David Ushlery, Co-Anchor:
It is a case of the rich trying to take from the richer. At stake, the future of an exclusive country club in the village of North Hills in Nassau County. Long Island Reporter Greg Cergol explains.
Greg Cergol, Reporter:
North Hills spells affluence; even town homes here can fetch more than a million bucks. So, it's no surprise this tiny village is home to one New York's most exclusive country clubs. Deepdale has been here since the fifties. Dwight Eisenhower was a member. Nixon visited. And sources say Mayor Bloomberg is among the current list of the rich and powerful who keep their clubs here. But North Hills Mayor Marvin Natiss wants to take over the one hundred and seventy-five acre club. Seize it, using New York's eminent domain laws. His goal, to turn Deepdale into a private club for his village's five thousand residents.
[Begin clip of interview with Marvin Natiss]
Mayor Marvin Natiss, North Hills:
This would be an amenity for the village residents to have a village golf course exclusively for the use of the village residents.
[End Clip]
[Begin clip interview with John Wilson]
John Wilson, Club Member:
It was a shock to me that, um, they would go the route of eminent domain.
[End Clip]
Cergol:
Club members say taking over Deepdale could cost taxpayers millions and is illegal.
[Begin clip of interview with Mark Mulholland]
Mark Mulholland, Club's Lawyer:
The Mayor just wants a trophy, a trophy golf club. And this is a complete misuse of eminent domain laws.
[End clip]
Cergol:
Governments have used eminent domain laws to seize all kinds of properties, always for what's described as the public good. The question in this case, is seizing a country club really in keeping with the true letter and spirit of those eminent domain laws. A lawyer for a non-profit group challenging New York's eminent domain laws calls this case "strange" and says, "it's high time for New York to take a look at the abuse of eminent domain." But Dana Berliner admits, a recent Supreme Court ruling seems to permit even this kind of seizure.
[Resume clip of interview with Marvin Natiss]
Natiss:
It has nothing to do with elitist group or whatever people think. This is just something that would fit the village.
[End clip]
[Resume clip of interview with Mark Mulholland]
Mulholland:
We will fight this every way we can unless the Mayor stands down.
[End clip]
Cergol:
Greg Cergol, New Channel 4.
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