Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
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Friday, August 13, 2021
Vol. 96, No. 33
LIVING 50 PLUS
COVID POLICY LEFT UP TO DISTRICTS
NASSAU ON TRACK FOR SURPLUS
PAGES 19-23
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Pols praise Cuomo quitting Local officials say A.G.’s report required gov to step down despite accomplishments BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASSEMBLYMAN’S OFFICE
Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has not provided any update on the future of the impeachment hearings of Gov. Andrew Cuomo after he announced his resignation Tuesday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that he would resign from his post a week after a report from the office of state Attorney General Letitia James revealed he had sexually harassed or assaulted 11 women, most of whom worked for the state. Cuomo, in a speech on Tuesday, said resigning was the only way to allow New York to move forward. “I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing – and therefore, that’s what I’ll do,” Cuomo said. “Because I work for you and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you.” The resignation will become official in 14 days, he said, citing the need for a seamless transition period between him and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will succeed him for the remainder of his term. Hochul, who agreed with Cuomo’s decision to step
down, will be the state’s first female governor. Cuomo, a Democrat, reflected on the allegations from women and spoke on some of the reports’ findings. The 165-page report’s findings, based on interviews with 179 people, indicate Cuomo violated multiple federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and New York State’s Human Rights Law. Cuomo apologized to the women, claiming he meant no malice with his actions, but recognized that they offended the women who came forward. Cuomo also claimed that the most serious allegations made against him lacked “factual basis.” “This is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended,” Cuomo said. “There are and for that, I deeply, deeply apologize.” Assemblyman Charles Lavine (DGlen Cove) announced last week that Cuomo’s legal counsel has until Aug. 13 to provide any evidence or docuContinued on Page 27
G.N. Estates opts out of cannabis sales BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
ing out of cannabis sales on the North Shore at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. Mayor William Warner said The Village of Great Neck Estates continued a trend of opt- he believes it would be prudent
to opt out of the law and to wait and see how the sale of recreational cannabis plays out on Long Island and the rest of the state. “Since we don’t know the amount [of sales tax revenue] the village would receive from cannabis sales – but my feeling is it’ll be negligible – it’s worth opting
out to find out how this all plays out,” he said. Under a new state law, consumption and smoking of cannabis is legal throughout the state wherever smoking tobacco is legal, though the Nassau County Legislature recently banned cannabis smoking and vaping on all county-owned property. Municipalities can opt out of al-
lowing retail sale of cannabis by Dec. 31, but they will not get to share in any generated local tax revenue. Warner said that the village can always opt into the law, but has until Dec. 31 to decide to opt out. Once a village has opted in, it cannot opt back out, according to the law. The trustees ultiContinued on Page 26
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