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Friday, January 28, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 4
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY GUIDE PAGES 23-26
MORE ACRIMONY AT CURRAN FREEZES N. HEMPSTEAD BOARD ASSESSMENT ROLL, AGAIN PAGE 2
PAGE 7
School districts scramble after masking ruling Appellate justice issues stay of verdict that state mandate is unconstitutional BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z After a Nassau County justice overturned Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statewide mask mandate on Monday, Appellate Judge Robert J. Miller “stayed,” or suspended, that decision, requiring students to once again wear protective face coverings in school. Judge Thomas Rademaker of State Supreme Court in Nassau County said on Monday that Hochul’s mask mandate violated the state Constitution, which resulted in a handful of school districts on Long Island making mask-wearing optional for students and staff on Tuesday. After Rademaker’s verdict, Hochul expressed her strong opposition to the decision and said, “We believe this will be settled very shortly.” The next day, Miller’s decision forced the school districts that chose to make mask-wearing optional to go back to following Hochul’s guidelines. A hearing on
the matter is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the state Appellate Court in Brooklyn. After the decision to suspend Rademaker’s decision, Hochul touted the need to prioritize the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and expressed her gratitude for those in state government who continue to aid her in that mission. “I commend the Attorney General for her defense of the health and safety of New Yorkers, and applaud the Appellate Division, Second Department for siding with common sense and granting an interim stay to keep the state’s important masking regulations in place,” Hochul said. “We will not stop fighting to protect New Yorkers, and we are confident we will continue to prevail.” Andy Pallotta, president of the state’s United Teachers organization, also supported the stay but asked state health officials to Continued on Page 34
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARYL VAZ-SALESI
Oracio “Ray” Vaz, of Mineola, who landed on D-Day in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, died on Saturday at 97. See story on page 3.
McCormacks’ lawyer bashes Westchester DA BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
County District Attorney Mimi Rocah to resign after she cited “missed opportunities” as one Robert Abrams, an attor- reason it took nearly 40 years ney who represents the fam- to build a murder case against ily of Kathleen McCormack real estate scion Robert Durst. Last Wednesday, Rocah Durst, called on Westchester
released an investigative report about Kathleen Durst’s disapparance in 1982, saying “missed opportunities” and “tunnel vision” by various officials were why it took as long Continued on Page 35
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