Is Lido Tilting Toward Long Beach?

Till now, the Lido/Point Lookout Fire District has remained separate, sometimes competing and at other times cooperating with Long Beach. No merger is on the horizon, but greater and more efficient coordination is. Changes are necessary. The coming election may allow for them.

MARIA J. ARAMANDA, ESQ., is running for the public office of Fire Commissioner in our Lido/Point Lookout Fire District. “M.J.”, as she likes to be called, when elected on Dec. 9th, will be the second woman fire commissioner in our barrier island fire district’s history. (Ethel Schulleri, commissioner in 1978 was the first trail blazing advocate.)

With wide support across the community, “M.J.” represents the desire of change: a fresh face, a new approach, and a serious challenge to the status quo.

She indicated that the # 1 priority for the five members Fire Board is a comprehensive recruiting program.

“We hear the public plea of our dedicated volunteer men and women; they need help.” MJ added. “I am confident the in-place administrative and grant writing people will continue to make their talent available in the future, as they currently are there for our taxpayers.” MJ will be the second Lido/Pt. Lookout community advocate on the Fire Board, joining fellow Lido resident, Greg Naham.

Three dedicated community-minded Point Lookout firefighters, round out the 5-member board.

Having participated in the defeat of two firehouse bond issues, and hearing that there is a planned third attempt, Maria J Armanda, or MJ, as her fans and supporters call her, quickly acquired the necessary signatures on her petition to run for Lido/Point Lookout Fire Commissioner.

MJ, an experienced community advocate, local lawyer and resident, received her Juris Doctorate Degree with Cum Laude honors from New York Law School. She grew up in Long Beach and has resided in Lido for the past twenty years.

MJ represents a fresh approach, a rethinking of community needs, based on listening, evaluating and planning without preconceptions. She doesn’t represent business as usual... “It was reported that nearly $100,000 of taxpayer money was spent in preparing for two bond vote failures. That’s what the two recent failed elections have cost us. I don’t plan to levy a tax on the community ‘with no limit as to rate or amount’, as the public notice for the 10/21/2014 bond vote read. I don’t plan to tear down Ye Olde Firehouse and replace it with a clubhouse for the fire district.” MJ has said.

MJ will be holding a “meet and greet” session at Fisherman’s Catch, to listen to the concerns of the community on Sunday, November 30, 2 -4 pm. Everyone is welcome to drop in with questions, and be served with answers. “MJ is 100% for us!” her supporters say as they sign on to help.

The election is being held Tuesday, December 9, 4-9 PM, at the firehouse, of course.