Bellmore Herald Life

Bellmore

HERALD local leaders react to protests

High schooler bakes for a cause

Song-turned-book strikes a chord

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Page 15

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Vol. 23 No. 24

JUNE 11 - 17, 2020

Businesses gear up for Phase Two conference when Cuomo announced it, and then my phone starting going crazy,” tbellissimo@liherald.com, sbrinton@liherald.com Guardino said.

Chris Guardino said he was Aura Salon, which was set to ecstatic when Gov. Andrew reopen on Wednesday, has updatCuomo announced that hair ed protocols to ensure that social salons and barberdistancing and shops would be other guidelines included in the are implemented Phase Two reopenfor the safety of cliing of Long e n t s a n d s t a f f.

Island’s economy Plexiglas dividers on Wednesday. have been placed in “It’s exciting for between workstaus and the customtions and the front ers,” said Guardidesk area, appointno, owner of Aura ment times will be Salon in Bellmore. spread out, and “We’re a familye m p l o ye e s w i l l run business and wear masks and celebrating our gloves.

20th anniversary Customers will later this year. The be asked to call salon is our livelifrom the parking hood and passion.” lot to notify the O n M ay 3 1 , salon of their Cuomo issued an arrival and have executive order dR. RaNIa ElBaz their temperature allowing dental Merrick Pediatric c h e c ke d b e f o r e offices to return to Dentistry entering. They wo rk s t at ew i d e must also wear beginning the folmasks. Aura also lowing day, and he also gave the planned to offering 30 percent green light to bump salons and discounts off any service for barbershops up from Phase essential workers.

Three.

“I was watching the press Continued on page 5

By ToNY BEllISSIMo and SCoTT BRINToN

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Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

THoUSaNdS of pRoTESTERS gathered in Merrick on June 4 for a third day of marching in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

Black Lives Matter protesters make their voices heard

By SCoTT BRINToN, alYSSa SEIdMaN and aNdREw GaRCIa

sbrinton@liherald.com, aseidman@liherald. com, agarcia@liherald.com

The Black Lives Matter movement reached BellmoreMerrick on June 2, when a group of 150 peaceful protesters attempted to demonstrate on Merrick Road to condemn the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

The protesters, marching east, made it less than a block from the Trader Joe’s parking lot when they were stopped by 30 or so counter-protesters at Cher nucha Avenue, who shouted at them to “go home!”

Nassau County police were forced to escort them in the street.

Videos of the counter-protesters circulated on social media the following day. #Merrick took the No. 19 spot on U.S. Twitter’s trending list.

What followed was a string of

protests that at once disavowed the behavior of the counterprotesters and demanded an end to systemic racism.

wednesday, June 3 Thousands turned out for a second Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick and Bellmore, and marched through the hamlets from the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station and back. They traversed more than six miles, remainContinued on page 3

ur lobby is usually busy with kids playing while their brother or sister has an appointment.

That’s something we hope can return down the road.

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD

NO

A week’s worth of protests in Merrick, Bellmore

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

conTinued from fronT page ing peaceful throughout, shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!” “White silence is violence!” and “No justice, no peace!”

Matt Brutus, 24, of Elmont, said he wants predominantly white communities like Merrick to understand how hard it is for young African-Americans to move outside their neighborhoods.

“I have yet to see someone make it out of Wyandach,” a majority African-American community in Suffolk County, Brutus said. “We can’t buy property. They redline us. They say you have to go to school here.”

Also among the protesters was Kevin Trujillo, 22, of Freeport, who recently graduated with honors from Lehman College at the City University of New York, with a degree in political science and philosophy. “I think what’s going on is a lot of polarization,” Trujillo said. “At the end of the day, we’re supposed to be one.”

Thursday, June 4

Nearly 6,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of Bellmore and Merrick for a third consecutive day of Black Lives Matter protests. By 5:30 p.m., the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway was clogged with people, delaying traffic in all directions.

The sea of black, brown and white faces — most wearing masks — roared as they chanted “Black lives matter!” “I can’t breathe!” and “Say his name!” referring to Floyd and others. The crowd moved south on Merrick Avenue just after 5:30 to begin the march through local neighborhoods. In some cases, they filled entire residential blocks end to end.

Outside the Merrick Library, Alyson Jones, of Bay Shore, provided water bottles, snacks and blank poster paper to passing protesters. She also had markers on hand so people could make their own signs. Jones said she was impressed by the protest, and that its message made her “hopeful for change.”

“A lot of people are saying that protesting isn’t going to do anything, but it’s showing that the people are united,” Jones said. “We’re not gonna stand [by] and let the government do whatever they want, especially when it comes to people’s lives.”

Ari Russo came from New York City to march through her hometown. “This day is a message to show that we don’t welcome racism or hate,” she said. “We welcome all types of people to stand together and spread the message that black lives matter.”

As the crowd moved south on Hewlett Avenue from the library, an AfricanAmerican Merrick resident named Christina, who declined to give her last name, denounced the attitudes of the counterprotesters who had demonstrated against the Black Lives Matter movement two nights earlier.

“They’re worried about us ‘destroying the neighborhood,’ but we live here,” Christina said. “We can’t even live in our own neighborhoods anymore.”

Bellmore resident Daniel Perlin also said the counterprotesters do not represent the neighborhood, adding that the viral video had inspired him to join the

3

Photos by Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

a march paSSed the Merrick Library, on its way down Hewlett Avenue. march.

That night, about 500 protesters shut down the Southern State Parkway in North Merrick for about two hours.

Saturday, June 6

Eleven people — 10 adults and one minor — were arrested for disorderly conduct in Merrick after they attempted to move their protest against police brutality onto the Meadowbrook Parkway.

Two Nassau County police officers were injured when trying to keep demonstrators on Sunrise Highway off the Meadowbrook, Police Commissioner Patrick Rydersaid at a news conference Sunday morning.

One, a police sergeant, suffered a broken ankle, and the other came away with a bruised nose and scratched cornea after being punched in the face. No protesters were injured during the altercation, said Ryder, who was at the scene.

The commissioner pointed out that it was raining during the protest, and the roads were slick and potentially dangerous to demonstrators and motorists.

“Ninety percent of the protesters wanted nothing to do with it,” said Ryder, referring to demonstrating on the Meadowbrook. Many of the protesters instead called on the roughly 25 who had splintered off to continue protesting on residential streets.

The commissioner implored demonstrators to remain peaceful during their protests, asking them to stay on message: “Say his name — George Floyd.” “We cannot tolerate violence,” he said.

“My cops,” he also said, “are not bad people.” He noted that they had remained “calm” and “professional” during a week of protests, including when challenged by “vulgarities” from protesters.

In an earlier statement, Ryder said that Nassau County had seen five straight days of peaceful protests without an arrest.

Smaller protests continued into Sunday and Monday.

proTeSTerS were STill joining the June 4 march well after its roughly 6 p.m. start time.

Crime watCh

Ever wondered how to be included in our Neighbors in the News page?

Former NCPD officer uses racial slur in video during Merrick protest

How to share what’s important to you in the Bellmore Herald

By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

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A video showing a former Nassau County Police Department officer using a racial expletive has been circulating on social media in recent days.

