Did Malverne mayor drive while politicking?

Daily Point

Keith Corbett's campaign drive?

Did Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett take a village police car for a ride in his journey to become the Democratic nominee for the 4th Congressional District? If so, it looks like he made a few wrong turns.

The small village in Nassau was abuzz Wednesday as photos posted midday on a local Facebook account showed two Malverne vehicles at a closed intersection near his home, raising concerns of an accident or other disruption.

Instead, The Point was told, the mayor apparently took a police car, one usually used by “reserve” volunteers who help village officers when there are parades and other events, to an area near his home. At one point, Corbett turned on the car’s flashing red lights while he was behind the wheel, The Point was told.

There the patrol car was strategically placed near a larger Office of Emergency Management truck, with both behind police tape and cones that closed off the intersection of Johnson Avenue and William Street. It seems some videotaping was taking place, according to those who came upon the scene.

Corbett, in a text-message exchange with The Point, repeatedly said that he knew nothing about what happened outside his home on Wednesday. When asked if he used the vehicles for campaign purposes, he replied, “It seems like more hyper-partisan noise.” He said he was too busy with his legal practice to do an interview.

Corbett is competing with several other Democrats in an August primary for the Democratic nomination in the contest to replace Kathleen Rice, who is not seeking reelection.

Village trustee Patricia Fitzpatrick told The Point that the mayor did not have the necessary permit to close the street, nor did he have one for commercial filming, which also requires paying an assessed fee. “I think he is inappropriate in what he is doing,” she said.

This is not the first time Corbett has garnered criticism for using village resources in his campaign. As the Point reported in late April, Corbett’s campaign team sent out a media advisory on official village letterhead announcing a news conference he was planning to hold to denounce crime in New York City. 

After that event, Fitzpatrick filed an ethics complaint against Corbett saying he mingled his public office with his political campaign.

“I did it because I felt he would continue to take liberties,” she said.

Fitzpatrick is in contact with the village attorney about whether any action can be taken against the mayor for the use of the vehicles.

— Rita Ciolli @ritaciolli

Pencil Point

The good, the bad, and the ugly

For more cartoons, visit www.newsday.com/nationalcartoons

Final Point

Suddenly, state-of-the-art

After Town of Hempstead officials kept Elmont Road Park closed for weeks despite the completion of a $3 million renovation, the town has now sent residents a mailer celebrating the park’s opening.

The mailer, sent less than a week after the park opened, proclaimed “It’s Time to Play at Elmont Road Park” — with bright pictures of the new multiuse court, which Hempstead officials previously complained was not regulation-size for basketball, and the playground, where town officials previously worried that a bench was too close to the equipment.

The mailer made no mention of New York Arena Partners, the development group that completed and funded the renovation as per the community benefits agreed to as part of the UBS Arena at Belmont Park project. Nor did it not mention the town’s prior concerns.

Just two weeks ago, Hempstead Parks Commissioner Frank Zangla called the renovation a “shabby installation” when he told The Point that the town had a list of concerns that forced the park to remain closed.

But when it came time for the town to claim credit, the description was different.

“Supervisor Don Clavin and Councilwoman Melissa Miller are pleased to announce that Elmont Road Park is now open to the public following the completion of a major renovation project,” the mailer said. “The $3 million transformation has created a state-of-the-art recreational facility for Elmont neighbors.”

— Randi F. Marshall @RandiMarshall