Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1
Friday, July 5, 2019
Vol. 94, No. 27
GUIDE TO SUMMER
MASHADI CENTER PLAN RETURNS
SUOZZI, RICE BACK IMMIGRATION BILL
PAGES 29-60
PAGE 2
PAGE 9
Emails hint at a religious rift in Great Neck
FENCING CHAMPS
Markowitz targeted as being against Orthodox; says claims are ‘nonsense’ BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN The Village of Great Neck election may have widened a rift between some in the Jewish community, with some observant Jews alleging that the head of a local Holocaust memorial center has a history of “anti-religious animus” against the Orthodox community. The allegations against Steven Markowitz, the chairman of the Glen Cove-based Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and head of the Great Neck Democratic Club, date to 2015, emails obtained by Blank Slate Media show. Markowitz denied the allegations both in emails and via phone, describing them as an unsubstantiated “hate campaign” against him. Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, in an email exchange with Markowitz, accused him of “anti-religious animus” and making false claims that observant trustees would close the
Great Neck Library on Saturday. He also suggested that James Wu’s campaign for mayor, which Markowitz was involved in, was “full of anti-Semites,” Wu’s resume was exaggerated, and that “You – no one but you – wants a wedge between the Persians, Orthodox and the Chinese. You want this because the Democrats are losing Great Neck.” Robert Spitalnick, in a separate letter to the editor, alleged that Markowitz was engaged in a “series of anti-Semitic whispering campaigns intended to keep Orthodox Jews out of public office in this town.” He made reference to a screenshot of an alleged email from Markowitz in 2015, the year Pedram Bral was first elected mayor, which said, “Have no reluctance to tell people that this election is about an attempt by right wing Orthodox groups to take over the village.” “Most people are unaware and Continued on Page 74
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGISLATOR ELLEN BIRNBAUM’S OFFICE
Nassau County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum congratulated the Great Neck South High fencing teams and their coaches, Catie Sagevick and Joshua Baravarian, for a strong season. See story on page 87.
Chico’s boutique to join ranks of closed stores BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN
will close its doors in Great Neck Estates this month, company representatives confirmed Chico’s, an international last Thursday. Signs in the windows of women’s boutique store at 78 Middle Neck Road with hun- Chico’s, a longtime presence at dreds of locations nationwide, the corner of Middle Neck Road
and Elm Street, had warned of the store’s impending closing. A customer service representative said the store’s final day would be July 23. Asked why it is closing, she said, “It’s Continued on Page 75
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebo ok.com/theislandnow