The video, posted to Twitter on June 4, shows a black man and the cameraman approaching the former officer, who had a Nassau County Police Activity League logo on his shirt, saying, "Say it on camera," followed by an expletive.

"I said we got [N-words] here now," the former officer said.

As of Sunday, the original upload had nearly 150,000 views, with more gained through various reposts.

The video "captured an unfortunate incident in which a former employee was disrespectful and antagonistic using a racial slur towards a protester," said County Executive Laura Curran and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder in a joint statement. "In no way does his behavior reflect the commitment that the Nassau County Police Department has to protect and serve all people.”

The man has not been a member of the department for two years, according to the statement.

In a statement, Nassau County PAL confirmed the man was previously an officer, but has not been affiliated with

Twitter screenshot

A foRmER NAssAu County Police officer and Police Activity League member was seen on video using a racial slur during a protest in Merrick last week.

PAL "as a paid employee or volunteer since 2015."

"We consider this behavior abhorrent and against our values," the statement reads. "For 80 years, the NCPAL has strived to prevent juvenile delinquency and aid in the development of good citizenship through positive interaction of youths and police officers."

News brief School budget, board election deadlines extended

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Saying “No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the deadline for mail-in ballots in local school budget and school board elections, originally scheduled for Tuesday.

Hand-delivered ballots still must be received by 5 p.m. on June 9, according to

a news release, but mail-in ballots may be received until June 16.

In the same executive order, the governor allowed absentee ballots in the state’s presidential primary to be counted if postmarked no later than June 23.

This means voters may mail their ballots as late as the day of the election.

Every life matters to us …

HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/bellmore ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: belleditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 203 E-mail: belleditor@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: sales@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 The Bellmore Herald life USPS 017547, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Bellmore Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1 Subscription rates: $36 for 1 year within Nassau County. Out of Nassau County: $58 for 1 year. Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dear neighbor:

We live and work in this community. The lives of each and every one of you is important to us and we are here to tell your stories — from beginning to end. That includes the final chapter. At this difficult time, I want to remind you that obituaries in all Herald Community Newspapers are, and have always been, completely free.

COVID-19 has taken far too many, far to soon. Let us help you commemorate the life of your loved one with a story and photo celebrating their life. Contact our Executive Editor Scott Brinton, sbrinton@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000, ext 203, if you would like to memorialize a loved one in the Herald, regardless of their cause of death.

Stuart Richner Publisher srichner@liherald.com 1091720

Business owners taking proper precautions Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called the reopening of barbershops and hair salons “great news,” and said the governor’s order allowing them to do so gives “our business owners the certainty they need to reopen safely.”

The updated reopening timeline reflects a continued drop in coronavirus hospitalizations, intubations and deaths, according to the governor. Over the last weekend of May, the single-day death total fell to 56, down from a high of 799 on April 9, he said — a 93 percent decline. By Monday, they had dropped to 35.

Merrick Pediatric Dentistry, headed by Dr. Rania Elbaz, has been closed since March 16, except for emergency appointments. The office partially reopened on June 3, and will be back “in full” starting next Monday. Since the office is playing catchup, with hundreds of missed appointments, no new patients will be accepted until the end of July.

Only one accompanying person per patient is allowed in the office, and everyone will be required to wear a mask and follow social-distancing guidelines. “Our lobby is usually busy with kids playing while their brother or sister has an appointment,” Elbaz said. “That’s something we hope can return down the road.”

Phase Two reopening also includes offices; real estate services; in-store sales; vehicle sales, leases and rentals; retail rental, repair and cleaning; and commer-

cial building management.

Urban Farmhouse, a home décor and furniture shop in Bellmore, offered free local delivery during the shutdown, and will offer curbside pickup for the foreseeable future. The shop will reopen June 11, and operate every day of the week except Wednesdays starting at 10 a.m.

“We’ll be limiting the number of customers allowed in at the same time, but we haven’t decided how many, probably five,” said co-owner Lisa Iampieri, who noted that hand sanitizer would be available at the store. “I’m sure people understand we have to crowd-control.”

A big question on many residents’ minds is when restaurants will reopen for dining. Only takeout and curbside pickup are currently allowed. In-person dining can resume in Phase Three, which is scheduled to begin in Nassau County on June 24 if the number of hospitalizations and deaths remains steady or continues to decline.

Curran is already planning for the reopening of restaurants. She announced a plan to allow villages, towns and cities to shut down certain streets to facilitate al fresco dining, reducing the need for table capacity inside eateries and enabling them to maintain six-foot social distancing. She is calling it “Open Streets.”

“Continuing the county’s efforts to support the revival of our downtowns and business districts, the county will be fasttracking permitting approvals for tempo-

aura Salon, whiCh was set to reopen on Wednesday, is making sure that social distancing and other guidelines are successfully implemented for the safety of clients and staff.

Courtesy Aura Salon via Facebook

rary road closures, with a decision within a week of receiving an application,” the county website reads. To apply, go to www. nassacountyny.gov/OpenStreets.

The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency is also spending roughly $500,000 to provide 1,000 local small businesses and nonprofits with personal protective equipment. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees, minority- and womenowned businesses and businesses in economically distressed communities are eligible for the program. Businesses can

apply at www.nassauboost.net.

All Nassau County businesses must, by state mandate, prepare reopening plans that detail how they intend to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and ensure the safety of workers and customers. The plan must include wellness checks for employees and customers, disinfection and cleaning routines, socialdistancing protocols, and supplying employees and customers with PPE.

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of George Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They came to show solidarity and protest in the hope that the laws will change and people of color will be treated equally. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence.

Protest held at Hempstead Town Hall By chriStina daly Dozens of protests have taken palce across Long Island since the death of George Floyd, 46, on May 25. Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held a rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall last Friday in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws.

Belinda told the crowd, “I’m tired. I’m tired of telling my son it’s not safe to go outside. I’m tired of shedding tears. I’m tired.”

More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They gathered to show solidarity. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence. Other signs stated, “It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody,” “No Justice, No Peace,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Silence=Violence,” “All lives can’t

matter until black lives matter,” “My skin color is not a crime,” “I can’t breathe,” “This is not a riot, this is a revolution” and “It’s not white vs black, it’s everyone vs racists.”

Hempstead Deputy Mayor Charles Renfroe, the Rev. Sedgwick Easley of the Union Baptist Church and Barbara Powell of the NAACP Hempstead Branch attended the protest outside of town hall.

As drivers went by, they honked and yelled in support, which was met with cheers by those gathered along the street.

One of the few young protesters at the event, 8-year-old Maleah Malone, said, “I care about black people, and I’m marching for them. They shouldn’t be treated this way.” Her mother, Shaunte Malone, she said her children would be the ones living in the world protesters were working to create.

Dorothy Goosby said it’s so important to get people involved. “I’ve been going through this, what they’re going through, my whole life,” she said.

Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held the rally in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. “no juStice, no peace,” chanted Maleah Malone, 8, and her brother Kendrelle, 9, as they held their signs high. Their mother said they would be the ones to live in the world the protesters were fighting for.

During the rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall, Julia and Daniel Tellerman registered participants to vote.

ProteSter SteFanny cardona held her sign toward the police officers across the street who lined the sidewalks outside of Hempstead Town Hall.

