Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
$1
Friday, July 17, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 29
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
MINEOLA SEEKS UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD TARGETS STREET FAIR IN OCT. HUNDREDS OF WORKERS
PAGES 23-27
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Mask rules draw ire, resistance
Become issue as state virus order from April extended BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The enforcement of wearing face masks and complying with state-mandated safety precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to members of a village’s security team suffering verbal abuse from residents. Village of East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz said that while residents of his village are required to wear masks in the Park at East Hills, the streets are a different story. “It’s enforceable in my park, cause you can’t get in without a mask,” Koblenz said. “In the park, we can enforce it and not let you inside, but there’s nothing to be done when they say ‘no’ when they’re walking around on the streets.” At first, Koblenz said, East Hills security would stop while on patrol and ask anyone walking in village limits without a mask to put one on. The reactions, he said, were
“shocking.” “The security people asked them to put on masks and they’d get abused,” Koblenz said. “They’d do more than say no. And since they were abusive to our security staff, I’ve asked [the staff] to stop asking.” Security would also keep a log on incidents where those walking refused to wear a mask, he said. Koblenz said that other than enforcing the masks in the park, “there’s not much more we can do about it.” “My view is that people don’t take it seriously,” Koblenz said. “We don’t have any real enforcement power from the governor because the streets are the streets. I can’t protect people from themselves.” In mid-April, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order requiring New Yorkers to wear masks in public when they are unable to maintain a social distance, which is considered six feet. Continued on Page 34
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran presented the results of a bicounty economic impact study to the public last Thursday. See story on page 6.
Nassau County schools preparing reopening plans BY E LL I OT W E L D School districts across the North Shore are preparing for a number of different versions of what classes will look like in the fall.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that if the infection rate is below 5 percent in a region, schools can reopen. He said this is the number that he will watch until the decision on schools is made
in the first week of August. If the infection rate jumps above 9 percent in a region, schools must close. In addition, Cuomo said schools’ plans must include Continued on Page 35
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