Public Safety Report

The Sixth Squad reports a robbery that occurred at 1:31pm on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Manhasset.

According to Detectives, three unknown male black suspects all dressed in dark colored clothing did enter the Optical Store of Aspen located at 2038 Northern Boulevard. The suspects went to the back of the store and put numerous sunglasses in a bag. As store personnel contacted security and police, one subject stayed at the front of the store and then went outside to a vehicle. A second suspect was exiting the store when security arrived and also entered the vehicle. The third suspect who was carrying the bag of proceeds was attempting to exit the store, he was approached by security, the suspect with both his arms shoved both guards and entered the vehicle. All three suspects fled in a silver colored four door sedan with an undetermined amount of proceeds. No injuries were reported.

The Third Squad reports the details of a robbery that occurred on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 2:49 pm in Manhasset. According to detectives, three female subjects and one male subject, wearing masks, entered Prada located at 2000 Northern Boulevard and removed seven handbags, valued in excess of $20,000. As the subjects were fleeing the store, one subject pushed a sales associate causing her to fall onto the floor. The four subjects then fled the scene in an unknown direction. No injuries were reported.

—From the Civic Alerts page of PDCN.org

Letters To The Editor

MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENTS

The FDA has approved two Alzheimer’s treatments, the first ones that actually treat the underlying biology of the disease. However, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has denied coverage for both of these treatments. What this means is that the drugs will be available only to those Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a clinical trial or those very few who can afford to pay the exhorbitant cost out-of-pocket. This is the first time CMS has denied coverage for an FDA approved medication. This was not the case with earlier drugs for cancer, HIV or other disease; as a result of this approval, these other diseases are now treatable. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1980 and our whole family suffered with it for over 20 years. During that time, I kept reading about research

In Support Of The School Budget

The Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance (“CACF”) is comprised of Manhasset residents who broadly represent the community. It serves as an independent liaison between the community and the Board of Education regarding the District’s annual operating budget. The CACF members met with school administration on three separate occasions to review the full budget, understand assumptions, ask pointed questions and discuss potential alternatives.

Over the past year, many of us have felt the pressures of inflation in our own lives, from heating and electricity costs, to basic necessities such as eggs and milk, to airfares. Our schools are not immune to these pressures. Health insurance rates are expected to jump 14.9 percent in 2023-2024, which is the highest increase in recent history. Total increases in compensation and benefits alone are $2.5 million which consume 78 percent of the budget increase of $3.1 million. Other areas with significant pressure include energy, bus transportation, special education and instructional technology upgrades.

Even with inflationary pressures, the proposed budget of $107.7 million for the 2023-2024 school year results in a budget to budget increase of only 3.0 percent. In adopting this budget, the Board carefully weighed the needs of all 3,000+ students, provided incentives for our teachers, administrators and staff and maintained existing infrastructure to support a culture of excellence and growth.

The proposed budget does all this within the tax levy cap of 2.97 percent while not cutting existing programs and even enhancing instructional opportunities. These new progress, which never came to fruition. Now, 40 years later, we finally have a treatment that could mean a better quality of life for those in the early stages of the disease. It would allow people more time to participate in daily life, remain independent and make future health decisions. I can’t tell you how much something like this would have meant to me and my family.

I live in New York’s Third Congressional District and would like to urge all members of Congress to reach out to CMS and demand that they change their unfair and inequitable position on coverage of FDA approved Alzheimer’s treatments. Many lives depend on it.

Kathy Distler Jericho resident and Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador

or expanded programs include: i) continued emphasis on individual and small group support, ii) expansion of Science Research Program at the secondary school, iii) expansion of assistant coaches in 4 different sports, iv) increased arts programs v) as well as social and emotional wellness initiatives. Your vote is critical to support the District’s goals and initiatives for next year. If a budget is not ultimately approved by voters, New York State Law requires the adoption of a Contingency Budget which will reflect a 0 percent increase in the tax levy and therefore a $2.8 million reduction in budgeted expenses. As a cautionary tale, the 2013-2014 budget was voted down resulting in teacher and staff reductions, programming cuts and reduced funding for athletics. The effects of these cuts were felt for many years. Our children deserve the best possible education and it is our responsibility to provide them with the resources and support they need.

As in previous years, we note with appreciation the transparency of the budget process, the wealth of financial information made available by the Administration and the Administration’s responsiveness to CACF inquiries as a result of which we feel that the District is now well-positioned financially for the coming year. We commend the Board and administration for all of its efforts on behalf of our children and the community. The members of the CACF unanimously support the proposed budget for the 20232024 school year.

Respectfully submitted, Scott Carroll, Sophie Christman, Ann Lynch, Dimitri Nikas, Paul Pai, Tejas Patel, Jane Russell and Stephen Seremetis