Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald listening to resident at the monthly Board of Trustees meeting
Sitting at her desk with pictures of family members and close friends surrounding her, a petite blonde haired women wearing a red blazer with a “M” button on the lapel reminiscences of growing up in Malverne and now being the Mayor of that same village. Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald remembers the endless fun she had running with friends in Westwood Park, and has stuck to her roots of serving the community as the current Mayor.
As a resident she is aware of a uniqueness the village has to offer, a virtue of helping each other. “It is a small village and some people may want to get out of here, but I found that when I wanted to raise a family this was a good choice,” she stated. Married to retired NYPD detective Steven McDonald, they both instilled the same beliefs to their son Conor McDonald.
On the night of July 12th, 1986 the lives of Patricia and her husband changed from that point on. Steven McDonald was undercover and was pursuing a teenager in Central Park. The suspect shot McDonald twice, which resulted in paralyzing him from the neck down. Pregnant with their son, Patricia stayed by her husband’s side until he was able to come home.
The McDonalds reside in the same house as they did during the accident, but it was not handicap accessible and needed to accommodate the family. Patricia explained that the village was extremely helpful in creating a healing environment. “The community was able to help. The Village of Malverne expedited the process of getting permits to start construction. The residents gave their love and support by bringing cards, food and prayers,” stated McDonald.
Through this long journey Patricia and her husband conveyed a message of strength and a positive outlook on the situation. “Our faith is very important to us,” stated McDonald. She also explained that the help she still receives from friends and neighbors is tremendously appreciated.
The McDonalds recently held a mass at their house for NYPD officers that were helping repair the house and Patricia noted the importance of forgiveness. Steven McDonald forgave the teenager that shot him and she explained they had the strength because of faith. “We live a normal life in an abnormal situation,” stated McDonald.
“It is not easy everyday, sometimes his chair or van breaks down and he has to stay in bed and it effects him emotional,” she noted.
Prior to becoming the mayor in 2006, McDonald was member of the Board of Trustees and throughout her tenure in public service she has made numerous accomplishments. “At this level of government you get to see a direct impact,” she stated.
McDonald explained that her recent accomplishment was the restoration of a cracked and dilapidated basketball court in the Westwood section of Malverne. In a short amount of time the village transformed the rundown court to a vibrant and welcoming play area. For outsiders it may not seem like a big deal, but it gives the children a place to exercise,” she stated.
Robert Powers, the former Village Historian, realized that once he started to work with McDonald she always but the needs of someone else before her own. “Before making an decision she attempts to see what the consequences will be,” stated Powers.
The thing that makes McDonald a caring person is the same thing that could be her downfall, “She cares too much and she tries to please all the residents, but it is impossible to do,” Powers said.
Serving the community, McDonald discovered on her own that impossible task of pleasing everyone. “Residents of Utterby Road probably do not have nice things to say about me and the administration,” she stated.
Residents have been receiving parking tickets in front of their homes because they are paying attention to street signs. “People feel that if there is a No Parking sign in front of their home they are excluded from getting a ticket, but it doesn’t matter residents have to pay attention to signs,” McDonald explained.
Utterby Road is near the business district of Malverne and to deter patrons from parking on that street signs were installed. One resident stated, “this is completely ridiculous that we cannot park in front of our own house. The village should give us a permit or advice, but they are not doing anything.”
McDonald and the Board of Trustees organized meetings to discuss this matter with the residents in the hope that the issue will be resolved.
Residents’ resentment stretches farther than Utterby Road; Stephen Dziuba recalls he made numerous calls to McDonald’s office about a car accident that occurred in front of his home on Linden Street. However, his efforts were futile because she never returned his calls. “I believe that since she knew the person who was at fault, she purposely neglected my phone calls to press charges,” he stated.
Even though some residents are not pleased with McDonald, others feel that she has been their voice on the Board of Trustees. “She is has showed support to issues that are close to me and has stuck to promise she made during her campaign,” resident Danielle Cavilere noted.
“I truly feel very privilege to be mayor of this small community and I do not know what will happen in a year from March, that is when my term ends, but I hope I made a difference in the time as Mayor and Trustee for the best,” explained McDonald.
