, a teacher’s aide at Memorial Junior High School, saw on TV that equipment such as 3D printers could be used to produce some of the needed protective gear quickly and cheaply, she jumped on the idea of using school facilities to create facial shields to donate, and reached out to district administrators, who gave her the go-ahead. Working alongside Christopher Viggiano, a technology and engineering instructor at Memorial, together they were able to produce 86 reusable transparent face shields, which went to nursing staff at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital and FDNY emergency medical technicians. “It was kind of a smash-and-grab operation,” Viggiano said, noting that shortly after district buildings were closed due to the outbreak, it was unclear how much access they would have to school facilities. Using an open-source 3D printer design for a shield he found on the web, he set five printers at Memorial to produce ten shield frames each, and then did the same for the five printers at South High School, where he is also a teacher. Six hours later, they returned to pick up the printed items, and Viggiano said they spent the next two to three days fastening the transparent shield portion — laser cut using school facilities as well — to the frames. One of the handy things about the all-plastic 3D printed shields, Viggiano said, was that they could be reused, while standard-issue shields have fabric portions that can become worn after a single use. Once completed, Flynn handed a portion of the shields off to a friend who works as an FDNY EMT, and they in turn distributed them to their colleagues. Viggiano, whose brother’s girlfriend works as a nurse at Mount Sinai South Nassau did the same, and she distributed them among the people working in her ward.

Photos courtesy Central High School District

ChristoPher Viggiano, an engineering and technology instructor at South and Memorial Junior High School set up a 3D printer to create protective facial shields for frontline healthcare workers. Viggiano along with Christine Flynn, a teacher’s aid at Memorial helped create 86 3D printed facial shields. The entire process took around three days. the shields are reusable and were donated to FDNY EMTs and nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

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May 14, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Mother, daughter Covid patients go home continued from front page While Songcuan said being able to go home with her daughter was a “blessing,” Morales, who is a mother herself, said quietly through sobs that she could not wait to hold her own daughter. Her parents had been admitted to LIJ the same day, April 24, and while Isaias had initially been discharged after appearing to recover, on Wednesday he returned to the hospital in a worsened condition, and was placed on a ventilator. Most Covid-19 patients who need a ventilator to breathe are not expected to survive, but last Friday he was taken off the machine. It was “a major accomplishment” for him, Terry Pando, a LIJ nurse manager, said. M o r a l e s re counted the tearful parting with her father. “I told him to stay strong,” she said, “to hang in there.” Morales was admitted to LIJ at terry Pando a later date, on Ap r i l 3 0 , a n d Nurse manager, placed in the LIJ Valley Stream same room as her mother. Nurse practitioner Dr. Ruby Benjamin, who helped oversee their care, said having Covid-19 patients who are family in the same room tends to aid them psychologically, giving them a chance to communicate instead of suffering in isolation. Success stories such as Friday’s provide a morale boost to her staff, Pando said, which had been under siege in recent weeks, overseeing a high volume of Covid-19 patients from neighborhoods that, during the pandemic’s peak, had

e haven’t had too many happy events like this. . . . To see a mother and daughter together and seeing the husband reach a major milestone — it means so much.

Photos by Peter Belfiore/Herald

LIJ VaLLey Stream staff bid farewell to Covid-19 patients Mildred Songcuan and her daughter, Melissa Morales, after they were discharged together two days before Mother’s Day. been among the hardest hit in Nassau County. As with all Covid-19 patients discharged from LIJ, she said, the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” played over the hospital loudspeakers to accompany Songcuan and Morales as they left the building. “We haven’t had too many happy events like this,” Pando said. “. . . To see a mother and daughter together and seeing the husband reach a major milestone — it means so much.” David Seligman, LIJ’s executive director, said he hoped their story would serve as an inspirational reminder that despite the death toll caused by the virus, the vast majority of patients recover. “It’s one of the things that hasn’t got enough attention,” he said. “There’s been so much focus on patients that haven’t done well, but most patients have been able to ride out the storm successfully.”

Songcuan WaVed back to the LIJ staff who had helped care for her.

Valley Stream

HERALD HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/valleystream ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: vseditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 265 E-mail: vseditor@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: sales@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 The Valley Stream Herald USPS 005868, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Valley Stream Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Subscription rates: $36 for 1 year within Nassau County. Out of Nassau County: $58 for 1 year. Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nassau honors its ‘health care heroes’ County executive comes to NUMC for National Nurses Week By Bridget downes bdownes@liherald.com

In honor of National Nurses Day, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and other county officials paid tribute Wednesday to the health care professionals working on the frontlines of the pandemic. “These are our heroes,” Curran said at a news conference outside of the Nassau University Medical Center, joined by nurses and other medical staff. “They are the crucial part of our health care infrastructure . . . and oftentimes they take the place of the family. In people’s last days, they’re the ones there, providing care and holding the hands. It’s difficult work, it’s emotionally taxing, and it’s incredibly important.” Some health care professionals are sleeping in RVs, staying in their basements or even camping out in tents in their backyards, the county executive noted, to maintain self-isolation orders. Others go through meticulous self-decontamination measures, including changing

in the garage and showering before hugging family members. “You are our warriors and we want to thank you for what you’re doing each and every day,” Curran said. “As I say, this crisis has not created heroes, it has revealed the heroes already among us.” To date, the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management has distributed 2 million pieces of personal protective equipment to health care workers and first responders. Dr. Anthony Boutin, CEO of NUMC, thanked Curran for coming to the hospital to celebrate National Nurses Day. “I commend our hard-working nurses, all our valuable employees working hard here,” Boutin said. As of Wednesday, the hospital was housing 52 patients who tested positive for Covid-19, and 20 whose results were pending. “This is a significant achievement. We have a 74 percent decline at our peak here at NUMC,” Boutin said, “and I’m happy to report some good news. We are discharging our 565th patient today.”

nassau County exeCutive Laura Curran, left, came to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow last Wednesday to pay tribute to nurses in honor of National Nurses Week.