What a little girl is teaching the world about racism sbrinton@liherald.com

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, I stood atop the Long Island Rail Road trestle in Merrick, looking out on the sea of people who filled Sunrise Highway as far as I could see, east and west. Officials later estimated the number of demonstrators who attended the Black Lives Matter protest at 3,000 to 4,000.

The next morning, I tried to imagine Sunrise Highway with 20 million people.

Would they even fit along its 120.6 miles?

Twenty million was the number of Twitter users who had, as of Friday morning, watched a 15-second video I shot of 7-year-old Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale, marching beside her mother, Lakyia Jackson, at a different Black Lives Matter protest through Merrick and Bellmore, on Wednesday. (The views climbed to nearly 23 million by Monday.)

In the video, taken around 6:30 p.m., Wynta-Amor chants with the protesters, “No justice, no peace!”

Many among the thousands who commented on the post described WyntaAmor as “fierce.” Yes, she was. Her hands moved to the beat of the chant.

Her fingers pointed furiously. At the end, she raised her fist, seemingly in anger. Her fiery spirit was evident in her eyes.

Wynta-Amor, it appeared, had fully inter nalized the emotion of the moment. She was breathing it in, living it.

I was live-tweeting the protest to chronicle it for the Heralds. When I posted the video, I never imagined it would go viral. By the time the protest ended two hours later, 25,000 people had viewed it. By midnight, a million had.

Thirty-six hours later, 20.2 million, and counting. People from all parts of the globe viewed it.

In effect, this little girl broadcast a central message of Black Lives Matter for all in the Twittersphere to see: We must have justice to find the lasting peace our society seeks.

Later on Wednesday, Wynta-Amor’s mom tweeted to thank me for the support that day. “We have to show our kids the right way,” Jackson said.

“Yes, Wynta-Amor,” she added, “mommy will help make your future better and all the rest of the kids in the world.”

Thursday morning, my wife said she went to bed the night before with Wynta-Amor’s words ringing in her ears.

She couldn’t escape them.

There was a certain melody to them, a righteous power.

Wynta-Amor wasn’t the only one whose passion you could feel that afternoon. There were also 21-year-old Adriana Brutus, of Elmont, and her 24-yearold brother, Matt, who are black. They gave impassioned speeches at the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station, about a half-hour before I took the video of Wynta-Amor. “I’m scared every time I come outside,” Adriana said through tears.

Her words left me thunderstruck.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

AdriAnA BrutuS, 21, of Elmont, a nursing student at NYU, said through tears that she does not feel safe leaving her own home.

ProteSterS At the June 3 demonstration marching on Sunrise Highway toward Babylon Turnpike.

As it happened, I later learned, Adriana had been communicating via Instagram with my own 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra. They’re both NYU students.

Adriana is studying nursing, and Alexandra, business and technology management.

Why must Adriana be afraid all the time? I thought. What sort of society do we live in that she must worry for her life because of her color? My daughter has never felt that level of fear, nor has my 17-year-old son, Andrew.

As black people, Matt Brutus said, “We can’t buy property. They redline us.

They say you have to go to school here.”

BLM protesters aren’t saying they want to take anything from white people. They’re just saying they want an equal shot at life, liberty and the pursuit

of happiness — but that’s hard, if not impossible, for them when racism seems woven into the institutional fabric of our nation.

A number of Merrick and Bellmore residents stood on their stoops and on street corners applauding the protesters on Wednesday and Thursday. They cheered and banged on pots.

Now and again, though, someone called out, “All lives matter!” Sometimes the protesters ignored those shouts.

Sometimes they chanted, “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” louder and louder.

The all-lives-matter folks just don’t get it. The BLM protesters aren’t saying black people’s lives matter more than anyone else’s. What they’re saying is, in

the eyes of a society with a centuriesold history of systemic racism, black lives have never mattered as much as white lives — but they should. They must, if we are to live in harmony with one another.

To chant “Black lives matter!” is to affirm that the lives of black people do, in fact, matter. White people don’t have to proclaim their lives matter because they already do, according to society.

In the past, a black man could die by noose because he looked the wrong way at a white woman. The George Floyd case, a number of pundits have said, is a modern-day lynching, captured for all to witness on cellphone video. The question is, what will each of us do about it?

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

WyntA-Amor rogerS, 7, marching during the Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick on Wednesday. The Herald’s video of her chanting, “No justice, no peace!” had more than 20 million views on Twitter as of Friday.

By Scott Brinton

7

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

8

Officials, community react to local protests

By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

As thousands of people protested through the streets of Bellmore-Merrick this past week, officials and community members have spoken out on the hamlet’s state of affairs.

Protests spiked in numbers after a group of roughly 30 counter-protesters blocked a Black Lives Matter march on Merrick Road last Tuesday, shouting at the group to “go home!” among a hurling of expletives.

The moment, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media.

Subsequent marches “were the direct result of spiteful remarks gone viral, made by ignorant people flanking the peaceful march,” said State Sen. John Brooks in a statement. “Let’s be clear: in Merrick there exists an overall community of wonderful people who genuinely believe in the fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded. The remarks made by these ignorant few do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the people of the Merrick community or, for that matter, any community on Long Island.”

Many Merokeans were those walking with signs in hand, “while many others stood on sidewalks providing support, applause and even bottles of water to the passing marchers,” Brooks added.

“Unfortunately, amidst the demonstration were a few residents from Merrick and nearby towns that behaved in an unorderly fashion, [which] does not reflect the values of the entire Merrick community,” said Chamber of Commerce President Femy Aziz.

“Now more than ever, we need the residents to support our local businesses and shop local. Please do not let the behavior of a few be a reflection of us all.”

Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads has been

keeping residents updated on the protests on Facebook.

Following last Tuesday’s protest he addressed “an incendiary poster” that circulated on multiple Facebook groups that suggested the demonstration would lead to “rioting or looting.” Rhoads said the flyer was “designed to incite a community response, knowing that it would provoke some people from the surrounding area to come out to ‘protect’ their community,” he wrote. “Don’t allow division to happen.”

“We all respect and support the right to safely express views in peaceful protest, but acts of violence against police are never acceptable,” Rhoads wrote after 11 arrests were made in Merrick on Saturday.

“We want protestors to be heard, but we want everyone to be safe and respectful in doing so.”

On Monday, Brooks announced that he would vote to repeal state law 50-A, a controversial civil rights law that blocks the disciplinary history of police officers from the public after the killing of a civilian. Those opposed to the law have argued that it protects officers from transparency and scrutiny.

In a statement, Brooks said the decision was not easy to make, but “the action of those officers in Minneapolis was so egregious, the world community is now crying out for change.”

“As one of the residents of my district said to me last night, ‘Things must change,’ and they do,” he said.

“I will support the repeal of 50-A not because most police officers are bad but because most police officers are good. Because most police officers have good records, because most police departments take action to remove those bad cops long before something like Minneapolis takes place, and perhaps, most importantly, because we need more transparency in every level of government.”

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

A MERRICk fAMIly sat inside and atop their car, honking and shouting in support of the protesters.

Merrick social worker offers free counseling

By AlyssA sEIDMAN aseidman@liherald.com

Joan Phillips is no stranger to trauma.

For the past 25 years, she has worked as a licensed clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor, leading patients through “solution-focused” therapy to help enact positive change in their lives.

