Great Neck mayor loves community, commute

We knew we wanted to move here and when we did we became the youngest couple on the block for three to four years. We moved here for the quality of life and all the great things the community has to offer like the shops, parks, school system, history and a real sense of community.

Everything. We have 13 temples and churches, so people under any denomination have a lot to choose from. I like that we’re close to the city, about 25 minutes by train and 20 minutes by car. This line on the railroad is the best. It really makes for a phenomenal commute. I have to mention the many pocket parks our kids grew up with. They’re fantastic.

What challenges do you think the community faces?

We want to enhance our downtown. We’re expecting more multi-family housings coming in and our road program to do repairs on the streets to extend the sidewalks and make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street.

How is business in Great Neck?

It’s been tough since 2008, but we’ve been holding our own. Ideally, we want to fill our empties with our own local businesses to keep the money in the village. The big-box stores near Great Neck really hurt us.

Great Neck has been changing for years. About 30 years ago, Jewish Persians who escaped from Iran settled here, primarily in Kings Point. Now, we have a larger Asian population and there’s more diversity than in previous years. Our schools are also ranked higher than others.

Define the character of the community.

My village is different than most. The community is very diverse and is a terrific place to live, work and raise your kids. I love it here.