State, Northwell test in minority communities By sCott Brinton sbrinton@liherald

New York state and Northwell Health are partnering to increase Covid-19 testing in the minority communities hardest hit by the virus in downstate New York, Governor Cuomo said Saturday. Testing will take place at 24 churches. Two Nassau County houses of worship — the Union Baptist Church in Hempstead and the First Baptist Church in Westbury — will be among the 24. Results of the state’s diagnostic testing and antibody testing surveys found the highest rates of Covid-19 infection in low-income and minority communities, according to the governor. Additionally, a state survey of all newly hospitalized Covid-19 patients found communities of color are most impacted. Of the 21 zip codes with the most new Covid-19 hospitalizations, 20

t is a cruel fact that when you look at disasters and emergencies, the poorest and most disadvantaged people often pay the highest price. andrew CuoMo

New York state governor have greater than average black and/or Latino populations. “It is a cruel fact that when you look at disasters and emergencies, the poorest and most disadvantaged people often pay the highest price, and the Covid-19 pan-

demic is no different,” Cuomo said. “The fact is that low-income and minority communities are suffering the most. It is not right, and we have to address it.” Michael Dowling, Northwell Health’s president and CEO, said, “Given the prevalence of the coronavirus within communities of color, it’s imperative that we act quickly to prevent further spread of the virus. Among the ways we can protect our communities — beyond social distancing, wearing facemasks, avoiding group gatherings and basic hand hygiene — is through testing.” The governor also announced preliminary results of the state’s antibody testing survey of more than 1,300 transit workers in the New York City region. Roughly 14 percent, he said, had Covid-19 antibodies. By comparison, 16 percent, or 1 in 6 people on Long Island, tested positive for the antibodies, and 19 percent, or 1 in 5 people, were positive in New York City.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

Photos courtesy Nassau County

County and nuMC officials demonstrated proper social distancing while honoring nurses.

May 14, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Hempstead allocates $2M for food banks By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead has allotted $2 million of a $133 million federal aid package toward 14 food banks across the town to help ensure residents in need are fed during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said Tuesday. Announcement of the allocation, made with the nonprofit Long Island Cares food bank, was the first act of the town’s newly created Economic Relief Advisory Committee, which will recommend how funds from the federal government’s economic stimulus package should be distributed. “Nobody in our town will go hungry because of the hardships they have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Town Supervisor Donald Clavin Jr., a Republican from Garden City, said. “Between many of our residents losing their jobs and the grocery stores struggling to meet demand, this funding will keep our food banks stocked for the next couple of months so our residents can be reassured with quality meals.” Food distribution centers, run by Long Island Cares staff, will be located in Baldwin, Elmont, Lawrence, Roosevelt and other communities, and will be open two days a week for a total of eight hours. Times are subject to change depending on community need. For more information about where the food banks are located or how to schedule a pick-up or delivery, visit licares.org or call (631) 582-3663. Each family will receive a 20-pound box of food that can feed up to six people for a week. Each box will contain non-perishable, nutritious food, and staples such as milk and juice. Pet food will be provided if needed, and fresh produce will be available when possible. The federal funding will also support the Nassau Center for Collaborative Assistance, Long Island Cares’s satellite location in Freeport, and will go toward food distribution in Hempstead, Uniondale, Merrick, Bellmore and Oceanside. Clavin thanked U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York City, and the Long Island congressional delegation for helping to secure the stimulus funding. He added, “We’re very fortunate to have Governor Cuomo’s historic leadership at this very desperate time in our state’s history. Our town government looks forward to working with the county and state governments to ensure these funds are used appropriately and efficiently to produce the greatest possible outcome for our

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

the town of Hempstead is devoting $2 million in federal stimulus funding to help feed the hungry across the town, Supervisor Donald Clavin said Tuesday. communities.” “The launch of the economic relief advisory committee is the first of many steps that will be taken over the next couple of months to regain economic stability for our town, its businesses and residents,” said Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, a Democrat who represents the 1stCouncilmatic District, and who contracted the coronavirus and recovered. The town’s Economic Relief Advisory Committee comprises leaders from business, labor, education and the community, and includes: • Joe Belluck, Attorney and Founding Partner of Belluck & Fox, LLP: Before helping to found Belluck & Fox, a firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases, 18 years ago, Belluck took on large tobacco companies as the State of New York representative. • John Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor: Durso represents workers in the supermarket, health care, pharmacy, delivery, dairy and retail food service industries. He is also international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, and vice president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store

Union. • Charles Fuschillo Jr., President and CEO of Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: Before joining the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in 2013, Fuschillo served 16 years in the New York State Senate, drafting more than 200 laws. • Margarita Grasing, Executive Director of Hispanic Brotherhood: Grasing is also a former board member of the Rockville Centre Education Foundation, Nassau County HIV Commission and County Coalition of Youth Agencies. Kevin Law, President and CEO of the Long Island Association: Law is focused on fostering economic development and improving Long Island’s business climate. He is co-chair to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and was formerly a trustee of the Long Island Power Authority and chief deputy county executive in Suffolk County. • Mitchell Pally, Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Builders Institute: As CEO of LIBI, Pally works to foster home ownership across Long Island. He was also chief counsel to the New York State Senate Committee on Transportation and the Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices. • Geoffrey Prime, Mayor of Incorporated Village of South Floral Park: Aside from his mayoral duties, Prime is a criminal defense attorney and founding partner of Prime & O’Brien in Garden City. He is the past chairman of the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees. • Stuart Rabinowitz, President of Hofstra University: Before becoming Hofstra’s president in 2001, Rabinowitz was dean of its law school. As president, he founded the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government and Fred DeMattheis School of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as the National Center for Suburban Studies and the Center for Entrepreneurship. • Cherice Vanderhall, Village Attorney of Hempstead Village: Vanderhall specializes in employment litigation and family law. She previously served as Hempstead Village deputy attorney. “The Covid-19 outbreak has affected us all,” Law said. “As part of the Economic Recovery Advisory Committee, I am committed to doing my part to get the Hempstead community back on its feet in the wake of this pandemic. The multiple perspectives and backgrounds this committee has to offer will ensure the maximum potential for this funding is realized for Hempstead residents.”

