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HERALD VOL. 126 NO. 49
Oysters arrive in O.B. Harbor
Winter Market returns to hamlet
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Page 6 NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 5, 2024
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Local leaders reject plan for regionalization
How many chamber members knew the mambo? Emily Howard, of Glen Cove, taught attendees at the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce’s Galapalooza last Friday how to dance the mambo. Story, more photos, Page 10.
said. “We join our local communities in opposing any effort to force regionalization and fight Nassau County Executive to preserve local control.” Blakeman emphasized MarBruce Blakeman, local elected officials, superintendents, and tins’ points, saying this was an school board members gath- attack on suburban school disered inside the Nassau County tricts, and that they will continExecutive Building ue to fight to keep o n N o v. 2 1 , t o power in the hands oppose the recent of the districts. N e w Yo rk S t a t e “Isn’t it interestDepartment of Eduing that cities such cation Regionalizaas Yonkers, Buffalo, tion Plan. Syracuse, RochesThe regionalizater and New York tion plan, introCity are all excludduced as an emered from there gency rule on Sept. plan,” Blakeman 25, mandates school added. “This is just districts to pool another attack on resources, prot h e s u b u r b s by grams, and servicstate government, es, which critics say which is completeis threatening indely controlled by pendence to local left-wing politidistricts. State Sen- JACK MARTINS cians, and we will ator Jack Martins, State senator, not stand by and let one of the main 7th District the Department of opponents of the Education gut our bill, talked about fighting to school districts.” preserve local control. Many opponents of the plan “Long Island Schools are are questioning the decision to regularly ranked among the declare it an emergency. State very best in New York State. Senator Steve Rhoads called it a That fact is in large part to our rushed regionalization plan local control and educational adding that the language of the structure, which prioritizes our CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 students’ success,” Martins
By BRIAN NORMAN
bnorman@liherald.com
W
Tim Baker/Herald
Supervisors oppose congestion pricing Local officials urge the governor to cancel tolling initiative By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul relaunched the congestion-pricing program, requiring operators of regular passenger vehicles traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan to pay a one-day $9 charge. This marked a 40 percent drop from the initial cost of $15 before the plan was paused in June, after state officials voiced concerns over the financial burden the initiative would impose on commuters. On Nov. 18, the MTA board approved the revised plan, which is set to take effect on Jan. 5. When the revised plan was given the goahead, supervisors and elected officials from across the county held a news conference at Sand Hill Road Park in Wantagh, condemning
the rehashed proposal. Attendees of the event included Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and Congressman Anthony D’Esposito. Saladino said addressing traffic congestion and environmental sustainability are goals that he supports but called congestion pricing “an unfair burden on the hard-working residents, commuters and small businesses.” “Countless New Yorkers who live outside Manhattan see driving into the city not as a luxury, but as a necessity,” Saladino said. “Many rely on these roads to get to their essential jobs, medical appointments and educational opportuCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
e join our local communities in opposing any effort to force regionalization and fight to preserve local control.