Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, December 10, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 50
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HOLIDAY GIFT & PARTY GUIDE
FITZGERALD ON UBS ARENA
SUOZZI TOUTS LI SOUND FUNDING
PAGES 25-40
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Judge vacates expulsion of GCP firefighter Jensen Thomas voted out of district in February for violating by-laws BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y A state Supreme Court judge has ordered the Garden City Park Water and Fire District to reinstate a firefighter who was expelled. Judge Diccia Pineda-Kirwan’s decision on Nov. 8 reversed the district’s termination of Jensen Thomas, accepting the firefighter’s argument that disciplinary action he received was disproportionate. In February, the district’s Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to remove Thomas, a 31-year-old EMT who was a firefighter in the district since 2008 and a captain since 2016, on grounds of violating district by-laws, engaging in disrespectful conduct and damaging district property. Thomas said that he was unfairly treated. He testified that he was subject to disparate treatment by the district and that other firefighters who caused more or similar damage to the department were not reprimanded the same
way. The incident in question stems from a discussion between Thomas and Third Assistant Chief John Janus that took place during a 2019 Christmas party. Janus opposed Thomas’ candidacy for third assistant chief in that year’s election, which Thomas lost. After the conversation escalated to an argument, Thomas was ordered to leave after cursing and raising his voice, which he agreed to do after initially refusing. Upon leaving, Thomas went to the district headquarters and threw a television remote, kicked a wall and slammed a door, damaging the wall, for which he was expelled. Thomas said his discipline was disproportionate to the charges. Since the ruling in November, Thomas said that he has still not been reinstated and is unsure why. “They are simply refusing to reinstate me,” Thomas said in an Continued on Page 50
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
First-grade students from Searingtown Elementary School in Herricks participated in a special “Book Tasting” reading celebration on Nov. 24. See story on page 61.
Judge orders Garden City to grant permits for bridge BY B R A N D ON DUFFY
been delaying reconstruction of the Denton Avenue bridge. On Nov. 30, Judge Helen A state Supreme Court Voutsinas issued the ruling judge has ordered the Village in a lawsuit filed by the MTA of Garden City to process and against the village over a delay approve permits that have in permits for the project.
As part of a $2.6 billion Long Island Rail Road project, the bridge in Garden City is to be removed and replaced to accommodate a third track being added to the Main Line Continued on Page 51
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