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Friday, August 13, 2021
Vol. 9, No. 33
LIVING 50 PLUS
COVID POLICY LEFT UP TO DISTRICTS
NASSAU ON TRACK FOR SURPLUS
PAGES 19-23
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Pols praise Cuomo quitting Local officials say A.G.’s report required gov to step down despite accomplishments BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASSEMBLYMAN’S OFFICE
Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has not provided any update on the future of the impeachment hearings of Gov. Andrew Cuomo after he announced his resignation Tuesday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that he would resign from his post a week after a report from the office of state Attorney General Letitia James revealed he had sexually harassed or assaulted 11 women, most of whom worked for the state. Cuomo, in a speech on Tuesday, said resigning was the only way to allow New York to move forward. “I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing – and therefore, that’s what I’ll do,” Cuomo said. “Because I work for you and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you.” The resignation will become official in 14 days, he said, citing the need for a seamless transition period between him and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will succeed him for the remainder of his term. Hochul, who agreed with Cuomo’s decision to step
down, will be the state’s first female governor. Cuomo, a Democrat, reflected on the allegations from women and spoke on some of the reports’ findings. The 165-page report’s findings, based on interviews with 179 people, indicate Cuomo violated multiple federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and New York State’s Human Rights Law. Cuomo apologized to the women, claiming he meant no malice with his actions, but recognized that they offended the women who came forward. Cuomo also claimed that the most serious allegations made against him lacked “factual basis.” “This is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended,” Cuomo said. “There are and for that, I deeply, deeply apologize.” Assemblyman Charles Lavine (DGlen Cove) announced last week that Cuomo’s legal counsel has until Aug. 13 to provide any evidence or docuContinued on Page 26
Flower Hill bans retail cannabis BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI
that will not permit the retail sale of cannabis. The move comes after Floral Flower Hill can be added to Park, New Hyde Park and Willisthe list of North Shore villages ton Park all took the same steps
– declining to permit licensing of retail cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites, citing a range of reasoning from concerns over quality of life to slim potential revenue. “Overwhelmingly the feedback was that our residents were not in support of allowing retail marijuana sales or on-site consumption
establishments in our village,” said Flower Hill Deputy Mayor Randall Rosenbaum. Village trustees said they had held three public hearings and received input from residents before making the decision on Aug. 2. “Allowing retail marijuana sales or on-site consumption establishments in our small com-
mercial strip has no benefit for this community since it would add additional traffic on an already busy Northern Boulevard,” Rosenbaum said. “Any additional tax revenue we would see would not offset this.” Under a new state law, consumption and smoking of cannabis is now legal throughout the Continued on Page 27
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