When Phillips shut down her office in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, she switched to tele-health to continue helping her patients. But as the outbreak spread, so did uncertainty — her clients and colleagues expressed feelings of fear, stress and anxiety amid the new normal.

“Everyone right now is numb, shocked,” she said. “It’s unfathomable.”

It was similar to what Phillips had heard in other times of crisis. While maintaining her private practice in Merrick, she shouldered local families through the aftermaths of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, connecting them with crisisrelated counselors and resources.

“Listening to these stories over and over, you hear similar things,” she said.

“With 9/11 there were a lot of divorces and dabbling, and you heard that with Sandy, and now we’re hearing it with Covid.”

Phillips became frustrated herself, she said, so she decided to offer her expertise to others, free of charge. “I wanted to try and tap into these people who are not able to talk to family, who don’t have anybody

or are not feeling heard,” she said. “I be empowered by their own strengths. To wanted to give them a little extra care and counsel those in quarantine, she emphasizes self-care as a form of therapy. attention.”

“The first thing I tell them is self-care After overcoming the coronavirus heris not selfish, and I self, Phillips said she challenge them to do also wanted to supsomething outside port frontline essenthe box to get motitial workers by provated,” she said. viding emotional “One example is support and helpful meditation, which a resources as they lot of people are continue to push resistant to, but once through the long they do it each day days of the pandemit’s amazing how ic. much they can build “Delivering themselves up.” moments of peace for Phillips also the frontline workers encourages clients to is so rewarding,” she maintain a strucsaid. tured routine and More than 20 peocommunicate with ple have sought PhilJoAN PhIllIPs family and friends on lips’ free mental a daily basis. “Identihealth counseling, fy who your support which she conducts over the phone for individuals as well as system is, and set something up where families. She explained that certain pre- you can connect with them each day,” she said. vailing issues have arose as a result of As the pandemic has taken lives, jobs staying at home, including family discord, and normalcy in its pass, Phillips said marital problems and self-medicating. that many people feel “they’re being treat“Some people weren’t getting out of bed or taking care of themselves,” she ed poorly or unfairly,” but she advised that in moments of unrest, it’s important added.

In session, Phillips aims to create a to be mindful.

“What we’re dealing with is such a safe and non-judgmental space for selfexpression where clients can uncover and conflict, but sometimes you have to go sec-

Who is Joan Phillips?

■ LCSW-R (licensed clinical social worker) ■ CASAC (credentialed alcohol substance abuse counselor) ■ RYT (registered yoga teacher) ■ Certified health coach ■ Clinical Instructor, Stony Brook University ond by second,” she said. “It’s a big puzzle, but we have to do it one piece at a time.”

Phillips regularly partners with the Bellmore-Merrick Community Coalition to offer professional development programs within the schools. She also provides behavioral health services as an independent contractor within the Northwell Health system. She will offer free counseling through the end of June.

Those interested in a session can email joan@joanphillipspsych.com.

Nominate a senior for a Herald superlative

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Opportunity to be recognized as “Nassau’s best” and to win $500 Richner Communications, publishers of Herald Community Newspapers, is now accepting nominations for the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives. Nominations are currently open through Instagram (see @ longislandherald for instructions) and online at www.liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives until June 15. Winners will be published in the Herald’s commemorative Graduation 2020 section, presented by Molloy College, on June 25.

Parents, family, classmates and friends are encouraged to nominate graduating high school seniors for the chance to be crowned Nassau County’s Most Likely to Succeed, Most Likely To Cure Cancer, Best Artist, Best Athlete, and more. Students can even nominate themselves.

Additionally, each Herald 2020 Senior Superlative winner will be entered into a drawing for a $500 VISA gift card, presented by Herald Community Newspapers.

Adina Stein, a senior at George W. Hewlett High School, said, “This is a great way to be honored this year. Finding out that my senior year would be cut short was very upsetting to me. I realized I wouldn’t be able to have my last school spirit week, prom, a traditional graduation, and other fun events we have spent many years looking forward to. After realizing that I can use this time to work on my productivity and look forward to my college freshman year, I decided to try

9

How to enter Nominate your favorite graduating high school senior today at www. liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives or on Instagram (see @longislandherald for instructions).

The categories, among others, include: ■ Most likely to be at the beach ■ Most likely to become a billionaire ■ Most likely to change the world

painting again, which was an activity that I enjoyed in my childhood. Not only does this give me an opportunity to express myself in a new way, it also allows me to prepare artwork for my future college dorm. I will look at these paintings on my wall with pride, knowing I turned an upsetting situation into a positive one.

And to be recognized as a Senior Superlative means a lot.”

Her father, Michael Stein, said “Adina has loved to paint and draw from an early age and has shown improvement the past few years. She has spent her free time during the quarantine period painting various art projects on canvas with plans to decorate her college dorm in the fall. Her cre-

ativity and artistic skills will complement her academic endeavors in the future.”

“We thought this was a fun way to honor these high school students who are graduating in extremely atypical times,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “We would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations from the community that stepped up to sponsor the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives to allow these graduating students to be recognized.”

Sponsors to date include Sacred Heart Academy, Oceanside Family Dental, Ritz Jewelry and Tim White Home Improvement.

■ Most likely to find a cure for cancer ■ Most likely to invent the next iPhone ■ Most likely to be an Instagram star ■ Most likely to be a future firefighter ■ Most likely to raise a family on Long Island ■ Most likely to become a movie star ■ Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize

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PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 25 • SPACE & COPY DEADLINE: JUNE 11

SAY CONGRATS TO OUR GRADS: While 2020 grads can’t walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive their diploma — and they may not be able to celebrate their achievements with family and friends gathering from near and far —graduation remains a special time worthy of recognition.

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hometown heroes

Gary Glick

M

Bellmore commander, Jewish war Veterans Post 652

e and a group of veterans got together in early May to start our website called We-Are-Vets.US. We started this website from nothing. First, we put it out to all veterans’ groups, and we’re slowly but surely bringing in info on their vets to keep them informed.

By making our site, we share people’s stories — from World War II and the Korean War to Vietnam. We have connections to the Northport [Veterans Affairs] Hospital and the Stony Brook nursing home, and veterans can also find some shopping discounts.

I was one of the lucky ones when I went into the service. I signed up in 1969 and never had to go to Vietnam, but it took 40 years to find out about all these other guys that did go or went to other wars and served our country. Now we’re getting them the help they need — that’s the key.

I’ve been in the background, and I like being in the background. If people would come out of the woodwork to help others, we could help many, many more. Especially younger people with fathers, mothers and relatives that are veterans.

I think our work helps keep people connected. Many of our Jewish War Veterans are much older than me, and it’s hard for them to join Zoom calls — many don’t even know what a computer is. We share people’s stories on the site, including a recent memorial fund, which is still going.

hometown hero

Frank lukasik

east meadow director oF literacy, east meadow school district

I

am also lucky enough to be working for the school district as the director of literacy for the past five years. As social media has grown, you see several opportunities to use your platform and get your message out to a wider audience. That’s what I’ve been doing with Twitter and in this instance, Facebook. I created the East Meadow Literacy Facebook page and before the pandemic, it started as weekly read aloud on Sunday nights. I’d get on and read to the kids and their parents. Now I’ve been doing it daily. I want to help kids who don’t necessarily have access or want to relax and hear a good story.

