Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1.50
Friday, March 8, 2024
Vol. 99, No. 10
3 TITLE RUNS COME TO END
LANGONE SUIT AGAINST NORTHWELL TOSSED
SUOZZI DISTRICT TO CHANGE IN FALL
PAGES 34-35
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
Blakeman, AG trans ban fight court bound
A R T F O U N D AT I O N S
County exec to file federal lawsuit after James issues cease and desist BY C A M E RY N O A K ES New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a cease-and-desist order against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Friday, demanding he rescind his executive order banning transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams at county facilities. “The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression. We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York,” James said. “This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal. Nassau County must immediately rescind the order or we will not hesitate to take decisive legal action.” Blakeman said James’ order is “contrary to the law” and stood his ground, claiming the executive order is legal, constitutional and protects women’s rights. “We believe that not only is the law on our side, but the facts are on our side as well,” Blakeman said, expressing confidence in the order’s legal standing. He said he is willing to discuss the matter further with James and her office. Blakeman signed an executive order Feb. 22 barring transgender girls
and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities. Under the executive order, transgender girl and women athletes will now be forced to compete in the leagues that correlate with their sex assigned at birth, limited to competing only on boys’ and men’s teams or co-ed teams. The county executive said the purpose of the executive order is to protect women’s and girls’ sports in the county by preventing transgender girls and women athletes from competing, saying transgender women and girls present an unfair advantage. The ban only applies to transgender girls and women, as Blakeman said there is no advantage for transgender boys and men to compete on boys’ and men’s teams. Blakeman said that he is not aware of any incidents involving transgender athletes in Nassau County, but that the order is to get the county “ahead of the curve.” The cease-and-desist letter, signed by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Bureau Chief Sandra Park, said the executive order violates New York State anti-discrimination laws in discriminating against transgender women and girls. Continued on Page 22
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Eighth grade students at Great Neck South Middle School flex their skills using charcoal to create surrealist drawings.
Shemesh opposes Smiley in Estates trustee race BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Great Neck voters will hit the polls once again March 19 to vote in their local village elections, with Great Neck Estates headlining the day as the community’s only contested race as two candidates vie for a trustee position. Five Great Neck villages will be holding elections this March: Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Saddle Rock and Thomaston.
All races are uncontested except for the trustee race in Great Neck Estates. The Village of Great Neck Estates will have one trustee position up for a vote, with incumbent Trustee Michael J. Smiley facing off against challenger Lilia Shemesh. Smiley is running under the Better Government Party, while Shemesh is running on the United Residents Party line. The trustee position is for a oneyear term.
The election will be held on March 19 from 12-9 p.m. at Village Hall, located at 4 Gateway Drive. The Village of Great Neck Plaza will be holding elections for its mayor and two trustees, all of which are uncontested with just incumbents running. Mayor Ted Rosen, Trustee Pamela Marksheid and Trustee Michael DeLuccia will be running to be reelected for another five-year term. Continued on Page 23