Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, February 8, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 6
N E W H Y D E PA R K
GUIDE TO VALENTINE’S DAY
3RD TRACK ROAD CLOSURES
NICOLELLO BLASTS REASSESSMENT ERRORS
PAGES 37-44
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
Town officials talk temporary marijuana ban
NICE TO MEE T YOU
Gillen, King Sweeney announce possible yearlong moratorium BY J E D HENDRIXSON The Town of Hempstead has joined the conversation on the potential legalization of recreational marijuana and will consider a possible ban on the sale of the substance. At a news conference Friday, Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, joined by Town Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney and Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana, announced that the town will host a public hearing to consider a yearlong moratorium on the establishment of recreational marijuana stores, should the state legalize it. “The potential legalization of recreational cannabis has become a hot button issue, with municipalities such as the town left in a state of uncertainty,” Gillen said. It is anticipated that the public hearing will be held Tuesday, Feb.
26, according to town officials. In separate speeches this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed support for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults, with the latter naming it one of his top priorities for 2019. No state legislation has passed yet. In a bipartisan effort, Gillen and the Town Board majority have agreed that a yearlong ban on the sale of marijuana would provide ample time for the Nassau County marijuana task force to come to a decision on how the county, including towns and villages, should move forward. “A moratorium will give us the time to review the state legislation once it is finalized,” Gillen said. “It will allow the Nassau County task force, created around this very issue, the time to develop their recContinued on Page 77
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Herricks Board of Education President Jueligh Chin greeting students at Denton Avenue School’s Heritage Week. See story on page 57.
NHP board takes early measures to zone pot BY J E D HENDRIXSON The Village of New Hyde Park Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve amendments to zoning
laws to regulate potential medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries, anticipating the legalization of the substance at the state level. At a public hearing, Mayor Lawrence Montreuil said that
though the board understands# that no action has been taken yet by the state, the village is better served by being “proactive rather than reactive.” “This law is not to prohibit, Continued on Page 77
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