Mayor Urges Farmingdale Businesses To Get Involved In Community

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale Village Mayor Ralph Ekstrand, in his latest news release, urged local businesses to get involved in community functions and shared the results of a recent survey as they pertain to downtowns.

The mayor asked residents to continue to dine and shop local to support the village's merchants. Ekstrand delved into the recent nextLI Survey by Siena College Research Institute, a Newsday initiative funded by the Rauch Foundation, for results pertaining to downtowns.

The survey found 92 percent of respondents were concerned that local businesses can’t sustain until the coronavirus pandemic is over; 96 percent said having vibrant downtowns is important to the quality of life; 61 percent want more outdoor restaurant space; 60 percent would like more landscaping and green space; and 57 percent would like to see more local artists and vendors in small stall-like displays.

"We can clearly see how much villages like Farmingdale and downtowns matter to many on Long Island," Ekstrand said. "Additionally, local businesses and organizations should consider joining the local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary clubs and other organizations and stay involved in community efforts."

Ekstrand pointed out spring is on the way and will hopefully bring warm weather soon, as well as the recent decline in new coronavirus cases on Long Island.

"While we anticipate better times are ahead, please continue to practice social distancing, wear masks/face coverings when in public, and wash your hands often," he said.

On Feb. 22, United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney held a press conference at the Farmingdale Village Fire Department to announce legislation to protect firefighters with the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act, according to Ekstrand. For years, firefighters in New York and across the country have been exposed to PFAS in the aqueous film-forming foam used to fight fires, at training facilities, and in the protective clothing and gear they use. The use of the foam at firefighter training facilities could also be a source of drinking water contamination near the facilities, the mayor said.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran stated the Bethpage training site does not use PFAS chemicals.

"I applaud Senator Gillibrand for putting forth this legislation to help clean up our environment and rid communities of these harmful chemicals once and for all," Curran said. "These 'forever chemicals' not only migrate into our environment and pollute our drinking water, but can directly threaten first-responders who rely on wearing such equipment to save their lives. Nassau’s bravest shouldn’t have to trade their safety now for potentially harmful effects to their health later."

Eradicating proven cancer-causing PFAS from firefighting foam will help save the lives of firefighters and other first responders, Ekstrand wrote. If the legislation is passed, the bill would prohibit using firefighting foam with PFAS and create a federal ban on the manufacture, importation and sale of firefighting foam with the chemical in it, within two years of enactment.

"This would also be a great benefit to groundwater and drinking water locally and across the United States!" Ekstrand said. "Personally we feel whatever we can do to protect the public and our firefighting heroes is a great step forward! Please note that Farmingdale Village water is safe to drink and is being monitored for chemical contaminants."