MLK DAY OF SERVICE JANUARY MARTIN LUTHER 15 2024 KING
DAY
Thursday, January 11, 2024 ~ Volume 69 ~ Issue Number 6 ~ $1.00
Panico, Town Board Inaugurated in Brookhaven
Photo by Matt Meduri
Supervisor Panico with his family as he is sworn into office.
Brookhaven is often regarded as one of the most - if not the most - complicated Suffolk County township to govern. The largest municipality by area in the entire state, and second-largest in population - almost 500,000 residents - Brookhaven could practically register as its own state. The Town also serves as a key figure in Suffolk’s environmental progress, as it is the only township in the county to border the Long Island Sound, the Great South Bay, and Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, the town contains eight villages, dozens of hamlets, and countless unique, diverse communities, all of which contribute to the intricacies of Town knowledge required to govern accurately. Such leaders were elected this past November by wide margins across three Town-wide posts and six council districts. All but one member were sworn in Monday afternoon. Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point) of the Fifth District will be sworn in on January 11. Continued on page 10
Chelsey’s Law: Rally to Combat Opioid Epidemic By Matt Meduri
Photo by Matt Meduri
Families of overdose victims gather in Hauppauge.
FULL STORIES ON:
Local Electeds React to State of the State Address Page 16
New Column: Bits & Pieces Page 20
Sports Spotlight: Kayla Gilmore Page 23
The opioid epidemic continues to tear across the country, as well as New York and Suffolk County. While overdose deaths continue to rise, deaths at the hands of impaired drivers and laced substances continue to stand out as elected officials plan to lobby Albany for loophole closures and as the community awaits answers. Elected officials and affected families gathered at the Suffolk County District Attorney building in Hauppauge on Friday morning to hold a final press conference before the groups’ Monday, January 8, descent on Albany. Alan Bodie, Chief Assistant District Attorney to Ray Tierney (R), headlined the press conference, calling for “common sense changes to our laws to fight this opioid crisis.” Continued on page 3
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News Thursday, January 11, 2024
Continued from front cover
Chelsey’s Law: Electeds and Families Rally for NYS Law Changes to Combat Opioid Epidemic
The group will be lobbying these changes.” for four bipartisan laws, Romaine also offered with one to classify families a commitment: “As who have lost loved ones County Executive, we to overdoses as crime are going to make sure victims, and another to that we have the police, outlaw xylazine, otherwise detectives, and superior known as Tranq, in New officers necessary to York State. Xylazine is a address this crisis, cattle sedative that is being and to work hand-inmixed with fentanyl to glove with our health increase the latter drug’s department, which has high. It is increasingly being to give a greater priority linked to overdose deaths. to this epidemic. They Bodie introduced the will have the resources many families who have to do so.” lost young family members “I have hope in the to overdoses. Notably, Sue bipartisan support that and Gene Murray, parents this bill is getting that of Chelsey, for whom we can get this passed,” Chelsey’s Law is named, said Nassau County were present. The Murrays District Attorney Anne also lost their son Michael Donnelly (R). “It will give to an overdose. Chelsey DA Tierney and I the died of an overdose at the tools to prosecute the age of 31 in 2022 after people for killing our County Executive Romaine (podium) speaks in support of the victims’ families (right) (Credit - Matt Meduri) purchasing substances children.” laced with fentanyl. Lou Civello, Chelsey’s Law would hold drug dealers accountable for the deaths of buyers who President of the Suffolk PBA, offered his thoughts and support. overdose on their products that are laced with fentanyl. “It’s staggering to hear the list of young lives taken before their times,” said Civello. “It’s not just about our daughter Chelsey,” said Gene Murray. “It’s about all the families “Are we so misguided and so perverse in our morals that we treat victims this way, who have lost people over the years. We have to change the laws because nobody is that they cannot bury their loved ones? We treat drug dealers as if they were the being held accountable for dealing death. The fentanyl that killed my daughter was victims? This is not a partisan issue. Fentanyl kills Democrats and Republicans alike. a tiny amount, but it was deadly. The dealers get out of prison in a few years, but the We are asking for common sense changes that will allow your law enforcement and families deal with this for life.” prosecutors to stem the tide of death and poison coming into our communities.” Bodie mentioned that the law enforcement agencies and unions paid for the Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills), the sponsor of the initiative, spoke on transportation to Albany for Monday’s rally. behalf of the NYS Assembly. “This opioid crisis is an epidemic; it’s the leading cause of death for people aged 18 “This is a public health and safety issue, but I’m sure most of my colleagues would to 50,” said Bodie. “Last year, 110,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. That’s agree, it’s one of the most important moral issues of our time,” said Stern. “We all agree even more casualties than all the years of the Vietnam War put together. This needs that too many of our loved ones, neighbors, and too many within our communities to be treated like a crisis. 300 people a day die of an overdose in the United States; are dying and we need to do much more. The initiatives that we are bringing to that’s the equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every day.” Albany will, when enacted, make an immediate impact. We are very confident that our Bodie also relayed the problem he and others have seen in the Suffolk and Nassau colleagues in Albany will see it the same way. You cannot tell me that after spending District Attorneys’ offices. a few moments with the families of the victims that these family members are not “As prosecutors, we can’t ask for bail on a fentanyl dealer unless they deal enough victims themselves. The victims’ families should always have a word to say in how we fentanyl to kill 114,000 people,” said Bodie. “We cannot ask for bail until somebody create policy going forward. ” dies. If we are able to charge a dealer, all we can charge them with is the drug sale. State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) spoke on behalf of the NYS Senate. There is no additional penalty whatsoever for selling drugs that you know are going “This has been months and months of work back and forth to get it right,” said to kill somebody.” Murray. “We’re talking about saving lives here. This package of four bills is literally Bodie expanded on the ancillary problems of the crisis. For example, xylazine has about life and death.” been found in 20% of drug overdose autopsies in Suffolk County. Xylazine is not illegal Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer (D-North Babylon) presented Bodie with a for sale in New York State. passed resolution in support of the initiative. Bodie also spoke of desired legislation that recognizes the families of overdose In attendance also were Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon (D), Senator Anthony victims as victims themselves. Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), Senator Steve Rhoads (R-Bellmore), Senator Mario Mattera “Even if we’re able to charge the dealers with the drug sale that caused the death (R-St. James), Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport), and Suffolk County Legislator of a young person, the families are kept out of the crime victims’ fund. They’re not and Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). eligible to get money to bury their loved ones. That’s wrong,” said Bodie. Of law enforcement, Suffolk Police Benevolent Association Lou Civello, Superior Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) attended and spoke in Officers Association James Gruenfelder, Deputy Sheriffs PBA President John support of the legislation and the initiative. Becker, Suffolk County Correction Officers Association President Lou Viscusi, and “Last year, 400 people in this county died of fentanyl overdoses,” said Romaine. representatives from the Southampton PBA, the Police Association of Suffolk County, “We have to petition the State. The DA told me if a mosquito lands on your arm, the the Eastern Long Island Police Conference of New York, the Police Conference of weight of that mosquito in fentanyl is enough to kill you, and yet they can’t charge New York, the Asian Jade Society, and the Suffolk County Detectives Association were someone or hold them for bail unless it’s many times that amount. I’m 100% behind all in attendance.
