Great Neck Plaza mayoral candidate Leonard Katz has announced that Marnie Ives, a fellow village resident and merchant, is running for trustee on his Revive Great Neck Plaza ticket.
Ives is the manager of Krön Chocolatier on Middle Neck Road and has lived in Great Neck Plaza since 1990. Ives said she has two daughters who attended the Great Neck Public Schools and has seen how beneficial the area’s resources can be for a family.
“We moved here for the parks, the libraries, everything,” Ives said in a phone interview. “From my experience, there isn’t a better place around to raise kids. They are in the middle of town all the time, walking to get pizza and seeing friends. But things can certainly be improved.”
Ives said she connected with Katz at a meeting he held in March for merchants in the Plaza.
“We really hit it off, and I noticed he had a strong team of people behind him,” Ives said. “I’ve been here for a while, and I have similar feelings for the town. Now being a part of the team, we can accomplish those goals.”
Ives and village resident Robert Farajollah are running for trustee positions with Katz on a write-in basis on a platform calling for downtown revitalization and greater transparency.
Village Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen is running for mayor, and Trustee Pam Marksheid and Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Michael Deluccia for trustee on the United Residents Party line. Rosen, who has served since 1985, is seeking to replace Mayor Jean Celender, who chose not to run for re-election.
Ives has taken the place of Katz’ former running mate Siu Long Au (Alex). Katz did not explain what happened to him, but touted Ives’ experience as a merchant in the Great Neck community and called her a “great asset” to the Revive Great Neck Plaza team.
“Marnie will add something very strong to the ticket,” Katz said. “She’s lived here for more than 25 years and she wants the town to do better. We know what it was and we see what it is now. We want to make changes to improve where we live and improve everyone’s quality of life.”
As a business owner, Ives said, one of her strong points has been getting the pulse of other business owners throughout the Plaza. Ives said since she runs a specialty food business, the coronavirus pandemic did not negatively affect her as much as it did other merchants in the area.
“There were changes I had to make operating the store and conducting deliveries, but luckily we were able to adapt quickly and effectively,” Ives said. “The businesses that are open now are the ones that are tech-savvy and have adapted to the times. It’s more of a challenge for others to stay open that don’t necessarily know how to utilize technology, so I think that would be one big thing for us to provide to businesses.”
“Everyone is making changes to accommodate their businesses to a new clientele and new way of shopping,” Katz said. “Marnie and I have spent a great deal of time throughout the town, and residents should realize that having a vibrant town is important to them too. If we lose a substantial amount of business in town, that then lowers sales tax revenue will force residents to pay more in taxes in order to fulfill budget needs.”
Ives said one of her main goals ahead of the Sept. 15 elections is to listen to residents more and find out what the root of the problem is for business retention throughout the Plaza.
“The main priority here is to protect everyone’s property value and provide them with options to shop local,” Ives said. “I have been a member of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District and wasn’t always empathetic to people’s concerns. Now, I definitely have become more in tune to what other merchants and residents are saying, and I am looking forward to being the filter for that.”
Ives also said residents of New York City or the immediate surrounding areas may potentially move out of more congested areas due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Great Neck Plaza should be prepared to welcome them.
“Great Neck is in a very unique place with the current state of the economy and the world,” she said. “Maybe people would want to move out to Long Island from the city and have an easy commute. There are tons of benefits living here, but they have to be supported by a vibrant town.”
Katz said another issue he wants to see resolved is cleaning up the Great Neck Long Island Rail Road station and make it a desirable transit-oriented development area.
“We have to clean the facility and make it more attractive, so people will actually be inclined to take the express train into Penn Station,” Katz said.
