Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, March 8, 2024
Vol. 73, No. 10
N E W H Y D E PA R K
3 TITLE RUNS COME TO END
LANGONE SUIT AGAINST NORTHWELL TOSSED
SUOZZI DISTRICT TO CHANGE IN FALL
PAGES 34-35
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Blakeman, AG trans ban fight court bound
I TA L I A N D E L I
County exec to file federal lawsuit after James issues cease and desist BY C A M E RY N O A K ES New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a cease-and-desist order against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Friday, demanding he rescind his executive order banning transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams at county facilities. “The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression. We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York,” James said. “This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal. Nassau County must immediately rescind the order or we will not hesitate to take decisive legal action.” Blakeman said James’ order is “contrary to the law” and stood his ground, claiming the executive order is legal, constitutional and protects women’s rights. “We believe that not only is the law on our side, but the facts are on our side as well,” Blakeman said, expressing confidence in the order’s legal standing. He said he is willing to discuss the matter further with James and her office. Blakeman signed an executive order Feb. 22 barring transgender girls
and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities. Under the executive order, transgender girl and women athletes will now be forced to compete in the leagues that correlate with their sex assigned at birth, limited to competing only on boys’ and men’s teams or co-ed teams. The county executive said the purpose of the executive order is to protect women’s and girls’ sports in the county by preventing transgender girls and women athletes from competing, saying transgender women and girls present an unfair advantage. The ban only applies to transgender girls and women, as Blakeman said there is no advantage for transgender boys and men to compete on boys’ and men’s teams. 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.” The cease-and-desist letter, signed by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Bureau Chief Sandra Park, said the executive order violates New York State anti-discrimination laws in discriminating against transgender women and girls. Continued on Page 22
PHOTO COURTESY OF INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FLORAL PARK
Nonna’s Italian Deli opens on Covert Ave.
Elections uncontested in Floral Park trustee bids BY JA S M I N E SELLARS The Village of Floral Park will be hosting its general election for two trustee seats on March 19, with only incumbents running for re-election in the village’s uncontested election. The incumbent candidates Trustee Jennifer Stewart and Trustee Michael F. Longobardi will be running for each of Floral Park’s two trustee positions on the ballot to be re-elected for another two-year term.
Stewart was appointed to the village’s board in March of 2021 to fill a vacancy and was elected to the seat a year later in March of 2022. Longobardi was also elected to the board in 2022 to fill a vacancy left by former Trustee Archie Cheng who did not seek re-election. Floral Park’s election will be held from 12-9 p.m. on March 19 and polling will be held at several locations based on village election districts. Residents in the first district can vote at the Reliance Fire House lo-
cated at 3 Holland Ave. The second and third district residents will be to vote at the Recreation/Pool Building at 124 Stewart St. Fourth district voting will be held at Atlantic Avenue Fire House at 204 Atlantic Ave. Floral Park’s election district map can be viewed on its website. Floral Park is the only New Hyde Park-area election to be held in March. Continued on Page 23