Mayor’s Message Village of Floral Park

Written by Thomas J. Tweedy Friday, 18 January 2013 00:00

The following letter was submitted for consideration by the Districting Advisory Commission for the creation of new county legislative district lines on Jan. 3.  Our belief continues to be that, as the Village of Floral Park is one village, it should be identified and represented as such, completely intact, within the boundary of one legislative district.

Dear Chairman Francis Maroney, 

I am the mayor of the Incorporated Village of Floral Park.  It is requested that Floral Park’s written comments, as contained herein, be made a part of the public record. 

Floral Park was incorporated in 1908. Over the last century-plus, Floral Park not only has become a full-service village, but a close community of neighbors.  Throughout its history, our village has suffered its fair share of tragedies and challenges, all of which have served only to solidify us as a community. 

Ten years ago and over vehement objection, the Nassau County Legislature established legislative districts, which literally ripped Floral Park in half.  As it was at that time and as it is now, the law directs that specific deference be given to village boundaries. 

Sadly, based on the re-districting maps being proposed by both the Republicans and Democrats, this injustice will be perpetuated for yet another decade.  Once again, an arbitrary line bearing no relation to the reality of our residents or our community will divide the residents of our village.  No rational justification exists for the continued legislative division of our village. 

However, this can be easily remedied. With only a slight revision of the Republican proposed map, not only can Floral Park be unified as a whole, but also the Village of New Hyde Park can be largely rejoined (under the current proposal, New Hyde Park is split in three). Specifically this can be achieved by altering the Republican proposed map and including the portion of Village of Floral Park north of Jericho Turnpike (currently in proposed ND 10) and incorporating that area into proposed ND08 where the rest of Floral Park is proposed to be included.

The voters lost from proposed ND 10 in that process could be recaptured by adding the portion of New Hyde Park south of Jericho Turnpike (currently in proposed ND 08) to what appears to be approximately half of the Village of New Hyde Park in proposed ND 10. Thus, under this proposal, Floral Park can be completely contained within a single legislative district, and New Hyde Park can at least be closer to being kept intact. 

On behalf of the board of trustees and all the residents of Floral Park, it is respectfully requested that this injustice be corrected and that the village, as a unified village, be restored to its rightful place under the legislative district map.