Carl Gerrato - Community Advocate

05/23/2026

05/07/2026

The Trump administration has closed the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, an independent body created to review complaints, inspect facilities, and investigate allegations of abuse in ICE detention centers. The closure ends an external oversight role for detention conditions and detainee treatment

05/07/2026

Who can you make smile today?
Whose day are you going to change?
You’re not alone.

NYLEAP.org

05/05/2026

On April 30, Washington Street School received a generous donation of two red maple trees from the ...

05/05/2026

Need help with applying or tax credits and exemptions? Come to one of our workshops for direct assistance from members of the county’s Department of Assessment.

04/29/2026

Let’s start the week out with three words to break the stigma!
Are you ok?

It’s OK, not to be OK!
You’re not alone!
Know your resources!
We can help confidentially.

NYLEAP.org

04/29/2026

TLC and taxi overnight parking has become a growing issue across Franklin Square, and it’s something the Franklin Square Civilian Patrol has been actively working on for quite some time.

Our members, while out on patrol, have been actively identifying problem areas and working to help curb this issue. Now, we are asking for the community’s help to expand those efforts and make a broader impact.

Here’s what residents need to know:

TLC vehicles are NOT permitted to park overnight on any public roads between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

This is not just about parking. It’s about maintaining quality of life, ensuring public safety, and keeping our neighborhoods accessible and accountable.

If you see a violation:
• On a Nassau County road, call 911
• On a Town of Hempstead road or town property, call 516-538-1900

We are asking the community if you are seeing repeat problem areas or ongoing issues, let us know directly so we can monitor and address them more effectively.

You can reach the Franklin Square Civilian Patrol at:
[email protected]

This is a community-wide effort. The more information we have, the better we can respond and advocate for enforcement where it’s needed most.

See something, say something. Let’s keep Franklin Square safe, orderly, and respected.

04/17/2026

Today would have been my mom’s 87th birthday. Born in 1939, and somehow it still feels like she should be here to celebrate it with us.

This August will mark 26 years since we lost her. That number doesn’t seem real, but the absence is. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her or miss her.

She wasn’t just my mother. She was my sounding board, my confidant, my friend. And she was as real as they come. She never sugarcoated anything, never worried about whether the truth would upset me. If she saw something, she said it. Period.

And if I chose not to listen, which happened more than I’d like to admit, she was still right there when things fell apart. No judgment. No lectures. And never once did she say “I told you so.” That was who she was. A rock when I needed one most.

She stood by me through the good decisions and the bad ones, always ready to help pick up the pieces. That kind of steady, unconditional support is something you don’t fully understand until it’s gone.

I’m grateful that so much of who she was lives on. Her compassion. Her love for the underdog. Her deep concern for others. Her drive to make a difference. Those things didn’t leave with her. They’re part of me now.

The photo below was taken during one of the hardest times in her life, during her cancer treatment. And even then, she lived fully, with strength and dignity. That’s how I’ll always remember her.

So today, on her heavenly birthday, I’m asking something simple. If your mom is still here, and she’s close by, give her a hug. Tell her you love her. If she’s not nearby, pick up the phone, send a text, do something to remind her how much she means to you.

You never get enough time.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you and miss you every single day. 💙

04/17/2026

It’s ok, not to be ok!
You’re not alone!
We are here to help and support you confidentially.

NYLEAP.org

04/17/2026

Because we are in a structured career as a first responder, we forget that we’re not robots, we’re humans!
It’s OK to not be OK!
You’re not alone!

NYLEAP.org