Little Leaguers parade in Point Lookout By Darwin YaneS dyanes@liherald.com

Little Leaguers took part in a car parade at Town Park in Point Lookout on Friday as a way to pay homage to a season lost because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The parade was put together by Town of Hempstead officials and fire departments from Merrick and Island Park. Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin and members of the Town Board were on hand to cheer paradegoers. “This gives the local Little Leagues a chance to come down here, in a little bit of open space, and get cheered on,” Councilman Anthony D’Esposito said. “We just tried to bring some smiles to the kids’ faces and let them know they’re not forgotten. As soon as this gets past us, we will do anything we can to get them back to whatever sea-

son we can.” Merrick resident Al Belbol and his son Joseph, 12, took part in the parade. Belbol, who coaches his son’s Little League team, said Joseph practices every day in the hope there will be a season this year. He added that the parade gives players a sense of hope. “It means a lot to him to just be able to get his uniform on, feel pride in playing for the Merrick-Bellmore Little League,” Belbol said. “These kids are dying to play baseball.” Some Little Leagues represented in the parade were Merrick and Bellmore, Long Beach, Point Lookout, Island Park and Garden City South. New York Mets Legend Ed Kranepool, who was on the 1969 World Series team, was a special guest for the event. “Over the years, I’ve been to many Little League functions, and this is one of the greatest you can be part of,” Kranepool said. “Everybody be safe.”

Darwin Yanes/Herald

the BelBol familY from Merrick took part in the parade on May 8.

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A H W EN? OP nalcindor@liherald.com

The coronavirus has forced a reckoning in academic instruction. Unable to interact with their students in person, teachers have switched to virtual tools to retain some semblance of continuity for their students. In Valley Stream District 24, teachers have been relying on a number of online video chat and sharing services, primarily through Google, such as Classroom, Hangouts, Meets, Form, and Fly, as well as other tools such as Loom Video and Class Dojo for lessons and assignments. “The circumstance to which virtual teaching has occurred is sad and I would have rather us not go down this road,” District 24 Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Sturz said. “However, teachers are evolving and developing and they are doing the best they can.” Some teachers in the district said they have found some aspects of online teaching beneficial, but miss the camaraderie of in-person instruction as well as the social and emotional interactions that come with it. “It’s hard for students not to see their teachers every day,” said Kathleen Carter, a sixth-grade teacher at Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School. “There’s a disconnect.” “Virtual learning is not the way I prefer to teach,” she added. In addition to missing her students, Carter said she finds that certain aspects of teaching have been lost in the switch to online. “I feel teaching is a personal experience and a performance,” she said. “Having to teach online with technology has broken the connection and has imposed a twist on the performance aspect of teaching.” Carter said, however, that she is in some ways better able to monitor her students’ progress using the digital tools. “I can see immediately what they did online, and give immediate feedback online,” she said. “Whereas, in the classroom I have more students seeking help at once. There has been a dramatic change in the teaching experience behind a screen, but I have done my best to better

my teaching approach.” She said she is also able to meet some of more individualized needs of students who might be struggling, organizing smaller video chats. “Rather than having the whole class online, I invite certain students to Google Meets who don’t understand certain topics and their individual needs can be met through targeted instruction,” Carter said. “Students can be more open and comfortable because it helps them to know that other people in that group were also having trouble.” Brooklyn Avenue fifth-grade teacher Leigh Nahman-Tamburello said she has had a generally good experience with online teaching, but was clear to note that it would never truly replace the classroom setting. “I miss being one unit with my students,” she said. “However, I have had a positive experience teaching and the students have adapted and embraced this new form of learning.” The transition out of the classroom did present some obstacles at first, NahmanTamburello said, particularly with math and science lessons. Even though the instructing transition was smooth for Nahman-Tamburello, it did not come without some adjusting. At first, teaching math and science lessons presented some challenges. “Virtual learning does impact the way they learn, but my students have risen to the challenge,” she said. “I had a little difficulty with math and science, but I have adapted by using videos to give them real life examples and songs to learn from.” Although how and when students might be able to return to the classroom, remains unknown, Nahman-Tamburello said she has high hopes that she will be able to return to her accustomed way of teaching. Until then, she said, learning must go on. “Teachers are stronger and more united than ever and I just hope for a return to the classroom, so we can pick up where we left off,” she said. “I came to the conclusion that I chose this profession because I know the impact of teachers lasts forever and I want kids to feel safe, loved and important face to face or through a screen.”

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GooGle clAssroom is among the tools Valley Stream teachers have been using to teach remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

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The strains of volunteering amid a pandemic continued from front page eration and ventilation at the Nassau BOCES Barry Career and Technical Center, a trade school in Westbury, and graduated from Valley Stream South High School in 1988. After, he joined the Fire Department at 18 and was certified as an advanced EMT. After decades of service, he said he remains passionate about the work, noting that volunteering has brought him lifelong friendships. “Helping people when they are at their worst is very rewarding,” he said. “My favorite part about volunteering is networking and meeting people that have become lifelong friends.” Valley Stream Fire Chief Eugene O’Brien said he admires Seltzer’s work ethic, and that he shows pride in guiding the members of his company to be better every day. “Working during this pandemic has been tough on everyone, but Mike contributes a lot to the department,” he said. “Mike, specifically, has worked long hours [as a county medic] and still manages to

Become a fire eMt The Valley Stream Volunteer Fire Department is recruiting new members for its new emergency medical services squad. No interest in firefighting is required. For more information and to sign up, go to https://www.valleystreamfd.org/.

come to the firehouse and help out when he can.” According to O’Brien, Seltzer has served as a role model to many of the probationary firefighters by teaching and advising them for years, and he is usually one of the first to assist with training “My advice to someone who aspires to volunteer for the fire department is to soak up all the knowledge that they can from other experienced members,” Seltzer said. “Learning from mistakes that you and others have made can save lives.”