I’ve been working with the PTA to collect books of various levels. Some of our schools have food collections so something we will continue to have is access to books through donations of our community members. The community is donating books, I’m taking the books, breaking it down into appropriate grade levels — K through 1, 2 through 3 and 4 through 5 — and I repackage the books in Ziploc bags to create literacy to-go.

I have this position because this is a passion of mind and helping kids find out who they are as readers and writers. For some people, it takes a while and I think that whatever we could do to nurture that, it’s our responsibility to continue to do that as best as we can. During this pandemic, we still need to out there helping kids find out who they are through reading and writing.

hometown hero

?

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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i

garDen City preSiDent, Ceo, faMily & CHilDren’S aSSoCiation HeMpSteaD anD wantagH

owner, Cara Mia Due reStaurant SeaforD

o

don’t know how many trips I made to the hospitals [for donations] honestly. I can’t give you that number, and we also gave to some families that needed a little help. I wouldn’t mind helping out anyone who needs a meal. I’m more than happy to help.

My businesses are all food-related.

I have Cara Mia in Seaford. Once they gave us the heads-up that we can’t open dining rooms for public, we had to adapt. We did takeout only, and the community stood by us.

I’ve been in Seaford for 14 years now [with the restaurant], so it feels like my home.

My wife works at Lenox Hill Hospital in the city. She works in the surgery department. She’s been busy every day, but lucky for her, she’s been able to do a lot of her work from home.

We basically had to flip our work into a way we never had to do it before.

Even though we were only open at the restaurant for a few hours, it was more stressful. Usually you have a longer period of time to prepare those orders, but we didn’t have that.

But online, tons of Seaford people, and even Wantagh and Massapequa, were writing about the restaurant and to support local business, and it was nice to see that support. I wanted to give it back, and we did, in donations.

ne of the first questions that comes to mind in speaking with Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds is: How does a person with so many responsibilities find any time to sleep? Yet, the president and chief executive officer of FCA (Family and Children’s Association) not only sleeps; he is also a triathlete and a runner of marathons.

The Garden City resident’s work at FCA bears more than a passing resemblance to a marathon. It is harder to find a need FCA doesn’t address than to list what the charity does. Founded in 1884 to help indigent children, FCA now serves a wide variety of material and mental health needs across Nassau County, including substance abuse, human trafficking, homelessness and a host of issues affecting seniors. One of its shelters is in Wantagh.

“The economic stress is as high as I’ve ever seen it, and a lot of the issues we deal with are hard to quantify. But the ripple effect is going to be huge.

“Many who lost their jobs also lost their health insurance coverage and may not be able to afford COBRA payments. People who were on prescription pain medication might look for cheaper alternatives, like street drugs. But the heroin supply has been pretty dry lately, so we’re also seeing a big increase in day drinking.

“I worry about what happens next, as we [continue to] flatten the curve...A lot of people are falling through the cracks.”

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters Sergio DeCiantiS Dr. Jeffrey reynolDS eynol MaSSapequa

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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F

Protesters, aBove anD below, marching on Sunrise Highway.

Black Lives Matte

or five solid days last week, Black Lives Matter protesters marched through the normally quiet streets of Merrick and Bellmore, and Heralds Executive Editor Scott Brinton was out for much of that time capturing the action in photos and video.

A number of his photos can be found on these pages. There are more at liherald. com/Merrick or Bellmore. All videos are on his Twitter feed, @ScottBrinton1.

The largest of the protests were on Wednesday and Thursday, when, over the course both days, an estimated 6,000 protesters swept through Merrick-Bellmore streets chanting, "Black lives matter!" and "No justice, no peace!"

There was also a smaller protest on Sunday, attended by roughly 500. That march began at the Baldwin Long Island Rail Road station, wound through Freeport down to the Nautical Mile and on to the Merrick LIRR station.

Davonte Hawkins, of Roosevelt, was among t graphed above on Babylon Turnpike in Merrick.

i

'm scared every time I come outside.

aDriana Brutus Elmont tHe CorDova family, above, cheered the BLM protesters from their stoop. Below, 4,000 protesters on Sunrise Highway on Thursday, as seen from the Merrick Long Island Rail Road trestle.

on tHe move on Merrick Road, at the corner of Beach Drive.

rita moore, near right, of Lindenhurst, at the Merrick LIRR station, and Vernon Hutichinson, a Brooklyn attorney, on Sunrise Highway in Bellmore.

ter comes to town

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

those leading 500 protesters from Baldwin to Freeport and Merrick on Sunday. He was photoProtesting on merriCk Road in Merrick, just west of Newbridge Road.

aDriana Brutus, a 21-year-old NYU nursing student from Elmont, above, led a chant at the Merrick LIRR station. At left, protesters outside the LevyLakeside School in Merrick.

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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GETTING BACK TO OUR LIVES BEGINS WITH OUR HEALTH. To our fellow Long Islanders: For months, we’ve all endured a crisis that has reshaped our world. And, although our daily lives will be affected for some time to come, we’re beginning to move towards some sense of normalcy and optimism.

Along with the desire to protect lives, we all want to get back to living.

And living well starts with your health. Your total health.

That’s why we’ve instituted extensive safety measures throughout our hospitals and physician offices. There’s no need to ignore health issues or postpone procedures, because we’ve made it safe to get the care you need.

The new summer is here. Now is the right time to refocus on your greatest asset of all—your health. Just know that, at Catholic Health Services, we’re here for Long Island and, most of all, we’re here for you.

Sincerely, The Catholic Health Services Medical Staff

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What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

AthenA Silver froSted a batch of cupcakes, which she has been delivering to students throughout the district who need a sweet pick-me-up.

Calhoun student bakes up sweet treats Athena Silver, a ninth-grader at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, has found a sweet outlet to counter the sour Covid-19 pandemic — baking. With more time at home, she learned new skills to strengthen her baking abilities, and Baked by Athena was born.

“She has been surprising friends and family with all of her baked goods for a while now,” said Principal Nicole Hollings. “With that, she thought about Bellmore-Merrick’s graduating seniors and middle schoolers.”

Right from her home kitchen in Bellmore, Athena, 15, started thinking of ways to make her business special. “I wanted to bring the joy to others in the community,” she said. “As a student at Calhoun, the first thing that came to my mind were the seniors in the district. I felt bad that they didn’t get the end they were expecting, and I thought sweet treats would help [bring them] a bit of happiness.”

Her specialty is “Class of 2020 cupcakes” presented in a gift box with the schools’ respective colors and decals of their mascots. “I love seeing each family holding their box of cupcakes with smiles on their faces,” she said.

If you are interested in ordering from Athena, check out her Instagram @ bakedbyathena_ or send an email to bakedbyathena@gmail.com.

—Compiled by Alyssa Seidman

CAlhoun high SChool’S Athena Silver has been baking cupcakes for this year’s graduates.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Herald ScHoolS

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Merokean’s song-turned-book strikes a chord

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Published in the spring of 2018, Tara Drouin’s children’s book inspired by her song, “One Heart,” is striking a chord during arduous times across the United States.

