Serving Manhasset, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Plandome and Flower Hill
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Friday, March 8, 2024
Vol. 12, No. 10
3 TITLE RUNS COME TO END
LANGONE SUIT AGAINST NORTHWELL TOSSED
SUOZZI DISTRICT TO CHANGE IN FALL
PAGES 34-35
PAGE 2
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Blakeman, AG trans ban fight court bound
S E T AT N I G H T
County exec to file federal lawsuit after James issues cease and desist BY C A M E RY N O A K ES New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a cease-and-desist order against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Friday, demanding he rescind his executive order banning transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams at county facilities. “The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression. We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York,” James said. “This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal. Nassau County must immediately rescind the order or we will not hesitate to take decisive legal action.” Blakeman said James’ order is “contrary to the law” and stood his ground, claiming the executive order is legal, constitutional and protects women’s rights. “We believe that not only is the law on our side, but the facts are on our side as well,” Blakeman said, expressing confidence in the order’s legal standing. He said he is willing to discuss the matter further with James and her office. Blakeman signed an executive or-
der Feb. 22 barring transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities. Under the executive order, transgender girl and women athletes will now be forced to compete in the leagues that correlate with their sex assigned at birth, limited to competing only on boys’ and men’s teams or co-ed teams. The county executive said the purpose of the executive order is to protect women’s and girls’ sports in the county by preventing transgender girls and women athletes from competing, saying transgender women and girls present an unfair advantage. The ban only applies to transgender girls and women, as Blakeman said there is no advantage for transgender boys and men to compete on boys’ and men’s teams. Blakeman said that he is not aware of any incidents involving transgender athletes in Nassau County, but that the order is to get the county “ahead of the curve.” The cease-and-desist letter, signed by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Bureau Chief Sandra Park, said the executive order violates New York State anti-discrimination laws in discriminatContinued on Page 22
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MANHASSET PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Manhasset High School broadcast and jazz band students hosted their own late night talk show filled with music, games, interviews and laughs.
No contested elections in Manhasset village races BY S A M U E L S C H U LT Z As the Manhasset area elections approach on March 19, no elected positions are contested. Five Manhasset villages will be holding elections this March. This includes Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Munsey Park and Flower Hill. The Village of Plandome has four positions up for election. Mayor John Kurkjian is running for re-election for a one-year term to
finish out the previously uncompleted one-year term of mayor. Kurkjian, previously a trustee, took over as mayor following previous mayor Thomas S. Minutillo’s resignation in August. Trustee Damien Quinn took over the vacated trustee position left by Kurkjian in August and is running for re-election for a term of one year to finish the uncompleted term. Trustees Robert Broderick and James Corcoran are both running for re-election to two-year terms.
The Village of Plandome election will be held from 12-9 p.m. on March 19 at Village Hall at 65 South Drive. Plandome Heights also has four positions up for election: three trustee positions and a mayor. All candidates are running uncontested for two-year terms under the Alliance Party. Incumbent Mayor Kenneth C. Riscica is running to reassume the position he’s held since 2012, while Continued on Page 23