Storefronts on the front lines in a Nassau race

Daily Point

A sign of the times

With 19 days to go, there's a seemingly nonstop flow of mailers and text messages applauding candidates, critiquing candidates and reminding people to vote.

But at this point in the cycle, the signs on lawns, road medians and storefronts become the front lines in the battles.

Take Cedarhurst. Democrat Doug Segan, who is running against Republican Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Howard Kopel, spent $108 on 50 posters, which he and his team have been placing in store windows across the district, including those along Cedarhurst's Central Avenue. Segan is a former emergency room physician who now teaches at Hofstra University's medical school.

But not long after Segan's signs went up, Republican Assemb. Ari Brown took to a neighborhood WhatsApp group for Cedarhurst shop owners.

"Very disappointing to see some of my merchants putting signs for the very people that are trying to hurt your businesses," Brown wrote in a message obtained by The Point. "As the ranking member of the state ... local governments committee, I fight against people like that who are truly hurting local businesses."

Robert L. Douglas, who is managing the Segan campaign, told The Point he and other Segan supporters saw the post as directed at them.

"I was highly disappointed when I learned of Ari Brown's effort to suppress free speech," Douglas said. "This is really out of the realm of propriety to try to suppress the sign of someone running for elected office. It's outrageous."

But Brown told The Point the message wasn't about a single campaign — and it wasn't directed at Segan specifically.

"It's a statement among my friends and my merchants," Brown said. "I want people to make the determination and ask questions. I want people to think. I'm not telling anybody to take a sign down."

Nonetheless, in a follow up post, Brown clarified his goal.

"Just to be clear. No one put any signs [up] about my opponent. But there are signs against Legislator Kopel," Brown wrote. "Chaim/Howard, as the presiding officer, has been a strong advocate for our entire community, not just the Jewish community. Let's show him Support."

Brown, who serves as deputy mayor for Cedarhurst in addition to his Assembly position, said in an interview that he was seeking to continue his efforts in keeping the local business district strong.

"I manage every flower, every awning, every everything," Brown said. "I keep it healthy. They want my opinion and advice and I'm going to tell them what's going to keep them healthy."

Added Brown: "It was a private chat. It was to spur thought."

Kopel told The Point he had nothing to do with the message and didn't know about it until The Point contacted him.

"It's silly season and foolish things happen. No one tore down any signs," Kopel said. "Doug Segan is a nice man and I wish him well."

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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Final Point

Scianablo refiles financial disclosures 'in the spirit of full transparency'

Hempstead Town Democratic candidate for supervisor Joe Scianablo said he resubmitted his financial disclosure forms with the town after his opponent, Republican Supervisor John Ferretti, accused him of "lying on his ethics form."

In an email to Newsday's editorial board Wednesday, Scianablo said he "updated and resubmitted the form despite the ambiguous language," adding that he did so "in the spirit of full transparency."

During the editorial board's endorsement screening this week, Ferretti accused Scianablo of deliberately leaving his wife's income off the form. Scianablo disagreed, saying he hand-delivered the forms on time and has been open about his wife's career as an educator in a Nassau County district. Initially the forms only listed Scianablo's NYPD disability pension as income.

"I listed everything that they asked for on that form, but I'm not hiding her income," Scianablo said.

Hempstead Town spokesman Brian Devine emailed the editorial board Scianablo's last two financial disclosure forms. On those forms, Scianablo appears to have left blank sections asking for the name, title and income of spouse. Scianablo ran for supervisor last year and lost to Ferretti.

Ferretti leaned into Scianablo's omission.

"Not disclosed. Two years in a row," Ferretti said. "That carries up to a $10,000 penalty by the Board of Ethics in the Town of Hempstead, lying on your ethics, on your ethics form. ... If he's lying about that, and he's not being transparent about that, what else is he not being transparent about in that financial disclosure?"

The disclosure dispute arose when Scianablo accused Ferretti and the town board of leaving the public in the dark about details of a property sale used to balance the budget.

"It raises serious concerns about the solvency and the financial situation of our town, and we are America's largest township, and we deserve full transparency in regard to where our money's going," Scianablo said.

After taking credit for not raising taxes, Ferretti turned the issue of transparency on Scianablo.

"Repeatedly, I'm hearing about lack of transparency," Ferretti said. "... and when you talk about transparency, the Town of Hempstead has a very, very strong ethics code. ... Not only was my opponent's financial disclosure filed late, not only was it not signed, but it was falsified."

For sure, what will be transparent is who the town voters favor on Election Day.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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