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Friday, March 3, 2023
Vol. 8, No. 9
PortWashingtonTimes HOME & DESIGN
RESIDENTS DROP OPPOSITION PBA OKAYS CONTRACT TO IRMA AVENUE
PAGES 21-32
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Bodkin new village justice Manorhaven judge to serve until July 3 BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The Manorhaven mayor and Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint village resident William Bodkin as the new village justice at a Feb. 22 meeting. Bodkin was interviewed by the mayor and the Board of Trustees prior to his appointment. It was determined that he was qualified for the position upon reviewing his credentials and background, according to the meeting’s agenda. His responsibilities as village justice are effective immediately, and Bodkin will serve in the post until July 3. The appointment comes after former Village Justice Christian S. Alfaya’s resignation. Until the appointment, there was no sitting justice presiding over the village other than an associate justice who was unable to fulfill the vacancy, according to the meeting’s agenda. Bodkin currently serves as the chief court attorney for the Nassau County Supreme Court and as a judicial hearing officer for the Office of Court Administration, where he presides over employee disciplinary hearings. He previously served as a principal law clerk for numerous judges in the Nassau County Supreme Court and as principal appellate court attorney for the New York State Supreme Continued on Page 48
PHOTO COURTESY OF BEA HELFT
Bea Helft and fellow Plant a Row Board Member David Cohen with students at the Helen Keller National Center. See story on page 10.
Legislature OKs new district maps Dems accuse GOP of illegal gerrymandering, say litigation expected BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature voted Monday along party lines to adopt a map with newly drawn electoraldistricts which Democrats claim is illegal and favors their GOP counterparts. The Legislature voted 11-7 to adopt maps that were presented by
the majority caucus Feb. 21. Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) criticized the Republican legislators for working in “secrecy” so they can keep their advantage over the next decade. Republican Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello said the new maps featured Democratic officials having an enrollment edge in 15 of the 19 legislative districts, but Abrahams disagreed.
“It is not surprising that such a deeply flawed, self-serving process would produce an extreme partisan gerrymander that disenfranchises Nassau’s minority communities and violates numerous federal, state, and local laws,” Abrahams said in a statement. “By passing this illegal map, the Republican Majority has recklessly placed Nassau County on a collision course
towards numerous lawsuits that will ultimately cost taxpayers millions of dollars.” “Is this map perfect?” Nicolello asked during Monday’s session. “No. But perfection is impossible in redistricting. This map is a fair map, it provides equal representation for all our residents and protects community inContinued on Page 42
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