Williston Park 2022_04_01

Page 1

Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

$1.50

Friday, April 1, 2022

Vol. 71, No. 13

GUIDE TO SPRING

DeSENA OUTLINES BUILDING DEPT. CHANGES

KAIMAN TO KICK OFF TOWN HALL SERIES

PAGES 29-36

PAGE 2

PAGE 9

Martins takes on Kaplan for state Senate

MINEOLA PROUD

Ex-Mineola mayor seeks to reclaim seat after getting GOP backing BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Former state Sen. and Mineola Mayor Jack Martins is eyeing a return to the Senate as the Nassau County Republican Party endorsed him to run against incumbent Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) in the 7th Senate District last Friday. Martins, an Old Westbury resident who represented the district from 2011 to 2016, started off his introductory speech at the GOP’s Westbury headquarters by saying, “It’s great to be back” and addressed the questions he has received from others asking why he is choosing to run again. “When I left the Senate six years ago, we had compromise, we had balance, the suburbs had a voice,” Martins said. “Nassau County had a voice because there were people who were willing to fight for Nassau County families and make sure the … quality of life we want for ourselves, for our families, is alive and well.” Martins, who served as Mineola’s mayor from 2003 to 2010, previously said he restructured the village’s finances, debt and property tax assessment system, and improved government transparency by broadcasting meetings on TV and publishing information online. In 2008, Martins ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign against former U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy before defeating incumbent 7th District Sen. Craig

Johnson, a Democrat, in 2010. The race against Johnson was one that did not get resolved until early December due to Johnson demanding a recount of the votes, ultimately having his appeal denied by the state’s Court of Appeals. After another failed attempt to get into Congress in 2016, losing to U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), Martins shifted his focus, running for Nassau County executive in 2017 after County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republian, was indicted on federal corruption charges. Martins lost that race to Democrat Laura Curran, who served as county executive before being defeated by Republican Bruce Blakeman last fall. On Friday, Martins spoke about some of the changes that have occurred throughout the state, including bail reform laws, he is looking to rectify, if elected. Martins also said he is “tired” of having prominent state government officials coming from the same political party. “When politicians in Albany put criminals ahead of our communities, it’s time to go back and make a difference,” Martins said. “We’re going up to Albany, we’re going to take these seats, we’re going to take back the majority in the Senate, we’re going to restore sanity, we’re going to repeal bail reform, we’re going to cut taxes, we’re going to cut the gas Continued on Page 41

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Mineola High School recently held senior recognition night for the basketball team.

Hempstead councilman backed by GOP for CD4 BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

trict election last week. D’Esposito, who represents the Town of Hempstead Councilman town’s 4th District, is a retired NYPD Anthony D’Esposito was endorsed by detective who lives in Island Park. the Nassau County Republican Party D’Esposito said, if elected, he will to run in the 4th Congressional Dis- look to cut crime throughout the 4th

Congressional District and “be part of a team that is going to change the direction of New York state and America.” “Crime is through the roof,” Continued on Page 42

Th e I s l a n d360.co m Come visit for the latest in breaking news.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.