For years now, members of the West Hempstead Civic Association have been outspoken about the Courtesy Hotel, the West Hempstead Hotel where numerous alleged crimes have taken place. Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray believes the town is taking the proper steps aimed at alleviating the problem of the maligned hotel while her opponent in November's election, Democrat Harvey Levinson believes the town has not done enough to shut down the hotel.

"West Hempsteaders have been battling the evils of the Courtesy Motel for well over a decade now," said West Hempstead Civic Association past president Seth Bykofsky.

Supervisor Murray and Councilman Ed Ambrosino, calling the hotel a scourge on the community, have commissioned a "blight study," which, according to the town, will provide the legal ammunition necessary to seize the tattered hotel and turn it over to a private developer. "This blight study that is being conducted is just the most recent initiative in a comprehensive effort to remove this community eyesore," Murray said in a press release dated June 6. "We expect a report within a week and I am optimistic that the study will give us the authority to move forward and redevelop the Courtesy Hotel in harmony with the priorities of the residents of West Hempstead."

Recently, the town has been successful in condemning the Oceanside Motel, which will be redeveloped as a municipal parking lot. However, although some advocates for the closure of the Courtesy Hotel may be wondering why the Courtesy doesn't suffer the same fate, the town doesn't consider it an option. According to the town, the lower estimated value of the substantially smaller Oceanside Motel and the larger local tax base will allow the community of Oceanside to absorb the modest tax impact. The price to condemn the Courtesy may be substantially higher.

In 2000, the town's public nuisance law, which provides for the closure of properties where multiple criminal arrests for activities such as prostitution and drug-related activities have taken place, went into effect.

According to the press release sent by the town, the Town of Hempstead has been working aggressively to close the Courtesy under the law. The town's case against the Courtesy was certified for trial in May.

In spring 2004, the town sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the hotel's owner but both motions were denied. However, Murray said the town will press on. "We are serious about this case and are moving forward to stop this threat to local quality of life," she said.

Levinson believes the town hasn't done enough to close the doors of the Courtesy and called for the hotel's immediate closure. "For too long- well over 10 years now- the Courtesy Motel has been a consistent hotbed of illegal activity. But the town's refusal to respond meaningfully continues to diminish this community's quality of life," he said.

Levinson also suggested that the failure to close the Courtesy is due to a failure to enforce the town's codes and ordinances. "Many of the assistant town attorneys get their positions because of loyalty to the G.O.P machine, not effectiveness in enforcing code," Levinson said. "A more experienced town legal department would move on code enforcement early, to keep the situation from spiraling out of control. Under the town's own code, Section 91 (5b) of the nuisance law allows for the town to physically board up and padlock repeat offender properties. Obviously, they have not pursued that remedy nor worked to strengthen the original law."

Murray wonders why Levinson, as county assessor, has failed to initiate an action to close down the hotel with the county's public nuisance law. "It's sad really that the assessor has attempted to deflect attention from his own failure to pursue court action on this matter. Rather than pointing fingers, he should support Hempstead Town as we continue to pursue every legal avenue to close the Courtesy Hotel," she said.