The Jewish Home | MARCH 31, 2022
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Safety firSt TJH Speaks with Candidate for Assembly Ari Brown
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OctOber 29, 2015 | the Jewish Home
By SuSan Schwamm Ari, you’re a trustee in the Village of Cedarhurst but that’s not all that you do. What’s your day job? I swing a hammer for a living. My dad and I actually have the first home-improvement license in Nassau County. Next year, it’s going to be 50 years that I’m in the business. My father took me into the business at a very young age. We did all the work with our own hands. My build a lot of CVSs and Walgreens. Now, I’m doing three projects in Florida, one in Israel, one in Milan, and a couple of little ones over here. I think that’s why I was asked to do this, because I’m not a politician. I’ve been in office 24 years: trustee, deputy mayor, and every capacity. But I always like to be be-
hind the scenes. I just want to serve my community. If I can help and serve, that’s what I’m going to do. When I go out to places like Oceanside or Long Beach, I know all the mayors from all the years in the business. They’re the kind of people I grew up with.
I started with the Village around ‘97, ‘98, on the zoning board and as the board’s representative for the Business Improvement District in Cedarhurst. When I became a trustee a few years later, I stayed with the Business Improvement District. Usually, it’s passed on from trustee to trustee, but I never gave it up.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Franklin Square. It’s a nice Italian neighborhood. I’m half-Italian. My mother and grandmother are Jewish Italian.
When did you move to Cedarhurst? Around 30 years ago.
So you still have it now? Yes. I love these businesses, and I work with them, and I always say they’re my stores. They really are. I started off with 20% vacancies. Now, I have less than 2%. I look out for each and every one of my 280-somewhat stores.