Courtesy Brian Grogan

Fire lt. Michael Seltzer had worked for three decades with late department EMT Mike Field, left, who died last month of the coronavirus after transporting a Covid-19 patient. They are shown here on Memorial Day, 2019.

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Courtesy Brian Grogan/Valley Stream Fire Department

Seltzer reSponding to last April’s plane crash in Valley Stream. During the coronavirus pandemic, he has helped ensure that the Fire Department’s EMS unit follows virus protocols and has adequate protective gear.

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Local Hometown heroes

Dr. Nathan Rothman

Critical care chief at St. John’s Hospital

ing the virus to others. Holidays and birthdays are also celebrated virtually via Zoom. My daughter often makes dinner for me. I drive up to her house, pop the trunk, and one of my grandchildren puts the food in the trunk because they won’t interact with me personally out of caution.

Sharon Raiola

Mammography technician

Coming home at night was a treat, but I never wanted to bring anything into the house, so I would leave my shoes in the car while getting changed outside and trying to avoid getting chased by raccoons.

As the chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, I am managing an intensive care unit that went from a bed count of 16 to 50, which is an additional 34 beds. Recently, I have devoted most, if not all, of my working hours tending to Covid-19 patients, when in the past I would see patients with various illness. As a physician, the Covid-19 pandemic has altered my professional life as well as the way I interact with my family members. My wife and I moved to Woodmere in 1979 and raised our three children in the community. I also have 13 grandchildren living in the community. Why do I mention this? Because I have not been able to hug or kiss them since the start of the pandemic out of caution since I work with Covid-19 patients each day. One of the biggest concerns of health care workers is the risk of inadvertently spread-

Individually, and as a community and nation, we will pull through this crisis and come out stronger than ever.

HOMETOWN

HERO

Yma Arroyo

Owner, Village Juice Garden

Things have definitely slowed down here at the Village Juice Garden and we’re working at a much different pace than what we’re used to because of the pandemic. But I think we also provide something that gives people a sense of good health, positivity and good feelings. Things have definitely been slower, but we’re going to ride this out until we can’t. I’m going to do what I can to make sure that I can stay here. We’re just staying positive with it all. Fortunately, we’re in a great town and everybody’s supporting us, coming by and buying what they can. Any

contributions that businesses can get are helping to keep the lights on. With everything that nurses and doctors are going through, I went ahead and called by brother, Keith Perez, who works at Mount Sinai South Nassau in the dialysis department and I thought, ‘you know, I would really love to get you guys some lunch.’ I know I’m not in the best position, but I just dropped it off. All the nurses and all the doctors and everybody that I got to see . . . they were just so happy to see that people are doing this. It’s hard for them right now and things are really crazy for them. I just thought that I’m going to pay this forward. That’s really where my heart was at. What others have done for me makes me feel like I should do more as well.

HOMETOWN

HERO

horrible to watch. I would come home at midnight and not fall asleep until 4 a.m. I was up thinking, “Is that patient going to make it? Is that patient going to be here tomorrow?” This is so out of my comfort zone.

But, it’s gratifying to know you’re helping.

I used to work days at NYU Winthrop’s outpatient mammography office, but when NYU decided to limit the staff, I was given a choice to stay home and not make money or work at the hospital. I decided to join the hospital staff, and became a part of its Prone Team, turning patients in the Intensive Care Unit from their bellies onto their backs so they could breathe easier. Once I really saw what was going on, it’s a mess. You’re like, “How could I not be here? How could I not help?” It was

HOMETOWN

HERO

Mariana Peredo

Nurse at Mount Sinai South Nassau

Every day we go in not knowing what to expect or what we’re going to see that day, and it’s been mentally, physically taxing for most of us. Emotionally it’s draining every day. Nursing in particular is always draining. It’s a difficult job, but I don’t think any of us expected to experience anything like this. I’ve had to help families say goodbye to people before, but this became a whole new world where people were succumbing to the virus alone in a bed surrounded by people in masks, and gowns, and gloves and it’s just something that I never

thought I would see in my lifetime. The severity of it has definitely taken a toll. When you’re a nurse you’re used to having a certain amount of patients with different disease processes happening, but when you have a certain amount of patients and they all have Covid, and they’re all really sick all at the same time, every single day we have to pull whatever energy we have right out and do what we have to do for these people, because I know that if my family member was in the hospital alone I would want the nurses and doctors to do everything they could. I do want to emphasize it though that it has been an extreme team effort. We have janitorial staff, kitchen staff, doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. It’s been a joint effort, and everybody’s been putting in 110 percent every single day, because I think we know that if we didn’t it would most certainly cost lives.

HOMETOWN

HERO

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

The Valley Stream Teachers Association would like to thank all the front-line essential workers who are working every day to care for the victims of this dreaded virus. With a special shout out to the staff at LIJ-Valley Stream, the Nassau County PD, and the Men and Women of the Valley Stream Fire Department.

Stay Safe!!!

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020 Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

colleagues aNd family members of LIJ Valley Stream nurse Luz Naranjo drove past her house on Saturday celebrating her return home after she nearly died from the coronavirus.

LIJ nurse organizes surprise for mother by Nicole alciNdor nalcindor@liherald.com

Catherine Naranjo, 24, a nurse at LIJ Valley Stream said she smiled with tears streaming down her face. On Saturday, her coworkers drove past her mother’s house in Garden City South to celebrate her safe return home after nearly succumbing to the coronavirus. Catherine’s mother, Luz Naranjo, 61, also a nurse at LIJ, had been placed on a ventilator, but on Saturday, she said she was overwhelmed with joy, sobbing as their colleagues cheered and waved from inside their cars. “The whole time I was sick, I never stopped praying,” she said.

