At a press conference in the vicinity of the Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino announced the town would move forcefully ahead to close the hotel and believe a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision will help.

According to the town, a June 23 court decision gives greater rights to local governments to condemn property for private development. "This decision is good news for West Hempstead residents and bad news for an unwelcome neighbor, the Courtesy Hotel," said Murray. "The legal ruling gives the town's plan to shutter a local eyesore the support of the highest court in the land."

Murray and Ambrosino announced they would use the court decision in concert with a blight study the town recently commissioned to turn the hotel over to the private sector for redevelopment. "Removing blight and revitalizing neighborhoods are grounds upon which local governments can condemn properties and effect private development," Murray said.

Murray and Ambrosino believe that the conditions at the Courtesy Hotel, the site of criminal arrests, present blight conditions and seizing the hotel to have it redeveloped will add to the local tax base.

Murray said she anticipates the blight study being completed within a few weeks. The supervisor said she then plans on holding a West Hempstead community meeting during which plans and community priorities for the hotel site will be discussed.

Supervisor Murray and the town have been the target of criticism by Democratic supervisor challenger Harvey Levinson and some community members for allowing the hotel to remain open.

However, Murray said the town has been aggressive in trying to shut the hotel down. "We've employed our public nuisance law, which provides for the closing of properties where multiple criminal arrests have occurred for activities such as prostitution and drug related activities," she said.

According to the supervisor, the town also sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary restraining order in May 2004 to immediately shut down the hotel. However, the court denied the town's motions. The town's public nuisance case was certified for trial by the court a few weeks ago.

Murray said she and Councilman Ambrosino are working to get a police booth at the location. However, she said, "We will not rest until this hotel is closed and a good neighbor is in its place."