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SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
PAGES 21-24, 29-32
COUNTY POLICE RELEASE BAIL STATS
PAGE 2
KAPLAN, JOSEPH SEEK SENATE NOMINATION
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N. Hempstead building dept. to be audited
Review will look at performance monitoring, regulatory compliance
BY BRANDON DUFFY
The Town of North Hempstead’s Building Department will be undergoing an audit, courtesy of the Nassau County Comptroller’s Offi ce.
The review will include, but not be limited to, an examination of the department’s operations and procedures, the internal control environment, performance monitoring and regulatory compliance.
Audit Supervisor Blaine Griffi n will be conducting the review that will encompass personnel interviews, documenting workfl ow, data analysis and compliance testing, among other things.
The period of review will be from Jan. 1, 2020 to the present time.
Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in a statement she has made repairing the Building Department her top priority.
“I am pleased that the Nassau County Comptroller’s Offi ce has completed their independent review of my request to audit the Town’s Building Department and will be commencing the audit process beginning this week,” DeSena said. “Since my fi rst day in offi ce, I have made rehabilitating the Building Department my No. 1 priority and this independent and impartial assessment will undoubtedly cut to the core of the problems that have been plaguing the Building Department for years.”
She added, “When this process is complete, the results of this audit will help protect our residents and business owners and guide the transformation of our Building Department from deeply fl awed and problematic into the most effi cient and well-run Building Department on Long Island.”
The Building Department has long been a focus of DeSena and town government.
On July 11, DeSena announced that she sent a letter to Nassau Comptroller Elaine Philips requesting an audit following a review of town operations since she took offi ce earlier this year.
DeSena spoke alongside Democratic Councilmembers Marianna Dalimonte and Veronica Lurvey, who both supported the call for an audit, at a news conference.
“I welcome the county comptroller’s fi scal audit team and look forward to their fi nancial fi ndings,” Lurvey said. “I look forward to seeing the results of this audit as there is alContinued on Page 49
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
Oysters are placed into Manhasset Bay as Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena looks on. Local officials celebrated the launch of a pilot program that placed a million oysters in the bay on Friday morning. See story on page 5.
Five Democrats vie for votes in CD3 primary
BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Five Democratic candidates are running in New York’s 3rd Congressional District primary election on Aug. 23.
The crowded fi eld of Democrats includes activism Melanie D’Arrigo, former Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, Reema Rasool and Great Neck businessman Robert Zimmerman. The winner of the primary election will face Republican George Santos in the district’s November general election.
The candidates are all running for the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) who ran in the state’s gubernatorial primary race in June, only to lose to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
D’Arrigo, 41, is a progressive activist from Port Washington who previously ran against Suozzi for the same seat in 2020. While Suozzi won the primary and ultimately the general election, D’Arrigo received 25.7 percent of the primary vote. A native of Lindenhurst, D’Arrigo graduated from Barnard College and earned a Master of Science degree Continued on Page 48 Visit theportwashingtontimes.com or theisland360.com for the latest in breaking news.
PHOTO BY STEVEN KEEHNER
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke to the media at a press conference. He and other officials released the second quarter crime statistics for Nassau County on Monday morning.
7% of those released without bail rearrested
Blakeman blames reform for quarter two crime rise
BY STEVEN KEEHNER
In Nassau County, authorities rearrested about 7% of defendants who were released without bail during the second quarter, according to police.
Ofcials presented the data during a press conference in East Meadow. It was released as part of the county police’s quarterly crime report on bail reform.
A total of 3,019 arrests were made in Nassau County in the second quarter. This is a 9% rise from the 2,767 made in the opening quarter. Of the 2,641 defendants released without bail in the April-June quarter, 195 were rearrested.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and other speakers blamed the growing numbers on bail reform. Blakeman said these changes allow for criminals to “prey” on residents.
“These criminals come from New Jersey. They commit the crime and they’re of back to New Jersey,” said Blakeman. “Even if they’re arrested here in Nassau County, they go before a judge, they’re out of state, they’re a bail risk, the judge has to let them go.”
New York implemented its new bail reform legislation in January 2020. Now most misdemeanors and non-violent ofenses are exempt from bail. Judges can still set bail for serious and violent ofenses, however.
The law aims to reduce the number of prisoners who are incarcerated because of their inability to pay bail. Its supporters claim it reduces unnecessary imprisonment.
Blakeman denounced the legislation’s supporters. He said that behind each of these statistics is a story and a victim.
“These people are back in the Continued on Page 49
Port BOE appoints new prez and VP
Smith, Brooks appointed at July 12 meeting
BY STEVEN KEEHNER
The Port Washington Board of Education appointed Adam Smith as president and Deborah Brooks as vice president on July 12.
Julie Epstein was the only opposing vote in both motions, which were approved by the board 5-1. In a Facebook post, Smith thanked the board and congratulated the other appointees.
“Thank you to our fellow trustees for your confdence in appointing me and Deborah Brooks as BOE president and vice president for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year,” he wrote.
