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Friday, August 26, 2022
Vol. 10, No. 34
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
‘MR. MANHASSET’ HONORED WITH BRIDGE NAMING
KAPLAN WINS STATE SENATE PRIMARY
PAGES 25-32
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Zimmerman victorious in CD3 Great Neck buisnessman calls race after receiving 36% of votes with 95% of ballots reported BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO BY STEVEN KEEHNER
Great Neck’s Robert Zimmerman declared himself victorious in the 3rd Congressional District’s Democratic primary last night.
Great Neck businessman Robert Zimmerman declared himself victorious in the 3rd Congressional District’s Democratic Primary on Tuesday. Zimmerman, as of Wednesday morning had received 9,482, or 36%, of the votes, with 95% of the ballots reported. Former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman was in second place as of Wednesday morning, with 6,884 votes for 26%. Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan was in third place with 5,296 votes, Melanie D’Arrigo received 4,197 votes and Reema Rasool received 661 votes. The candidates ran for the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) who ran in the state’s gubernatorial primary race in June, only to lose to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Zimmerman will face Republican George Santos in the district’s November general election. Zimmerman, 67, is co-president of ZE Creative Communications on Bond Street in Great Neck, a public relations firm he started 33 years ago with Ron Edelson and a Democratic national committeeman. “This campaign is defined by our commitment to stand up for our democracy,
to stand up for affordability for the middle class of America,” Zimmerman said. “What holds us and brings us together are the ideals and commitment that gives us the strength, that gives us the fight, that gives us the purpose and the mission, that strength that brought us to this victory, it’s going to bring us to victory in November.” If elected, Zimmerman would become the first openly gay member of Congress from Long Island and Queens as would Santos. Zimmerman previously worked as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill for Congressmen Lester Wolff, James Scheuer and Gary Ackerman. His advocacy has also led to his being nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Presidential Commission on the Arts and by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities. Zimmerman said it will be his job to find issues where common ground can be shared and bipartisanship can thrive, despite what he calls dangerous rhetoric from the other side. The businessman referred to numerous Continued on Page 46
Demolition sparks calls for preservation BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A handful of local residents and preservationists shared their disappointment over the demolition of Plandome Manor’s iconic Richardson House Aug. 4. What emerged from the comments was a lost opportunity to save a historic structure because of bitter divisions roiling the community, poor
communication and a lack of statesmanship on the part of village officials despite rather strong support for rescuing the building. The house, constructed nearly 300 years ago, was torn down following failed efforts from the village to turn the building into its new village hall. A referendum that would have allowed the village to utilize the home for a new village hall and called
for the issuance of a $600,000 bond to finance the acquisition and relocation was defeated in April by a vote of 119-87. This past spring the house was a point of controversy throughout Plandome Manor, with village officials pushing for the house to be used as a new village hall, much to the ire of some Circle Drive residents. A committee comprised of An-
drew Cronson, Mallory Rutigliano, J. Thomas Lang and Gary Lewandowski said in a letter to Blank Slate Media that the Circle Drive residents who were opposed to the village hall transformation did not push to find a resolution to preserve the building. “This faction had no reason to come to the table as they were not interested in any form of compromise, no matter the circumstances or finan-
cial situation,” the letter said. “They made no effort even once to reach out or work with our committee and instead directed all of their energy to spread disinformation, lies, and fear to undermine a fair vote.” Village officials planned on moving the house roughly 1,000 feet down the road from 149 Circle Drive to a vacant village-owned parcel north Continued on Page 52
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