By:Jason Scheer
More than 100 concerned citizens rallied at the Merrick Road police station on Tuesday, Sept. 21, to voice their objections to the removal and relocation of a well-established police presence from their community.
The backlash began immediately after County Executive Tom Suozzi targeted the precinct for relocation in a recently released budget proposal. In his 2005 budget, Suozzi outlined a plan to move the precinct from its current location to a building on Nassau Road in Roosevelt.
Legislator Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) and Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino (R-E. Rockaway) urged their neighbors to join them in delivering a unified message of opposition to Suozzi.
The First Precinct's jurisdiction stretches from its western boundary, Long Beach Road, to the Wantagh Parkway, and includes areas north of Sunrise Highway and south of Hempstead Turnpike. East Meadow, North Bellmore, Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Freeport, and Baldwin are all within the precinct.
"The First Precinct belongs in Baldwin, period," Santino said.
According to Scannell, the potential move is a way for Suozzi, who is up for re-election in 2005, to garner more votes in Roosevelt. "[Suozzi's] made a lot of promises to the people of Roosevelt, and he hasn't delivered on those promises," said Scannell. "[Now] he's trying to keep those promises, on the backs of the people of Baldwin."
Leaders of local community associations are clearly opposed to the move, and are not afraid to voice their concerns. Some said that any political gains made by Suozzi in Roosevelt would be offset by those he alienates in Baldwin. Dee Cruz, president of the Baldwin Community Association, confirmed those sentiments, saying, "If [Suozzi] insists [on pushing for the relocation], and by some magic, he gets it done, he won't be re-elected."
Santino and Scannell both criticized Suozzi for not gauging the concerns of Baldwin residents, and for failing to contact local officials about his intent. Part of the problem, according to Scannell, is the administration's lack of disclosure regarding its plans. "We had to hear that the First Precinct was planning to move in the newspaper," he said. "The administration hasn't told us anything as to what their plan is. I don't think they had a plan. I think they just felt they were going to move [the precinct], and everyone in Baldwin was going to be OK with it, and they aren't."
Santino said he was made aware of the proposal through a letter received by the Town of Hempstead indicating that the county was trying to condemn a property on Nassau Road by eminent domain. After contacting county officials and investigating the matter further, Santino discovered that the letter was part of a larger proposal to move the First Precinct.
"When I saw that letter," he said, "I made inquiries to many of the community leaders in Baldwin, and no one was aware that the county executive was proposing this move."
In an effort to make the community aware, Santino's office sent out postcards, with a returnable petition form to be sent on to Suozzi's office. Thus far, Santino said he has collected more than 1,800 responses. "That's a resounding 'no' from the people in Baldwin," he said. "These cards are coming in by the stackload, each and every day. We're going to total them all up and drop them on Tom Suozzi's door, so that he knows the people of Baldwin want this precinct [to stay] right here in this community."
In a statement issued by his office, Suozzi said that such action is premature. "It is premature to be debating this issue. [No formal] plan currently exists," he said. Suozzi indicated that all actions will be taken to satisfy four objectives, including upgrading "what is now the oldest precinct, in the worst physical condition." The other objectives are revitalizing downtown Baldwin in the Grand Avenue area, upgrading Nassau Road in Roosevelt and enhancing public safety in general.
Scannell, offering a way to satisfy those objectives without sacrificing the interests of Baldwin residents, suggested building a satellite office in Roosevelt that would require additional police and serve as a tangible presence in that community.
For most people, the issue is not whether the Roosevelt community is in need of, or would benefit from, an increased police presence, but that it should not be at the expense of Baldwin. Some suggested that the new budget be made to include funds to pay for additional police in communities where there is a need.
That's a consideration, Scannell says, that has already been addressed and accounted for. "[Suozzi's 2005] budget includes 300 extra police," he said. "So, fiscally, we've turned a corner, and there are extra police officers that [Suozzi] could assign to Roosevelt."
A call to the Nassau County Patrolmen's Benevolent Association's office, seeking comment, went unreturned.
Comments about this story? Jscheer@li- herald.com or 569-4000 ext. 282.