“At one point, I thought if it’s my time to die it will happen, but I guess I still have a job to do on this earth because I still keep waking up every morning.” Her daughter had planned the drive by parade after Luz, a nurse case manager at LIJ, had contracted the virus from her. While Catherine had relatively mild case, her mother spent weeks in the hospital. “I contracted the virus first and the worst part was knowing that my mom got sick after me because people at work were saying ‘be careful not to bring this home to your parents,’ and that’s exactly what I did,” she said. “It was a nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on anybody because parents are the

people who help you the most.” Luz said that after more than a month of isolation, and a neardeath experience, being able to see her colleagues and family members, even from afar, was a blessing. “It was very hard not seeing my family for four weeks, while I was sick, so it was amazing experiencing the surprise of the drive by,” Luz said. “It was also nice seeing all my friends that I haven’t seen for a while.” The parade, “Really boosted my mother’s spirit,” her daughter said. “We wanted to do something special for her . . . The drive by was so heart warming because it was so much love that hit us all at once.”

The drive by was a surprise, and was organized by Luz’s daughter, Catherine Naranjo, who also works as a nurse at LIJ.

Public Notices

LVAL1 0514

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: IBERE, LLC. ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION WERE FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF NEW YORK, (SSNY) ON 9/21/2017 NY OFFICE LOCATION: NASSAU COUNTY. SSNY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AGENT OF THE LLC UPON WHOM PROCESS AGAINST IT MAY BE SERVED. SSNY SHALL MAIL A COPY OF THE PROCESS TO: 70 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY SUITE 500 VALLEY STREAM NY 11581. PURPOSE: TO ENGAGE IN ANY LAWFUL ACT OF ACTIVITY. 121888

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING due to New York State Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order dated March 7, 2020 AND LATER AMENDMENTS THEREOF on the temporary suspension and modification of NYS Laws relating to the disaster emergency, THE OPEN MEETING LAW’S R E Q U I R E M E N T ALLOWING IN PERSON ATTENDANCE OF THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN T E M P O R A R I LY SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the provisions of the Village Law and the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, as

amended, a Public Hearing will be held in Village Hall, 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York on the 18th day of May, 2020 at 7:00 o’clock p.m, to consider contracting with the Valley Stream Fire Department for fire protection services for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2020 and ending May 31, 2021. The purpose of said contract is to: protect, against loss by fire, the property located within the limits of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, and within the districts with which the Village has contracted to provide fire protection services; to protect lives of the inhabitants of said Village and said fire protection districts; and

to furnish all other services heretofore rendered including emergency and ambulance services. The public hearing and regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees that follows are closed to the public and will be recorded and transcribed through ZOOM and available on the Village website www.vsvny.org. The public can join by using this ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/7148140969 Dated: Valley Stream, New York May 14, 2020 By Order of the Board of Trustees Incorporated Village of Valley Stream Robert V. Fumagalli, Village Clerk 121845

The NaraNjos shorTly after the parade. Catherine expressed guilt after her mother contracted the virus from her.

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*If your property is currently listed with another brokerage, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokerages.

NYworkers, 11572 Thank you to all ourOceanside, healthcare first responders, police officers, firefighters, grocery Interested in selling employees, military service members,your restaurant workers, delivery drivers, teachers, essential home, buying, or investing? service providers, and all those who are working Anto experienced Realtor, former Baldwin High keep our community safe. May all our School Business Educator, local resident for community members stay&safe and stay well.

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© 2018 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. It is your responsibility to ensure that the marketing materials you choose or create are compliant with real estate and other local laws in your area.

Help Wanted

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May 14, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

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O HOLY ST. Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue, rich in miracle, near kinsman to Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoked your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and most urgent petition. (Make your request). In return, I promise to make your name known and cause your name to be invoked. St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke thy aid. Amen (Pray this 9 times a day for 9 consecutive days. On the 8th day, your prayers will be answered, for this prayer has never been known to fail. Please don't forget St. Jude once your request is granted, as it was for me)

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To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

Place Homes HERALD Market •

HERALD

Renovate or tear down? Q. I just bought a house that needs a lot of attention. It has little if any insulation, a sagging first floor, cloth-covered wiring with only a few three-pronged outlets that I doubt are grounded, and water stains in the ceilings. I’m thinking it may be cheaper to tear down, so I want to look Ask The into making the new house totally state-of-the-art, Architect meaning energy-efficient and storm-resistant, with computerized, wireless controls for a new boiler, sound system, lighting and security. I just wonder if, after investing in all this, is it worth it? Am I overimproving and out-pricing the house so I’ll never get my money back? A. Home ownership

Monte Leeper

is a challenge in many ways. For some, a home is a place to shelter, sleep, cook and entertain. For others it’s a little more like a place to enjoy time by a fireplace and a haven to relax or turn into a laboratory of gadgets and gizmos. If you’re concerned about value versus overpricing, then, other than a basic home, more upgrades are relative to comparable homes in the area. Making your home more, I often tell homebuyers, is based on your level of expected benefit and how long you hope to live there to enjoy the rewards of your hard work. State-of-the-art is ever-changing. Decide why you need the upgrades and how long they will last. If the upgrades have a return on investment, like superior insulation that reduces energy bills, solar electric or water heating, reflective or wind-resistant roofing and siding or radiant heat, then reducing bills makes the value greater. Adding a superior sound system, built-in computer and voice-controlled appliances, or a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen, are luxury items that may either become outdated or increase maintenance and insurance costs, which can actually lower the attractiveness to some future buyers who are looking at affordability. The traditional home, built 100 years ago up to the present, has basically the same structural configuration, either using amateur or unsound guessing to be over- or under-built or, since around the 1950s, a more enforced, regulated engineered construction. It’s pretty costly to just throw a home away, so you have to be sure to compare the existing with a replacement. Good design starts with sight orientation, the sun, winds, sounds and adherence to municipal zoning requirements. Decide if the size and shape of the existing home are a benefit or not. Insulated windows that allow uniform daytime lighting save energy. Properly sized overhangs screen harsh summer sun rays and allow windows to be open during a rain for fresh air. Look at what you have, what needs are not being met and how costly the renovation will be before starting over. If the home has a lot of dry-rotted structure or a crumbing or sinking foundation, replacement makes sense. If not, consider what’s useful to keep, and start from there with a trained, licensed professional. Good luck! © 2020 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.

