Janelle Clausen’s Oct. 5th front page story — “Car strikes man trying to cross Middle Neck Rd.” — highlighted the clear and present danger for pedestrians trying to cross the streets in Great Neck Plaza; and if you don’t get hit or killed by a car while trying to cross the street, you run the risk of slipping or tripping on the dangerous bricks that pave the village’s sidewalks.
During her long administration as mayor of Great Neck Plaza, Jean Celender has half-heartedly convened and dispanded a couple of pedestrian safety committees to make it appear that she actually cared about pedestrian safety; I know — been there, done that during 2010-11.
In August of 2011, I was hit by a car while carefully trying to cross Middle Neck Road in a crosswalk. I was lucky; I went to the hospital where I was treated and released. The woman who was hit the week before me wasn’t so lucky; she went to the undertaker.
After my accident, I presented graphic photos of my injuries to the mayor and asked her what she was going to do about the lack of pedestrian safety in the village. Celender’s response was that it was not her problem because Middle Neck Road was under Nassau County’s jurisdiction.
I wasn’t invited back to the committee, which died shortly afterwards, along with all the casualties.
This year, the number of reckless drivers who speed through the streets of Great Neck maiming and killing pedestrians is larger than ever. (Maybe they are in a hurry to get to their favorite stores or restaurants before they go belly-up.)
Until we have a mayor in Great Neck Plaza who prioritizes people over photo-ops and desires to work productively with Nassau County for the benefit of her constituents, I am suggesting a new official motto: “Neck Plaza — it’s a village to die for!”
Leo Pfeifer
Village of Neck Plaza
(We want our “Great” back!)
