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| July 15, 2005 For second consecutive year, Abrahams refuses to approve Community Block Grant funding without holistic plan for minority communities
For the second consecutive year Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) and Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) called on Town of Hempstead (TOH) officials to more equitably allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to improve areas throughout the town, including Lakeview. Both legislators Corbin and Abrahams told TOH officials this week that they would withhold $5.4 million in federal funds from the town if a better plan is not made. The entire CDBG funding package totals more than $18 million and funds over 3 towns and dozens of villages throughout Nassau County. Both legislators moved to table the measure this week when it came before the Legislature's Minority Affairs Committee on Monday. The measure can be recalled at the legislature's next meeting on July 25. "Last year I asked to see a comprehensive plan illustrating how the Town of Hempstead plans to spend the $5 million," Abrahams added. "Communities like Lakeview, Roosevelt, Elmont and Uniondale need their business areas revitalized. I'd like to see some of that money go towards commercial revitalization," he said. According to Legislator Abrahams, the Town of Hempstead funnels the grant money into projects that don't reflect the priorities of the communities. "The towns in my district need more than park benches and ornamental street lighting," he said. "We don't want window dressing, but rather economic development projects." |