Manhasset/Port Washington Mayors Meet With NYS Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso to Discuss Issues of Local Concern to Village Residents
April 10, 2019 – Mayors representing residents in the Villages on the Cow Neck Peninsula, including Manhasset and Port Washington, met on Friday, April 5, 2019 with Assemblyman Anthony (“Tony”) D’Urso to discuss issues of importance to Village residents.
Participating in the meeting were Mayors Edward A.K. Adler (Sands Point), Lawrence A. Ceriello (Munsey Park), Barbara Donno (Plandome Manor), Nora Haagenson (Baxter Estates), Robert McNamara (Flower Hill), Thomas Minutillo (Plandome), Kenneth C. Riscica (Plandome Heights) and Robert Weitzner (Port Washington North). Together, these Mayors represent nearly half of the residents on the peninsula. Plandome Heights Mayor Kenneth C. Riscica hosted the meeting in Plandome Heights Village Hall.
The Mayors and Assemblyman D’Urso discussed a broad range of topics of concern to Village residents, including, the “tax cap”, progress of the East Side Access project which will provide direct access on the LIRR Port Washington Branch into Grand Central Terminal, the status of local applications for state grants for roads and other public works projects, the deleterious impacts of proposals to construct “flood gates” at Throgs Neck to protect NY City from storm surges and efforts in Albany to legalize recreational use of marijuana.
The Mayors thanked Assemblyman D’Urso for his long record of service to the Villages and in particular for his advocacy in helping to reverse proposed cuts in “Aid and Incentives for Municipalities” (“AIM”). AIM funding represents assistance that the Villages receive from the NY State which is used for infrastructure, road and other projects in the Villages. Assemblyman D’Urso noted that he recently joined the membership of the Committee on Local Government in the State Assembly to assist local governments in such efforts.
Assemblyman D’Urso gave the Mayors an update on issues and priorities in the State. The discussion was open, candid and thorough. The Mayors expressed appreciation to Assemblyman D’Urso for his efforts to aid his constituents, including the residents of Munsey Park. We expect to continue the conversation with Assemblyman D’Urso.
Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (center) with Mayors from Manhasset and Port Washington (From left to right, Mayors Ed Adler, Larry Ceriello, Nora Haagenson, Bob Weitzner, Assemblyman D’Urso, Mayors Ken Riscica, Barbara Donno, Bob McNamara and Tom Minutillo