Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park
$1
Friday, December 15, 2017
Vol. 66, No. 50
N E W H Y D E PA R K
/,'$< +2 *LIW 3DUW\ *XLGH
B CMBOL TMB UF NFEJB
MJUNPS QVC MJDBUJPOT TQ
FDJBM TFDUJP O Ŧ EFDFNC
HOLIDAY GIFT, PARTY GUIDE
GENTILE ELECTED NEW FIRE COMMISH
NIFA CUTS $18M FROM COUNTY BUDGET
PAGES 33-48
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
FS
Santino locks in 192 staffers; public protests ‘ A blatant corruption,’ says Town BY R E B ECC A K L A R The people have spoken — but the Town of Hempstead board did not listen. The Hempstead board voted to amend a union contract to prevent layoffs and approve 192 personnel changes on Monday during Supervisor Anthony Santino’s last meeting, despite a room packed with residents booing Santino and pleading for the board to reconsider the resolutions. The changes include transferring the Republican supervisor’s secretaries, clerks and executive assistants to other departments. “This is Christmas for the well connected and a lump of coal for the taxpayers,” said Town Councilman Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who voted against the proposals. Supervisor-Elect Laura Gillen, who attended the meeting, said Santino is trying to destroy the town’s finances before her administration even starts. The board voted 4-3 in favor of the contract amendment, eliminating the board’s power to terminate
an employee for budgetary reasons. Town Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, a Republican, and Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, the only Democrat on the board, were also no votes. The board also voted to approve 192 promotions, transfers and hirings. The original resolution had 194 transfers to approve, but the board pulled Matt Coleman, senior policy adviser and director of public affairs, and Theresa Gaffney, executive assistant to the supervisor, from the list. Thirty part-time workers, were voted into their positions unanimously in a separate vote, per request from Blakeman. Also included in the personnel changed were the appointments of outgoing Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad and Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito’s brother to new positions in a 5-2 vote. Ahmad lost to Town ClerkElect Sylvia Cabana, Democrat, in November. “This may be legal but this is corruption,” Blakeman said. “This Continued on Page 79
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
Tammie Williams, Elmont resident and community organizer, said a sports venue won’t benefit the local community. Williams protested along with other residents before a public hearing session for Belmont Park development on Sunday.
Public protests potential sports venue at Belmont BY R E B ECC A KLAR Amid a sea of hockey jerseys and protest signs, the New York Islanders and the New York City Football Club released details at a public hearing on Sunday about their competing plans to develop a sports arena at Belmont Park.
The Islanders, partnered with Sterling Development and Oak View Group, presented a plan at Elmont Memorial High School that includes an 18,000-seat arena, a multipurpose event center, a retail center and a hotel. NYFC, partnered with The Related Companies, proposed developing a 26,000-seat sta-
dium, a retail entertainment building, a 5.2-acre community park and 2-acre soccer facility. The proposals are in response to an Empire State Development Corp. request for proposals from July 31. The team selected by the Empire State Development Continued on Page 77
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow