Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
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Friday, March 8, 2024
Vol. 10, No. 10
PortWashingtonTimes 3 TITLE RUNS COME TO END
LANGONE SUIT AGAINST NORTHWELL TOSSED
SUOZZI DISTRICT TO CHANGE IN FALL
PAGES 34-35
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No foes in village elections
FOOTLOOSE IN PORT
No candidates for B. Estates justice BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Port Washington village elections will be slim this March, with only incumbents running uncontested and Baxter Estate’s village justice position without any candidates. Three Port Washington villages will be holding elections on March 19: Baxter Estates, Flower Hill and Port Washington North. The Village of Baxter Estate’s ballot will feature the three positions of two trustees and one village justice. Trustee Alice M. Peckelis will be seeking re-election for another twoyear term on the village’s board. Also running is Alex Price, who is vying for the seat to be left vacant by Trustee Jeffrey Eluto, who is not seeking re-election. Both candidates are running under the Baxter Estates Village Party. No candidates filed to run for the village justice position in Baxter Estates, a four-year term, which will rely on write-in candidates to select an individual for the seat. Village Justice Elizabeth S. Kase will not be seeking re-election after 13 years in the positionThe March 19 election will be held at Baxter Estates’ Village Hall at 315 Main St. from noon until 9 p.m. Continued on Page 23
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PORT WASHINGTON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pupil Personnel Services Department and SEPTA hosted a sensory-friendly production of ‘Footloose’ performed by the Schreiber Theatre Company.
Blakeman trans ban court bound 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-anddesist 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.” Continued on Page 22