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Overcast Island Park residents to rally against motel
Civic Association organizes protest outside of Long Beach Motor Inn
Island Park residents are continuing their call to have the Long Beach Motor Inn shut down, part of an effort to rid the area of sex offenders who have called the motel home.
On Saturday, May 22, the Island Park Civic Association is organizing a rally outside of the motel in an attempt to permanently close it. The rally will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Long Beach Motor Inn, located on 3915 Austin Blvd., has drawn the ire of residents for years, especially when members of the civic association learned that sex offenders were staying there. Residents are hoping that the rally creates more awareness about the issue and ultimately leads to the motel’s closure. The IPCA has been fighting to have the motel closed since the organization was formed two years ago.
A call to the motel's manager for comment was not returned at press time.
Last October, the IPCA held a community meeting with government officials, including lawmakers from the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County. There, residents said the motel was was "a serious threat" to the community.
For the most part, lawmakers were receptive, members said.
Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) is expected to attend the rally, and, in the past, has proposed turning the motel into senior housing.
The IPCA said they have seen little results in the past two years, however, and continued to appeal to local officials for help. The organization is appealing to County Executive Ed Mangano and others, saying that the motel is too close to the residential neighborhood; is in the area of a school bus stop, nursery school and in walking distance of the middle school.
At a town meeting hosted by Town Councilman Anthony Santino on May 11, IPCA member Laura Hassett asked him for his help. “I want you to help us,” she said. “This is very dangerous.”
Because Santino was instrumental in closing down the Oceanside Motel, Hassett said he can help make a positive change. Santino pledged to help the organization, and said that he would do what he could to address the issue on the town level, while also reaching out to County Executive Ed Mangano.
