NEW HYDE PARK 2023_12_15

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Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park

$1.50

Friday, December 15, 2023

Vol. 72, No. 50

N E W H Y D E PA R K

GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS

DeRIGGI-WHITTON PICKED SANTOS TALKING PLEA DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS COUNTY DEM LEADER

PAGES 23-38

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Dems pick Suozzi for Congress run Special elex bid to replace Santos BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi.

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (DGlen Cove), a Democrat who represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District for six years, has been selected by the party to run in a special election next February for his old post. The special election will be held to replace George Santos, who was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, finish his current term and take place on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The announcement was made Thursday afternoon by state and Nassau County Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs and Rep. Gregory Meeks, the Queens County Democratic chair. “On behalf of the Nassau County and Queens County Democratic Com-

mittees, we are very pleased to announce the official selection this afternoon of Thomas R. Suozzi of Glen Cove to be our nominee for the Special Election in the Third Congressional District of New York,” the two said in a statement. “Tom Suozzi has a proven record of fighting for his constituents, fighting to safeguard our suburban way of life here on Long Island and Queens and always advocating for sensible solutions to the real challenges affecting everyday average Americans.” Jacobs and Meeks went on to say they look forward to working with Suozzi’s campaign to restore “integrity, competence and a focus on the real needs” of the district and its constituents. Continued on Page 50

Belmont Stakes moving upstate in ‘24 BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement Wednesday that the The 156th running of the Bel- third leg of the Triple Crown will be mont Stakes in 2024 will take place at held upstate alongside a four-day fesSaratoga Race Course while Belmont tival. “It’s a win for horse racing and Park undergoes major renovations.

for the Capital Region to have the excitement and the ability to host the four-day festival in June at America’s most historic track,” Hochul said in a statement. The race will be held on Saturday, June 8, while the festival will take place from June 6 to June 9. Included in next year’s changes are a $500,000 increase in the purse for the winning horse to $2 million. Belmont Park will be redeveloped and reconstructed from scratch as part of a multi-year project secured through a $455 million

loan included in this year’s state budget. No taxpayer money will be used in the loan, which will be paid back with racing revenue over 20 years, according to the NYRA. The horse racing industry in New York generates $3 billion in annual economic activity while sustaining 19,000 jobs, according to the NYRA. The project is expected to begin next year and be completed by the 2026 race. A new state-of-the-art facility at Belmont, which was last renovated in 1968, will also guaran-

tee the return of the Breeders’ Cup, thoroughbred racing’s yearend world championships, to Long Island for the first time since 2005. David O’Rourke, NYRA president and CEO, thanked Hochul for the support of a new Belmont Park that will bring more excitement to the event. “Beyond the excitement and energy around a Triple Crown event at the sport’s most beloved venue, the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course will generate important Continued on Page 51


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