For the second straight year, some mothers in West Hempstead spent Mother's Day morning in the parking lot of the Courtesy Hotel rallying to close the controversial hotel.

The rally was once again led by West Hempstead Civic Association president Rosalie Norton, who favors the closing of the hotel through the purchase of the property by real estate developer Trammell Crow, which would erect an apartment complex on the site. However, the town board has not been willing to grant the zoning change to the developer, which would allow for the 65 units per acre the developer wants to build on the site.

Instead, the town board adopted an urban renewal plan for the area that includes the hotel and the area surrounding it. A town spokesperson said the town received proposals for the redevelopment of the area from Trammell Crow, Breslin Realty, the Sheldrake Organization and the Alvin Benjamin Company. The spokesperson said a committee would be reviewing the proposals.

Among the elected officials attending the rally with West Hempstead residents was Assemblyman Tom Alfano. "The Courtesy is a disgrace and blight in the West Hempstead community. The days of drug dealing, prostitution, sex offenders and sexual assault must stop now. We need to close the Courtesy and redevelop the area- the community deserves nothing less," he said.