Cedarhurst residents seek increased security

It is the cluster of buses parking on his street that upsets Henry Schwartz of 395 Summit Ave. in Cedarhurst. Danit Zerykier’s screen on the front door of her Summit Avenue home got slashed and she feels felt her safety has been threatened.
They addressed their concerns at the village’s July 13 board meeting, where parking and security issues on Summit Avenue in Cedarhurst were discussed. “I have seen a lot of buses idling as they are waiting for the kids at their camps,” Schwartz said at the meeting. “They are usually out there parked for a long time. It’s noisy and the exhaust smells.”
Schwartz and Zerykier and other Summit Avenue residents believe both situations are a result of a lack of parking available on their street. “I think there’s a problem with parking on Summit and Oak,” Schwartz said. “I think it’s between residents and Long Island Rail Road people.”
For the idling buses, officials said that the maximum time for them to sit and wait is three to five minutes. “We will remind the bus drivers of this rule,” Mayor Benjamin Weinstock said. “I know that parking continues to be an issue, and we are still working on a plan that works for everyone.”
“It was on October 6 of last year when I had my security issue on my street,” Zerykier said. “Are there people still doing the patrols? I know the auxiliary police were, and the Shomrim officers were supposed to be doing this. My screen was slashed, and I want to know what could be done about this.” The auxiliary police are volunteer officers working in connection with the Nassau County Police Department. Shomrin is a Far Rockaway-based unit the village has partnered with for added security.

Weinstock coordinated a meeting on July 22 with the auxiliary police unit that helps patrol the community and about 15 residents Summit Avenue, including Zerykier.
“They came to the meeting, saying they were concerned about their property and their personal safety,” Weinstock said. “Summit is one of those streets, according to the auxiliary police, that attracts kids from Far Rockaway and Inwood. This observation is based on anecdotal information more than statistics. One night, about a year ago, a car was keyed (scratched). Since then, cars weren’t stolen, but items inside the cars were taken. There were homes vandalized, such as Danit’s torn screen front door. There were two attempted break-ins, one attempt at a first floor entry and another was on a second floor, with a ladder.”
Weinstock said that police efforts were “aggressive” about fighting these crimes. At the meeting, the village and the police agreed to step up surveillance efforts. In addition, the mayor said that the village will conduct a test installation of LED lighting to see if that makes a difference. Summit Avenue will be the first location for the new lighting, he said.
Residents, he said, also have a role and must continue to report any incidents, whether it involves their houses or vehicles. “Homeowners are overall very pleased with public response,” Weinstock said. “We must all continue to do what can be done, being more preventative to eliminate these crimes.”