Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, January 31, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 5
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH & WELLNESS
3 CHILEANS ARRESTED CALL FOR STATE PROBE IN BURGLARIES: POLICE OF COMPTROLLER HACKING
PAGES 31-42
PAGE 2
Belmont plans began in 2016: Floral Park
PAGE 9
A WOMAN IN CHARGE
Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald says state ignored local concerns and input BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Kevin Fitzgerald, deputy mayor of Floral Park, said the village had obtained documents showing that state officials had no intention of taking local concerns into account in the Belmont Park development project. According to the documents that were acquired by the village under the Freedom of Information Law, a “master plan” for the Belmont Arena project was discussed by developers two years before the state issued a request for the redevelopment of the property, he said. The village has a history of opposition to the project, which includes a 19,000-seat arena for the New York Islanders, 350,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, a hotel containing 250 rooms and parking on 43 acres of vacant state-owned property at Belmont Park. Floral Park filed a lawsuit in
September asking a judge to overturn all approvals, stop construction on the site and restart the environmental review process. In documents filed in the lawsuit, the village called the public bidding process “flawed” and the environmental review “inadequate” and said the project did not mitigate negative impacts on the village. In a statement, Fitzgerald said the newly obtained documents supported the village’s contention that the process undertaken by Empire State Development, the state agency in charge of the project, was a show to hide a predetermined outcome. A spokesman for Empire State Development rejected the argument. In the statement, Fitzgerald said the village and its counsel Beveridge & Diamond requested documents from the ESD in October 2018 and August 2019, and Continued on Page 59
PHOTO COURTESY OF ED STONE PHOTOGRAPHY
Newly inducted New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce President Reena Gulati (left) was sworn in by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, becoming the second consecutive female to hold the position. See story on page 2.
Parkland victim’s mom speaks on gun control BY R O S E W E L D ON A Roslyn area-raised woman who lost her son in an infamous mass shooting is now taking action through lobbying and legislation.
Linda Beigel Schulman’s son, Scott J. Beigel, taught geography and coached the cross country team at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Since Scott’s death, Beigel
Schulman has worked to pass gun violence legislation, including the passage of the Red Flag law, which prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or Continued on Page 60
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