The Aug. 9 edition of the Great Neck News featured a page one story on the well deserved public outcry against the anticipated opening of a hookah lounge in Great Neck Village.
Previously, this newspaper has reported on the arrests of “hookahs” who’ve operated in the village of Great Neck Plaza, in one case right under the floor of the salon where Her Honor, Mayor Celender, was getting her hair coiffed. Hookah’s, whether they be in the form of people or lounges don’t belong in a residential community, particularly one like Great Neck which prides itself on its high quality of life, its outstanding schools, facilities, and family environment.
Did it ever occur to Mr. Kreitzman that a legal challenge, should it ever be made, might take so much money and time that the prospective challengers might decide to take their smoking lanterns some place else?
To throw the towel in without a fight – to dismiss a challenge because he thinks he knows how a court will rule – doesn’t show much leadership or protectiveness on the part of His Honor.
Message to the mayor: there’s no downside to a fight, especially a worthy one like this; stop predicting what you think the outcome will be and fight for quality and decency in your village.
And should you succeed, besides enjoying the bragging rights, the benefits will inure to all of Great Neck’s residents.
Another small town mayor, a fellow by the name of Rudy Giuliani, was able to get rid of the X-rated movie theatres, topless bars, and assorted seedy businesses in Times Square and transform it into a tourist and entertainment mecca by aggressively fighting the landlords and the porn purveyors, whom many thought would prevail.
Perhaps Mr. Kreitzman and his staff might take a leaf from the book of that other small town mayor.
Alan A. Gray
Great Neck
