Parking law a victory for residents

Residents are expressing their relief over a law passed by the Town of Hempstead on Feb. 18 creating parking restrictions for certain roads surrounding the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, which for years have been congested by hospital workers’ and visitors’ vehicles.

The restrictions are tentatively scheduled to take effect May 1.

The legislation was made possible by a state law — sponsored by two Republican legislators, Sen. Kemp Hannon, of Garden City, and Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, of East Meadow, and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last July — listing the streets that would be eligible for restrictions.

Following extensive polling of residents by Town Councilmen Gary Hudes and Ed Ambrosino, and residents Yvonne Amato, John Nikiel and Roxanne Rose, the streets that were determined to need restrictions are Roosevelt Avenue, First Street, Second Street, Third Street, Franklin Avenue, Nottingham Road, Florence Court, Jane Court and Erma Drive. “The residents will have their streets back,” said Rose, who lives on Second Street. “And that’s the most important thing.”

The legislation, passed unanimously by the Hempstead town board, lists the times at which each street will prohibit non-resident parking. “People had been wanting this for so long,” said Nikiel, who lives on Roosevelt Avenue. “Now there’s just a collective sigh of relief.”

Residents in the restricted areas will be eligible for parking permit stickers for their vehicles as well as visitor passes. The permits are currently being printed, Hudes said, and residents will be sent a letter detailing how they can be acquired: via Hempstead’s mobile town hall — which he said would be making its way into East Meadow in the near future — by mail, or at East Meadow High School at a time that is yet to be determined.

Signs listing the restrictions would be placed on streets a few days before May 1, said Hudes.