HERALD

Stuff

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Electricians

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Education

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Health & Fitness

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HErald

Crossword Puzzle

opInIons

’m trying to find the right word. Is it “hate” or “jealousy”? I’m not sure what the right label is for us East Coast residents, but it seems that a substantial number of Republicans in the U.S. Senate and House have a built-in hostility toward us. This dislike goes back many years, and may even be tied to the Civil War. Every time an eastern state asks for help from certain Congress members, it is met with a mean rebuff and a tirade. One great example is the Sept. 11 first responders, many of whom have died JeRRY from their expokReMeR sure to toxins at the World Trade Center site. Considering that 3,000 innocent people died in the terrorist attacks and thousands of first responders risked their lives trying to save them, Lower Manhattan should be considered hallowed ground. Nevertheless, it took years before the Long Island congressional delegation and other state officials persuaded Congress to approve a long-term extension of disability payments for those heroes. The fight against that effort was led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ken-

tucky. A number of Republicans from around the country who fought against the aid request backed him up. Republicans are now looking for ways to stick it to New York and other coastal states that are drowning in debt created by the coronavirus pandemic. The relief bills passed by Congress showed great favoritism to some Midwestern states at our expense. Businesses in Nebraska and North Dakota were treated better than suffering New Yorkers. More pandemic hospital gear went to Florida than to our health facilities, and most of it wasn’t needed. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which have large populations, are essentially being told that they’re not entitled to more financial assistance because they are “blue” states. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has told McConnell that we’re dealing with life and death, not party registration. McConnell has gone out of his way to single out New York, claiming that our deficit was due to high pension costs and that we had no legitimate need. Once he staked out his position, he was joined by senators from Iowa, Wisconsin and Arizona, who pledged that the Northeast would get nothing as long as they were in the Senate. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, whose state is home to millions of trans-

planted Easterners, chimed in with his own diatribe against the northern states. What is fascinating about this meanspirited attack against New York is that these same senators aren’t reluctant to visit Wall Street to beg for campaign cash. A few years ago, when Florida Sen. Marco Rubio spoke out against directing money to the dying first responders, U.S. Rep. Peter King, who represents many of us, told Wall Street money people to withhold contributions to Rubio or any other member who opposed the 9/11 aid. New York state had more than 335,000 cases of Covid19 as of Monday morning, the most in the country. Our hospitals and their personnel have been under enormous strain keeping up with this terrible virus. We are paying a high premium for masks, gowns and other desperately needed items, and the federal government has been accused of intercepting and diverting medical supplies from several states. Police and firefighters are working long shifts in order to keep up with the emergency demands of sick people. There are sad stories about the death of first responders and thousands of other local people every day. Another obligation of the government, in the event of a future epidemic, should be to coordinate the food supply. It is a trag-

elief bills passed by Congress favored some Midwestern states at our expense.

edy to see farmers destroying millions of pounds of crops and dumping fresh milk while hungry people are lining up at food banks all over the country. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue knows a lot about the farm business, but he has been clueless about how to move products to those in need. And, of course, Republicans in the Senate oppose expansion of the food stamp program for people in need. As a former state legislator who crafted budgets for 12 years, I understand that state deficits are connected to the number of Medicaid patients and the high demand for human services. School districts have always been given a high priority in state spending plans, but this year they face dramatic cuts. That means higher school taxes, and guess who will pay the bill? New York state’s fiscal crisis is tied directly to the high cost of health care, education and other ways in which it meets people’s needs. The Republican claim that deficits are tied to pension costs is an outright lie. But, if I have to choose between jealousy or hate to describe what they feel toward us coastal states, I think both words apply. Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Will this plague lead to a new dark age?

ometimes a black hole opens in a culture and civility falls in. History teaches us that sometimes, good will and decency are trumped by avarice and authoritarianism. Read the stories of the Salem witch trials, the genocide of the Holocaust, the purges in Rwanda and the “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans, and you begin to connect the dots. I think we are on the cusp of such a moment, and I fear for our future. The cracks in the foundation of our culture began with the election of Donald Trump to the presidency and his very first lies about the crowd size at his inauguRandI ration, a seemingly kReIss small false note that presaged disaster. Over the ensuing years he systematically dismantled many well-functioning stanchions of government, fired legions of experienced government officials and replaced them with sycophants and hacks. The ground rumbled as he attacked the trusted agencies to which America has turned in times of trouble: the CIA and the

FBI. When the information coming from these bureaus reflected badly on him or his administration, Trump undermined their credibility, and by doing that, their efficacy. The crack widened with sick appeals to the racists and the know-nothings and the haters among us. Then, because sometimes we are caught in the confluence of a perfect storm, the coronavirus pandemic struck. It is the worst time to suffer through the worst epidemic in a generation, with the worst leader who has ever risen to power in the United States of America. Bad luck all around. We are living through a nightmare of unnecessary deaths caused not by disease alone, but by mismanagement and incompetence. From the beginning, Trump lied about the pandemic and what government was doing to stop its spread. He missed every single opportunity to make it better. Most disturbing, the lying and corruption at the top are trickling down. The crazies, the anti-vaxers and the hoax-mongers are having their moment. And they are being encouraged by the president, who ignores guidance from the best and brightest scientists and doctors we have in the

fight. Now, this week, I am seeing the black hole in our society opening wide. Who will fall in? The most vulnerable, of course. People will go back to work, not because anything at all has changed as far as the spread of Covid-19 is concerned, but because they need to support themselves. Because the president missed the opportunity to control the spread of disease, he tells the meat packers they have to show up. He knows they will go home to parents and grandparents and spread the disease. The cost of doing business. This is now the acceptable sacrifice: that tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of working people and older people, especially those in nursing homes, will die so the economy can stumble forward. It did not have to be this way. There will be a virtual culling of old people in this country. To accept this calculated loss of life isn’t just un-American; it is depraved. Yet here we are. The way forward from this mismanaged crisis is difficult and complicated. We need reliable testing so we can know who is sick, we need contact tracing when someone

he crazies, the antivaxers and the hoax-mongers are having their moment.

