Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, April 19, 2024
Vol. 73, No. 16
NORTH SHORE
SPECIAL SECTI A BLANK SLATE MEDIA
NORTH SHORE LIVING
COLUMNIST MALEKOFF DIES
PETITIONS SUBMITTED OPPOSING BLAKEMAN DEPUTIES
PAGES 27-38
PAGE 3
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ON • APRIL 19, 2024
NHP squatters evicted after nearly 1 year Neighbors claim victory in campaign against Porsche-driving couple After nearly a year of occupying a home at 39 Brussel Drive in New Hyde Park, police evicted a group of Porschedriving squatters Friday morning. Sheriffs and police officers arrived at the property around 8 a.m. and the eviction process began around 9 a.m., lasting a few hours, neighbors said. Movers carried chairs, cardboard boxes, an air mattress and what looked like a bird cage into a large moving van parked in front of the property. One of the squatters, Denton Gayle, carried full garbage bags from the house into his Porsche Cayenne before taking out his phone and recording police officers, movers, town councilmembers and journalists at the scene. The eviction comes after persistent efforts from neighbors to work with the town on evicting the squatters, Gayle, 29, and Margaret Grover, 19. “The fact of the matter is, we kind of showed what can be done if you stay vigilant and on top of it,” a neighbor Al, who wished to keep his full name anonymous, said. But, Al said, neighbors should not have to be so involved in eviction processes and that squatter’s laws need to change. An employee of the preservation company handling the house, who
wished to remain anonymous, agreed. He waited across the street from the property and said he was there to lock up the house at the end of the eviction process. He said he wants squatter laws in New York to change. The employee claimed he has lost multiple properties to squatters over the past few years and called squatters laws “biased.” North Hempstead Councilwoman Christine Liu was at the scene, standing at the house next door to 39 Brussel Drive as movers carried belongings to the van. One neighbor said that this appearance was just a photo opportunity and claimed Liu had nothing to do with expediting the eviction process — that it was a result of the neighbors’ hard work. “I am grateful to the residents in the community for their responsiveness, tenacity, and legal pursuits following the illegal occupancy of 39 Brussel Drive,” Liu told Blank Slate Media in a statement. “Given the brazen behavior of the occupants at 39 Brussel Drive, the Town supported the parties involved in the pursuit of legal remedies and provided resources to secure the property. I will continue to work with our Town Attorney’s office to ensure U.S. Bank Trust National Association fulfills its legal obligation to foreclose on this property in an expeditious manner.” Continued on Page 59
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mineola students served up a pasta feat to raise money for Long Islanders in need. See story on page 63.
Legion to host 9th annual Williston Park car show B Y T A Y L O R H E R Z L I C H Park Car Show on Sunday, April 28, nice weather, the car show easily
at 730 Willis Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 welcomes around 100 cars to The American Legion, event organizer The American Legion and the p.m. The event will showcase an- Bob Guastella said. Long Island chapter of Antique AuNo pre-registration is required tomobile Club of America will be co- tique, vintage and special interest Continued on Page 60 hosting the ninth annual Williston cars and motorcycles. On a day with
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