Alfano, Skelos, Walker and McKevitt Announce Child Health Plus Expansion! ~September 1, 2008~

Alfano, Skelos, Walker and McKevitt Announce Child Health Plus Expansion!

Assemblyman Tom Alfano, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assemblymembers Tom McKevitt and Rob Walker today reminded New York families that effective Monday, September 1, 2008, all of New York’s uninsured children will be eligible for moderate or no-cost health care coverage, thanks to a recent expansion of Child Health Plus – New York State’s health insurance program for children.

Click here to read more about Child Health Plus Expansion

Assemblyman Tom Alfano has sent us information on two bills recently signed into law: August 2008

Assemblyman Tom Alfano has sent us information on two bills recently signed into law:

The College Text Book Bill and The Nurses Bill

Click the appropriate links above to view each bill.

West Hempstead Representatives Skelos and Alfano Demand Courtesy Hotel to be Closed ~August 20, 2008

West Hempstead Representatives Skelos and Alfano Demand Courtesy Hotel to be Closed

New York State Senate Majority Leader Skelos and Assembly Tom Alfano, who represent West Hempstead in Albany, sent a letter to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray demanding that the sale of the Courtesy Hotel to Trammell Crow Residential be allowed to proceed. You can download a copy of the full letter to Ms. Murray by clicking on the link below. We thank our elected officials in Albany for their support on this issue and hope that their influence can make a difference in finally bringing this long standing issue to resolution.

Letter to Supervisor Murray from Assemblyman Alfano and Senator Skelos

WHCA President Sends Letter to Supervisor Murray Regarding Criminal Activity at Courtesy and Capri July 2008

WHCA President Sends Letter to Supervisor Murray Regarding Criminal Activity at Courtesy and Capri

July 2008 letter to sent to Supervisor Murray from Civic president:

Dear Supervisor Murray,

This is another letter detailing the police activities at the Courtesy Hotel. Hopefully, if everyone is working to get rid of the Courtesy Hotel, this should be my last letter. All of us know the problems associated with the Hotel, but sadly none of us ever expected that the sale of the Courtesy to Trammell Crow would meet with such resistance from the Town.

Crime has not taken a vacation and the figures for July are appalling. As mentioned in prior letters and it bears repeating, when will this end? Below are the figures for the number of times, during 2008, that the police had to respond to calls to the Courtesy Hotel and the results of those calls:

Jan. 08: 17 calls 8 arrests 18 case reports 2 field investigations
Feb. 08 21 " 4 " 4 " " 2 " "
Mar. 08 8 " 2 " 6 " " 0
Apr. 08 18 " 3 " 5 " " 6 disturbances
May 08 20 " 3 " 6 " " 3 field investigations
June 08 13 " 2 " 4 " " 5 disturbances
July 08 22 calls 6 arrests 5 case reports
08'Total: 119 calls 28 arrests 44 case reports 7 field invest.
11 disturbances

On January 2, 2006 the Town completed its Blight Study for the 72 room Courtesy Hotel.

In 2006, the police responded to 200 calls to the Courtesy resulting in 62 arrests.

In 2007, there were over 200 calls which resulted in 77 arrests and 108 case reports.

As of July 31, 2008, there has been 119 calls, 28 arrests and 44 case reports.

The total number of calls, arrests and case reports in the 943 days since Jan. 2006 to July 2008 is staggering:
519 calls 167 arrests over 200 case reports

Arrests have been made for drugs, prostitution, rape, statutory rape, kidnapping, weapons possession, assault, etc.

Once again, I must ask on behalf of our residents, when will the decision be made which will result in the private sale of the Courtesy and the permanent removal of this business from West Hempstead? How much longer must we wait to benefit from the private sale and redevelopment of this property?

Rosalie Norton

WHCA President Presented the 2008 Smart Growth Awards for Community Leadership ~June 12 2008~

WHCA President Presented the 2008 Smart Growth Awards for Community Leadership

The West Hempstead Civic Association, led by President Rosalie Norton, received Vision Long Island's Award for Smart Growth for educating and galvanizing the community in supporting Smart Growth principles. The Award was presented at a luncheon held on June 12, 2008 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Walter Ejnes, a member of the Civic Executive Board attended the luncheon along with Rosalie Norton. Mr. Ejnes serves as Education Chairman on the Civic Board and has helped in preparing informational material regarding the blighted Courtesy Hotel area.

Click here to read more on the Smart Growth Award

New York Daily News - Hempstead Feeling Heat for Stalling Hotel Plan - December 12, 2007

New York Daily News - Hempstead Feeling Heat for Stalling Hotel Plan -

Dec. 12, 2007 by Nicholas Hirshon



A parade of angry residents scolded the Hempstead Town Board yesterday for its glacial pace in closing a trashy, crime-ridden West Hempstead hotel. The board debated plans to redevelop the area around the Courtesy Hotel, which residents have long branded a hangout for drug addicts and prostitutes. Despite emotional pleas to shutter the Hempstead Ave. hotel during an all-day hearing, the board reserved judgment on the issue. The board is not expected to vote again until next month.