“Its theme and message are universal — that we are one race, the human race,” said Drouin, who grew up in Merrick and graduated from Calhoun High School in 1990. “One Heart is meant to bring people together,” she added. “We need unity and solidarity to be the glue, and music to be the healing potion that helps take us to lasting equality and peace.”

Drouin, a preschool teacher in Queens, longtime musician (she plays bass) and proud mother of nine-yearold, Kaya, who’s bi-racial, said her intention for the book/song was to spread a message of unity and acceptance through the diversity that children experience in the classroom. But it’s a good read/listen for everyone in society, she noted.

“In light of everything that has happened with race relations in America, most recently with George Floyd and other similar situations over the years, I feel a responsibility as a mom, a teacher and a musician to speak out against this systemic racism,” Drouin said. “We need to change the narrative for our future. We cannot change the past but we must change our future.

Our children need to be taught that acceptance, kindness, unity and love are all important to making this work.

Our lives are all intertwined, and we can all live on this planet together in harmony.”

With racial tensions running high across the country in recent weeks, Drouin has received plenty of supportive messages on social media.

“An old friend and teacher reached out to me to say he shared my book with some of his friends who are teachers,” Drouin wrote on her Facebook page. “He said the message was awesome for everything that is going on in the world today.

“I needed that reminder that positivity and educating our children can bring us hope for a better future,” she

Photos courtesy Michael Rathsamt

MErrIck NaTIvE Tara Drouin’s song-turned-book “One Heart” conveys a much-needed message of unity. continued. “I pray for George Floyd’s family, I pray that rioting and violence stops, and I pray for a world where . . . everyone is treated equally.”

“One Heart” was written in 2016 by Drouin’s band, Iridesense, and per-

Public Notices

LBEL1 0611

LEGAL NOTICE BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU NOTICE TO BIDDERS:

In accordance with provision of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for: Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative Summer Bid 2020 Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road,

17

North Merrick, New York, on Monday, June 22, 2020, at 10:00 am.

Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject in whole or in part all bids or to accept any bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the school district.

By order: Board of Education BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. 122075 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com

for med with some family members, including her daughter. The book, a collaboration between Drouin and former co-worker Nancy Noskewicz, who drew the illustrations, is available on Amazon.

“I’ve always tried to [send] a positive message in my music writing,” said Drouin, who also conducts school diversity workshops where she reads the book, sings the song and displays a power point presentation.

“One Heart explores the reality of human differences — whether they be differences in eye color, skin color or hair color. Inside, we all have ‘One Heart,’” she said. “This message needs to be shared with children at a young age, especially in these challenging times.”

ThE cOvEr arT of “One Heart,” the book.

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

HERALD

Free estimates...Best Price For High Quality service

Installing a bidet: no simple project Q. Because of this crazy time, we couldn’t get toi-

let paper, so I saw an advertisement for a bidet that attaches to the bottom of the toilet seat and ordered one. After weeks of waiting, there seemed like toilet paper was back in the stores, but then the bidet arrived. With no job to run off to, I decided to put the bidet on, and the instructions looked simple enough.

That’s when I discovered that, like you often say, nothing is simple, and you’re right. My toilet is the kind that is sleek and modern, called “low profile.”

Since we have never replaced the toilet seat, I didn’t know that the seat was Ask The attached with hidden bolts Architect that can’t be loosened or taken off. After going on YouTube, I saw in an instructional video by Kohler, the maker, that with a special-order kit that includes a flat tool, new bolts and special expanding sleeves, which I would need to use with a bunch of drill bits, a screwonte eeper driver and a mallet, I could do this “simple” job.

I called a plumber, who looked at it and made one of those sounds like air rushing out of a balloon, and he said, after he couldn’t get the screw to loosen, either, that the toilet might get damaged if they drilled it out but they could try. If it got damaged, he said, as a backup, be prepared to replace the toilet and select what you would want to replace it. Even though I’m now searching for a new model toilet, I thought other readers would want to know about this problem before they go through this, as well. It all started with a simple roll of toilet paper that could have been available if people hadn’t swept them off the shelves in a panic. What would you do in this case?

M

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A. I not only got calls from people I knew that they ordered the bidet attachment around early April, but I ordered one myself, and learned from your question that there were many who are experiencing the same issues. I’m often told by prospective clients that they want a simpler look, something more modern and “updated.” People seldom want to hear the truth when they have an idea about how to make things simpler, and I didn’t imagine that the engineers of that type of sleeklooking low toilet, with no indents or hidden places to clean, would actually be more complicated to work with. Who would have imagined that changing a toilet seat would mean changing a toilet?

When people see something in a magazine, like an incredible staircase with no walls underneath or a fancy sports car, I wonder if they really understand the amount of complicated engineering that goes into the “simple” design. I would drill out the bolts with the kit standing by from the manufacturer and have the toilet selected, readily available to purchase for installation. Good luck!

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opinionS

S

table neighborhoods are the backbone of every community.

But in places like New York state, where housing costs continue to rise dramatically, housing stability is threatened for far too many, particularly families and individuals who rely on public assistance.

On any given day, more than 92,000 New Yorkers are homeless.

The gross inadequacy of housing subsidies is a critical factor in the rise of homelessness and housing instability. Long don Island is home to FRiedMan about 1,800 homeless households staying in shelters, while another 3,200 or so families and individuals struggle to get by on public assistance allowances that cover only 40 percent to twothirds of their monthly rents. These households are on the brink of becoming homeless, and most will find themselves facing eviction, having to double up with family or friends, or living in shelters or places not fit for human habitation.

This crisis is manifest throughout our

D

state, where, for example, more than 150,000 children experience homelessness over the course of the school year. Many of the more than 80,000 public-assistance households that struggle to pay their rents every month will constitute the next wave of families and individuals to lose their housing. These families will need to find shelters, hotels, tents, abandoned buildings, cars or sofas where they can spend a night, a week, a month, a lifetime after literally losing the roofs over their heads.

We have learned a great deal about the impact of housing instability and homelessness on individuals and families. Children who experience the intense stress of these hardships don’t do as well in school, and are more likely to have behavioral issues; adults are less likely to secure jobs and keep them, and more prone to mental and physical health problems; and families are often less able to succeed as cohesive units.

But it doesn’t need to be this way.

There is a solution in the form of legislation that has been pending in Albany for the past few years called Home Stability Support. HSS is a common-sense remedy

H

to the homelessness crisis that is supported by 129 members of the State Assembly, 37 state senators, more than 100 faith leaders, including the New York State Council of Churches and the New York State Catholic Conference, as well as dozens of local officials and scores of human services agencies and other advocates.

The design is simple: HSS would bridge the divide between public-assistance housing allowances and reasonable rents in order to enable homeless and at-risk New Yorkers to leave or avoid the impermanent shelter system and secure stable housing of their own.

Critics of the bill point out that the state had no resources for a program like HSS even before the coronavirus pandemic. But with homelessness in the state at record levels, shelters are overcrowded, and it costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year to leave this problem unsolved. HSS would not only help our homeless neighbors and those at risk of becoming homeless to become stably housed, it would also contribute to neighborhood stability and benefit taxpayers by preventing evictions, helping those

ousing instability turns the lives of children and adults upside down.

fleeing unsafe homes and reducing the use of costly shelters.

