Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, March 22, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 12
N E W H Y D E PA R K
SENIOR LIVING
CYCLIST KILLED IN LAKE SUCCESS
LAFAZAN OFFERS WEED OPT-OUT
PAGES 33-40
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Floral Park trustees beat back challenge
TRADE SECRET?
Thousands cast ballots in contested race; police commish issues raised BY M AY L A N STUDART Two incumbent trustees in the Village of Floral Park on Tuesday easily defeated a challenger who had raised concerns about how the Board of Trustees had handled allegations against the police commissioner. Trustees Lynn Pombonyo and Frank Chiara held onto their seats, receiving 1,401 and 1,231 votes, respectively. “I am extremely happy with the re-election of our strong Village Board team and thank all the residents who came out to support us,” Chiara!said via email. “Working together we can all accomplish the common goal of keeping our Village a great place to live now and for generations to come.” Chiara said the Floral Park!Village Board of Trustees will continue to be laser-focused on current issues facing the village, such as the Third Track and the Belmont
Project. Challenger Nadia Holubnyczyj-Ortiz raised concerns during her candidacy about how the board dealt with Police Commissioner Steve McAllister being named one of 10 unindicted! co-conspirators in a New York Police Department corruption case that went to court last year. Before becoming Floral Park police commissioner in 2010, McAllister was a NYPD inspector. Holubnyczyj-Ortiz, former president of the Hillcrest Civic Association, said the board’s private meetings with McAllister and village officials where it was decided that McAllister had committed!no wrongdoing showed a lack of transparency and lack of priority to protecting residents. Holubnyczyj-Ortiz said even though she did not win, she is pleased with the results of the election after getting a total of 834 votes. “The residents are clearly aware of the behaviors of the adContinued on Page 57
PHOTO BY JESSICA PARKS
Hempstead Tax Receiver Donald Clavin and Lynbrook resident Dennis Duffy call for Nassau County Executive Laura Curran to release the formula used to calculate assessed home values to the public. See story on page 13.
Christchurch attack ripples reach NHP BY M AY L A N STUDART The terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 people dead last Friday isn’t just anoth-
er mass shooting to the Muslim community of New Hyde Park. It’s a wakeup call, community members said, that it could have happened to them. Imam Ibad Wali of the Hillside Islamic Center said the
shooting was the last straw and he will make his mosque safer. He said he will hire an armed guard and is seeking permits from the town to construct additional exits. He has been enContinued on Page 6
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