Nassau County honored the memory of IDF Captain Omer Neutra, a brave 21-year-old from Plainview who was tragically killed during the October 7 attacks in Israel. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Omer chose to serve in the IDF out of deep love and commitment to Israel. He had plans to return to the United States for college, but instead gave his life in defense of the values he held dear.
To honor his courage, service, and sacrifice, a portion of Manetto Hill Road in Plainview has been renamed “Captain Omer Neutra Way.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated at the event, “We are gathered here today as one people, gentile and Jew. … Republican, Democrat, Independent. Even though we have our differences, we can come together on a day like today, put all of our differences aside, and do the right thing. We will not be silent, and we will never forget the hostages. And we will not rest until all the hostages are returned, including Omer Neutra.
“We know that the struggle continues. And we know that we need a completely bipartisan effort in Washington D.C. to make sure that the hostages are returned and to make sure that Israel always has what it needs to defend itself.
“I’ve said this many times to people who may not understand what’s going on around the world. When we talk about terrorism and we talk about the attack on Israel, some people compartmentalize that as being some kind of regional issue or religious issue. Ladies and gentlemen, the same people who say ‘death to Israel’ say ‘death to America.’ As I’ve said many times, in their mind, Israel is the appetizer and America is the main course. So when we honor Omer, we’re not only honoring someone who supported Israel, but we’re honoring a great American.”
Omer’s father, Ronen, spoke at the event. “We’re still stuck in Oct. 7. Our family never moved on. We thought he was alive for 422 days. Then we learned that 422 days ago he died, but his body was still held as a bargaining chip as a hostage. Who does that?
“We are getting closer to Passover. It’s the holiday of freedom, and we have to have [the hostages] free with their families, and for us to have closure. Our hope rests with the President to do whatever in his power to ensure that the release of the hostages happens as soon as possible. And if we can, before Passover. There is no more time.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to hug Omer the same way we’ve seen other hostages reunite with loved ones. But Omer, who fought for all of us, deserves an honorable resting place with his own people. As long as he’s there, we can’t stop and our people can’t begin to heal.”
The Importance Of NORPAC’s DC Mission: Now More Than Ever
By Tamar Rabinovitz
Each year, NORPAC—one of the largest “PAC”s that advocates for the strengthening of the American-Israeli relationship—hosts its annual mission to Washington, DC. Last spring, I had the privilege of joining the NORPAC mission to Washington DC. I, along with 1,200 other individuals, traveled to DC to advocate for support for congressional bills that would help Israel and to help strengthen this relationship. As a high school student, this was a great educational experience for me, along with being meaningful and impactful.
NORPAC will be holding another mission this year, on May 20. The mission is a full-day event that brings teens and adults to meet with Members of Congress and their staff in Washington, DC. The participants are split up into groups, each one headed by a group leader, and these groups are able to meet with various senators and representatives and their staff.
Students must attend with a chaperone, enabling the day to be a powerful intergenerational experience of bonding and shared purpose. It’s a tremendous opportunity to do a mitzvah together—parents and children, mentors and students, side by side. If Israelis are putting their lives on the line every single day, then giving just one day of our time to do something critical for Israel and the Jewish people is not a lot—it’s the least we can do from here in America.
The NORPAC Mission provides an unparalleled opportunity for individuals to directly engage with lawmakers and influence policy decisions. Going to meet with senators and representatives in person is much more impactful than sending an e-mail or making a phone call. In fact, it is said that one person going to meet with legislators in person is equivalent to 10,000 e-mails sent. In order to make a difference, it is of utmost importance that people show up.
In light of current global events, it’s clear that our advocacy is more crucial than ever. Now is the time to step up and show our government that we care about Israel and strengthening the American-Israeli relationship. We want our legislators to support Israel in its hard times and provide aid to them. This mission is not only crucial in showing Congress that we care, but also in educating our Members of Congress as well. Despite the abundance of information available online, not everyone knows all the nuances of the issues. However, the mission provides the opportunity to have discussions with and educate our Members of Congress with the hopes in encouraging them to sign pro-Israel legislation.
This is the time for us to get involved. We can do our part from America in encouraging Members of Congress to support a strong American-Israeli relationship. Our brothers in Israel need us, and through participating in the NORPAC mission, we can step up to help them out.
Sign up now at norpac.net/mission-to-washington or call Avi Schranz at 201-788-5133.
{Assemblyman Ari Brown Opposes Anti-Law Enforcement Proposal, Stands with Nassau County Executive Blakeman
{IMG Assemblyman Ari Brown Opposes Anti-Law Enforcement Proposal, Stands with Nassau County Executive Blakeman
{Caption Sen. Steve Rhoads, Assemblyman Michael Durso, Assemblyman Ari Brown, District Attorney Anne Donnelly, County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Assemblyman Ed Ra and Sen. Jack Martins
Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst), joined Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other Long Island legislators to strongly oppose a proposal that would drastically limit law enforcement’s ability to initiate traffic stops for minor vehicle violations (A.6631).
The proposal aims to restrict traffic stops for what are considered “secondary violations” such as expired inspection stickers, faulty windshield wipers, and minor equipment failures. Under the bill, law enforcement officers would only be allowed to stop drivers for more serious, “primary violations,” significantly narrowing their ability to intervene in potentially dangerous situations.
The proposal’s restriction on traffic stops could have severe consequences. Police officers rely on traffic stops as one of the most effective ways to enforce the law and identify criminal activity before it escalates. In cases where a car is stopped for a minor violation, officers often find evidence of larger crimes, including drug trafficking, weapons possession, and criminal warrants. By eliminating these routine stops, the bill essentially shields criminal activity from detection.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a longtime advocate for law enforcement, has consistently supported policies that empower the police to do their jobs effectively. Under his leadership, Nassau County has one of the most successful police forces in the nation, led by Police Commissioner Pat Ryder, and Assemblyman Brown emphasized that law enforcement must continue to have the tools necessary to maintain public safety.
“This bill would make it more difficult for police officers to protect our communities,” said Assemblyman Brown. “We cannot afford to tie the hands of law enforcement in the fight against crime.”
Assemblyman Brown is committed to defeating this bill and ensuring that police officers can continue to perform their duties without unnecessary restrictions that endanger public safety.
Spring Cleaning At Village Of Lawrence
At a time when many are finalizing Holiday and Spring Break plans, the Village of Lawrence is hard at work to make improvements at the least disruptive time. During the month of April, Village employees begin pest control preparation, redo parking lot striping, clean storm basins, repair potholes, and many more “unseen” services that keep the Village running optimally.
In addition, the Village was in coordination with Liberty NY Water for their Spring Flushing Program, Sanitary District #1 for Shredding Day and enhanced Pre-Pesach Garbage pickup April 10 and 11, 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; and finally with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department and Nassau County Police Department Fourth Precinct for the chametz burning at the Lawrence LIRR Station Parking Lot 7:30-11:50 a.m. on April 11.
Mayor Sam Nahmias notes, “The Village of Lawrence is proud to have such a capable and dedicated workforce as well as community partners that enable residents to live comfortably without concern for infrastructure details.”
