The Great Neck News, Friday, August 12, 2022
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Dems vote to continue abortion hearing Continued from Page 2 have said women don’t get to decide what happens with their bodies, instead it leaps into the hands of state legislatures who decide the fate of women.” Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District candidate, said although 41A is unenforceable due to state law, repealing it would make sure it can never be applied. “We all know too well that laws can be modified, governments change and all of a sudden Chapter 41A can be used as it was intentionally meant, to harass women and make it more difficult for them to seek health care,” he said. In 1972, New York’s Appellate Divison issued a ruling in Robin v. Incorporated Village of Hempstead that invalidated a similar law to North Hempstead’s. Dr. Kathleen Gaffney, the former commissioner of the Nassau County Health Department from 1994 to 2000, said a repeal would signal to women they have access to quality care.
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HIS IS ABOUT STANDING UP FOR WOMEN. THIS IS ABOUT STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHTS TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES. THIS IS ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE THAT WE WILL ALWAYS STAND UP FOR WOMEN IN THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD.
Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) STATE SENATOR
“Pregnancies can be very high risk and access to safe medical care is essential to assure the best outcomes,” Gaffney, a Williston Park resident, said. “I hope you assure by this action you will let everyone know they have access to the highest quality sexual and reproductive care in North Hempstead.” Many residents spoke against the repeal on the grounds of a safety net for both the mother
and the child, touting the oversight hospitals and hospital-affiliated facilities provide the ability for emergency room treatment if something goes wrong. “You don’t have to be a Christian to be against the repeal of 41A, you have to be for human rights,” Jim McHugh of New Hyde Park said. “You have to believe that a woman has a right to a safe procedure.” Residents echoed similar sentiments while questioning the desire to have reproductive health clinics in their villages, such as Planned Parenthood. “I’d like to ask why in light of the escalating violence in this nation why anyone would favor rescinding a law a keeps abortion mills out of their neighborhoods,” said Bette Russo of Port Washington. “We need a completely new mindset and need to become a culture of life, not a culture of death.” Democratic Councilmember Robert Troiano called for a motion to continue the hearing, which had gone on for hours, to the Sept. 1 meeting. He was opposed by Republican David
Adhami who alluded to previous meetings where Republican motions to continue hearings were rejected by the Democratic majority. Troiano told Adhami that on previous motions to continue hearings, Adhami was aware two weeks in advance of the agenda items and could have sought more information in advance of the meeting. “Tonight is a different instance. Here we have information given to us from residents of the town and they want us to reflect on that,” Troiano said. “I’d like the opportunity to talk to residents, which I did not have two weeks to do so, and make a decision.” At the June 7 town board meeting, Democrats, who make up four of the sevenperson board, voted not to continue the public hearing to confirm new election districts in the town. Troiano was supported by Democratic Councilmembers Peter Zuckerman and Lurvey, who both said they would like more time to speak with residents and hear more voices. The next Town of Nort Hempstead Town Board meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 1.
Manhasset’s Leonard Finz honored by U.S. Army Continued from Page 8 prompted by his experience as Judge Advocate General in the Philippines where he defended GI prisoners waiting to be court-martialed for various crimes. Finz fulfilled the position despite having only a high school diploma. Returning to the law after his time in show business, Finz became politically active, organizing rallies as Queens County campaign chairman for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and running for senate and congressional seats unsuccessfully. He was elected as a judge to the New York City Civil Court, becoming the youngest at the time, and later as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. During this time Finz married his late wife Pearl of 67 years and had two children. He founded what is now Mineola-baed Finz
& Finz P.C. in 1984, and later joined by his son, Stuart, secured verdicts and settlements totaling over $1 billion until his retirement in 2004. “The firm is a family business. It has been three generations: myself, my son, my grandson and my granddaughter. I’ve also got four grandchildren and they’re all involved in law,” Finz said. Finz received the Army Commendation Medal for his Distinguished Meritorious Service from the United States Army Officer’s Artillery School in 2004, in addition to receiving the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame. During his retirement, Finz has become an
author of four published books and various legal articles, a YouTube commentator on political and geopolitical affairs, and occasionally advises counsel on some of the firm’s cases. “(Finz) has been an extremely important role model to me throughout my 65-years and he is a determined, strong and caring, talented, loving and supportive father to me and my sister Sandy,” said Stuart Finz, CEO and trial attorney at Finz & Finz P.C. “This world would be a better place if more people displayed the kind of care and compassion for others that he has displayed in his life. A day doesn’t go by that we don’t talk or discuss the day’s issues or current events. We have developed that kind of relationship and it goes to show the depth and quality of the person that my father is and how important he has been in my life and the lives of so many people in our
country.” Although stoic about the honor, Finz is grateful for the attention, particularly the light it sheds on what has become known as the “Greatest Generation.” “We had 60 million Americans in uniform during WWII. What we have left today is less than 1% of that total and we are losing (more) at the rate of 350 to 400 veterans a day. Now most of those veterans who are still with us are either in VA homes or in nursing homes or disabled. We’re all in our mid to upper 90s, and we are really a vanishing breed. I’ll leave the higher authority to (decide) when I will fall statistically into that group known as the vanished breed,” said Finz.
VGN village hall hit by lightning, catches fire Continued from Page 1 “All we know so far is that it was a lightning strike that started the fire and resulted in significant damage to the building,” Bral said. Purcell said more than 100 volunteer firefighters from Alert, the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Department, the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire department, the Port Washington Fire Department, the Plandome Fire Department, the Williston Fire Department, the Albertson Fire Department and the Nassau County Fire Marshal. Based on the initial assessment, Bral said, most of the village files were stored in a different location from where the fire occurred and believes they can be salvaged. The hardware, he said, experienced the most significant damage. The mayor said that the building will be restored but did not commit on the extent of construction that would be done on the structure, which was built in 1833 and had previously experienced an internal fire. Bral said the village will explore options on how to conduct business until repairs are made to the building, and did not comment on what
plans for future meetings would entail. “We’re seeing if we have to go to an office building or trailers… those are things we need to study this week,” Bral said. The village has also been working towards a new village hall, which will be located at 756 Middle Neck Road. The proposed three-story building is 35 to 40 feet high and features a larger lobby, Building Department office, a second-floor courtroom, a variety of conference rooms, and a third-floor reception hall. Also featured in the proposal are benches, trees, a pedestrian courtyard, and an outdoor terrace on the third floor. Public parking will be available in the rear of the building, with two handicap parking spaces directly next to the back of the building. Bral did not comment on how, if at all, the damages to the current village hall would impact the plans for a new village hall. The village is scheduled to have a board of trustees meeting on Tuesday, which may have to take place on a different location, the mayor said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED BASSALI
The Village of Great Neck village hall caught on fire from a lightning strike on Tuesday, officials announced.
