By Brian Zanzonico
Representatives of State Senator Dean Skelos, who has earmarked a state grant of about $30,000 for the project, County Legislator Vincent Muscarella, Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino and Fifth Precinct Inspector Wayne Atkins met with local civic leaders on Feb. 17 to discuss possible sites. The desired location is a Metropolitan Transportation Authority right-of-way either between the Courtesy and the old bowling alley or between the bowling alley and the train station.
Tom Dunham, director of communications for Skelos, said the site is the last hurdle to clear. The project must first be OK'd by Nassau County Police Commissioner James H. Lawrence, then approved by the county Legislature. "Then we'll sit down and determine whether or not it will be on [MTA] Long Island Rail Road property," Dunham said.
According to Dunham, the West Hempstead Civic Association and the Cathedral Gardens Civic Association contacted Skelos in the fall about a possible booth near the Courtesy, which Ambrosino called "a blight on the West Hempstead community." Skelos secured roughly $30,000 for the project, though Dunham said that figure may increase.
According to Atkins, that may be likely. He said the average police booth, with plumbing, electricity and phone, costs about $60,000. Ambrosino said the new booth would also have a computer with Internet capabilities.
Ambrosino and Muscarella said that private donations have already been offered by a hardware store giant, and labor has been offered by a local carpenters union to offset the cost. Muscarella also figures the Legislature will be onboard should the commissioner approve it.
"On these local projects, Democrats and Republicans work together to help out individual communities," he said. "It's not going to cost the county out of the operating budget, so I believe there will be support."
Cathedral Gardens President Scott Jablow said that an increased police presence in the area will act as a deterrent to criminals. "So much is going on over there, and the omnipresence of the police department can't hurt," he said.
Atkins attributes the crime to a large transient population that goes in and out of the hotel. Whenever that happens, he said, crime usually follows. "This is an area that receives extensive police presence," he said. "But we have seen recent improvement."
Dunham said that Skelos, Ambrosino, Muscarella and the civic associations are preparing a packet of letters in support of the project, and will send it to Lawrence. "We're pleased," said West Hempstead Civic Association President Rosalie Norton. "We believe the extra police presence will act as a deterrent in what really is a problem area. Now, we know it won't be manned 24 hours a day, but it'll make people think twice before committing a crime."
Early estimates are that it may take between six and 15 months for the project to come to fruition.
Comments about this story? Mal-wheditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
