Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Hempstead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
15 issues
Handicapped parking designations on residential streets
Seventeen streets across Baldwin, Elmont, Roosevelt, Uniondale, West Hempstead and more would get new handicapped parking spaces under a proposed law.
Adoption and amendment of civil service job specifications
Executive Director Felice Guarnieri has asked the commission to adopt and amend job specifications — the official descriptions of duties and requirements for town jobs. Changes here can affect who qualifies for positions.
Resolution No. 114 pending before New York State Civil Service Commission
A resolution the town approved back in February is still waiting on state-level approval. Its final adoption could affect how the town handles civil service matters going forward.
Emergency boarding of vacant and abandoned properties
Fourteen resolutions would ratify emergency declarations and special assessments to board up open and abandoned homes and commercial buildings across nine communities, mostly Baldwin and Roosevelt.
Income limits for partial town tax exemptions
The town proposes updating the income thresholds that decide who keeps partial tax exemptions under state law. Depending on where limits move, some homeowners — often seniors on fixed incomes — could gain or lose eligibility for property tax relief.
Roadway Maintenance and Pothole Repair near Schools
A new hearing item would add an Inwood location to the town's 20-mph school speed zones, enforced 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on school days. It's aimed at protecting kids walking to school, but drivers on that corridor should watch for the lower limit.
Beechwood 829 Merrick PUD rezoning in Westbury
Beechwood 829 Merrick, LLC seeks a Planned Unit Development rezoning at Merrick Avenue and Corporate Drive, including a condo-hotel use. The hearing lets residents weigh in on the scale and mix of this major development before the Board decides.
Neighborhood parking and traffic regulations
The Board will hear proposals to add parking restrictions, standing prohibitions, arterial stops, and a left-turn-only rule across more than a dozen hamlets. Residents on the affected streets could see changed curb rules outside their homes.
Police Hiring and Officer Decertification
A cop who was under NYPD investigation quit, got decertified, and then Hempstead Village’s police department hired him anyway. If you care about who’s carrying a badge in your town, this is a red flag about hiring checks and accountability.
Upcoming Elections
Local elections are coming up soon in Malverne, West Hempstead, and Lakeview, so it's time to check out who is running and get ready to cast your ballot. Your vote decides who shapes local policies in your immediate neighborhood, so don't sit this one out.
Funding and Tax Credits
Governor Hochul just threw a $1 million bone to the Hempstead Fire Department, plus a sweeter tax credit deal. It's a win-win for keeping us safe without totally trashing our tax bills.
Town of Hempstead 2027 Preliminary Budget
The town proposed a $591.7 million spending plan that freezes property taxes and maintains a $5 million tax cut. Residents questioned the reliance on reserve funds and property sales to balance the budget.
Sale of town-owned properties, including former Capri Motor Inn site
The budget counts on revenue from selling town land, including the blighted former Capri Motor Inn in West Hempstead and parcels in Elmont and Wantagh. Residents asked who the buyers are and what will be built — officials declined to detail pending negotiations.
Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District Assessment Roll
The district's 2027 tax levy totals about $2.72 million, split between operations ($2.51 million) and debt service ($211,514). Rates differ for residential, beach, and commercial properties in Atlantic Beach.
2027 Tentative Budget and Fiscal Policy
The $591.7 million budget freezes town taxes and keeps last year's $5 million tax cut, but balances using a projected $30.4 million from reserves plus revenue from selling town-owned land. Critics say that's not sustainable; officials point to growing reserves and a AAA bond rating.