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, September 29, 2023
Vol. 98, No. 39
GUIDE TO MINEOLA STREET FAIR PAGES 21-32
SEACREST STUDIOS OPENS AT COHEN’S
CRICKET WORLD CUP COMES TO NASSAU
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Ambulance unit proposal draws opposition
SUN SETS ON SUMMER
Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District bond vote set for Tuesday, Oct. 10 BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Residents in the Great Neck area have voiced their concerns over the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District’s proposal to build a new firehouse for the department’s ambulance unit in Lake Success. In a letter sent to Blank Slate Media by Great Neck’s Youngsoo, Choi spoke out for residents in the area and iisted concerns with the $11.7 million project, including traffic, safety and the location of the firehouse. “We firmly believe that this development would significantly and adversely impact our quality of life, compromise the safety of our children, exacerbate traffic issues, contribute to congestion in the area, and highlight a lack of early direct communication with the affected residents and a total disregard of residents’ strong voices and concerns that were related to Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department many times,” Choi wrote. Choi went on to list eight pressing concerns with the proposal, saying no public impact study was done for the proposal, the 14 sites that were previously considered or the reasons they are not feasible were not disclosed, the traffic study was conducted by the same architects of the proposal, the traffic study did not address safety concerns
in the surrounding area, residents don’t know where the funding for the project is coming from, the district has refused to listen to resident concerns and the budget for the proposal is “devoid of substance.” District officials told Blank Slate Media all appropriate municipalities have been informed that there are no significant impacts to the environment as part of the proposal, the 14 previous sites are available online as of Sept. 25, the surrounding areas mentioned in the letter are under the jurisdiction of Nassau County or North Hempstead and not relevant to the proposal, Cameron Engineering conducted the traffic study and H2M Engineers are the architects of the proposal and the district has long stayed within the state-mandated 2% tax cap and not exceeded it due to the project. Officials said the bond will help pay for the proposal alongside a state grant and reserve funds. The district said the last rate it received for a 20-year bond was 3.75% and that the anticipated cost for the financial advisor to obtain the bond would be $30,000. A state grant of $1 million was secured by state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) in 2022 and goes toward the approximate $3.5 million that has already been allotted for the project in reserve funds, district officials said. Continued on Page 45
PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC
As sunset sweeps across the Saddle Rock 9/11 Memorial Bridge in Great Neck fall is ushered in.
Great Neck Library board settles election lawsuit BY K A R I N A KO VA C The Great Neck Library has spent nearly half a million dollars on various legal fees stemming from a lawsuit over a vacant board seat and subsequent counterclaims, which have now been settled. The financial disclosures were made at the Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 19, where mounting legal fees were discussed and approved by the board in the settlement. Arguments over bad construction work
are still being litigated in other legal actions. A joint statement included in the settlement said: “The action was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. The parties are committed to working together amicably and respectfully to support the Great Neck Library in its mission to engage our diverse community, inspire ideas, and accelerate lifelong learning through traditional and innovative library services.” The dispute originated when
a seat on the library board became vacant following Chelsea Sassouni’s resignation in September 2021. Under the library’s bylaws, the nominating committee, which endorses candidates, was required to present two or more names to the board within a 60-day window, with the board then responsible for selecting one of the options. The individuals embroiled in the case included Trustee Barry Smith, Trustee Donald Panetta, and nomiContinued on Page 46