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AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS STILL SERVING AMERICA
The William Merritt Hallock American Legion Post No. 155 115 Church Street Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Is looking for New Members
We meet at the Post twice a month 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm and the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. We have a social hour with snack one hour prior to the meeting. Our meetings generally run about one hour. We take part in our local community parades and street fairs. We usually have three social functions with family and friends each year. We participate in a number of patriotic ceremonies. If interested in joining our Post and meeting some fellow veterans, stop by on a meeting day with a copy of your DD214. You can visit our website at: AmericanLegionWilliamHallockPost155.org
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Editorial Thursday, January 11, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
The New York Opioid Crisis is Inexcusable The beauty of local government is that the slate of elected officials tend to represent their districts, towns, and counties in highly accurate ways. Not only is constituent service the true bread and butter of these positions, but retail politics goes a long way. Residents expect to vote for their representatives and hear from them as well. Additionally, there is much more benefit of the doubt given to these officials as they live in the very communities they represent. Essentially, there tends to be much more about which we agree than what we disagree, owing almost solely to the sanctity of local politics. In that vein, many issues are so common-sense, and our electeds treat them as such, that the cooperation puts Washington to shame. This is where we can thank Congressman Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino for their undying devotion to hyper local issues in an increasingly divided and nationalized chamber. However, there are some issues for which divided consensus is almost unconscionable. You would think the ongoing opioid crisis would be one of them. This isn’t to say one side is necessarily for or against the handling of the crisis. This week’s bills presented to Albany by Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney and company have seen levels of bipartisan support. But what makes us scratch our heads and re-read our lines carefully is that such an issue has seen monumental foot-dragging and procrastination from Albany, it almost makes you wonder how much of the crisis is intentionally allowed to continue. Although we here at The Messenger tend to suffer from “Broken Record” syndrome, we will allow our symptoms to flare up yet again: the 2019 bail law changes were, in many ways, disastrous for our communities. Look no further than the technicalities required to hold bail for drug dealers responsible for selling drugs that clock fatalities. As discussed at last Thursday’s Hauppauge press conference (see page 3), New York bail law requires a set amount of fentanyl to be dealt and/or possessed to warrant a hold on bail. However, the speakers at the conference noted that just an infinitesimal amount of said bail-eligible amount of fentanyl can be fatal. The proponents of such laws uphold them with the criminals in mind. Sure, we
can work towards common sense rehabilitation goals. Sure, we want to ensure the justice system gives everyone a fair shot. And sure, not everyone should be defined by their pasts. But maybe there are some people who should be defined by their pasts and mistakes, because for some families, that is always how a said convict’s existence will always be interpreted in the wake of a family member unsuspectingly taken by a mere speck of a fatal substance. The American justice system is excellent in that it assumes innocence until guilt is proven; we don’t ask for that to change. But not everyone can be given the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t mean we’ve resorted to cruel and oppressive means of extricating justice, it just means we value the safety of our communities over the mountains of cash to be made by drug kingpins. The pendulum has swung so far in the opposite direction of an overly-eager justice system that far too many innocent people are paying the price for it. And what a better time to give drug dealers the benefit of the doubt, as xylazine, otherwise known as “Tranq,” is not on the state’s controlled substance list, according to lawmakers. To reiterate: xylazine is a cattle sedative that is currently being used to increase the effects - and thereby, deadliness - of fentanyl. Cattle sedative. The DEA warns that almost 25% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized contain Tranq. Since xylazine is not an opioid, its overdose effects cannot be reversed by Narcan. Furthermore, xylazine is also responsible for necrosis, the death of skin cells, which has earned Tranq a reputation as a flesh-rotting “zombie drug.” Again, cattle sedative. How perverse have we become that this is what the biggest fears are? And yet, Albany’s deafening silence regarding a state - and a county - consistently gripped with opioid addiction does not fall on deaf ears of our communities. Sparing criminals’ feelings and delaying in amending bail laws to retain repeat offenders is a dereliction of duty and a miscarriage of justice.
Hochul Establishes Decent Goals, but Fails to Address the Elephants in the Room Governor Kathy Hochul (D) gave her State of the State Address earlier this week, and while she laid out some decent aspects of her legislative agenda, we feel her speech left much to be desired. Although soberingly realistic on some of the issues New York faces, we are inclined to agree with some electeds who felt her speech was simply too “glass half-empty.” Additionally, a more pessimistic view on the state of things would be welcomed if Hochul actually addressed the issues that have put New York squarely in the center of several crises. Let’s start with the positives: Hochul has established her intentions to increase student literacy in the state, something that the entire country seems to struggle with, for one reason or another. While many children cannot read at grade level, we agree that instituting a more rigorous approach to phonics is a step in the right direction. We would propose, however, that education is less dictated by task forces and abstract lesson plans, rather than concrete learning that teaches children what they’re supposed to know for the real world. Additionally, we are confused by New York City’s last-minute transition to remote learning for children in Madison in response to a Brooklyn high school’s gymnasium being used to shelter some 2,000 migrants. While Tuesday night’s winter storm was dangerous, we are confused as to why temporary measures are becoming more permanent ones, and why our schoolchildren must pay the price, especially in light of how unilaterally destructive and regressive at-home education turned out to be. Additionally, we agree that mental health investments can be a good use of taxpayer money, but remain cautious to see how the money is spent. However, the school issue leads us to perhaps the largest and most glaring issue faced by the state and perpetuated by Governor Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams: the ongoing migrant crisis. A country to which people can migrate for economic success and stability is not discouraged or intended to be hoarded. However, a state must be able to care for its own before caring for others. When New Yorkers consistently take back seats to people who are here illegally, there should be greater cause for concern. Even if every migrant was here legally and there was not an obvious crisis at the border, the massive influxes of people who have been arriving in New York for months on end has caused massive fiscal strains on taxpayers and state resources. How can we even expect to care for people who migrate here legally when everyone swamps the boat at once? We need to keep ourselves afloat to ensure others can climb aboard.
The fact that the Governor was eerily quiet on this issue should raise red flags everywhere. Opting to discuss it at a later date not only fails to address the massive elephant in the room, but also ignores the calls from a significant portion of the chamber, Republicans and moderate Democrats whose communities are affected by the strain on resources and the expectation to adapt to the environment created by Albany and Washington. Switching topics, the opioid and fentanyl problem is a much less controversial one, yet somehow the Governor felt it was necessary to remain reticent on this issue as well. Offering no solid plan of action on the ongoing crises, it appears the response to these issues lies solely on county leadership. The Messenger thanks District Attorney Ray Tierney, other elected officials, and affected families for rallying in Albany the day before the address, in hopes of emphasizing the importance of the issue for Hochul to mention. Apparently, she feels it’s not of remote importance to mention in the biggest address of the year. Common-sense changes to the laws are desired to help prosecutors and local law enforcement curb illegal drug sales and overdoses, but even that seems to be too big of an ask for Albany. And even though local leadership can have their say, they can still only work with the tools they’re given. We are completely reliant on Albany for the rectification of these laws for the greater protection of our communities. Finally, we don’t think this year’s budget proceedings will be markedly different from last year’s. Typically, both parties are responsible for the fighting that affects how legislation is passed and how budgets are formed. Last year, however, in her attempts to govern as an ostensible moderate, Hochul fought with progressive Democrats over bail reform changes that held the budget debate up for over a month after its April 1 deadline. We anticipate this year’s April 1 to be not much different. The problem is: Hochul does not know how to throw elbows in Albany. It’s something we can give Andrew Cuomo credit for, but by that logic, it’s also his fault for keeping Hochul in the dark so long as Lieutenant Governor. The legislature gave themselves massive raises to make them the most well-compensated state legislators in the nation last year, and Hochul got nothing in return. Why would she think they would go quietly when she tries to govern moderately? Overall, we are cautiously optimistic of Hochul’s plan for the year, disappointed the two major issues of the day were not addressed, and we are not holding our breath regarding intraparty fight sure to materialize in Albany this year.
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay on Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay What we heard today was typical of most State of the State Addresses—heavy on soundbites but light on substance. Governor Hochul has been offering glimpses of her policy priorities for more than a week. Generally speaking, I agree with some of those ideas. But what we’re still waiting for is a plan that facilitates a dramatic course correction on affordability, quality of life and outmigration. Improving maternal and infant health, expanding recreational opportunities, offering greater protections to consumers, and getting better performance out of New York’s public schools are all
measures on which we agree. But what we didn’t hear today is what should alarm New Yorkers. With a $4 billion budget gap, there was no commitment to keep state spending in check. Illegal migrants are crossing the southern border in droves, but New York has yet to figure out how to properly handle the ongoing influx. Despite New York owning the nation’s worst outmigration numbers, there is no concrete plan to ease financial pressures on families and businesses. And after years of pro-criminal policies that undermine public safety, there is still no interest in increasing accountability
or fixing glaring problems in the state’s criminal justice system. Today, we heard the governor’s general vision and vague goals for the coming year. I’m looking forward to the Executive Budget address next week when hopefully she’ll present a detailed, comprehensive plan that addresses the real issues New Yorkers are dealing with.”
