MAKE YOUR NEXT PART Y A PIZZA PARTY!
Vol. 112 xx No. Vol. No.x 27
A lasting tribute to Freedom
Explore the pages filled with signatures from across our community.
CALL TO BOOK US NO W!
Page 618& 7 Pages
JUlY 1-7, 2026
MoNth xx-xx, 2023
516-519-4431
$1.00
1340008
Breakfast at Brady Park Page 10
$1.00
MPK raises 48/49 Bold permit and condensed
application fees
20/20 condensed subhed By JEFFREY NEGRIN
jnegrin@liherald.com
xx $115 to $250. • Plumber license renewals will increase from $55 to $150. • Storage container permits Massapequa Park residents seeking building permits and will increase from $10 to $125. The increases were disother approvals will pay higher fees beginning July 1 after cussed during a public work trustees approved increases at session earlier this year. Officials said the new fee schedule their June 22 meeting. The board approved in- was developed after comparing creases for a variety of permits Massapequa Park’s fees with and applications handled by those charged by neighboring the village’s Building Depart- municipalities and reviewing xx xxx the workload associated with ment. permit processing. Among the changes: At the work session, Mayor • Building permit applications will increase from $30 to Daniel Pearl said the village’s fees were out of line with those $150. • Certificate of occupancy charged elsewhere and noted searches will increase from that the new fee schedule was developed after comparing $85 to $150. • Demolition permits will Massapequa Park’s fees with those charged by neighboring increase from $110 to $250. • Fence permits will in- municipalities and reviewing the workload associated with crease from $55 to $150. • Dumpster permits will in- permit processing. “We don’t want to be the crease from $25 to $150. • Mother-daughter renew- most expensive, but we also al applications will increase don’t want to be where we are now, which is ridiculous,” from $30 to $150. • Miscellaneous permits, in- Pearl said. cluding gas conversions, tents IN OTHER BUSINESS, and fireplace installations, THE BOARD: will increase from $30 to $150. •Authorized Pearl to sign an • Plumbing applications engagement letter with Cullen will increase from $30 to $150. & Danowski LLP to conduct • New plumber license applications will increase from CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
By MIKE POLANSKY
Senior Correspondent
Herald file photos
Massapequa School Board member Kerry Wachter, left, and Lynn Russo who unsuccessfully ran for Photo Credit/Herald the school boardfor in May, are onfordifferent sides of the issue. This is the place a caption this photo. caption caption.
Federal court dismisses challenge to New York 30/33 med condensed hed guidance on transgender student policies 20/24 condensed subhed By MIKE POLANSKY By JEFFREY NEGRIN
Senior Correspondent jnegrin@liherald.com
Xx A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Massapequa Board of Education President Kerry Wachter and three other plaintiffs charging that guidance from New York Attorney General Letitia James and state Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa on transgender student policies, particularly those related to athletics and access to school facilities, is a violation of First Amendment free speech rights. U.S. District Court Judge Anne M. Nardacci ruled that the guidance did not violate the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights, writing that it “lacks the force of law” and serves instead as a reminder of existing state anti-discrimination requirements and possible consequences for noncompliance. The lawsuit contended the guidance unlawfully chilled speech by school officials and parents who question state policies related to transgender students, including those involving athletics participation and access to school facilities.
Wachter criticized the decision, saying she was “very disappointed” by the dismissal but remained committed to her position. “I stand strong in knowing that my fight against this infringement of the First Amendment is right,” she said, adding that she would continue advocating for parents and board members to speak freely without fear of removal.” Not everyone agreed. Lynn Russo an attorney and unsuccessful candidate in the election for the school board last month, said Wachter has the responsibility as an elected official. To listen to the entire community and find solutions to the issues that divide it. “Instead, she fans the flames,” said Russo. “And she did not work toward the common-sense solution of building privacy stalls that would have addressed the larger problems and would have shown that she listened to student privacy concerns. She chose, once again, to file a frivolous lawsuit to avoid her obligation to follow the law.” The plaintiffs are represented by the ConTinued CONTINUEDonONpage PAGExx9
ConTinued on page xx