VGN trustee needs lesson in etiquette

The Island Now

Dear Mayor Kreitzman,

 

I recently attended a Village of Great Neck Zoning Board meeting. I had heard about the proposed 7-Eleven being built in Great Neck and all the negative publicity surrounding it.  So I decided to attend my first zoning board meeting and let the board know that there are residents of Great Neck that are in favor of this establishment to help beautify the blight that is an abandoned gas station and hopefully help draw more businesses to the shuttered storefronts along Middle Neck Road.

When my turn to speak arose, I simply stated my thoughts on the subject; I was not confrontational, condescending, or impertinent.  My quick comments took probably less than two minutes.

However, one of the zoning board members, Mr. Habib was absolutely rude, dismissive, and not at all impartial and behaved in such an unbecoming and unprofessional manner towards me that I felt compelled to mail a letter to you addressing his behavior.  

I believed the zoning board allowed for the community at large to voice their opinions on matters before the zoning board.  Mr. Habib continually interrupted me asking me to repeat my address and then when he seemed to understand my address was in the Village of Kings Point, he rudely dismissed me vocally by saying “your finished” prior to the conclusion of my comments while simultaneously turning his head, with utter distaste written on his face accompanied by a swipe with his hand through the air.  

Further, rather than commenting on anything of value he questioned my commuting direction of choice because I made mention I pass this eyesore location on the way home from the train station.  I also had believed zoning board members were impartial and competent in matters related to zoning.  

given mr. habib’s comments that “i will not listen to you anymore” and “it doesn’t matter what you say, unless it’s not 24 hours, i’m not voting for it,” are very unbecoming of an officer of the village coupled with his lack of Zoning Board facts (the town attorney corrected him more than once) is something that he and the village should be ashamed of.  

Furthermore and even more troubling, as I was one of the last to speak, his comments seem to enrage the crowd in attendance and he provoked such an outcry in them that I was verbally harassed by other attendees outside the proceedings in the parking lot when I left.  

Maybe I am naïve as this was my first such meeting, however I do credit another member of the board, Mr. Grossman who apologized to me for the way Mr. Habib treated me. This certainly led me to believe it was not unusual and most probably a common occurrence.

I’m not certain if Mr. Habib is appointed or elected, however I simply write this letter to ask if you hold any sway over Mr. Habib that he will at the very least be spoken to  and advised that in our great town, his behavior, comments and conduct is not acceptable to you or the residents of Great Neck.

 

Richard Solomon

Kings Point

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