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Politics & Government

Glen Cove Notebook: City Honors Veteran

Highlights from Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Mayor Ralph Suozzi and the City Council honored heavily decorated World War II veteran and Glen Cove resident, Joseph Cunningham, during Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

"I met him at the Memorial Day parade back in 2009," Suozzi said. "As I turned to my left, Joe with all his medals, stood out. I thanked him for his service, and a few weeks letter, he wrote me thanking me for the recognition."

Suozzi said Cunningham is a lifelong resident of Glen Cove, and enlisted in the Navy in 1942, remaining in the service until after the end of the war.

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Cunningham's service included several brushes with danger, including one mission aboard a B24 Liberator Bomber, which was almost shot down. The last of Cunningham's 32 combat missions was the June 6, 1944 D-Day Allied invasion of Normandy, France, in which Cunningham provided support aboard the B24.

"This is an American," Suozzi said.

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Glen Cove Piazza

was a hot topic at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Resident and 2011 Republican mayoral candidate Paul Meli asked if the project would be privately financed or bonded through the IDA.

Suozzi said that the project's owners have more than one source of income, though a third of the $60 million pricetag will come from the developer's own sources.

Resident Frank Cipollino asked whether the Piazza would use the PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) program.

Suozzi said that it would be up to the IDA, as there are several different methods.

"There's abatements, and PILOTs, then there's projects which pay no taxes for years then pay the PILOT in full," Suozzi said. "In Glen Cove, is on a 15-year PILOT, while has a 22 year abatement. The IDA disburses if they feel if the project is good for the community and economy, as they require extensive economic analysis which must show economic benefit."

Resident Gail Waller questioned the council's recommendation to the planning board on the Piazza.

"The recommendations were for the board to consider things that we thought would be good for the downtown," Suozzi responded.

Waller also noted the direction of Glen Cove's Master Plan.

"We also have building at the , and at the Temple," Waller said. "We've spent [so much] on the Master Plan, are we following it?"

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