falls ill, and we need the truth, most of all, on a daily basis, from a reliable source. Most people who need to work and have work will work. But it is the federal government’s responsibility to see that the tests and protections that can make that process safer are in place. Enough dissembling from the president. The fact that he has frequently deployed the “witch hunt” defense, from the Mueller investigation to the impeachment hearings to his handling of the pandemic, is exquisite irony. He is the witch hunter in chief, going after news outlets, reporters, political opponents and now even iconic scientists like Anthony Fauci, who are the only source of reliable information on the pandemic. As one of the characters said in “The Crucible,” the story of the Salem witch trials, “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem — vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!” Their prey may be riding different imaginary broomsticks these days, but Trump’s witch hunters are still sowing havoc and reaping revenge. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

New York & company: the states Republicans love to hate

Herald editorial

Valley Stream

May 14, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD Established 1990 Incorporating the Valley Stream Mailleader Peter Belfiore Editorr NiCole AlCiNDor Reporter ANGelA SHiriAN Advertising Account Executive mArtHA jACoviDeS Founding Editor offiCe 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: vseditor@liherald.com offiCiAl NeWSPAPer: Village of Valley Stream Valley Stream High School District Valley Stream Districts 13, 24 and 30

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Stay strong, Nassau

he weekend was cold and windy, which likely prevented many people from venturing outside to potentially crowded spaces like the Jones Beach Boardwalk. For now, that’s a good thing. The more people stay home, the better. The coronavirus breeds among those in close contact. We know, however, that people will grow increasingly eager to get outside and see one another as the weeks wear on. Nonessential workers have been at home for eight weeks, and Nassau County Executive Laura Curran warned last Friday that it could be another six weeks before the economy fully reopens downstate. Hospitalizations, Cuomo explained, are declining but remain persistently high, and the fear is that opening the economy will lead to a spike in the Covid-19 infection rate — and thus the hospitalization rate, which could, in turn, increase the death rate. Deaths have declined to a quarter of what they were at the virus’s peak on April 9, when a staggering 799 people died overnight. From May 10 to 11, by contrast, 161 died. We mustn’t focus solely on statistics, though. Each reported death is a grandmother or grandfather, mother or father, wife or husband, sister or brother. Someone like Mike Field, a Valley Stream emergency medical technician and 9/11 first responder. He died on April 8 at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital, of complications of Covid-19. He caught it after transporting a patient. He was 59. Or Jim Adelis. He died April 4, at age 67. He organized Trees for Troops each year at Dees’ Nursery in Oceanside, sending Christmas trees to our troops overseas. And there are so many more. We must not forget them. Their memories should haunt us over the coming

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Where to find help ■ The Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore is a 24-hour suicide-prevention hotline. Its motto is, “Any problem. Any time. Anyone.” It can be reached at (516) 679-1111 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ■ The North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center is a nonprofit chilweeks. If they don’t, we may be tempted to let up on social distancing. We may forget to wash our hands and wear masks. But we simply can’t, or others will die. Make no mistake: We will be tempted to let up. Warmer weather is almost here, and we’ll all feel spring fever. We will desperately want to get out of the house and spend time with family members, friends and coworkers with whom we have interacted only via Zoom for weeks. We’ll want to return to our favorite restaurants and bars, shops and museums, ballparks and bowling alleys. We must be smart, however, and heed Cuomo’s warnings. We must understand that the coronavirus is an indiscriminate, remorseless killer. We may no longer want to hide, but until the government tells us it’s safe to return to life as normal, we must stay strong and abide by the rules. In the end, we will eradicate this disease, but doing so will require patience and diligence — and, yes, a vaccine. We understand the need to reopen the economy. People fear losing their livelihoods, and worry about paying their mortgages and putting food on the table. A second surge of the virus, however, could be deadlier than the first, and keeping hospitalization and death rates at the lowest

letters Ending racial disparities To the Editor: The coronavirus epidemic has shone a bright light on already existing racial disparities in health outcomes. Our African-American and Latino communities are experiencing a disproportionate impact from Covid-19. This is unacceptable, and I wanted to take a moment to share with you how Nassau County is working to close the gap: ■ We created a hotline, (516) 396-7500, where all symptomatic residents can make appointments for Covid-19 viral testing, regardless of insurance and immigration status, in partnership with our community clinics run by Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers. In addition to increasing testing capacity in the Freeport, Hempstead, Elmont and Westbury centers, the county is covering the cost of staff, and provid-

dren’s mental health agency. It can be reached at (516) 997-2926. ■ The Nassau County Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services can be reached at (516) 227-7057.

possible levels is a bit like balancing a scale. If too many people fail to socially distance, then we will tip the scale in the virus’s favor. That could lead to a second, longer shutdown of the economy, and possibly a second Great Recession, or even a depression. The federal government has put in place a number of programs, amounting to billions of dollars, to aid desperate New Yorkers. It likely isn’t enough, and as we have written in recent weeks, more needs to be done — the government must help fund states’ annual budgets to guard against cutbacks to schools, hospitals, and fire and police departments. There is funding, though, providing at least temporary relief, helping Long Islanders survive the next month and a half. Accessing that money may require persistence and a load of paperwork, but at least Congress allocated the funds, which are only now starting to stream through our local economy. If you are feeling desperate, understand that you’re not alone. There are tried and true institutions here in Nassau County to aid people in need at times like these (see box).

opiNioNs

ew York state’s Division of Licensing Services has adopted new regulations to address widespread housing discrimination. They take effect on June 20, and represent an important step forward. Yet much more state action is needed. The regulations come in response to irrefutable evidence of housing discrimination on Long Island. That was the focus of a joint hearing held on Long Island in December by three State Senate committees, at which I testified on behalf of ERASE Racism. But the problem eLaiNe isn’t limited to Gross Long Island. It is statewide and systemic. That’s why more state action is needed. The Senate committees’ hearing was sparked by Newsday’s three-year investigation of real estate sales practices on Long Island. It exposed widespread evidence of civil rights violations, employing a research technique — involving paired testers (one white, the other “of color”) and the expertise of the Fair Housing Justice Center — that mirrored an earlier investigation by ERASE Racism that demonstrated racial discrimination in real estate rental practices.

