By Cindy J. Roth
Central Bellmore Homeowners and Bedford Village Merchants associations spent the last year in unproductive and limited communications with cruisers President Pat Cappetti. No middle ground among the organizations was reached, except that Cappetti showed interest in possibly moving the car show to Seaford after a meeting among the organizations in January.
But in a Herald interview with Cappetti May 6, he claimed the cruisers had no intention of leaving Bellmore and that he was not going to file for any permits because it was his right to gather in Bellmore, saying no permit is required to park in the Bellmore LIRR lots.
Contradicting his interview statements, Cappetti had filed for the Seaford permit to use the Town of Hempstead parking lot that borders Sunrise Highway and Seaman's Neck Road in late April. (The Town of Hempstead was first able to confirm to the Herald that the permit was filed on May 17.) When questioned about the permit last Friday, Cappetti said filing was a preliminary move for the organization. He affirmed his statement that the Friday Night Cruisers do not intend to leave the Bellmore lot, but if forced to leave, the permit would give the cruisers another place to go.
When the Herald learned the Seaford permit application was denied on Monday, Cappetti showed little concern. "I told you," Cappetti restated. "We're staying in Bellmore." Cappetti did not answer questions concerning why he acknowledged the need to file for a permit for the Seaford lots, but not the Bellmore lots when they follow the same Town of Hempstead parking codes.
Central Bellmore Homeowners and Bedford Village Merchants associations Presidents Marge Congello and Jeff Lovering said the groups still stand by their positions to have the cruisers disband from the area, reiterating the event has outgrown its venue. Congello said the problem is now in the hands of the town and police to enforce the town code.
First Precinct officer Frank Mobilio said the police have issued warnings to people gathering and displaying cars at the Bellmore lot for the past two Friday nights. Mobilio said police are trying to get those displaying their cars to leave voluntarily under the belief that eventually the car aficionados will stop gathering at the Bellmore lots. If not, Mobilio said the police will start to enforce the town code more stringently by issuing tickets.
