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Friday, February 12, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 7
TOP BUSINESS LEADERS OF NASSAU COUNTY 2020 PAGES 23-58
County targets Coliseum for vaccination site
DISPUTE OVER SCHNIRMAN TO NOT PLUME CONTROL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION PAGE 2
PAGE 7
VA C C I N AT I O N N AT I O N
Nassau legislators criticize state for lack of adequate dosage distribution BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) suggested using the Nassau Coliseum as a coronavirus vaccination site to increase the number of Long Island residents receiving inoculations. Nicolello brought up the proposal, which seemed to receive bipartisan support in the County Legislature, during a public hearing last Thursday. While the Legislature touted the work of county Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein, legislators were critical of the state’s allotment of vaccines to Long Island compared with New York City. “Long Island has the highest positivity rate in New York and we need our local leaders to advocate more strongly for an increase in vaccine doses and to open a mass vaccination site at the Nassau Coliseum,” Nicolello said. According to state figures, Long Island health care providers had re-
ceived 345,505 vaccine doses, administering 274,566 as of Monday, the most in the state after New York City. New York City had received more than 1.2 million vaccine doses, administering 924,213, according to state figures. Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded the eligibility list for the coronavirus vaccine in New York to taxi drivers, restaurant workers and residents in facilities for those with disabilities. Cuomo announced in late January that the vaccinations provided to the state would increase by 20 percent for the next three weeks. Private pharmacies, he said, would receive an additional 10 percent, or roughly 30,000 more doses, from the federal government. County Legislator John Ferretti (R-Levittown) also pointed out that city facilities, including Yankee Stadium, are only available to New York City residents, but Nassau County facilities are available for anyone to use. Ferretti said the Legislature Continued on Page 67
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mineola Union Free School District Superintendent Michael Nagler received the coronavirus vaccine in January.
Vets group, chamber ease way for vet to get shot BY K AT I E F E N T O N
VID-19 vaccine on Friday. In a show of appreciation With the help of Warriors for the 96-year-old veteran and For A Cause and the Mineola support for the community, the Chamber of Commerce, a lo- two organizations are sponsorcal veteran traveled in style to ing lifelong Mineola resident receive his first dose of the CO- Ray Vaz’s transportation to the
Javits Center in Manhattan for both of his coronavirus vaccine shots. Tony Lubrano, chairman of Warriors For A Cause, got the idea to provide the rides after Continued on Page 68
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