Friday, May 26, 2017
THE PULSE OF THE PENINSULA
Vol. 92, No. 21
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BEST OF THE NORTH MARTINS BACKS SHORE NOMINEES 6TH PCT. RETURN
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
PAGES 41-56
PAGES 27, 63-67
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The Fireworks lighting up
VGN pols defend record
the sky over Hempstead Harbor.
For more Memorial Day
events and stories, see pages
63-67.
D A N C I N G T H E D AY A W AY
Bral, Mendelson tout openness BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Rebutting charges from a political opponent, Village of Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral and Trustee Anne Mendelson insisted on Tuesday that the village has been transparent and responsive. They were responding to a statement last week by Rebecca Gilliar, a community activist who has ďŹ led to run against Bral, that the “current mayor has proved himself to be untrustworthy and undemocratic.â€? In a joint statement, Bral and Mendelson said that since taking oďŹƒce, the village board has grown the business district, listened to residents’ feedback in numerous ways and has been responsive by paving roads, repairing potholes and cleaning parks. “There has been nothing untrustworthy and undemocratic about the activities of the current mayor. Quite the opposite,â€? Bral and Mendelson said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
A woman performs before a crowd at the annual Asian-American Festival. See story on page 20.
School to form building committee Advisory group follows approval of $68.3 million bond initiative BY JA N E LL E C L AUS E N
The Great Neck Board of Education plans to form a Building Advisory Committee after voters initially rejected a bond issue for building repairs and upgrades, and some residents questioned whether money was being Continued on Page 91 wasted.
The building committee idea emerged when the Board of Education pushed a $85.9 million bond that was defeated in February and real estate brokers oered advice, 12term Trustee Lawrence Gross said. Trustee-elect Je Shi, who was elected to ďŹ ll Gross’ seat, openly embraced having a building committee as a candidate. It aims to bridge a divide and provide transparency about building upgrades and repairs. “That’s one of the key things, because there is a mistrust developed over the time,â€? Shi said in a previous interview. This committee comes after some Great
Neck residents expressed distrust about a subsequent $68.3 million bond, which was approved by voters this month, how the money would be spent, and why the schools needed certain repairs and upgrades. “The bond proposition we are going to face on May 16 is a good example of wastefulness and mismanagement,� Jack and Wendy Roth wrote in a letter to the editor in the May 5 issue of the Great Neck News. “Every price on the line item is exaggerated by several folds.� Voters rejected the original $85.9 milContinued on Page 79
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