Woodmere, NY – No fine will be levied against the landlord who owns the Woodmere storefront on Broadway where a car careened into a Hanukkah party, a Hempstead Town spokesman said.
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More than 100 people were at the gathering at 1052 Broadway on Dec. 25, the fourth day of Hanukkah, authorities said. Town code prohibits using the property, zoned for retail use, for public assembly.
“There will not be a fine unless there’s a continuation of the violation,” said town spokesman Mike Deery.
The landlord, who the town says is 1056 Broadway Woodmere Corp., could not be reached for comment.
Investigators say the crash was caused by a car floor mat. Fourteen people were injured.
The driver, Theodore Saretsky, 76, of Atlantic Beach, is not expected to face criminal charges, police have said. Saretsky, a psychologist, has not responded to calls for comment.
How bout charging the driver for irresponsibility at his age and stage? about time they brought over the British policy of health testing drivers every 5-10 yrs.
Maybe the town didn’t want to pour salt into the wound.
While a permit wouldn’t have prevented this tradgedy, again it is incumbent on all of us to follow the local zoning – especially Chabad. Please note, I love Chabad and I financially support their causes every month. They kept my sister and I on the derech while we each away at different universities. I will never forget them for as a long as I live.
But Chabad has a history of pushing the envelope with zoning. Then again, so do many chareidim in BP and Willy. Most of them cry foul when they leave NYC and wonder how come the local town is not allowing them to build what they want. Most smaller cities and towns actually enforce zoning.
There are still people in hospital in a very serious condition. We need some common sense here…old people should not be driving. That’s all that needs to be said.
I love elderly people, but they shouln’t be driving. Period.
i disagree about the age comments. there are plenty 50 year olds that are on some strong meds and still drive.
there should be re tests every 5 years for ALL ages.Health changes from 18 to 30, to 40 and so on.
I had a 89 sable that had floor mats that always rolled up toward the pedals. I would straighten it out when i began my trip and periodically when re entering the car.
Note: “The Town prohibits using the property, zoned for retail use, for public assembly.” What do they think people do in a store? Whould anything have been different if the car went through a store front where there were people shopping instead of engaging in religious activities? As if the action going on INSIDE the store made any difference. This is another example of zoning codes being used to the disadvantage of religious groups. If Chabad (or anyone else) trys to open a shul in a residential neighborhood, they are told to go to the commercial areas. Then,in the commercial areas, they’re told “no public assembly”. Think about what’s really going on here. The accident was just that – a tragic accident. But for the Town to raise zoning issues is simply another attack against religion. They were smart to back down.
It was rediculous in the first place that all.
What happened is an unfortunate accident. All we should care about is praying for the people who were injured, physically and emotionally.