In 2021, Smith was elected to the board as one of three challengers who unseated a group of three incumbents. He manages assets for properties as a real estate director.
His campaign focused on restoring “accountability, openness and a renewed commitment to academic achievement in Port Washington.”
Brooks was re-elected to a threeyear term in May. She is a lawyer who was elected to the school board for the frst time in 2019.
She supports whole-child education. The model prioritizes the complete range of a child’s developmental requirements to enhance educational equity.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo had appointed her to the state’s Common Core Task Force. To improve implementation and lessen test anxiety, the group conducted an extensive examination of learning standards, instructional advice, curriculumand assessments.
Because of the pandemic, Brooks pushed to ensure that the district received its fair share of state funds.
Brooks will serve on the board until June 30, 2025, and Smith until June 30, 2024.
Michael Hynes took the oath of ofce to continue serving as the superintendent of schools. Ruth Smith and Denise Attonito were also appointed as district clerk and deputy district clerk.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT WASHINGTON SCHOOLS
Deborah Brooks and Adam Smith. On July 12, the Port Washington School District Board of Education’s trustees elected Smith to serve as president and Brooks as vice president.
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PW The Port Washington Times, Friday, August 19, 2022
3 Port tennis academy to be sold
Sale expected to close by early 2023 with upgrades expected at iconic facility
BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Great Neck-based Hornig Capital Partners is in contract to purchase the iconic Port Washington Tennis Academy, which will be operated under a 25-year lease with Sportime Clubs LLC, ofcials said.
Hornig Capital, a privately-held real estate development frm whose properties are located throughout Long Island, New York and New Jersey, will be acquiring the facility from Port Washington Tennis Academy Inc., a not-for-proft organization.
The sale is anticipated to close by the end of this year or early 2023, pending approval from the state Attorney General’s Ofce, ofcials said.
Hornig and Sportime, which currently owns and operates 14 clubs and sites throughout Long Island and the greater New York City area, will spend $7 million to renovate and modernize the facility in addition to maintenance costs, ofcials said.
Upgrades will be made to the tennis and recreational facilities and locker rooms while maintenance work will be conducted on the building’s HVAC systems and interior.
As of July 11 and until the transaction is completed, ofcials said, Sportime is operating the academy and providing “top quality programs serv-
PHOTO FROM THE ISLAND 360 ARCHIVES
The Port Washington Tennis Academy is in contract to be sold to Great Neck-based Hornig Capital Partners, according to officials.
ing juniors and adults of all ages and levels” while still operating as a nonfor-proft.
The academy reported a defcit of more than $370,000 in a 2020 government fling, the most recent one available.
Established in 1966 by Hy Zausner, the academy started out as nothing more than a few outdoor courts on a back road before quickly becoming a hangout for local youth to come and play tennis. Zausner, who had served as a Boy Scout leader, hoped that the facility would deter kids from getting in trouble.
A few years later, Zausner had a heart attack. His son Dick moved here to help his father in his recovery. Dick became more involved in the running of the academy and stayed on to work with his father in the family business. Together they transformed the local hangout into a tennis academy for juniors.
Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, legendary tennis icons such as John and Patrick McEnroe, Vitas Gerulitas, Eric Fromm and Fritz Buehning ventured out to the Port Washington area to sharpen their skills.
The acquisition, ofcials said, would also make for a nice homecoming for the McEnroe siblings, as Sportime operates the tennis academy named after John, with Patrick serving as its co-director. at four of its locations. Port Washington, ofcials said, would be the ffth location.
McEnroe’s academy works through a charitable mission through their non-for-proft partner, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, which provides access to “quality tennis programming, including life-changing tennis training for junior players” regardless of their socio-economic background.
The partnership between the project and Sportime has led to more than 15,000 hours of free group tennis provided to junior players and awarding nearly 4000 individual scholarships, valued at more than $7.4 million.
Hornig Capital ofcials declined to comment on the matter, while efforts to reach a representative from the academy for comment were unavailing.
Mineola cop charged in Mafia scheme
Hector Rosario, 49, allegedly took money to coordinate police raids on rival gambling establishments
BY STEVEN KEEHNER
Hector Rosario, a Nassau County Police Department detective, allegedly accepted money for agreeing to coordinate police raids on rival gambling establishments in an illegal Mafa operation centered in Lynbrook, according to the Department of Justice.
Rosario, 49, of Mineola, has been accused of hindering a grand jury investigation and lying to the FBI, authorities said.
He and eight other defendants were charged with racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering conspiracy, obstruction of justice and other crimes in two indictments that were unsealed earlier Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn.
The charges were announced by Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Ofce; Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly.
Peace said the arrests show the Mafa is still leveraging the fnancial system to further its illicit enterprises. He said they pollute communities with illegal gambling, extortion and violence.
