Glen Cove City Councilman Michael Ktistakis wishes to preserve city’s unique character

First term councilman Michael Ktistakis is a dedicated businessman who brings a wealth of knowledge. He is profoundly commitment to the city, he said, that shaped his values during his formative years, which led him to establish his own business, All Island Lawn Maintenance.

According to certified results from the Board of Elections, Ktistakis was elected by roughly 8 percent of the votes, totaling 2,374 ballots in favor for him.

Ktistakis said that he didn’t initially plan on running for city council, but after a few requests from Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, he realized that stepping into local government might be his calling.

“It’s an extreme honor to represent the people in Glen Cove,” Ktistakis said. “It’s a huge step for me, but at the same time it comes very natural to me just to be here with people listening to them.”

As a teenager, Ktistakis was known among his friends as the guy who would leave them to mow his neighbors’ lawns.

“He has a strong work ethic, “Elen Pantazakos, Ktistakis’ longtime friend. said. “(When) something needs to be done he puts in his all. He has a very positive attitude and friendly persona. People are drawn to him because he’s very passionate about things he loves the most.”

Ktistakis says he always knew he wanted to raise a family here because the community was heartfelt.

“My wife, she grew up in Flushing, and when I first brought her out here, she asked if I was sure I want to live here,” Ktistakis recalled. “I told her it was the best place to grow up.”

Some of his fondest memories stem from his time throughout the city.

“Every day you wake up and there’s something for you to do as a kid,” Ktistakis said. “Spending time at the beaches, Morgans or the bike trails, it was endless. It was like a kid’s heaven.”

Ktistakis was influenced by key figures in the city’s school district, such as Coach Mark Hasen and Richard Roselli, who both left an indelible mark on Ktistakis’ character. Hasen’s dedication and emphasis on hard work guided Ktistakis through a successful basketball career. The 51-year-old says still thinks of his mentors to this day, saying Glen Cove High School also gave him a great sense of direction for his life.

“When I hear people demeaning our school district, and I hear it a lot, it upsets me very much,” Ktistakis said. “My son just graduated from there back in June. He did exceptionally well. He used his experience to his benefit, and he moved on.”

After graduating from C.W. Post in the ‘90s with a degree in finance, Ktistakis pursued interviews for traditional jobs in his field of study but realized that his passion lay in landscaping. This led to the establishment of All Island Lawn Maintenance in 1995, marking the beginning of his successful entrepreneurial journey, and dedication to helping his neighbors.

Now, Ktistakis is taking his commitment to Glen Cove to the political arena. His campaign centered around community input, transparency, and addressing concerns related to overdevelopment based upon his BZA experience. Ktistakis emphasized the delicate balance required for modernization while preserving the unique character and helping “mom and pop” businesses of the city.

Addressing one of Glen Cove’s challenges, Ktistakis says he sees the need for increased foot traffic in various downtown areas, stating that the city, as compared to other municipalities, must focus on areas outside the Business Improvement Districts on Glen and School streets, and should also focus on businesses on Cedar Swamp Road and elsewhere. He envisions collaboration with local businesses and community events to stimulate economic activity, fostering a more vibrant city.

“If we’re going to be having, for example, an Oktoberfest party at Garvies Point, then let’s make it so that nobody wants to go home at nine o’clock,” Ktistakis explained. “Let’s continue it at some other local places like Burger Boys. We must think of everyone when we’re having an event.”