Trump's Jan. 6 pardons spark dueling resolutions in North Hempstead

Demonstrators gather on the steps of North Hempstead Town Hall on Tuesday night in support of a councilmember's call for official condemnation of President Donald Trump's pardon of Jan. 6 rioters and in opposition to a resolution to prohibit town actions on issues outside its jurisdiction. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
The national conversation surrounding President Donald Trump’s pardons of about 1,500 people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol reached the front steps of North Hempstead Town Hall on Tuesday night.
A group of about 50 people gathered in the cold before the monthly town board meeting to protest a resolution put forth by Supervisor Jennifer DeSena amending the town board’s rules of procedure to preclude resolutions "on matters and issues outside the jurisdiction of the Town."
DeSena, a registered Democrat who caucuses with Republicans, put forth the resolution after Democratic Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte had proposed a resolution officially condemning Trump's Jan. 20 pardons.
DeSena's item was placed on the agenda one spot ahead of Dalimonte’s resolution.
Robert Troiano, another Democratic councilmember, addressed criticism of Dalimonte’s resolution he’d heard from residents who believe the town should focus more on issues like fixing roads and potholes.
"If democracy and the sanctity of life are not the proper business of the Town of North Hempstead, then why are we here at all?" Troiano asked during the protest. "I stand with all these officers and I stand with all of you who know that democracy and the sanctity of life is why we are here, and what we should be about."
Voices, signs at protest
The protest, which was put on by good-government group Concerned Citizens of NY-03, included demonstrators holding up posters — some bearing the faces of police officers who died as a result of the Jan. 6 attack and others critical of DeSena or containing a familiar phrase in support of law enforcement.
The attack on the Capitol left more than 100 police officers injured after protesters, fueled by Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, temporarily halted the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.
"Back the Blue," one sign read at Tuesday night's demonstration. "Say no to pardoned felons in our backyard!"
"Stop muzzling free speech," read another.
DeSena said in an interview before the start of the board meeting that her resolution was about "making sure town board takes care of town business."
"We owe our residents that much. We owe them work on roads, parks and reducing their taxes," DeSena said. "We want to do this together. Resolutions that are on items outside the town jurisdiction are intended to divide us. They’re intended to cause hate, partisanship, and we don’t want that."
DeSena, however, has issued proposals on matters outside town business during her administration. In November 2023, in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, she offered a resolution stating the town "unequivocally condemns Hamas for this deplorable and unprovoked attack on Israel." The resolution passed unanimously.
"We need to come together," DeSena said when asked why the timing was right for the resolution. "There are ways that we can still show support. But that doesn’t mean we put it on our business agenda and vote on it. The vote doesn’t have any legal effect."
Raucous carry-over into meeting
The heightened tensions spilled over into the town board meeting later in the evening. After about two hours of covering other town business, town attorney Richard Nicolello, former presiding officer at the Nassau County Legislature, introduced DeSena's proposal by referencing similar rules in the Legislature.
Christine Liu, a Democratic councilmember, then asked Nicolello what prompted the resolution to be proposed that evening.
Nicolello responded that Dalimonte hadn't formally introduced the legislation until after the town board's caucus the previous week.
"This type of resolution is ripe for abuse," Nicolello said. "You could have a resolution on every agenda for the rest of the year on pardons, both sides, immigration, on cultural issues that we fight about. On [Gov.] Kathy Hochul's cashless bail, and so on and so on and so on."
The exchange kicked off about two hours of debate between councilmembers and residents from both sides of the aisle.
As residents spoke from the dais, people in the crowd cheered and booed. People lobbed insults at each other, and at several junctures, town security guards asked members to quiet down. After one particularly heated exchange, a town security guard walked to the middle of the room and stood silently, his hands folded over his chest.
"This is what you want in our town board meeting?" DeSena said, turning to Dalimonte.
DeSena's resolution passed along party lines, 4-3, prompting cheers for some residents and shouts of "Shame" from others. One woman, who had spoken harshly about DeSena from the dais, approached Nicolello as she left the room, with a scowl on her face.
"This is your fault," she shouted as security escorted her out.
The board did not vote on Dalimonte's resolution.

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Put a little love in your heart with the NewsdayTV Valentine's Day Special! From Love Lane in Mattituck, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to celebrate Valentine's Day this year.