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Suspends Campaign By Brett Rowland | The Center Square Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended his campaign Wednesday, saying there was no way for him to win the GOP nomination for president. Christie made the announcement at a campaign stop in New Hampshire. Christie has been polling near the back up the pack, well behind former President Donald Trump and other GOP candidates. “It’s clear to me tonight there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I’m suspending my campaign tonight for President of the United States,” Christie said in a video published by The Independent. The announcement came after he again criticized Trump and other candidates who he said have failed to call out Trump’s decisions. “I also know though it’s the right thing for me to do,” he said. “Because I want to promise you this: I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be President of the United States again and that’s more important than my own personal ambition.”
Christie endorsed Trump before the 2016 election, but has made his most recent campaign all about stopping the former president from returning to the White House. Trump was quick to punch back Wednesday after hearing about Christie’s announcement. “I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today – I might even get to like him again!” Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social. Trump then found a point of agreement with Christie, who was heard on a hot mic talking about GOP rival Nikki Haley, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. “Anyway, he was just caught on a hot mic making a very truthful statement: ‘She’s gonna get smoked…You and I both know it, she’s not up to this,’ “ Trump posted on Truth Social.
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, that he was suspending his bid for the GOP nomination. Courtesy of X
Letter to the Editor Embrace Local Media I recently picked up your paper at my local bagel shop and was pleasantly surprised. I haven’t read a newspaper in a long time, so enjoying it with my breakfast was a new yet nostalgic experience. What caught my eye was Ed Romaine’s Inauguration, which I would have loved to attend. As I flipped through the paper, I found myself enjoying content I knew nothing about prior. There is something about media nowadays that just makes me want to ignore it. I’m not sure if it’s the repetitiveness, the surface level coverage, or the lack of details, but I didn’t find those issues with your paper. The in-depth coverage of St. Catherine of Siena gave me details about the issue that other outlets just didn’t provide. I was inspired to write this letter
(something I normally would never do) by Larry Penner, who wrote a letter to the editor in the 1/4/24 issue. He made a point to which it is important that readers hear from other readers. What I mean by that is, Letters to the Editor often speak the things that the common reader is thinking but does not say. And while we are reading a newspaper because we enjoy the words of the reporters and editors, we also enjoy knowing our fellow community members point of views. So, with that, as Larry Penner noted, I urge others to write in and voice their opinions and perspectives as I have. And I thank The Messenger for being open to publishing them. Benjamin P. Miller Calverton
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County News Thursday, January 11, 2024
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Executive Romaine Issues First Executive Order Mandating the Removal of Names of Public Officials from County Signage Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) issued an executive order today declaring that names of all public officials, including the Office of the Suffolk County Executive, are to be removed from all County signage. The order affects more than eighty signs throughout the County. “The purpose of removing names of public officials from signs that belong to the people ensures transparency, eliminates poor practices of self-promotion and assures the 1.5 million residents of Suffolk County that we are committed to open government,” said Romaine. “Through this order, we are letting the residents know that they are the priority, not the elected officials.” Romaine took the same action in July 2014 when serving as Brookhaven Town Supervisor.
(Before and after) Removing names of public officials from all signs that belong to the people, an executive order by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
According to Executive Order 01-2024, any reference to names of current County elected or appointed officials will be replaced with relevant information or contain facts about the location, including phone contact and website information. In addition, the order states that County signage is not to be branded or re-branded with names of newly elected officials or used for political selfpromotion and advertisement at taxpayer expense. The order does not include properties, memorials and the naming and sponsorship of County facilities, parks, and roads, pursuant to Chapter 1016 of the Suffolk County Code. For more information on Suffolk County’s departments and services, contact 311 or go to suffolkcountyny.gov.
This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
National, State and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri
U.S. Department of State
State Students at a high school in Brooklyn were displaced by state’s moving of migrants from the large tent at Floyd Bennett Field in preparation for Tuesday’s winter storm. The move was made in anticipation of potential collapse of the tent due to heavy rain
and wind. Some 2,000 migrants were sheltered into the secondfloor gym of James Madison High School in the Madison neighborhood of Brooklyn. The school closed Wednesday and students were transitioned to remote learning. While residents understood the purpose of the safety precaution, many claimed it was only the start of a more regular occurrence, forcing students out of schools and into remote classrooms. New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Sheepshead Bay) (pictured above), whose district contains Madison, issued a statement on the matter. “Our public schools are meant to be places of learning and growth for our children, and were never intended to be shelters or facilities for emergency housing,” said Vernikov. “This is both unacceptable and entirely foreseeable, as Floyd Bennett Field is vulnerable to all forms of inclement weather conditions, and is not a sustainable housing facility. There are approximately 4,000 students who attend Madison High School. Their parents are rightfully concerned…This will agitate local residents, disrupt the entire school environment, and place a tremendous burden on our families, students, school administrators, and staff.” Vernikov was elected in 2021 and became the first Republican member of the New York City Council from Brooklyn since 2002. Vernikov was a Democrat before 2021. Vernikov represents the Forty-Eighth Council District, which contains the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Homecrest, Manhattan Beach, and parts of Coney Island, Midwood, and Sheepshead Bay. United States House of Representatives
All eyes are now cast on the Hawkeye State, as we’re less than a week out from the first-inthe-nation Iowa Caucuses. While the Democratic caucuses are not expected to turn political tides away from President Joe Biden’s (D-DE) campaign, it’s worth watching just what the margins are for perhaps his fiercest primary opponent, Congressman Dean Phillips (D, MN-03). Phillips flipped his Twin Cities-based seat in 2018, a formerly Republican working-class seat now much more Democratic than the state overall. Phillips jumped into the primary in July, stating that his party needs to “read the writing on the wall” regarding problems for the Biden campaign, such as dismal polling numbers and lack of enthusiasm among key voting blocs. Biden has another primary challenger in Marianne Williamson (D-CA), a self-help author who ran a presidential campaign in 2020, but dropped out before Iowa. Williamson has not generated poll numbers of concern for the incumbent president. Monday’s caucus vote will allow Democrats to conduct party business; an actual vote for the candidates will be conducted via mail-in ballots from January 12 until March 5, Super Tuesday. The Republican side of the coin presents a much more interesting picture. Since the evening is expected, among pundits, observers, and pollsters, to be a de facto coronation for former president Donald Trump (R-FL), the contest has essentially become a race for second-place, namely between former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (pictured above) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The GOP field peaked at nearly twenty candidates over the summer, and has quickly, and uneventfully, dwindled to just six. In addition to Trump, Haley, and DeSantis, three others remain: former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy. Most candidates experienced relative surges throughout the primary, with DeSantis’ momentum mostly waning by the end of summer, and Haley now in the driver’s seat for second place. Trump qualified for the debates in all categories but was barred from participating because of RNC rules stipulating he pledge to support the eventual nominee. Nonetheless, Trump has continued to dominate GOP primary and general election polling, establishing margins of at least twenty points in all polls since September that include all active primary opponents. As of press time, Trump sits at 51.3% in the FiveThirtyEight aggregate, with Haley in a distant second at 17.2%, and DeSantis close behind in third at 15.8%. Ramaswamy, Christie, and Hutchinson, make up
the final places, respectively, but do not register above 10%. Essentially, if Trump were to not win the Iowa Caucuses by a landslide, it would be nothing short of a surprise. Iowa was a state Republicans were just getting used to losing on the presidential level. In elections from 1988 to 2012, the state only backed the GOP nominee once, George W. Bush (RTX) in 2004. Barack Obama (D-IL) would carry the state by more than five points in both of his elections. While conventional wisdom provided that Trump would carry the Hawkeye State in 2016, observers were shocked to see him carry Iowa by a greater margin than Texas - almost ten points. Trump repeated the accomplishment in 2020. A mass exodus of working-class whites and agricultural voters from the Democratic Party, as well the GOP’s firm hold of evangelical voters, Iowa has presented perhaps one of the most stunning reversals in the modern political scene. However, those demographics pertain to the general election. Where this makes a primary, for either party, more interesting is on which fault lines those subsections of voters will fall. It doesn’t seem Iowa provides many inroads for the alternative Republicans. The state’s intrinsic working-class populism is what made it swing sharply to not just the GOP, but also Trump himself. Iowa is likely to mirror national trends among Republican voters, with voters favoring a more “Trump-lite” nominee in DeSantis, or a more back-to-basic establishment pick in Haley. For Iowa will indicate of GOP strength on a national scale, New Hampshire will display of politics stateside. New Hampshire’s ageold classical Yankee liberalism has turned it from one of the most Republican states in the country to a blue-leaning swing state as of 2000. Not only has Haley surged in polling in the Granite State - now only narrowly behind Trump - but Christie is tracking in a distant third. Christie is repeating his all-in New Hampshire strategy that earned him sixth place in 2016. On Monday’s caucus, 46 delegates will be up for grabs for Democrats, while 40 delegates will be available for Republicans.
