Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
Friday, February 3, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 5
$1.50
N E W H Y D E PA R K
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
FLORAL PARK VOTES ON AMBULANCE PLAN
SANDS PROPOSAL A WORK IN PROGRESS
PAGES 23-26
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State of Town good. And rocky: DeSena GOP town supervisor presents goals, addresses conflicts with Democrats BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena laid out a 2023 agenda that included infrastructure improvements and updates on previously made promises, including a 311 call center team devoted to specific town Building Department requests and bringing in a professional planner to update the town’s master plan. “My goals for my administration have not changed since my inauguration,” DeSena, a Republican, said Friday afternoon from Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington, during a luncheon held in conjunction with the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset. “I believe that we should streamline town government wherever possible, work through the governmental logjam and increase accountability to our taxpayers, operate in a fiscally responsible manner, and lead our town in an open, honest, and transparent way.” Many state, town and village officials and school district superintendents were present for DeSena’s second State of the Town address, the 37th of its kind. In 2021, DeSena was the first Republican nominee to win the town supervisor election in more than 30 years, succeeding Judi Bosworth, a Democrat who did not seek re-election. The term
is for two years. The town’s 311 call center, created in 2005 and used to answer resident inquiries, will feature a dedicated team solely responsible for taking calls on the town’s Building Department, DeSena said. Democrat Councilmember Veronica Lurvey announced last week that the Building Department has seen expedited response times thanks to the installation of Citizenserve, an online system implemented in 2020 that provides Building Department services online, although DeSena credited improvements to the current audit being performed by Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Philips’ office. Citizenserve was implemented under Bosworth. DeSena announced town board meetings started broadcasting on North Hempstead TV and that the town will soon be sending out a request to update the town’s master plan. “Updating the town’s master plan is an especially important process as our state continues to look for ways to impose its will on our local control of zoning,” DeSena said. “Just a few weeks ago, Gov. Hochul outlined her newest housing plan, which would effectively allow the state to override the town’s ability to control local zoning decisions.” Continued on Page 38
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FLORAL PARK-BELLEROSE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Floral Park-Bellerose School’s 5th and 6th grade Advanced Orchestra performed during the morning Winter Concert on Jan. 19. See story on page 47.
Diocese proposes $200M sex abuse settlement BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
survivors, officials announced on Friday. The diocese, which filed for The Diocese of Rockville Centre proposed a settlement ranging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, pro$185-$200 million to settle claims of posed the settlement as part of its more than 600 alleged sexual abuse reorganizational process. Diocese of-
ficials said the settlement figures do not include its rights against thirdparty insurance companies, something the organization will continue to advocate for. Continued on Page 39
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