Moreover, the pandemic has exposed longstanding systemic inequities: wealthy families have been weathering the crisis away from dense metropolitan areas, while low-income workers have lost their livelihoods or continue to be exposed to the virus. While some have been able to work from home, others have neither a computer nor access to the internet. For the rich, the pandemic presents investment opportunities never seen before, but for the poor, it means the total depletion of their savings.

Now that New York state is slowly coming back to life after the lockdown, it is critical that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders recognize the need to end the vicious cycle of homelessness for families.

Almost everyone in the Legislature agrees that Home Stability Support would be the immediate solution to our statewide, cyclical homelessness crisis. Now it’s now time for Cuomo to ensure that the post-pandemic comeback isn’t built on the backs of low-income communities.

Don Friedman is a former managing attorney of the Long Island office of the Empire Justice Center, a statewide legal services and advocacy organization for low-income New Yorkers.

My own silver lining is in the mirror

on’t go changing to try and please me . . . Don’t change the color of your hair.”

—Billy Joel

Why would women stretch out on their backs with their hair floating behind them in vats of lye? Apparently, in the 1600s that was the price of beauty for fashionable women in Venice. It was what one did on the Rialto to bleach one’s hair into “golden” locks.

I mention this because my husband and I recently had “the talk.”

There are lots of pandemic-fueled talks going on now Randi in America, and while this one kReiSS started in a jokey kind of way, with a slow burn, it quickly ignited. The accelerant was oldschool ageism.

I realized we were talking about identity.

I asked him if he liked my hair, which has been growing in gray since I decided not to risk Covid-19 by going to a hair salon. (As businesses open, I realize this

is now my personal choice.)

Yes, it is a loaded question from spouse A to spouse B. Of course, just by asking, I’m making his opinion of my appearance important. And it is. As an older, pretty traditional couple, that has been the way we roll. We tell each other if a sweater looks too worn or pants are too tight.

We accept opinions on new shoes or eyeglasses. We have an actual agreement that we don’t say anything negative about each other’s appearance before we go out for the evening, but upon returning, we are allowed to say, “Burn that shirt.”

When I asked about my going gray, he said, “I like your hair dark.” Well, I liked it better when my hair was dark, too, but it can’t get dark unless I go to a salon, or color it at home, which is a project I am not taking on. Besides, why should I? Why was I hitched to a wagon that dragged me to a salon every eight weeks for a “touch-up”?

When I said I didn’t plan to change my hair, he said, “Well, OK, but I like it better the other way.”

“Well, OK,” I said, “I liked it better when you had wavy black curls and rip-

i

pling muscles in your arms.” The double standard suddenly popped out in high relief. Why is it OK for him to have gray hair and not think that it diminishes him in any way, and I have to dye my hair in order to “improve” my appearance when I start to show signs of aging?

If the pandemic had not struck, confining us to home base and prohibiting socializing, I probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely.

But now? I’m done. Every eight weeks I’ll go to the theater instead, for the same money, should the theaters ever open again. Meanwhile, stuck in the house, I’m getting comfortable with the me in me. I’ve outgrown that woman with highlighted hair and ritualized applications of makeup.

While we’re at it, let’s burn the bra. I see my husband’s eyes scan my upper torso and I know what he’s thinking. I go for it: “I’ve decided not to wear a bra anymore.”

“I noticed,” he says. “Don’t you think your clothes look better when you wear a bra?”

“My clothes would look better on a mannequin with Barbie Doll measure-

probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done.

ments,” I say, “but I am an imperfect human woman, and bras are uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be pinched and wired into place anymore.” I mean, why don’t fat guys wear Spanx?

I know some men color their hair, but most don’t, whereas some 70 percent of American women color theirs. The selfimprovement industry comprising hair coloring, makeup and dieting has been largely aimed at women. We have been all too willing to believe that we aren’t thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough in our own skins. Especially as we get older, it’s big business to convince women to cover the evidence of aging by dyeing hair, applying more makeup and submitting to surgeries.

This is a very old story, but it has been made new again by the coronavirus, which reminds us what is important in our lives. In the age of masks, it is unmasking us.

When your partner asks what you think of her going without makeup, a bra or hair color, or he asks if he can forgo the haircut, there are only eight acceptable words to utter: “I love you just the way you are.”

Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Include Home Stability Support in the recovery phase

22

Herald editorial

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

BellmoreBellmore

HERALD HERALD and Bellmore Herald News Established 1994 AlyssA seidmAn Editor Andrew GArciA Reporter robert cumminGs Audrey cohen Advertising Account Executives office 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: belleditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ clifford richner stuArt richner Publishers michAel boloGnA Vice President - Operations ■ scott brinton Executive Edtitor Jim hArmon

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christinA dAly Photo Editor tony bellissimo Sports Editor KAren bloom Calendar Editor ■ rhondA GlicKmAn Vice President - Sales ellen reynolds Classified Manager lori berGer Digital Sales Manager ■

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Protests should lead to reforms in New York

N

assau County wound ing on the sidewalk. That led down a whirlwind police to escort the BLM proweek of Black Lives testers around the counterproMatter protests testers. through local neighborhoods The next day, roughly 2,000 last week that were, with one BLM protesters turned out in exception, peaceful and upliftMerrick and marched through ing. local streets, from Sunrise Tens of thousands marched, Highway to Merrick Road, on to from Valley Stream to Bellmore Bellmore and back to Merrick. and from Hempstead to Long They chanted and cheered, Beach. They came seeking jusrapped and sang. This time, tice for George Floyd, killed by many local residents came out a Minneapolis police officer to welcome them. who pressed his knee into The day after that, 4,000 proFloyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 testers turned out, and they seconds. kept coming every day through At the same time, the protestlast Sunday. Outstanding! ers said they wanted social jusOn Saturday, a group of tice for all people, regardless of about two dozen protesters skin color. rushed at Nassau County police It’s about time that protests officers while to protest on the of this magnitude happened Meadowbrook Parkway in Merhere in Nassau. Often in the rick in the rain, according to past, when protests of this kind authorities. One officer’s ankle took place in response to an was broken. Another suffered a injustice, they happened in big bruised nose and a scratched cities like New York, Washingcornea. ton and Los Angeles. That left This should never have hapGov. Andrew Nassau residents with the dispened. No one should have Cuomo tinct impression that the social attempted to protest on the injustices that black people parkway, particularly when it have faced were not their concern. This was wet and slick. As one Facebook user time, protesters brought the demonstracommented, to do so would have been a tions to our otherwise quiet suburban “death wish.” neighborhoods, making them impossible More important, police never should to ignore. have been injured. The NCPD did an excelBravo! lent job of maintaining the peace and And these protesters weren’t taking no keeping everyone safe throughout the for an answer. In Merrick, a group of week. They didn’t deserve this. about 30 people, a number of whom were There were only 11 arrests of protesters from local neighborhoods, tried to stop 150 last week, all in Merrick, and all were Black Lives Matter protesters from march- among those who tried to jump onto the

i

don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.

crAiG cArdone Art Director ■

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letters D.A.: Reforms are greatly needed To the Editor: The horrific murder of George Floyd has moved millions of Americans to action, seeking to end systemic racism and mistreatment by law enforcement and a fairer criminal justice system. These issues are not new to our country, our community or to me as district attorney.

