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Friday, December 8, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 49
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
PILIP CALLS FOR SUOZZI GETS BACKING HOFSTRA PREZ TO RESIGN OF N. SHORE MAYORS
PAGES 21-32
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H O L I D AY S E A S O N
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House votes to expel Santos from his seat Disgraced 3rd District rep just the 6th ever booted BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The United States House of Representatives Friday morning voted to expel New York’s 3rd Congressional District Representative George Santos, making him the sixth House member ever to be ousted from Congress. A special election will be held to replace Santos and finish out his current term in the next 70 to 80 days. The resolution to expel Santos, which needed at least 290 votes, passed with a tally of 311-114, with 105 Republicans voting in favor. Top House Republican leaders, including newly-appointed Speaker Mike Johnson, voted to keep Santos in Congress. Santos’ expulsion is the first since 2002 when Ohio Democrat Jim Trafi-
Additonal Santos coverage PAGE 6 cant was convicted on federal corruption charges. Santos is also the first Congressman to be expelled since the Civil War without first being convicted of a felony. Santos, 35, has been subject to much criticism for lying to voters about himself in turning the district red after winning the seat in 2022 that was left vacant by former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who did not seek reelection in pursuit of a failed gubernatorial run. Santos was seen leaving the U.S. Capitol Building before Johnson final-
ized the vote amid a large gaggle of reporters. Santos did not stop to comment on the vote when heading to his car. Friday’s vote was the third attempt in six months to expel Santos and the first since the bipartisan House Ethics Committee released its long-awaited 56-page report from investigators that found “substantial evidence” Santos violated federal law. Investigators concluded that Santos used campaign funds for personal purposes, defrauded donors and filed false or incomplete campaign and financial disclosures. Santos, who represents northern Nassau County and a portion of northeast Queens, sought to “fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial Continued on Page 42
Wendling challenges Chimenti over spending GCP fire commish candidates clash over firehouse plan BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MINEOLA
The Village of Mineola held its annual tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 1.
Peter Chimenti and Joe Wendling, the two candidates running in next week’s election for Garden City Park Fire and Water District commissioner, have clashed over how to modernize the Garden City Park Fire Station No. 2 on Denton Avenue and spend money. Earlier this year in September, district residents voted down the chance to bond for $5,900,000 to renovate the Garden City Park Fire Station No. 2 at 11030 Denton Ave. in Garden City
Park. If the vote passed, it would have rebuilt the firehouse that was first built in 1970 to fit today’s regulations and provide additional space for the first responders, among other things. Chimenti said the board sent out flyers and notices to the district ahead of the vote but admitted that “mistakes were made”, specifically regarding the lack of public feedback and getting more input from residents. “We always look at our capital plan to see down the road what may be needed,” Chimenti. “We do it in both districts, we’re not going to be
nearsighted and are projecting what we need further down the line.” Chimenti also said the station is both old and in disarray and that the district is still considering new proposals and evaluating whether or not to look at alternative plans, if needed, for renovations. Wendling said he is running to “stop the foolish spending” and called the Denton Avenue firehouse perfectly fine. He also added that volunteer numbers are too low to justify building a new firehouse right now. Continued on Page 43