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov Facebook
National
Local
Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) (pictured left) accompanied Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-04) as well as sixty other House Republicans to a border site in Eagle Pass, Texas. His third trip to the U.S.-Mexico border allowed them to speak with law enforcement, local leaders, and affected communities, and even afforded them the opportunity to witness migrants illegally crossing the border. “My third trip to the border revealed a crisis much worse than what is described by the Biden Administration or among most media. Every day local officials and Law Enforcement see record-breaking numbers of illegal crossings, families risking everything to come here, and cartels taking advantage of innocent civilians,” said LaLota. “The President must reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, the Senate must pass the Secure the Border Act, and blue cities must end their sanctuary policies. The American people need their leaders to act.”
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Local Spotlight Thursday, January 11, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from front cover
Panico, Town Board Inaugurated in Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) has taken the helm at the Town’s top position, succeeding the venerable Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), who now serves as Suffolk County Executive. Romaine served as the Supervisor of Brookhaven for eleven years, while Panico served as Deputy Supervisor and Councilman from the Sixth District since a 2010 special election to succeed Romaine’s late son, Keith. Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham) was first elected in a March 2013 special election after eight years in the County Legislature and two in the New York State Assembly. Losquadro was re-elected in November and was sworn in for another term on Monday. “I am humbled to have been sworn in as Brookhaven Town Superintendent of Highways for my fifth full term,” Losquadro told The Messenger. “Monday’s swearing in ceremony marked the twelfth time I was sworn into office – a privilege I do not take for granted. I am proud to serve the residents of Brookhaven Town, maintaining nearly 3,700 lane miles of roadways and supervising more than 300 employees. Together, we will continue to meet the challenges that come our way while improving Brookhaven’s infrastructure one roadway at a time.” Receiver of Taxes Lou Marcoccia (R-East Setauket) was first elected in 2007 and was re-elected by a wide margin this November. He was also sworn in on Monday. Five of the six Town Council members were also sworn in, with the exception of Councilman Foley. In the First District, incumbent Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) won a relatively close race over political newcomer Gary Bodenburg (R-Port Jefferson Station) in November. Kornreich won his first full term after winning a special election in 2021. Kornreich serves as the Town’s lone elected Democrat. The Setauket-Port Jefferson-based First District comprises northwest Brookhaven. In the Second District, Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) was overwhelmingly re-elected. “I am honored to have been elected into a new term as Councilwoman for the Second Council District in the Town of Brookhaven,” Bonner told The Messenger. “The support of the residents means so much to me, and I’m looking forward to four more years of hard work. I am thankful to be entrusted with this responsibility and am committed
County Executive Romaine. (Credit - Diane Caudullo)
Supervisor Dan Panico gives his inaugural address. (Credit - Diane Caudullo) to the following goals that will make Brookhaven a better place to live and work.” Bonner discussed her priorities, including, but not limited to “increased transparency and communication with constituents through Town Hall meetings, newsletter, and social media updates; continuing advocacy for improvements to local infrastructure, such as roads, drainage, lighting, signage, parks, and community centers; maintaining strong relationship with local Chambers of Commerce, Civic Associations, and local stakeholders; promoting environmentally-friendly policies, including waste reduction, renewable energy options, and responsible stewardship of natural resources; reducing crime by partnering with law enforcement; embracing technology to improve government efficiency, transparency, and security, and advocating for responsible budgeting by seeking opportunities for cost-saving measures without compromising quality of services.” The Rocky Point-Shoreham-based Second District encompasses central and northeastern Brookhaven. In the Third District, Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) won his first full term after winning a May special election last year. “I’m excited that the campaigning is over and the real work can begin,” Manzella told The Messenger. “I love the fresh ideas of our new Supervisor and look forward to the great changes we can make for the best of the Third District and the whole Town.” The Third District is located in central Brookhaven, including Lake Grove, Centereach, Selden, and Farmingville. In the Fourth District, Councilman Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge) won a large re-election victory in this competitive Bellport-based district. “I’m excited to work with the Board since we have a new Supervisor who’s ready to do whatever he can to take this town to the next level,” said Loguercio. “Ed Romaine did an excellent job; I’m confident Panico will follow in Ed’s footsteps. He understands the values that Romaine had when supervising the Town.” Loguercio discussed some of his priorities, including, but not limited to, continuing the revitalization efforts in Bellport. “When I was elected eight years ago, I made a promise to make Bellport one of the communities we focus
on rejuvenating,” says Loguercio. “There have been a number of initiatives to get to that point. We’ve brought in market-rate and affordable housing, we’ve attracted new businesses, we’ve renovated new buildings, and we cleaned up junkyards that were causing many issues with junk cars on the sidewalks.” “We want to continue what we’re doing in that area and improve upon it,” Loguercio adds. He mentioned more development on the horizon, as well as a bank district brought to the village, and other services that were needed in close proximity to the residents’ homes. “The other thing we’re looking at is having the MTA keep the zone in Bellport the same as the zone in Patchogue,” said Loguercio, regarding rail transit. “In order to save money on monthly tickets, residents would have to go to the Patchogue station. We can make the Bellport station the same zone as the Patchogue station so residents can save on tickets and be five minutes from home.” The Fourth District stretches from Bellport and Shirley towards Gordon Heights and Ridge. The Sixth District sees the only freshman member of Town government, Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville). Dunne Kesnig won a crushing 70% victory to succeed Panico in this eastern Brookhaven-based district. “I truly look forward to working with the entire Town Board with Dan Panico at the helm,” Dunne Kesnig told The Messenger. “I have been very impressed by Dan’s dedication to our town and anticipate working closely together to tackle whatever issues confront me in my efforts to make this community a safer and more affordable place to live.” After his inauguration as Supervisor, Panico spoke of unity within Brookhaven, representing every hamlet and village, and continuing on the work of his predecessor Romaine. Panico thanked and acknowledged his family, his colleagues on the Board, as well as the municipal employees who he says “make the government run.” “We stand ready to meet the needs of the people we represent,” said Panico. “I’m not going to let grass grow under my feet and I am not here simply clocking time. I endeavor to get meaningful things done for this Town. In the next month, I will introduce legislation that will dramatically shorten the time for necessary projects to be completed in the Town. It is necessary now more than ever to grow our economy and we will do so with deliberate speed.” Panico said that the easiest thing to do in government is “nothing.” “If you want to stay in office forever, do nothing,” he said. “You won’t build up enemies, you can go around handing out certificates and cutting ribbons for the rest of your life. That is not the type of elected official I will be in running this Town.” Panico discussed in-depth the Town’s initiatives in housing projects, being a Supervisor for all residents, and revitalizing communities, most notably North Bellport. The Accessory Public Review Board, he said, will “cease to exist” under his tenure. He said the move will save time and money, citing the Town needs to “change the way it conducts business.” Panico cited three “great mysteries” of Suffolk County: “Where that federal infrastructure money is, when the state is going to bring the environmental bond money that our residents overwhelmingly approved - down to Brookhaven, and where former County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) will be working in the future.” “I just need answers to two,” joked Panico. Panico discussed the Town’s long-invested efforts in the village of Bellport. He also mentioned that the Town will continue to work to provide ferry access to the Fire Island beaches for the children of the village. The ceremony was attended by a variety of elected officials, including Congressmen Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) and Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), County Executive Romaine, members of the Suffolk County Legislature, representatives from the Towns of Islip, Babylon, and Southampton, and representatives for state lawmakers.
