Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, March 1, 2024
Vol. 73, No. 9
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HOME & DESIGN
FAMED DELI GOES MOBILE
COUNTY FREEZES ASSESSMENTS AGAIN
PAGES 23-30
PAGE 3
PAGE 12
Dems blast Blakeman trans ban
Question legality of executive order BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order Thursday morning barring transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities. “It’s very important to me as county executive that we set a tone and tenor of respect for all people,” Blakeman said. “However, what we are finding out in the last few months is that there is a movement for biological males to PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identity themNassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order Thursday that bars transgendergirls selves or advertise themselves as girls and women from competing on female sports teams at county facilities. or female or women’s teams or leagues.
We find that unacceptable.” Surrounded by young girls holding signs reading “protect women’s sports,” some wearing athletic attire and most elementary school-aged, Blakeman announced and signed his executive order Thursday morning. The county executive said all sports teams using Nassau County facilities have to register under three categories, men’s and boys’, women’s and girls’ and co-ed. 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.” Continued on Page 42
Residents worry about Hillside Ave. danger BY TAY L O R H E R Z L I C H New Hyde Park residents are worried about alleged safety hazards at 2024 Hillside Ave., a commercial property and former location of Heritage Indian Cuisine. One resident brought up her concerns about the property at a Lakeville Estates Civic Meeting last Wednesday.
She said the property, which is located next to the CVS Pharmacy at 2030 Hillside Ave., is being used to store dangerous building materials. “Five o’clock in the morning, I hear the trucks, beep beep beep, making deliveries or taking things out,” the resident told Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. “It’s not supposed to be there.”
The property has been a problem since last fall, when the owner was issued a cease-and- desist notice, according to the resident. The former captain of the Garden City Park Fire Department, Tony Colon, supported the resident’s claims. Colon is an involved member of the community, having served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 20 years and a fund-raiser for the Garden City Park Christmas tree lighting annually. Colon said the owner of the property lied and falsely claimed he wanted to use the property to start a new restaurant prior to its purchase. “This guy lives in Jamaica Estates,” said Colon. “He has a history
of just doing whatever he wants. Everything’s illegal.” The resident said that when padlocks have been put on the cyclone fence surrounding the property, the owner just clips the locks. The resident, who said she has been living on Hillside Avenue for 46 years, claimed the building is condemned, with X’s on the walls, boarded-up windows, a missing door and rodents running around the property. “Why isn’t the Sheriff ’s Department there arresting anybody?” the resident asked DeSena. “They’re blatantly breaking the law and I’m paying good taxes for it.” “It’s not just an eyesore,” said Colon, who called the property a
safety hazard. “He has propane tanks in there, which are illegally stored. I can’t tell you how many illegal things are on this property.” Colon also claimed there are metal beams on the property leaning against the CVS Pharmacy, which he worries might fall through the glass and injure or kill CVS employees. Colon said the fire department had a meeting to try to get the fire marshal involved in getting these building materials moved, but to no avail. “If that building goes on fire, it’s pretty much a surround and drown,” said Colon. “We [the fire department] are not going in it … the next thing Continued on Page 43