Port Washington 2022_08_12

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Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point

Friday, August 12, 2022

Vol. 7, No. 32

$1.50

PPortWashingtonTimes Po rt Washington LIVING 50+

OPPONENTS HIT WEST SHORE ROAD PROJECT

SIRIUS DJ ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

PAGES 23-26

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Crime stats show little rise after bail reform

PORT TRADITION RETURNS

Slight increases in 2020, 2021 while 10% decrease since 2017 BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z An analysis of Nassau County crime statistics for the past five years conducted by Blank Slate Media shows a decrease of more than 10% in major crimes from 2017-2021 but an increase of more than 16% increase in violent crimes. Statistics that were reported by the Nassau County Police Department to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services show that a total of 14,039 major crimes were committed throughout the county in 2017, compared to 12,535 in 2021. The list of major crimes included in the report were murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The biggest year-to-year decrease in major crime during the five-year analysis was from 2019 to 2020 with a drop of nearly 9% — from 13,387 to 12,244 -during the pandemic-riddled year, according to the statistics. Though most crimes increased from 2019 to 2020, larceny reports decreased by nearly 15%, from 10,234 to 8,741, helping drive the overall decrease. Motor vehicle thefts increased nearly 10%, from 639 to 702 from

2019 to 2020. Aggravated assaults increased 13.4% from 1,081 to 1,226 and burglaries increased 12%, from 870 to 975 from 2019 to 2020, according to the statistics. Both violent and property major crimes increased slightly from 2020 to 2021, according to the statistics. Major crimes, overall, increased less than 3% in 2021 from 12,244 in 2020. Violent crime increased 5% from PHOTO BY LINDA NUTTER 1,826 to 1,917 during this period and property crimes increased less than Actors performing in ‘Mary Poppins.’ The Port Summer Show, which produces a musical every 2%. summer in Port Washington, celebrated its 50th anniversary last week. The crime report appears to contradict claims that reforms to New York’s bail reform laws had led to an increase in crime, which was a central part of Republicans’ successful countywide campaigns in November 2021 New York implemented bail reform laws in January 2020, with modifications being passed in April that same year. State officials said the modified laws eliminated pretrial detention and optional cash bail in an estimated 90 percent of cases. Brendan Fahey, Jeremy Devine Frank Ottaviani and Richard ZimLocal officials, including Nassau B Y S T E V E N K E E H N E R and Audra Singer are seeking their bardi. County Executive Bruce Blakeman, They are also demanding restituManorhaven has received a no- “lawful appointments” to be recoghave expressed their opposition to the laws, claiming that recent increases tice of claim for what the three claim- nized and retroactively corrected tion for what they call a “violation of in major crimes and reports involving ants call “unlawful appointments” to the Board of Zoning Appeals and claimants’ rights to due process and Continued on Page 45 made by Mayor John Popeleski and Planning Board(s), according to the equal protection under the United village trustees, according to legal notice of claim. They are contesting States and New York Constitutions.” Continued on Page 44 the appointments of Elise Ledda, documents.

Manorhaven to be sued over appointments Visit theportwashingtontimes.com or theisland360.com for the latest in breaking news.


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