Documents obtained by Blank Slate Media indicate North Hempstead Councilman David Adhami resides in Merrick, a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead.
Adhami, a Republican, was elected in 2021 to a four-year term to represent the town’s representative for the 5th District, which includes North New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Floral Park and the villages of Saddle Rock, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens, University Gardens, Lake Success and other unincorporated areas.
In October 2021, the town of Hempstead issued Adhami a permit for a solar panel to be installed on the roof of a home he owns in Merrick by Sunrun, a San Francisco-based company that provides energy storage products primarily for residential customers.
As part of the permit process, Adhami signed a notarized Hempstead Buildings Department Affidavit of Property Owner that says David Adhami “being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he or she resides” at the given Merrick address.
The application signed by Adhami goes on to say that “to make application for a permit to perform said work in the foregoing application and accompanying plans, and all the statements herein contained are true to deponent’s own knowledge.”
Property records show Adhami and his wife, Shireen Rashidi, purchased a home in Merrick, in 2021. The two signed the deed for the property on Aug. 21, 2021, records show.
Adhami was confronted about the affidavit by Great Neck resident Nina Gordon at a Town of North Hempstead board meeting on Thursday.
“It appears a fraud is being perpetrated on the residents of North Hempstead and I would appreciate an explanation of how and why this is allowed to continue,” Gordon said.
Adhami acknowledged ownership of the home but denied that he resided there during the meeting.
“I do own a house in Merrick, it’s public record,” Adhami said. “But I do not live there, that is not my primary residence and that is that. I do reside in Great Neck.”
In a statement to Blank Slate Media, Nassau County Republican Committee counsel John Ryan said Adhami’s “domicile was in the district,” which he termed the “exclusive geographic test of elective office” in the Town of North Hempstead.
“It is the location at which he and his family celebrate anniversaries and observe family birthdays,” Ryan said. “His school-aged child attends school in Great Neck and he and his family belong to Beth Hadassah (The Iranian Jewish Center) on Steamboat Rd. Any suggestion that Dave Adhami’s domicile is anywhere but in the Council District that he represents is either malicious or downright stupid.”
The issue of Adhami’s primary residence could have important implications for the balance of power in the town.
Democrats had a 4-3 majority on the town board with four seats including that of the supervisor up for grabs in Tuesday’s election.
Adhami’s wife posted on Facebook to an unknown group in 2020 that she and her husband were looking for leads on houses, but does not mention Merrick specifically.
“Hi Everyone, my husband and I are looking to move into the neighborhood,” the post said. “We are searching Zillow but I was wondering if anyone has any leads. Ideally, we are looking for a home with a dock, three bedrooms two baths and close to the Chabad.”
Adhami, who ran for Nassau County legislator in 2017, is a registered voter in Great Neck, according to state Board of Election records.
Since being elected in 2021, all political contributions made by Adhami have been made from his home Great Neck, according to New York State Board of Election records.
In 2010, the Great Neck property was sold by Adhami’s parents to him and his sister, according to Nassau County property records.
Adhami previously said he lived in Great Neck when asked about his residence. Efforts to reach Adhami following the town board meeting for further comment were unavailing.
The North Hempstead Town Code defines a resident of the town as someone who resides in the town and has done so for the previous three months. New York State’s election law defines residency as the place where someone has a permanent home they always intend to return.
So you guys write an article based on the ravings of this lunatic who shows up to every board meeting in town just to b1tch and moan about something, usually her cats? So the guy owns an investment property. Who cares. I hope he sues this newspaper for libel.
The story was based on documents Blank Slate Media obtained in addition to the question raised by a resident at a Town Board meeting. I appreciate you spelling my name correctly.
Steven Blankisan (aka The Idiot) hasn’t discovered a Democratic he can’t support with his hard left slanted local newspaper. Where was his local paper when Santos ran and won his current US Rep position ?? Sadly asleep at the wheel.
We were the first paper to report that Santos called for doctors who perform abortions to be prosecute criminally. We also reported on his attending the Stop the Steal rally and his claim that he gave money to some insurrectionists.
We also endorsed 3 Republicans that past election.
If you don’t agree with our editorials, please send letters in response. We will be happy to publish them.
If we disagree with you, we won’t call you names.
Censorship (not moderation) …. by Steve Blank, a useless tool
If you had anything worthwhile to say maybe you wouldn’t hide behind a fake name.