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Online or in-person event On Thursday, January 18, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital will host a public forum on the discontinuation of its maternity services. The forum will be led by the hospital’s executives. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session open to the public.
Kerry J. Maher
Kenneth Maher, Jr.
Lic. Manager & Director
Lic. Director
Thursday, January 18, 2024 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Smithtown Fire Department 100 Elm Avenue Smithtown, NY
All members of the public are welcome to attend in-person.
To attend via Zoom, scan QR code to register or visit https://chsli-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/
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LOCAL
12
School Highlights Thursday, January 11, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Peppermint Tower STEM Challenge at Nassakeag Elementary in Three Village Central School District
Mrs. Comiskey and Ms. Lange’s science classes at Nassakeag Elementary School in Three Village Central School District completed a STEM challenge to build the tallest peppermint tower possible. Students followed the scientific method through hypothesizing and experimentation. They generated, graphed, and analyzed data as they engineered their towers before they toppled over. The activity aligned with the building’s Candy Cane Day before the holiday break.
Three Village Teacher Presents at National Social Studies Conference R.C. Murphy Junior High School global history teacher Kristin Stelfox participated in the 103rd annual National Council for the Social Studies Conference last month in continued partnership with the 9/11 Memorial Museum. This past summer, Ms. Stelfox was selected for the inaugural Institute for Educators at the museum. Ms. Stelfox and five other teachers spent four days at the December conference supporting the education programs team from the 9/11 Memorial Museum by helping thousands of social studies teachers develop best practices for teaching September 11 to diverse students who were not yet born. Additionally, Ms. Stelfox was a keynote speaker at the conference’s closing singer-songwriter event hosted by the museum to thank educators for all the work they do.
School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
13
Center Moriches Hosts StudentAthlete Conference More than 500 student-athletes and over 100 teachers, coaches, and administrators from across Suffolk County gathered at Center Moriches High School on December 21 for the Section XI Nick DeCillis Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. This marked the second year Center Moriches held the conference. Throughout the day, students collaborated with their peers to develop leadership skills while also focusing on student-athlete plannings and physical and mental wellness. They participated in workshops and lectures with former NFL player Marty Lyons, Stony Brook University lacrosse coach Joe Spallina, Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame President Chris Vaccaro, and other former Section XI athletes.
Shoreham-Wading River Students Share the Joy of Music Shoreham-Wading River High School Tri-M Music Honor Society students were busy before winter break spreading cheer by performing holiday music for others in the community. Tri-M members along with adviser Ashley O’Connor visited both AHRC in Shoreham and Little Flower School in Wading River to perform holiday music for the residents and staff. “The students organized their own solo and group performances for these field trips, and their music was greatly appreciated by all,” Mrs. O’Connor said.
Brookhaven Second Graders Collaborate with College Authors As part of a collaboration between Stony Brook University and Brookhaven Elementary School’s second grade dual language classes, undergraduate students in professor Abena Asare’s class read children’s books that they had penned
to Brookhaven students. The books were based on their research of an event or issue in modern 19th and 20th century African history. The Brookhaven students asked questions and provided feedback to the student authors.
History
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate Utah - The Beehive State
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
This is the forty-sixth of a series column that will look at the history of all 50 States, all 5 territories, and the Capital and the influence history has on our current political environments. The aim of this column is to capture that our country is not just red or blue, but rather many shades in between. Each Lower 48 state’s current political landscape can be traced back to its early settlement and geography and its particular involvement in the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights Era.
By Matt Meduri Geography - The Beehive State
With a founding unlike any other state, Utah continues to be an anomaly within the GOP fold to this day. Early History - The State of Deseret Utah was scarcely explored from the first European expeditions in 1540 to its time as part of Mexico (New Spain) in the 1800s. The infertile desert landscape provoked little interest from Spain and Mexico, and thus, they had no permanent presence in the state. Utah remained a part of Mexico after Mexico’s independence in 1822. Utah officially became American territory of the United States’ victory in the Mexican-American War. Once Utah fell into American possession, the settlement rush began, but with a particular group of people: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormons. Before settling in Utah, the Mormons migrated from New York and attempted to establish colonies in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, escaping persecution in each state they landed. The isolated, arid desert provided a good opportunity for a secluded settlement with low chance of contact with others. Thus, the Salt Lake Valley became the home to the Mormons, and between 1847 and 1857, almost 100 Mormon settlements were established in the state. Led by Brigham Young, about 5,000 Mormons populated Utah by 1849. Young submitted a map of the proposed state of Deseret, with the name derived from the Book of Mormon, which means “honeybee.” The proposed state encompassed most of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, as well as significant parts of all surrounding states. Although the government rejected Young’s proposal, the beehive remains an iconic symbol in the state’s history, literature, symbols, and seals. Representing hard work and community values, the beehive was originally on the Utah Territory flag and was just placed on the state’s brand new flag unveiled last year. The new beehive flag will replace the old 1913 flag in March 2024. The Utah Territory encompassed all of Utah, most of Nevada, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Brigham Young was appointed its first governor in 1850. However, in 1852, it became public knowledge of the church’s support of polygamy, which resulted in the removal of Young as governor and would become a crucial lynchpin in Utah’s road to statehood. Congress passed the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act which prohibited polygamy and disincorporated the LDS church. Meanwhile, Utah began to become heavily settled after construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, which saw its final track laid in Promontory Point, Utah, driven by a golden spike. The construction brought migrants from around the country and the world, creating multiple dichotomies in the state’s now-suddenly diverse population. Not only were Mormons at odds with anti-Mormons, but all were at odds with the Native population.
In 1890, the LDS church officially renounced polygamy. The state’s constitution still consists of a polygamy ban. Utah became a state on January 4, 1896. Industrialization and Twentieth Century Politics - Republican Desert West Utah quickly became a heavy mining state that helped the state’s economy in wartime, and the coal and copper industries would allow trade unions to wield significant political power. The Great Depression tanked the state’s economy, along with what little agricultural sector it had. Franklin Roosevelt’s (D-NY) New Deal and public works program greatly buoyed the state’s economy and would organize Carbon County into a top mining spot that would be the center of the short-lived Democratic movement in Utah. Utah’s first election would result in its strongest result to date: William Jennings Bryan (D-NE), on his Free Silver-Populist fusion ticket, would carry the state with 82% of the vote, a margin unmatched thereafter. Not only were mining unions already at work in the state, but the Mormons leaned Democrat since Republicans initially opposed Utah’s requests for statehood on the basis of polygamy. Utah would then steadily drift into the GOP fold and would even be just one of two states, the other being Vermont, to not back Woodrow Wilson (DNJ) in his 1912 landslide. A Republican-leaning, Mormon-run machine backed William Howard Taft (R-OH). FDR’s labor policies allowed him to carry Utah in all four of his elections from 1932 to 1944. Utah would vote Democrat once more for Harry Truman (D-MO) in 1948, but its history afterward is straightforward. No Democrat would win or come within single digits of winning Utah, except for Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) in 1964. Since then, Republicans have won Utah in every presidential election. After World War II, Utah would become a hub for outdoor recreation and tourism. Ski valleys and national parks like Zion and Bryce would also prompt the state’s population to more than double between 1950 and 1980. A young city with a growing business and tech hub would quickly find itself host of the 2002 Winter Olympics and rapidly upgrading its infrastructure to handle the demand. Today, Utah is still considered one of the fastest growing states in the nation. As of 2021, nearly 69% of Utahns are Mormon, and as of 2020, Utah had the youngest population in the country, with almost 30% of residents under the age of 18.
