Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, December 31, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 53
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY PAGES 10, 11
G.C. refuses to issue permits for bridge: MTA
COVID CLIMBS IN NASSAU
NO CHARGES AGAINST CUOMO IN NASSAU
PAGE 2
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DECK THE DOORS
Transit authority files motion to have village placed in contempt of court BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The Village of Garden City is continuing to refuse to issue work permits necessary for the Denton Avenue bridge construction, part of the LIRR Expansion Project, MTA officials said. Last Wednesday the New York State Appellate Division ruled in favor of the MTA and LIRR after Garden City sought to appeal a Nov. 30 ruling from Judge Helen Voutsinas that granted the MTA the right to receive delayed permits needed since 2019. MTA officials said that the agency on Monday filed motions asking the court to hold Garden City in contempt of court after the village disobeyed the order. The MTA said it was seeking a daily fine of at least $50,000 until the village complies. As part of a $2.6 billion Long Island Rail Road project, the Denton Avenue Bridge is to be removed and replaced to accommo-
date a third track being added to the Main Line from Floral Park to Hicksville. The agency said in the initial lawsuit that it is critical to the project because widening the bridge would allow for the extra train track. Without the permits, the agency cannot complete any street closures or road excavations in order to rework critical utilities, including water and sewer mains. The LIRR Expansion Project is contractually mandated to be finished in 2022, and delays would increase costs. The agency is trying to complete bridge work in four months, as opposed to six, to meet the end of April 2022 deadline that keeps the entire project on schedule. The MTA said that the village is deliberately holding up the process and refusing to engage in any procedure that would move forward with the permits. According to court documents, Continued on Page 27
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FLORAL PARK-BELLEROSE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Floral Park-Bellerose School students and teachers decked their classroom doors in honor of the holiday season.
Hempstead board limits parking near UBS Arena BY B R A N D ON DUFFY
concerns that have grown with the opening of the UBS Arena. Since the public opening The Town of Hempstead Nov. 20, the UBS Arena has Board recently approved a been the home to the New resolution limiting parking in York Islanders as well as hostthe Elmont area in response to ing concerts, which will be held
year round outside of hockey season. Residents said that ever since November there have been issues with the venue. Angel Joyner said at the board meeting that she lives Continued on Page 26
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