The North Hempstead Town Board Tuesday night unanimously passed a resolution to spend $40,000 for a flight plan analysis as a first step in combatting noise disruptions in the town due to low-flying airplanes.

The board also tabled a public hearing on the proposed expansion of the Hillside Islamic Center in New Hyde Park and denounced a recent Q&A in Port Washington with “Patriot Streetfighter” Scott McKay. 

Council Member Peter Zuckerman said the airplane noise was a quality of life issue in the town, one that increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the town has received over 500 service requests in the last five years to remedy the issue. 

“This resolution is a critical step in identifying the root causes of this noise and exploring effective measures to address it,” Zuckerman said. “By investing in this flight plan analysis, we are demonstrating our commitment to finding solutions that will create a safer and more comfortable future for everyone in our Town.”

North Hempstead in 2019 adopted a resolution to consider legal action against Federal Aviation Administration but efforts were postponed due to the pandemic, Zuckerman said. 

Oscar Michelen of Cuomo LLC, which was awarded the request for proposal bid, said the analysis will include looking at the most recent flight plans that were instituted in the last 60 days and evaluating the concerns of incorporated villages in the town on the issue, among other things. 

“What we’re seeing now is a demand for more travel and with that more flights at lower altitudes creating noise,” Michelen said.

At the beginning of the meeting, many New Hyde Park residents spoke out against the Hillside Islamic Center’s plans to expand their mosque, citing unsafe parking conditions on the nearby roads. 

Donna O’Callaghan, who lives on Hillside Boulevard, said expanding the mosque will put an added strain on nearby residents.

“The safety and community issues that currently exist will only be exacerbated by adding additional square feet on an already crowded corner of our community,” O’Callaghan said.

Additional residents said congregants currently double park, park in front of their driveways and fire hydrants and ignore concerns when addressed by homeowners on Hillside, North 1st, North 2nd and North 3rd Streets. 

Jim McHugh questioned the integrity of the site plans, specifically the fire capacity if additional congregants come for worship once the expanded parking lot is full.

Hillside Chairman Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan said expanding the lot and building a third floor will allow the overflow parking to come into the lot and that the recent addition of three centers within a three-mile radius would not lead to an influx of new congregants. 

Bhuiyan said the center has worked with the Nassau County Police Department on ticketing parking violators, specifically on Friday services.

The hearing was tabled to the Sept. 5 meeting and Council Member David Adhami said he will organize another community meeting before then to further alleviate concerns between residents and the center. 

In unrelated town news, Port Washington residents asked the town to denounce a recent event at a private business on Aug. 6 in the hamlet where “Patriot Streetfighter” Scott McKay joined for Q&A. 

McKay was invited by Port Washington native Jason Shurka, whose family owns Rays of Light, a wellness center on Main Street. 

“In this intriguing event, we will dive into the secrets of the Underground Tunnels and explore fascinating insights,” the event’s online itinerary said. “Plus, we’ll address the crucial issue of child trafficking and pledging to protect and safeguard our most vulnerable assets.”

The Port Washington Democratic Club released a statement ahead of the event to boycott it, citing McKay’s online show they said promotes “QAnon, antisemitic conspiracy theories, Christian nationalism, and right-wing militia activity.”

Jeff Siegel said the community needs to go beyond telling themselves they are a loving caring community and have to confirm it by committing to providing a safe and inclusive environment. 

“We currently live in an environment where many norms have been broken and where things that would have been considered immoral such as praising neo Nazis are invited to speak in Port Washington,” Siegel said. “In the past, those things would have been unthinkable.”

Doug D’Arrigo said his wife Melanie was doxxed to over 500,000 social media followers by McKay and the business owner with “a direct call to action to their followers to harass us.”

D’Arrigo added his family, children and wife’s LGBTQ+ nonprofit Be the Rainbow were attacked and that they were labeled alongside the Democratic club as pedophiles who trafficked children. 

Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena apologized for the attack on D’Arrigo, saying she is an incredible advocate and how awful it is for her to be attacked by it. 

Democrat Council Member Veronica Lurvey said to D’Arrigo she stands with his family, Be the Rainbow and local synagogues that have spoken against the attack.

Democrat Robert Troiano apologized to D’Arrigo for what his family went through, adding he supports the town issuing a statement against the event and that it needs to be addressed quickly. 

Democrat Mariann Dalimonte and state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) released a joint statement against the event, and Dalimonte asked the town for more “Not in Our Town” signs to display throughout Port Washington, she said.

Republican Dennis Walsh said he learned of the event Tuesday night but condemns completely the violent rhetoric and would do anything to help stand against it. 

Zuckerman said their hearts go out to D’Arrigo, calling the rhetoric horrible.