1. Wasatch Front and Carbon County - The corridor of communities from the Salt Lake Area to the Idaho border. Home to Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, and Logan. The younger, more educated part of the state; leans Democrat. Carbon County is situated at the southern end of the Wasatch Front. Carbon County is the second-largest natural gas producer in Utah. Once a formerly Democratic mining county, Carbon has voted for the GOP since 2000, giving Donald Trump 71% of the vote in 2020. 2. Colorado Plateau - Home to Arches, Bryce Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Zion National Parks; staunchly Republican except for Grand County (home to Moab), which is something of a swing county, going for Obama in 2008 and Biden in 2020. 3. Basin and Ridge - The entire western border of the state. Home to St. George’s and Tooele; contains the Great Salt Lake and Bonneville Salt Flats; solidly Republican. Current Political Leanings - A Truly Unique Red State In 1992, Ross Perot (I-TX) took second place over Bill Clinton (D-AR) in Utah, owing to the state’s more intrinsically independent ancestry. Mitt Romney (R-UT) made history by running as the first Mormon candidate on a major party ticket, resulting in his carrying of Utah by a whopping forty-eight points. Trump won the state by eighteen points in 2016, but the difference still resulted in a massive swing away from the GOP. However, this was complicated by native Utah Mormon candidate Evan McMullin, who garnered 21% of the vote. Some speculation occurred that Utah was becoming a purple state, or was possibly flippable by the end of the decade. No such competition occurred. Trump was able to bounce back to a more typical twenty-point margin of victory in 2020. Republicans currently hold both U.S. Senate seats. Democrats have not held one seat since 1977 and have not held both simultaneously since 1947. Republicans have also exclusively governed Utah since Scott Matheson’s (D) term ended in 1985. Democrats have not controlled the State Senate since 1978 and have not controlled the State House since 1975. Utah’s political idiosyncrasies make it one of the most unique additions to the Republican fold. While more socially conservative than other states, Utah’s Democratic ancestry - although short-lived - as well as its youngest-in-the-nation, urban core offer some success to certain political participants. In 2018, Ben MacAdams (D) was able to oust Congresswoman Mia Love (R) in the state’s SLC-based Fourth District. Former professional football player Burgess Owens (R) narrowly reclaimed the seat in 2020. But Democratic success is muted outside the one district of the state’s old congressional map. If Democrats enjoy any decent performance, it’s usually due to a strong third-party candidate on the ticket, and still results in a Democratic loss. That said, the reversal in Utah would have to come from a bloated SLC-metro area and population hemorrhaging across the rest of the state. For now, Utah appears a safe bet for nearly all Republican candidates for the foreseeable future.
Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Senator Palumbo Teams Up with Suffolk D.A. Tierney to Promote Legislation Designed to Combat the Fentanyl Crisis New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C-New Suffolk), Ranking Member of the Senate Codes and Judiciary Committees, joined Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly (R), Senate and Assembly colleagues, members of Suffolk County law enforcement, labor unions, community activists and crime victims advocates, including Gene and Sue Murray who lost their daughter, Chelsey, to a fatal fentanyl overdose in Suffolk County in 2022, to promote a bipartisan legislative package designed to combat the fentanyl epidemic. The bills would seek to address the state’s drug overdose crisis by charging suppliers of drugs that cause fatalities with manslaughter (Chelsey’s Law), adding Xylazine to the controlled substances list, and allowing access to the Crime Victim’s Fund for families, like the Murrays, who have lost loved ones to fatal overdoses. In addition, the package includes a bill that allows prosecutors the ability to ask for bail for those charged with the sale and possession of large amounts of fentanyl, nitazine, methamphetamine, LSD and other dangerous narcotics. Senator Palumbo is the Senate sponsor of Chelsey’s Law (S.7790), which increases penalties to manslaughter or aggravated man-slaughter when an individual knows or has reasonable grounds to know that a controlled substance is likely to cause the death of another person and sells, administers, delivers, or causes the delivery of a controlled substance to another person and such
substance causes, contributes to, or aids in the death of such person. Chelsey’s Law is named in honor of Chelsey Murray, a 31-year-old Suffolk County resident who fatally overdosed in August 2022 from fentanyl poisoning that was traced back to her supplier. “The fentanyl epidemic has devastated families, stolen the promise and future of so many young New Yorkers and left communities struggling with how to combat this scourge. Chelsey’s Law will increase penalties for individuals who knew or had reasonable grounds to know that the narcotics they sold were laced with fentanyl,” said Senator Palumbo. “These individuals are not drug dealers, they are death dealers, and the punishment should match the severity of their crimes. I applaud District Attorney Ray Tierney and the Murray family for their advocacy and action in combating fentanyl and their efforts to tackle this
crisis head on to improve the health and safety of our communities.” In addition to Chelsey’s Law, the legislative package unveiled today to combat the overdose crisis includes S.7763, which designates Xylazine commonly known as “Tranq” as a controlled Substance, S.7805, which would expand eligibility for crime victims assistance funds to include fatal drug overdose resulting from a sale that is categorized as reckless or criminally negligent, and S.7816, which makes certain felony offenses involving the manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession with intent to sell synthetic opioids bail eligible. “The fentanyl epidemic has impacted every corner of our state and every segment of society. It doesn’t discriminate. It has taken both young and old, rich and poor. Time is a luxury we don’t have when addressing this issue. I urge my fellow colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and provide the men and women on the front lines with the tools and resources they need to combat this crisis,” concluded Senator Palumbo. In 2022, Suffolk County reported more than 400 deaths caused by drug overdoses, with fentanyl being the driving force and common denominator. Nationwide, more than 110,000 lives were lost to fentanyl poisoning in the same year. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, nationwide, 7 out of every 10 pills sold on the streets are surreptitiously laced with fentanyl. The statistics illustrate a nationwide epidemic.
DeStefano Joins Forces to Combat Fentanyl Epidemic, Urges Swift Action Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol Monday morning to support the unveiling of a legislative package aimed at stemming the rising tide of overdose deaths in New York state. More than 110,000 lives were lost nationwide to fentanyl poisoning in 2022, exemplifying the need to take action swiftly. The press conference was led by the Suffolk County District Attorney and advocates from across the state, who came together in support of the newly proposed legislation. “Every life lost to the devastating grip of fentanyl is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive action,” said DeStefano. “There is no time to wait when it comes to the lives of our family members, our friends and our community members who are struggling with addiction. Both the Minority and Majority Conferences are working hard to address this epidemic by drafting legislation with the support and input of local district attorneys and advocates of drug crimes.” The four bills in the legislative package are: · A.8383, relating to bail for certain felony offenses involving the manufacture, sale, distribution or possession with intent to sell synthetic opioids · A.8384, establishes the delivering or administering of certain controlled substances as manslaughter · A.8395, making the possession and use of Xylazine illegal with an exception for its use only in veterinary practice · A.8397, amends the Executive Law to include families of children lost to a fatal overdose for financial compensation under the law “I put forward my own legislation to address this issue, bill A.8130, which classifies xylazine as a controlled substance, making it a crime to sell or possess substances containing the drug. Despite xylazine’s increasing presence in Long Island and New York City’s illicit drug market, it is not classified as a
controlled substance in New York state, a concern shared by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. Unlike opioids, naloxone does not reverse xylazine’s effects, making this an even greater cause for concern. We must act swiftly and decisively to curb this epidemic as lives hang in the balance,” DeStefano concluded.
