Residents beseech North Hempstead Board for cat shelter

Local News Residents beseech North Hempstead Board for cat shelter By Nicholas Gordon … Comments Posted on November 11, 2026 The North Hempstead Town Board listened to residents’ concerns regarding homeless cats and traffic and parking issues at the its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. (Screenshot from the North Hempstead Board livestream) “We’re a community forced to turn a blind eye to cats suffering on our streets,” alleged one resident during public comment at the North Hempstead Town Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The resident was not alone. Several others stepped forward to express their concerns about the stray cats, as well as traffic and parking issues on Colonial Parkway. The resident continued, “We maintain our dubious status as the only town on Long Island without a cat shelter. But our group here will reluctantly push forward as hard as we can to achieve our goal of getting a shelter.” The resident added that he hopes they can flip the board in the next election. Council Member Dennis Walsh took umbrage with the resident’s comment. “The election was just finished a week ago and you’re already talking about flipping the board,” Walsh said. “Good luck with that. We’ve won four of the last five years.” Then the cat lovers continued to make their case. A woman who identified as “a lifelong resident of Roslyn” congratulated the board members on their election victories and said she was confident they would listen to their tax-paying constituents and work together to address the issue of homeless cats. “In past meetings, I’ve spoken about our real need for a cat shelter,” the woman said, her voice quavering in distress, as she described how her daughter and her friends have to see dead and dying cats near the synagogue. “This matter will not go away but only amplify. I’m here tonight asking you to please make this shelter a reality. You have a chance to leave an immense legacy by ending this need. I will be here every month for the next two years until we’re able to work something out.” Resident Liz Diamond from Roslyn spoke next, saying that she started out seeing four homeless cats in her vicinity, then eight, and then more. Many of the cats are in dangerous places, behind fences and so forth, where she can’t reach them, she added. “I’m now caring for 25 cats,” Diamond said. “I have to pay for trapping and spaying the cats. I’m not young. I know I look young,” she said drily, drawing a laugh from the crowd. “It’s just very difficult to care for all these cats. We say this month after month but it’s time to get the shelter. You got reelected. Work with us. We’re willing to work in the shelter. We’ll volunteer our time. What do you say?” The board members thanked the residents for their time. Next, several residents raised safety concerns with the increased traffic and haphazard parking issues on Colonial Parkway. One woman who said she’s lived close to the busy intersection for 30 years said that over time the traffic has increased along with the population of Port Washington. “I’ve resorted to placing traffic cones in front of my house for safety,” the woman said. Another resident brought photos as evidence of the parking issue. A third resident focused his concerns on the intersection of Plandome Road and Locust Place, where a UPS store is located. “I’ve lived on the block for over 30 years, but we’ve never seen the level of traffic that we see there now. The UPS on the block is a terrible corporate neighbor. They park their vehicles up on the curbs. When we hear the passion of the cat people, we love that, we want people passionate about where we live. Well, we’re passionate about the safety of this block.” Walsh stated that traffic is increasing across the county, citing Old Country Road and Jericho Turnpike as examples of busy thoroughfares. The resident countered that their issue involves a residential block. “This issue is solvable,” the resident said. “We’re just asking for enforcement of the existing parking laws.” A fourth resident who identified herself as “the old lady of the block” said she’s lived on Colonial Parkway since 1972. “I’m here for the safety of the people who go up and down the street,” the woman said. “I’m very afraid that we’re going to have a lot more danger. We need to keep it safe. When people go flying down the street, I’m coming out of my driveway and it’s dangerous. We’re fighting for the safety of everybody in Manhasset.” The woman said that there had “already been one tragedy” when a dog was run over. Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said the b oard will talk to Manhasset park commissioners about this issue. About the Author All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines . Schneps Media does not endorse the views shared by readers in our comment sections.