Atlantic Beach, NY — A Long Island community is in political turmoil after nearly all of its top elected officials, including the mayor and deputy mayor, resigned Thursday in the wake of an 87% property tax hike and a costly legal settlement stemming from a religious discrimination lawsuit.
Mayor George Pappas and Deputy Mayor Charles Hammerman abruptly stepped down just days after the village approved a $975,000 settlement with Chabad Lubavitch of the Beaches, a Jewish organization that claimed it was being antagonized by village leadership over plans to open a synagogue and community center.
Government in Disarray
The double resignation leaves Atlantic Beach’s leadership nearly gutted, with only three trustees temporarily holding power. Two of them — Patricia Beaumont and Nathan Etrog — are set to leave office Monday when newly elected trustees Joseph Pierantoni and Laura Heller are sworn in.
That leaves Trustee Barry Frohlinger as the lone holdover from the current board, plunging the village into what some residents are calling a “governance crisis.”
The Tax Hike That Sparked It All
In May, Atlantic Beach officials dropped a bombshell on residents: an 87% increase in property taxes. The sudden hike triggered outrage across the village and led to calls for Mayor Pappas’ resignation.
Village leaders blamed decades of flawed property assessments by Nassau County, but county officials quickly pushed back. Nassau County Assessor Joseph Adamo denied any responsibility and instead pointed fingers at the village for mismanaging billing on commercial properties for years.
“Nassau County is not responsible for the Village of Atlantic Beach budget or tax levy,” Adamo said in a statement. “Nor do we calculate, bill, collect, or distribute village taxes.”
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Legal Trouble Adds Fuel to Fire
The resignations also came just days after Atlantic Beach settled a nearly $1 million federal lawsuit with Chabad Lubavitch of the Beaches, which had bought a former Capital One bank in 2021 to turn into a synagogue.
The group alleged the village’s refusal to grant necessary permits was rooted in religious discrimination.
The case drew national attention as an example of alleged antisemitism in local zoning decisions.
What’s Next for Atlantic Beach?
With only one current trustee set to remain by next week, it’s unclear who will guide the village forward as it navigates a leadership vacuum, a shaken public trust, and the financial fallout from the tax increase and legal settlement.
“The lack of transparency and the financial mismanagement here is staggering,” said one Atlantic Beach homeowner who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We deserve answers — and real leadership.”
What would you do if your city suddenly raised property taxes 87%?
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