Village of Cedarhurst deals with disaster

Mayor Andrew Parise declared a State of Emergency at Cedarhurst’s town board meeting Tuesday night with 100 residents attending. The main focus of the meeting was the recovery from Hurricane Sandy, noted Deputy Mayor Ben Weinstock. He reported the events of the meeting to the Jewish Star. Some of the steps the Mayor is empowered to take under the emergency proclamation include establishing a curfew, prohibiting or controlling traffic, prohibiting access to specific zones, regulating or closing places of amusement or assembly, establishing or designating emergency shelters, and suspending any law that may hinder coping with a disaster or recovery when the governor’s assistance was requested or if the governor declares a state disaster emergency.

The Board decided to defer the enforcement of local laws and codes to assist recovery efforts to facilitate occupancy of schools and businesses in temporary housing until their regular locations are repaired. They are also giving priority to building and permit applications for work to repair storm damage and these requests will thus be pushed ahead of regular building applications. Enforcement of metered parking is suspended through Monday, November 12th.

Jimmy Vilardi, Commissioner of Sanitary District 1, reported that the normal trash collection schedule is in force. All vehicles are on overtime to pick up the piles of water damaged items designated for removal, with 26 extra trucks added to bulk pickup duties.

Nassau Legislator Howard Kopel fielded questions and complaints about LIPA, the lack of visible police presence, blacked out intersections and no concrete information on the restoration of electricity. County Executive Edward Mangano promised a portable traffic signal at Rockaway Turnpike and Peninsula Boulevard, noted Kopel.

Residents noted that the Mayor is in his office and always available, and the Village has two patrol cars on the street every night, some manned by Village Trustees. The Village coordinated patrols with six Auxiliary police cars, four National Guard vehicles and 4th precinct cars as well as volunteer security patrols from the Brooklyn Shomrim. Lawrence School Board trustee David Sussman noted that school buses cannot run without working traffic signals.

“Mayor Parise has been unbelievable,” said Village Trustee Ari Brown, commenting on the post-Sandy situation. “He and his assistant Joe Marie have been constantly working. Our residents know that we are here for them. We make the calls for them. If this were Louisiana, the President and our Governor would’ve been here. They have totally abandoned us. Cedarhurst is the shopping hub of the entire South Shore of Long Island. We have less than a 6% vacancy rate in this recession. In a great economy most locations can’t claim those numbers. The Governor and the President need to pay to attention to us. Nothing, nothing from our Governor. We have great local leaders. Senator Dean Skelos has been incredible. Instead of campaigning on Tuesday, he gave out food and clothing in Long Beach. Instead of the President blowing money on Solyndra, why doesn’t he bring tankers of gas here to Long Island? When there’s catastrophe elsewhere, there are trailers brought in, and generators. Why isn’t the National Guard here to protect against looting that has been taking place in other areas, like Lawrence and Woodmere? Cedarhurst has their own nightly watch patrol, from the Village and from private organizations like Shomrim. We hear about the Red Cross but don’t see them here. Michael Hervey, the CEO of LIPA can’t pick up the phone? What’s he so busy with? They should run Michael Hervey out of town!”