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HERALD
February 10, 2022
2022
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Hometown Heroes Yearbook Inside
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Vol. 70 No. 7
Wantagh woman dies in car accident
Wantagh native publishes new book
Page 4
Page 11
FEBRUARY 10 - 16, 2022
No shortage of confusion over mask mandate
i’ll take the smiley one Brynn Baum, 3, picked out a jellyfish doll with help from Gail David of David Squared Crochet at the St. Markella Greek Orthodox Church craft fair. More photos, Page 3.
By KAtE NAlEpiNsKi knalepinski@liherald.com
Christina Daly/Herald
Masks will remain in Wantagh-Seaford schools, and all public and private schools in New York, for now, after a state appellate court granted Gov. Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate a stay on Jan. 31. The directive, which applies to businesses, stores and schools, will remain in effect until the state’s appeal of a State Supreme Cout ruling striking down the mandate is decided. The state has until March 2 to file court papers. The shift has created frustration for some parents in Wantagh and Seaford who were happy to see the mandate go. Dana San-
sivieri, of Wantagh, said that late last month, her son, Angelo, was sent home from Wantagh Middle School for not wearing a mask. Sansivieri said she sent him to school without a mask, and with a note explaining why. It was Sansivieri’s decision that he not wear a mask, the note read, as she is the “ultimate authority in his life. Do not put a mask on my child!” the note added. Sansivieri said that although her son was sent home, the principal was understanding and apologetic about the situation, but indicated that the school had to follow protocols. “This week has been unprecedented,” Seaford Superintendent Continued on page 10
Town, county, local officials oppose Hochul on zoning By MAlloRY WilsoN mwilson@liherald.com
Town of Hempstead and Nassau County officials — and some South Shore residents — are up in arms over a zoning proposal in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2022-23 state budget. Dozens of elected officials gathered outside an East Meadow home on Feb. 3 to voice their opposition to “Section AA” of the proposed spending plan, which would effectively eliminate single-family zoning across the state, allowing single-family homes to be turned into Accessory Dwelling Units or apartments by converting basements, garag-
es and attics into separate dwellings. At last week’s news conference, officials detailed what they saw as the potentially negative impacts of the proposal: an increase in traffic, a strain on resources and infrastructure, and overcrowding in public schools. “It’s an attack on the suburbs — it’s an attack on the suburban way of living,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “… This is a power grab by New York City politicians, and we’re not going to take it.” The officials called on residents to contact Hochul’s office and make their objections clear.
A Feb. 4 letter to the governor signed by the Hempstead Town Board requested that she remove the provision from the spending plan. “We do not need New York State meddling in the local zoning affairs of the Town of Hempstead, or any community within Nassau County,” the letter reads. “Our town Building Department, Board of Appeals and Town Board — working with other municipal departments — have enforced local building codes and zoning laws for generations.” Town Councilman Chris Carini, whose district includes parts of Wantagh and Seaford, said in
a statement that the proposal would “destroy” residents’ suburban way of life. “The Governor and Albany leadership are hiding this legislation in the budget, just like what was done with bail reform,” Carini wrote. “This proposal is nothing short of a smash and grab to gain control of local zoning laws. We must not allow the Governor to
force her will on our local zoning! Local issues should be decided locally!” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at the news conference said the provision was “sneaky” and “a true attack on suburbia.” “The governor is attempting to basically mandatorily require anybody who wants Continued on page 12