Wantagh
HERALD Citizen
Middle School cites top students
Teachers, children say farewells
MacArthur actors take prize
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VOL. 68 NO. 24
JUNE 11 - 17, 2020
Congressional hopefuls discuss protests By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com
Christina Daly/Herald-Citizen
Coming together, voices raised Hundreds from across Nassau County gathered in front of the old Methodist church in Hempstead last Friday, joining the nationwide chorus of protests of racial injustice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
In the past week, many Long Islanders have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and systemic racism and to honor the life of George Floyd. While many reiterate the importance of voting and have encouraged others to register, local candidates are also listening to the concerns of their prospective constituents. All four hopefuls for the seat in New York’s 2nd Congressional District spoke with the Herald about the Black Lives Matter protests ahead of the June 23 primary.
“The death of George Floyd was a heinous act,” said Republican State Assemblyman Mike LiPetri. “There have been peaceful protests, and that’s great. However, we cannot be [painting with] a broad brush against all law enforcement.” LiPetri spoke about the impact the police have on people’s everyday lives. Police officers, community leaders and citizens agree that the actions of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin were “evil,” LiPetri said, and everyone can unite around peaceful protest. “As a result of the outcry, protests occurred,” he said. “ProCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Local businessman to challenge Rice in 4th C.D. By TIMOTHY DENTON tdenton@liherald.com
Wa n t a g h b u s i n e s s m a n Edward Dennehy said at press time on Monday that he planned to announce an independent against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice in the 4th Congressional District race in November. The announcement, he said, was to come no later than Thursday. The district stretches from Wantagh to Valley Stream and includes Bellmore, East Meadow, Freeport and Merrick. Rice was first elected in 2012. Dennehy, 48, operates a custom clothing and hair-styling
business with his former wife, Jessica, and has shops in Wantagh and Hicksville. Dennehy said he had no intention to run for public office until the coronavirus pandemic hit. “I had access to a million masks through my contacts in China in the clothing business,” he said. “They were available for about 7 cents each, but more than the cost of the masks, we needed help g etting them imported. We called every elected official I could think of who might have been able to help. None of them even returned our calls.” At the time, protective gear was in critically short supply.
Dennehy said he placed “about a half-dozen calls” to Rice’s office without receiving any response. “You know, I even called the offices of [Rep. Alexandra Ocasio Cortez], and her office got back to me in about three minutes,” Dennehy said. “We don’t even live in her district.” After being told why Dennehy was calling, “AOC called us back herself in less than 15 minutes,” Dennehy recounted. “We later found out that she gets about 3,000 calls a day.” Eventually, he and his former wife were able to import 100,000 masks at their own expense, with help from Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads and
Town of Hempstead Councilman Christopher Carini. The couple handed out the masks at a series of events throughout the area, but with shortages continuing, the Dennehys still express disappointment at the loss of the remaining 900,000 masks. Ocasio Cortez’s responsiveness deeply impressed them, and at that point they began serious-
ly discussing the possibility of Edward’s running for public office. Born in North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Dennehy was raised in Baldwin and graduated from Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville. After g raduation, he apprenticed at Alfredo’s, a cusCONTINUED ON PAGE 16