The problem, however, is not limited to sales or rental markets, or even to real estate. Stark patterns of residential racial segregation are evident across New York and the United States. They are the result of intentional, coordinated actions of federal, state and local governments, the housing and banking industries, and other institutions over many decades. Those patterns have been sustained by those institutions, which all need to work aggressively to end them. The new Division of Licensing Services regulations require real estate brokers and their employees and agents to notify — and obtain signed disclosure forms from — prospective buyers, sellers, renters and landlords about antidiscrimination laws. They also require the prominent display of information about how customers can file complaints about the services provided with the licensing agency. The new regulations thereby send two clear messages to real estate agents. First, the state has underscored that they must abide by fair housing statutes, and that their license to practice is contingent on compliance. Second, the state has clarified that the Division of Licensing Services plays a vital role in fair housing enforcement.

This step should, however, be just the first of many by the state. At the joint hearing in December, ERASE Racism and the Fair Housing Justice Center proposed a five-point plan for New York, with the following core points:

e should support programs that expand access to housing in all neighborhoods.

■ Create a well-resourced, proactive, and better-coordinated fair housing enforcement strategy. Complaints of discrimination must be investigated in a timely and thorough manner, but significant resources must also be devoted to conducting proactive testing investigations, since victims of discrimination usually don’t know what properties they were not shown. ■ The real estate industry should take affirmative steps to ensure compliance with fair housing laws. The Long Island Board of Realtors has a special responsibility here, but industry-wide action is needed. That action should include the

Letters ing testing kits, personal protective equipment and other essential items. ■ We have funded food distribution sites that have already begun providing meals in our hardest-hit communities, including Hempstead, Uniondale, Freeport and Levittown. We are adding more locations throughout the county. ■ Last year, I hired Andrea Ault-Brutus to serve as our first coordinator of health care equity. This is already helping us increase access to health care and improve outcomes in our communities of color. ■ I have conducted Zoom discussions with African-American and Hispanic community leaders, clergy and the NAACP. The conversations have been critical in understanding and addressing concerns in the community. We will keep working to provide critical resources to every community, and we will keep fighting for better health care for all our residents — during and after this crisis. Stay strong. LAURA CURRAN Nassau County executive

Small businesses need relief To the Editor: The news outlets are bombarding us with

■ Fully utilize the licensing power of the state to better regulate real estate licensees. The new regulations respond to that recommendation. The Division of Licensing Services should also determine whether licensees have engaged in conduct that warrants disciplinary action, including possible suspension or revocation of licenses.

talk about Covid-19 statistics, the Small Business Administration snafu and more. Small businesses, however, are often overlooked in the media. As a Schedule C tax filer, I am eligible to collect Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the CARES Act. The program enables me to collect benefits even though I am a sole proprietor. I applied for PUA on March 16. I have been certifying for benefits every week. Throughout this time my online account with the state Department of Labor says that my case is still pending. There has been no change to my status, and with the exception of a single payment of $600, I have seen nothing. I keep receiving assurances that the system is backlogged, and that eventually I will get everything that I am entitled to back to day one. Despite my best efforts, and the efforts of my state representatives, I cannot get a definitive answer as to when I will start seeing regular payments. Two months later, I am out of patience and money. Time and effort are being funneled into case tracking, SBA fixes and hospital preparedness. There is no discussion about greasing the process at the Department of Labor. Many self-employed friends of mine are in the same situation. We wait patiently for an answer that is never forthcoming. The system is broken and needs a rapid fix. The governor tells us that we have to continue to

hiring of more diverse sales forces.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 14, 2020

More state action is needed for fair housing

’m “h ■ Affirmatively further fair housing in wh all housing and community development Co activities at the local, state and federal substa levels. New York’s Human Rights Law U.S. Se should be amended in two ways: 1) to tility to explicitly prohibit discriminatory action many y by local public agencies involved in hous- Civil W ing, land use and zoning, or community development to ensure that their efforts are not perpetuating segregation by making housing unavailable based on race or national origin, and 2) to require state agencies and departments, local jurisdictions, public housing authorities and other public entities receiving state or federal funds for housing and community development to “affirmatively further fair housing” and take no action materially inconsistent with that.

■ New York State should implement fair housing legislative initiatives, policy changes, and support for programs that expand access to housing opportunities in ering t all neighborhoods. Among other actions, terrori respon the state should enact an “equitable share” housing plan and establish a mini- them, L ered ha mum affordable housing goal for every Nev community. Long Is All five of these steps need to be imple- other s mented for New York to achieve fair hous- approv ing statewide. ty paym agains Elaine Gross is president of Long Island- Majori based ERASE Racism.

Framework Courtesy Ryan McDonough

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A public space designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí — Park Guell, Barcelona

shelter in place and not reopen our businesses. If that is the case, then we need economic relief. I would have no problem remaining closed if I had the funding I so desperately need. Without it, I have two alternatives: file for bankruptcy or reopen my business. It is incumbent upon

the governor to ease the unemploy-ensuin tled ma ment bottleneck. govern STEPHEN WANgELgovern Lynbrookwith sy The Wangel owns the Kitchen Loft. trusted turned

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