State News
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Local Electeds Weigh in on Hochuls’ 2024 State of the State Address By Matt Meduri Governor Kathy Hochul (D) gave her state of the state address Tuesday night and updated the State Legislature, statewide elected officials, and the public on how exactly New York is doing. The address marks roughly two-and-a-half years in office for the governor after she ascended to the position in the wake of Andrew Cuomo’s (D) resignation in August 2021. She won her first full term in November 2022 against former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in an unusually competitive gubernatorial race. The Constitution of the State of New York requires the Governor to deliver an annual address regarding the state of the state to establish legislative agenda. “The State of New York is stronger, healthier, safer and more affordable than it was two years ago when I became Governor, but there is more work to do,” Governor Hochul said. “Every proposal announced today serves to improve our state and ensure our communities are not just surviving, but that they are thriving. Our New York is our future, and the future is brighter than ever.” “My first day as Governor, I quoted Teddy Roosevelt. I promised to always “strive valiantly” on behalf of New Yorkers, and to be that woman in the arena,” said Hochul. “How do I intend to keep that promise in the coming year? By taking on persistent crime, like retail theft, hate crimes, and domestic violence. By revolutionizing our mental health infrastructure so people can actually get the help they need. And by protecting your hard-earned money from bad actors and predatory lenders, and from politicians who want to raise your taxes.” The Messenger reached out to several elected officials in the Assembly and Senate from Suffolk County to hear their takes and what the Governor had to say. The Messenger first heard from Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), whose sprawling First Senate District encompasses all of northern and eastern Brookhaven and the five eastern townships. “Governor Hochul touched on several concerns that Long Islanders are focused on right now including the high cost of housing, increased crime, especially retail theft, and New York leading the nation in outmigration due to the state’s affordability crisis driven by high taxes and burdensome regulations,” said Palumbo. “Surprisingly, missing from her State of the State speech, was a plan to address the migrant crisis, the biggest issue facing the state and impacting the budget. Her failure to focus on this major issue during her State of the State is very concerning - especially as it is an issue with no end in sight and no comprehensive plan to solve it other than temporarily reusing state properties as sites for migrant camps…I look forward to working with the Governor to meet the needs of Long Islanders but will also work hard to ensure that spending is kept in check and that the suburbs get a fair share of the state resources.” Also from the Senate is Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), of the Fourth Senate District, which stretches from Hauppauge to Amityville. “I welcome the proposals outlined by Governor Hochul in her State of the State address and await the upcoming budget presentation as it traditionally provides a clearer understanding of the vision presented at the State of the State,” said Martinez. “I will review the Governor’s budget in full detail and offer my own proposals to better serve our mutual constituents such as infrastructure that will support Long Island’s housing needs, water quality, and flood mitigation as well as investing in communities who are falling victim to the opioid crisis. I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues to create a path forward to many of these initiatives.” The Messenger also heard back Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) of the Third Assembly District. Regarding provisions on which he agrees with the Governor, he mentioned mental health investments and initiatives to address teen cyber-bullying. However, he felt that affordability and public safety were not addressed in detail. “While Governor Hochul has numerous things she would like to get done, there’s never any mention as to how it will be paid for,” said DeStefano. “Also, she blames out-migration on lack of affordable housing when in reality it is the cost of living, taxes, unfriendly small business climate, among other factors. While there is a need for more housing, we still must leave that to local governments to decide whether or not it fits their neighborhoods. There is no mention as to how to curtail the rise in crime and the drug epidemic such as fentanyl. She should stop her tax-and-spend approach.” DeStefano also notes that while he believes Hochul is “well-intentioned, she is being guided in the wrong direction by progressives. She is long on promises, short on results.” Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) also gave his thoughts on the address.
“As with every State of the State, we witnessed a lot of showmanship and a lot of self-congratulations, but there was little in the way of substantive plans for improvement,” said Gandolfo. “While there are a number of her proposals I do believe are worth considering, the devil is in the details. The Governor offered no clear plan to address the ongoing migrant crisis in New York, she arrogantly scolded those of us fighting to prevent the overdevelopment of the suburbs, and failed to outline any substantial measures to ease the burden of inflation on Long Island families. With her Executive Budget address on the horizon, I’m hoping my concerns will be addressed, but I’m not holding my breath.” Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station) of Fourth Assembly District also gave his thoughts. “I did like that Governor Hochul addressed the retail theft crisis that is plaguing New York’s businesses,” said Flood. “However, instead of calling to make persistent offenders of retail theft a bail eligible offense, she wants to put together a task force. It seemed like a lot of window dressing, but at least an acknowledgement of a serious problem.” Flood also says that the Governor failed to address the migrant and opioid fentanyl crises, stating that her sparse words on the migrant crisis were “insufficient for the biggest address of the year.” Flood mentioned that the “right to shelter” law only applies to state residents, not anyone from around the world. He also says that reverse New York’s status as a sanctuary state. Regarding the opioid and fentanyl crisis that is killing over 100,000 Americans a year, Flood said Hochul “simply ignored it.” Flood also agrees with some of her spending proposals, such as additional funds towards mental health issues, but he says she failed to mention where she would cut spending and address the debt the state faces. Regarding criminal justice reforms in general, Flood called for judges to be returned their discretion on holding individuals on bail. “I do not believe that Governor Hochul is delivering for the residents of New York,” concludes Flood. “Middle class and economically-challenged families are not getting the support they deserve. Our cost of living is the highest in the nation. The move towards a carbon neutral footprint, though laudable, is unrealistic and overly burdensome to the taxpayers. We need to move at a speed that is cost-efficient and will ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support the energy demands of the state.” Finally, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) of the Smithtownbased Seventh District sat down with The Messenger for his take. “Normally, in my twenty-one years up here, the State of the State has always been uplifting and forward-looking; this is a glass half-empty speech,” says Fitzpatrick. “I don’t mean it as a harsh criticism, but that’s what the Governor said. We’re losing people and our wealthiest taxpayers to out-migration, the housing issue is a problem, shoplifting and retail crime are out of control.” Fitzpatrick then discussed his recent prevention of a shoplifting attempt at the Target in Setauket. Just two days prior, he was in Albany crafting a bill to address how retail workers’ hands are tied in addressing shoplifting. Fitzpatrick says the new definition of insanity is “returning Democrat majorities to the Assembly and Senate every two years and expecting NY to become affordable.” “It’s all about taxes,” he says. “We have high mortgage rates, but even with low mortgage rates, people are still leaving and people aren’t moving in because taxes are too high. Capital and labor are mobile and will go where they’re best treated.” “I’ve had legislation to cap and close defined benefit pension platforms to all elected officials,” he adds, addressing the high compensation state lawmakers receive. “No one is going to put that at risk and take a tough vote. You’re wasting your time thinking you’re going to do something about affordability in New York if you’re not working to get the legislature out of the defined benefits package.” Fitzpatrick did offer some kind words for the governor, namely in her focus of phonics and increasing the number of children who can read at grade level. However, he said it “would have been nice if she called for more charter schools.” Fitzpatrick said the big dynamic in Albany is between the governor and the progressive wing of her party. “She’s boxed in by the radical left wing of her party. There’s a struggle for control of the majority in the Assembly. We do have a few moderates, but they’re hiding because they’re afraid of the radical left. She has to show she’s willing to throw some elbows with the legislature.” All eyes now point to the April 1 deadline for the state budget, a process delayed last year by Democratic intraparty fighting.
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Guest Column
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Some Friendly Advice for the Incoming County Administration By Steve Levy
Newly sworn-in Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave a rousing inaugural speech to kick off his incoming administration. His success will be ours. Incoming executives at the town and county levels today have the good fortune of taking the helm when local governments are flush with money, thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars given nearly unconditionally from the federal government to localities during Covid. But Mr. Romaine wisely noted that, in the year prior to Covid, Suffolk was ranked as the most fiscally stressed county in the state. His predecessor inherited a balanced budget (contrary to the claims that there was a deficit) and a record- high bond rating, but faced an economic storm due to a crippling recession. The national economic downturn, coupled with a huge police contract and use of oneshots such as selling the fully paidoff Dennison building (only to lease it back), led to numerous rating agency downgrades that Mr. Romaine has referenced. As noted by local economist Martin Cantor, the county’s likely fiscal Armageddon was avoided thanks to the feds pumping in over $500 million in grants. Moreover, the supercharging of the economy with $6 trillion in federal checks sent to the public caused hyperinflation and unprecedented spending that brought in hundreds of millions in unanticipated sales tax dollars to the county coffers. Those one-shots will run out, so implementing efficiencies is essential. Mr. Romaine wisely stressed the building of sewers, supporting economic development and cleaning our environment. Good priorities, but let’s hope these measures could be pursued without seeking a sales tax increase when so many hundreds of millions of dollars are available in the present budget due to COVID surpluses. The best thing to spend oneshot revenues on is a one-time, non-recurring expenditure such as constructing a sewer. That’s preferable to adding positions or programs that will have to be supported every year thereafter. The executive chose wisely in placing my former chief deputy county executive, Kevin Law, and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter to guide his transition. Hopefully, the team can share with the executive the success we had in 2004 in creating a Workforce Housing Department that provided grants for municipalities willing to build up their housing stock in downtown corridors. It was remarkably successful, as witnessed with Patchogue’s
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WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR renaissance, and dovetails nicely with Mr. Romaine’s housing policies. It’s also hoped that the new executive can implement efficiencies by reconstituting The Long Island Purchasing Consortium, which was discontinued after my tenure. It brought together the two counties, as well as towns, fire departments and schools to coordinate their highvolume purchases. Having different jurisdictions buy 1,000 cars at one time gets you a much better discount than buying ten at a time. We’re also happy to see the search for a qualified police commissioner. We cannot have a repeat of a rogue police leader being allowed to dismantle the FBI task force I created. Kicking out the feds led to a slowdown in the Gilgo search and a reconstituting of MS13 throughout the county (which led to the murders of dozens of Suffolk youth). And to build on his goal to further protect our children, the new executive can reinstate my policy of requiring automatic backfills for vacancies in Child Protective Services. Finally, it is hoped the new executive will be an ardent advocate for Suffolk residents. There was a dire need to push back against Governor Hochul’s contentious plans to overrule local zoning, impose an MTA tax on Suffolk businesses and enact congestion pricing fees. Hopefully, Mr. Romaine will lead that charge. He can start by replacing Suffolk’s present rep on the MTA board who, remarkably, voted in favor of congestion pricing that will crush Suffolk commuters. As noted above, there’s a lot of breathing room for executives when so much federal money is sitting in reserves. But that luxury will be short-lived. Hopefully, Mr. Romaine’s intentions to pursue structural efficiencies will come to fruition.