“The defendants tried to hide their criminal activity by operating from behind the cover of a cofee bar, a soccer club and a shoe repair shop,” he said. “But our ofce and our law enforcement partners exposed their illegal operations.”
Even more troubling, he said, was the
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Hector Rosario, a detective with the Nassau County Police Department, allegedly accepted payment in exchange for helping to organize police raids on competing gambling sites, according to the Department of Justice
detective’s alleged dishonorable behavior. He said it compromised both his oath of ofce and ofcers by his allegedly siding with criminals.
Donnelly said this case is more evidence that organized crime is still alive.
“These Mafa fgures were assisted by a sworn member of law enforcement, who helped these gambling dens to thrive by ofering police raids on competing clubs,” she said. “The Mafa has brought untold violence and extortion into our neighborhoods for decades, even threatening the life of an individual as part of this case.”
She said this indictment sends a message of the authorities’ commitment to rooting out corruption and organized crime.
Members of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime organizations allegedly ran several illegal gambling operations. The authorities said the two families controlled the “lucrative” Gran Cafe illegal gambling enterprise in Lynbrook, starting at least as far back as May 2012.
The Genovese crime family is also accused of running illegal gambling dens at Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club, alongside the Gran Cafe. The Bonanno criminal family allegedly ran illicit gambling parlors at the Soccer Club, La Nazionale Soccer Club and Glendale Sports Club, according to prosecutors.
They allegedly laundered money through cash transfers to the defendants and through “kicking up” to the bosses of the gangs using the revenues made, the indictments said.
Joseph Macario, Carmelo Polito, Salvatore Rubino, Joseph Rutigliano, Mark Feuer, Agostino Gabriele, Anthony Pipitone, and Vito Pipitone are the other defendants in addition to Rosario, the Justice Department said. All of them, excluding Rutigliano, have been arrested.
6 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, August 19, 2022 Kaplan cites ‘time of crisis’ in run
Says run for re-election in 7th Senate District require someone to defend against ‘extremists’
BY BRANDON DUFFY
State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) said she’s running for re-election in the 7th Senate District to protect issues her constituents believe have lead to a crisis in the country.
“I think we are living in a very divided country right now and we have extremists trying to take over our country, our community and our way of life,” Kaplan said Monday in an interview with Blank Slate Media. “I hear from a lot of women who feel very threatened right now and I hear from a lot of communities that don’t feel comfortable with gun safety in this country.”
Kaplan is running against Jeremy Joseph of Hicksville in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The winner will face former state Sen. Jack Martins, who held the seat from 2010 to 2016.
Kaplan has served in the Senate since 2019 when she defeated Republican incumbent Elaine Philips. Kaplan also won re-election in 2020 against former Port Washington Police Commissioner Dave Franklin.
During her second term as senator, Kaplan said she has focused on issues including middleclass tax relief, women’s rights and reducing gun violence and hate crimes in local communities.
Kaplan was a co-sponsor on the state’s Reproductive Health Act that codifi ed Roe v. Wade.
“The Republicans who were in power in the state Senate for decades refused to bring legislation like that to the fl oor for a vote,” Kaplan said. “But there’s still more for us to do.”
Kaplan said she supports the Equality Rights Amendment, which needs to pass two consecutive sessions of state legislature before New Yorkers vote on making it an amendment to the state constitution in 2024.
The Equality Rights Amendment would prohibit discrimination based on the person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex including sexual orientation and gender.
Kaplan said she believes she has a good track record and can stand on her resume in a general election.
Kaplan credits a big part of the Republican sweep throughout each countywide position in 2021 as a failure to identify the opponent, discuss their track records and speak on their experience.
“I know that a lot of my constituents and residents have seen the work that I’ve done the past four years in the Senate and seven years as a member of North Hempstead’s Town Board.”
On bail reform, Kaplan said she had issues with the changes made, which were included in the 2020 budget. She said she voted for the budget because of the importance of the overall package but was open to changes in bail reform laws in the future.
“We want to make sure our communities are safe but even more importantly that if we continue to look at the data, we have to see where it’s taking us,” Kaplan said. “We have see how it’s translating into our daily lives.”
On aff ordable housing, Kaplan believes there is not one solution for the entire state because of how unique Nassau County is.
She said Gov. Kathy Hochul had good intentions when she originally called for changing zoning laws for Accessory Dwelling Units in her budget before removing it after backlash.
“I think it’s something that needs to be developed with communities here that want this and working with villages, mayors and residents and getting them to buy in,” Kaplan said.
One week ahead of the primary, Kaplan said. she has the resume to keep her seat in November and keep moving the state forward.
“We need a strong person who can advocate and who can work with everybody to get results,” Kaplan said. “A lot of my legislation was passed bipartisan. I reach out and work with everyone who wants to work with me. My goal has always been to deliver for my residents and work with whoever wants to work with me.”
Kaplan’s interview with Blank Slate Media can be found on YouTube.
PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN
State Sen. Anna Kaplan raised more than $205,000 in the most recent campaign finance filing period.
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