Click here to read more of the Dec. 12, 2007 article

Assemblyman Alfano Sends Letter to Town Supervisor Regarding the Courtesy Hotel ~December 10 2007

Assemblyman Alfano Sends Letter to Town Supervisor Regarding the Courtesy Hotel

On December 10, 2007,West Hempstead's representative in the New York State Assembly, Tom Alfano, sent a letter to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray urging her to listen more closely to the residents and consider their opinions more carefully regarding the Courtesy Hotel and the Town's proposed Urban Renewal Plan. You can read the entire letter by clicking on the link below.

Assemblyman Tom Alfano's Letter to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray

West Hempstead Civic Association Attends 6th Annual Smart Growth Summit ~November 16, 2007~

West Hempstead Civic Association Attends 6th Annual Smart Growth Summit

The 6th Annual Smart Growth Summit, a comprehensive land-use conference bringing Long Island's leaders and experts together to address issues of Smart Growth and Livability was held at the Melville Marriott on November 16, 2007. The all day conference, attended by more than 700 business, elected and community leaders, focused on the challenges facing Long Island and how they are being addressed. The West Hempstead Civic Association (WHCA) president, Rosalie Norton, was asked to attend and participate in an invitation only civic leaders "Civic Summit." Mrs. Norton was also interviewed for and appeared on a video presentation “New Voices for Smart Growth." See more....

WHCA President Writes Letter to Three Village Times Editor November 16 2007

WHCA President Writes Letter to Three Village Times Editor

Rosalie Norton, President of the WHCA, sent a letter to Joe Rizza, Editor of the Three Village Times, which was published in the November 16 issue. Rosalie took exception to comments made by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray regarding the development of the Courtesy Hotel. Click on the link below to view the entire letter.

Three Village Times - The Needs of the Many....

New York Daily News - Town Stalls Owner's Try to Unload Seedy Hotel - November 16, 2007

New York Daily News - Town Stalls Owner's Try to Unload Seedy Hotel - November 16, 2007

A seedy West Hempstead hotel seems to have more lives than a cat - even though everyone, including its owners, wants it closed. A crucial town hearing that many hoped would nail the coffin shut on the Courtesy Hotel on Hempstead Ave. has been postponed until Dec. 11, dragging out an already protracted saga.

Click here to read more of the Nov. 16, 2007 article

West Hempstead Featured in the New York Times Real Estate Section October 28 2007

West Hempstead Featured in the New York Times Real Estate Section

On Sunday, October 28, the New York Times ran an article featuring West Hempstead in its Real Estate section. Overall, the article painted a very positive picture of our community as well as pointed out some issues facing West Hempstead like the Courtesy Hotel. Read the full article.

Nassau County Police - Secuity/Police Information Network (SPIN) - Alert ~August-September 2007

Nassau County Police - Secuity/Police Information Network (SPIN) - Alert

The Nassau County Police are urging vehicle owners to remove GPS/Naviagtion devices from their vehicles when not in use. There has been a rash of thefts throughout Nassau County as criminals see the suction cup marks on the dashboards of vehicles. Protect your investment and take your device with you when you exit the vehicle. Download flyer.

Long Island Business News Article - Hempstead Dances Around Eyesore Hotel July 20 2007

Long Island Business News Article - Hempstead Dances Around Eyesore Hotel

By David WinzelbergFriday, July 20, 2007

The Courtesy Hotel has been the bane of the West Hempstead community for more than a decade. But now that the hotel, the site of numerous arrests for prostitution and drugs, is a step closer to oblivion, many residents are opposing the Town of Hempstead’s efforts to replace it. Specifically, the residents take issue with a town rezoning plan that includes not only the hotel site but part of a nearby retail parking lot. See rest of article...

Asseblyman Alfano and School Superintendents Slam Local Motels as Dangers to Community May-June 2006

Asseblyman Alfano and School Superintendents Slam Local Motels as Dangers to Community

Assemblyman Tom Alfano calls motels that house level 2 and 3 sex offenders a clear danger to children, families and seniors that are just blocks from both the George Washington and John Street Schools. This revelation and community input helped him author legislation to stop what he calls the “West Hempstead and Franklin Square’s community’s Bates Motel nightmares.” In this case, the Capri and Courtesy Hotels being the targets as housing for sex offenders. Surrounded by parents and School Superintendents at a press conference carried by six television networks, Alfano called for a comprehensive strategy to address how and where sex offenders are housed in the wake of the new civil commitment law.

Click here to read more of Dangers to Community

WHCA Delivers Letters and Petitions Calling for Closure and Sale of Courtesy Hotel April 17 2007

WHCA Delivers Letters and Petitions Calling for Closure and Sale of Courtesy Hotel

On Tuesday, April 17, 2007, a contingent of members of the West Hempstead Civic Association(WHCA) Executive Board and West Hempstead residents descended on Town Hall to deliver over 1400 letters and petitions, gathered in just 3 months, calling for the closing of the Courtesy Hotel and supporting the sale of the property to Trammell Crow Residential. See more...

New York State DEC Issues "Fact Sheet" on Water Contamination Findings ~Febuary 2006~

New York State DEC Issues "Fact Sheet" on Water Contamination Findings

The New York State Department of Environmental has sent the WHCA a "fact sheet" which provide the residents of West Hempstead, NY with the initial findings and status associated with the detection of the gasoline fuel oxygenate Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in West Hempstead Water District distribution system. You can download the entire "Fact Sheet" by clicking on the link below.

West Hemsptead Water Fact Sheet Feb. 2006