Readers Write: Kaplan works hard, well to serve district

The Island Now

Above and beyond.  That’s Anna Kaplan.  

I have worked in various capacities in our civic community in Manhasset and can say without reservation that Councilwoman Anna Kaplan goes above and beyond and is one of the most responsive elected officials with whom I have worked over the past ten years.  

The job of councilperson is technically a part time position.  But you wouldn’t know it if you saw Anna’s schedule.  

Evenings and weekends are all fair game. She puts in far more hours each week than is expected of a council member.  

She takes the position very seriously and is a dedicated advocate for the community.

Anna’s concern for the Manhasset community is evident in the way she responds to concerns and requests in her district.  

Issues with signage at a crosswalk or a dangerous intersection?  “I’ll meet you there to look at the location so we can better understand the problem.”  

A list of requests from the Greater Council each month about issues in Manhasset?  

Anna follows up on each item in writing and attends Greater Council meetings on a regular basis to answer questions in person. 

A CASA sector meeting to discuss ongoing efforts to in the community?  Anna is there at the table.  

My experience is not unique. Many residents have told me how impressed they were that a call to her office resulted in a quick response via phone and thorough follow up on the issue.   

Anna’s district covers portions of Roslyn, Manhasset and Great Neck.  

Anna treats all of her constituents equally and represents District 4, regardless of zip codes.  

However, Manhasset residents want to know what she has done for Manhasset.  The list is long but to name a few significant items beyond her day-to-day responsiveness to her residents: 

• Anna was a critical part of the team that executed plans to revitalize Manhasset Valley Park.  She secured extensive funding for adjustments and additions during construction and responded to the community’s concerns and questions throughout the process.   

• Anna and the TNH team made possible the repaving of Plandome Road and thousands of linear feet on other streets in Manhasset.  

• Anna advocated for the widening of Manhasset Avenue with an additional turn lane to alleviate congestion from school and commuter traffic.  

• Anna launched the first ever Project Independence Community Resource Fair in Manhasset to share with seniors important information about the Town’s program to help residents aging in place. 

• Anna helped to bring affordable senior housing to Manhasset and while remediating an unusable brownfield that was contaminated with lead and arsenic in the process.

Anna is the first one to say that she does not do her work alone.  

Along with her staff, other elected officials and employees of the Town of North Hempstead, Anna has accomplished a great deal in her four years as our councilwoman.  

But don’t let Anna fool you when she humbly shares the credit for her accomplishments.  

She is a tremendous advocate for the Manhasset community and driving force behind the projects on which she works.  We would be fortunate to have her continue in this role, working to continually improve the great town in which we live.

Anna Kaplan is accessible and effective as a leader in our community.   

Please join me in supporting her, a councilwoman with a proven track record of advocating for the best interest of all of the residents in District 4.

Sue Auriemma

Manhasset

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