The Usual Speakers and Subjects Addressed at Monday Night’s Civic Meeting

As usual at every monthly meeting of the North Bellmore Civic Association, First Precinct POP (Problem Oriented Police) officers and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg addressed the group, and updates were offered on a variety of ongoing community issues at the Jan. 10 meeting. 

After POP officers John Bilello and Michael Keane advised residents at Monday night’s meeting to prepare for expected snow,  they reviewed recent crime activity in the community.

“Things in Bellmore were quiet this month,” Bilello said, citing just a handful of crimes that took place in the area. With an arrest made in the recent spate of local purse snatchings, Bilello focused on three burglaries, one of which was stopped in progress when the homeowner called police, and a few incidents of graffiti. As at previous meetings over the past few years, police again emphasized that neighbors watch out for one another. 

“If you see a car on your block you don’t normally see or someone walking into the rear yard of a neighbor’s house who you don’t know, call 911,” Bilello said. “You know your neighborhood, you know who belongs on your block.” Bilello explained that police will ask for ID and the nature of the person’s business, and those conducting themselves suspiciously can be arrested. “Without your help, we won’t know about it. We can’t be everywhere.” 

Bilello and Keane emphasized that 911 should be used for all emergencies and suspicious incidents, and that the POP Unit -- at 573-6170 -- for quality of life and less pressing issues. 

Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg also addressed the group. He invited all residents to his upcoming community meetings, including the “Community Policing and Quality of Life Issues” on Jan. 25, at which the POP Unit will discuss local crime and other issues.

He also announced four upcoming “How to Grieve Your Assessment” meetings for residents, including one on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the North Bellmore Library.  “Freezing your assessment cannot freeze your taxes,” Denenberg explained, adding that tax increases may occur due to rising school budgets. “Taxes are based on the fair market value of your home. But if you think they’ve made a mistake, come to my meeting.”

Denenberg added that the Assessment Review Commission has not gotten to many of the cases yet this year.

Denenberg also spoke briefly about Aqua Water, a private water provider that he and other officials have soundly criticized for skyrocketing rate hikes.  “Aqua has a monopoly over a necessity: water,” he said. “The Public Service Commission has never said no to a rate hike [by Aqua].”

Denenberg said the newly reconstituted Water Authority of Southeastern Nassau County (SENWA), which is exploring a possible public takeover of Aqua New York, met for the first time last month. He said despite short notice of the meeting about 120 people attended. He added that he hoped for more notice prior to future meetings in hopes of having more residents there. 

Denenberg also talked about the Jerusalem Avenue Beautification Project. The $175,000 earmarked for the project through community revitalization block grants can only be used for some parts of the block and not others, he said. “Portions of the street qualify and other portions don’t,” he said, adding that he is looking to obtain another $175,000 through the county to solve this. “We can’t do one side of the street and not the other,” he said. “I won’t allow that to happen.” 

NBCA president Reinaldo Nunez said the project is expected to extend from Newbridge Road to Oakfield Avenue, and will possibly include decorative light poles, new street signs, brick paving, benches, planters and perhaps some sort of gazebo. He said other ideas from the community are welcome.

In other news, Nunez said that the New York State Supreme Court recently upheld the Town of Hempstead’s denial of construction White Castle on Sunrise Highway in Bellmore, but that the fast-food chain is appealing, and that the town granted P.C. Richards their application for expansion at their current Sunrise Highway location, but no progress has been made so far. 

Also, NBCA Corresponding Secretary Dan Checkla recounted the outcome of the town's ruling allowing an Arby’s to be built at the former site of Speedy Muffler King on Sunrise Highway. “Arby's was granted their application with certain conditions,” Checkla said.

The conditions included maintaining its current footprint by building up rather than out, location of its drive-through away from residential properties and reduced operating hours. 

The next meeting of the North Bellmore Civic Association will be held on Monday, Feb. 14 in the North Bellmore Public Library's community room.