We have seen large, peaceful protests across Nassau County that showcase the diversity of our communities dedicated to justice, alongside the professionalism of our law enforcement agencies, working under challenging circumstances.

As the county’s chief law enforcement official, I believe this is an important moment to listen to those voices in our community calling for change, to reflect on how we can improve and to affirm our commitment to do better.

I wanted to share with you what action we’re taking in my office, how we’re working with our law enforcement partners to better serve the public, to announce my sup-

Meadowbrook.

We seem in this nation to be in a perpetual cycle of violence against people of color, followed by protests that at times turn violent, as they did in major cities around the country last week. It’s time that we end that cycle.

Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his call for enactment of the “Say Their Name” reform agenda, saying that police have to do their jobs, but do not have the right to abuse those they police, and that society will no longer tolerate delayed justice.

The Say Their Name agenda would: ■ Make public prior disciplinary records of law enforcement officers by reforming Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law. ■ Ban chokeholds by law enforcement officers.

■ Prohibit false, race-based 911 reports and make them a crime.

■ Designate the attorney general as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement.

We fully support passage of this legislation, and we call on the State Legislature to act on it immediately.

“Police have to do their jobs, protect public safety,” Cuomo said. “There’s also police abuse. There’s abuse of power. Protesters — most of the protesters are peaceful — they are indignant. It is righteous indignation. I don’t see anybody who can see the Mr. Floyd video and not be indignant. I don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.”

23

opinions

T

he largest pandemic in 100 years gave us a crash course in public health. We quickly learned the epidemiological concepts of “flattening the curve, the risk of exposure, asymptomatic carriers, incubation periods, and why we must quarantine.

Even though everyone may not have understood these concepts, we all learned what to do: isolate and minimize contact with others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This was enforced here through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York State on Pause” — even marTine if you wanted to HackeTT go to school or a bar or a movie, you couldn’t because of the policies that closed them all for the sake of the public. Individuals had to sacrifice for the greater good.

Eventually these policies, and changes in behavior, worked. On Long Island, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 20 percent to 2 percent over the past six weeks. The number of daily deaths in New York City

dropped to zero last week for the first time since March. Nassau and Suffolk were among the hardest-hit counties in the United States, and we have been meeting the metrics of declining hospitalizations and deaths, and are moving toward reopening.

We also learned that even though a virus cannot be seen by the naked eye, we can see its effects on the body. We understand that this invisible agent can be spread without the knowledge of those who have it, and that it can be deadly.

The same is true for police brutality and its root cause, structural racism.

Invisible to some and supported by many who are unaware of its impact, the overwhelming police presence in communities of color takes a continuing toll on people of color.

Just as electron microscopes made it possible for viruses to be visible 90 years ago, police brutality is now visible is cellphone documentation that is viewed and shared on our myriad screens. The shocking and deeply disturbing video of George Floyd’s death as a direct result of a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck made it painfully clear how racism

m

icroscopes have made viruses visible, and cellphones allow us to see brutality.

LeTTers port for pending legislation to promote trust and accountability, and to remind every Nassau resident that our doors and our hearts are open to all those we serve.

Please continue to share your ideas with me. I am listening.

■ My office will partner with the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University to analyze comprehensive charging and case disposition data to identify racial disparity and bias, and publicly report the findings of that review as well as any corrective action warranted.

■ We will also address the appearance of a conflict by seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor for all new cases in which police officers are credibly accused of criminal conduct in the course of their duties.

■ We will expand and enhance annual mandatory implicit bias training for all staff, and review our training curriculum to ensure that anti-bias education is an ongoing component.

■ We will continue our work to recruit and promote prosecutors, investigators and staff that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

■ We will expand our Community Councils, which already include our African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, South Asian American, Faith Leaders, Student and Community Partnership Program advisory councils to

and law enforcement violence intersect.

The fact that Floyd’s autopsy revealed that he also had Covid-19 the month before he was murdered further connects the vulnerability of black people to public-health threats. The protests that followed across the United States and the world demanded an end to systemic racism.

The American Public Health Association states that racism structures opportunity and assigns value based on how a person looks. The result is conditions that give an unfair advantage to some and unfairly disadvantage others. Racism hurts the health of our nation by denying some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

We know that in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Covid-19 deaths have disproportionately affected black residents. In 2018, the APHA also recognized that law enforcement violence was a publichealth issue. Racism and injustice have resulted in the deaths of more people than the 110,000 that Covid-19 has caused thus far in the U.S. We have seen that public-health solu-

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

A virus and police brutality: two public-health problems I

s

tions can work to reduce the virus’s toll.

However, just talking about what to do — wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting — does not work unless those recommendations are followed rigorously. tinue t Without conscious and vigilant action, ty is th Covid-19 would continue to spread and larly fa cause sickness and death. But as we wait on pub for a vaccine and the building of herd immunity, we may one day gain control of the virus, and live our lives without thinking too much about it.

There is no similar one- or two-shot solution to an unjust societal system.

Eliminating the public-health problems of police brutality and systemic racism will require public-health-sized solutions: consistent monitoring; education about how structural racism, especially on Long Island, came to be a force in our schools, communities and health care system; policy changes; and changes in citizens’ behavior and attitudes.

Police brutality, and the underlying causes of systemic racism, require the 3,200 or same unprecedented level of action and gle to g ances t resources we used to address the pandemic. We are all connected, whether we thirds househ see it or not. homele Martine Hackett is an associate professor facing family of public health at Hofstra University. places Thi

Framework by Christina Daly

ensure broader geographic representation of Nassau’s communities.

Many jurisdictions, including New York City, have established civilian oversight boards to provide independent review of complaints against police officers. These boards investigate and recommend discipline for officers accused of misconduct, refer potential criminal conduct for possible prosecution, and use tools like mediation to help improve relationships and trust between law enforcement and the public. To promote transparency and independence, we encourage Nassau County to establish a civilian police review agency.

We encourage the Legislature to increase juror pay from the antiquated rate of $40 per day to $150 per day to promote more diverse and representative juries. For those who are self- employed, rely on tips or hold multiple part-time jobs, the cost to serve is simply too high.

Legislation is pending to repeal Section 50-a of the New York State Civil Rights Law, which shields the personnel records of police from disclosure. Greater transparency regarding police misconduct and discipline is important to improve policies and oversight and promote public confidence. I support significant reform to Section 50-a. However, police officers do dangerous work. The overwhelming majority do their jobs with courage and integrity. And repeal that does not afford protection of officers’ personal information could endanger officers

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An installation in Pratt Park — Glen Cove

and their families.

As we work to address police misconduct, it is important to be mindful of the essential role law enforcement plays in protecting our communities, and the difficult and often dangerous situations officers face. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and other conditions, exacerbated by work stresses, necessitate the ready availability of mental health services to ensure that officers can continue to safely perform their jobs.

Officer suicides have occurred at an alarming rate in recent years, and wide-

spread protests and broad-based criticism will undoubtedly compromise morale. It is important that policymakers engage with law enforcement leaders and rank-and-file officers to ensure that as we move forward to address wrongdoing, we create an environment that sup-quickly ports the good work of the thousands of school police officers who serve the people of I rea Nassau County with professionalism andty. integrity every day.

I ask has bee MADELINE SINGASnot to r Nassau County district attorneysalon. (

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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