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Steve Levy served as Suffolk County executive from 2004-2011.
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Guest Column Thursday, January 11, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
The IRA Kills Incentives for Medical Innovation. That’s Hardly a Win for Americans.
By Sally C. Pipes
The Biden administration recently announced the first ten drugs that will be subject to price controls under Medicare as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The president celebrated the occasion, saying, “We took on Big Pharma and special interests...and the American people won.” “Won?” The next generation of American patients will not feel like they “won” when they’re stuck waiting even longer for effective treatments — if those treatments ever materialize. Price controls invariably lead to shortages in the short term — and warp the financial incentives that underpin drug research and development in the long term. Historically, drug companies have worked to bring medicines to market as quickly as possible. The sooner patients started taking a drug, the sooner the drugmaker could begin to recoup the more than $2 billion, on average, it spent developing it. After a treatment hit the market, firms routinely conducted additional research to see if it was effective against diseases other than the one it was approved to treat. If that research proved successful, companies applied for approval to treat these additional “indications” and marketed the drug to additional groups of patients. This strategy helped bring countless new treatments to patients who didn’t have any other options. Since 2003, the Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 90 follow-on indications for orphan drugs, which treat rare diseases. The majority of cancer treatments from 2006 to 2012 were approved for at least one follow-on indication — roughly 40% of which were a different cancer subtype. Unfortunately, thanks to the IRA, discoveries like these may soon be fewer and farther between. The law’s price controls are dressed up as “negotiations’’ between
Medicare and drugmakers. If a drugmaker declines to accept the government’s offer, then it faces an excise tax of up to 95% on the drug in question’s sales or must withdraw all its products — not just the one subject to negotiations — from Medicare and Medicaid. These price controls will significantly shorten the period in which pharmaceutical companies can recoup their investments in research and development. That’s particularly true for small-molecule drugs — typically pills — which can be hit with price controls under the IRA after just nine years on the market. Biologics -- usually injections or infusions — aren’t subject to price controls until 13 years after approval. Roughly half of a medicine’s sales are made after year nine, in years 10 to 13. So it’s only rational that some drug companies would adjust their research, development, and launch strategies accordingly. Some may wait to seek approval until they’ve zeroed in on the largest patient population possible — even if they’re confident they could get approval faster for a smaller group of patients with a different disease. The IRA is also scrambling drug companies’ incentives to do further research into follow-on indications. Devoting time and money to find out if a drug can treat another disease may not make financial sense once the nine-year pricecontrol clock has started. Patients will be the ones who pay the price for treatments delayed or never developed in the first place. That’s not a win for the American people. Sally C. Pipes is President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All (Encounter 2020). Follow her on Twitter @sallypipes.
Expires 9/1/2024
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Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens
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The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit www.amac.us
Thursday, January 11, 2024
What Do The Epstein Documents Really Expose? By Tammy Bruce | AMAC It’s easy to be distracted by the news of previously sealed lawsuit documents being released to the public involving the late and notorious Jeffrey Epstein. Over a period of several days, documents relating to alleged victim, Virginia Guiffre’s lawsuit against Epstein paramour and nowconvicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell have been unsealed. Convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, Maxwell continues to assert her innocence and is appealing her conviction. The media headlines about the court documents are gossipy, salacious, and so far not surprising. It certainly has not been “a list of Epstein clients,” a description that many in the media shouted in their headlines. Instead, it was a collection of well-known names, throughout multiple depositions and documents, of people who were overheard being mentioned in some fashion by Epstein, or were observed at a dinner, used a plane, attended a meeting, or visited a residence. Some, including actors Cate Blanchett, Leo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, and Cameron Diaz, were noted in the context of their names being mentioned by Epstein during a phone call. Neither victim met them, nor are any of the individuals accused of wrongdoing. Epstein relied on networking, name-dropping, and manipulation. He used his influence in international business, money management, and his at least $500 million dollar fortune to create his own personal depraved galaxy. He was the sun around which many revolved. This is the story—that Epstein and this rarified world are part of the supposed class of experts, geniuses, leaders, and visionaries was not an outlier but an example of an informal club upon which our society relies. The Epstein and Maxwell debacle is also as old as time: Who do we become when we can do whatever we want? Fortunately for the majority, we’re decent people who have a set of values informing our choices and behavior. Yet, our problem as a society and as a country is we have a genuinely two-tiered system in our country where some people revel in not being held to account at all while others bear the brunt of a justice system that is increasingly weaponized against regular Americans. The rich and powerful getting away with horrible deeds isn’t a new story. But as we live in an age where information can be shared quickly and widely, the club has adapted and continues to do its best to protect its own. Sometimes, they trip and fall—like with Epstein and Maxwell—and the previously protected have to be thrown into the volcano (or hang themselves in jail). The Kennedy family provides a litany of getting away with almost anything, with an example from 1969 provided by U.S. Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy. Kennedy drove off a bridge, crashing into a tidal pond with Mary Jo Kopechne, a 28-year-old who had worked on Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign. He escaped with his life, left the scene, and only called the police the next morning, who were then tasked with recovering Kopechne’s body from the submerged car. There were no criminal consequences, and Kennedy would serve in the Senate for 30 more years. In 2017, as journalist Ronan Farrow was drilling down into the Harvey Weinstein sex trafficking/rapist allegations, there were efforts to stop him at almost every turn. Farrow recounts in his book on the matter that one effort was allegedly made by an aide to Hillary Clinton who attempted to pressure him into dropping his investigation. Weinstein was not just a film producer and now-convicted rapist, he also was a major Democratic donor with deep ties to Hillary Clinton and the Obamas. And then, of course, there is the Hunter Biden protection racket. We still do not know the extent to which our government was involved, but only after unrelenting investigative
reporting from outlets like the New York Post did we uncover a massive effort to cover up and protect Hunter Biden. Just this week, the Daily Mail and multiple other outlets reported that a prosecutor on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, who is going after Donald Trump, had recommended in 2016 that the FBI stop investigations into the Clinton Foundation. And speaking of the forever-protected Clintons, part of the newly released Epstein court documents include an allegation from Guiffre about Bill Clinton that is raising eyebrows. “A victim of Jeffrey Epstein once claimed that former President Bill Clinton tried to dissuade Vanity Fair from writing ‘sex-trafficking’ articles about the perverted financier, according to an email contained in a cache of newly released court documents,” according to the Daily Beast. Additional reports indicate staffers from Vanity Fair
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deny the allegation. This entire sordid episode, and so many others, has pulled back the curtain on the extent of this establishment protection racket, and Americans don’t like it. When justice is thwarted to protect the anointed and powerful, the other side of that coin easily turns into a weapon to destroy those who do not pay allegiance. For Maxwell to be convicted of sex trafficking, there had to be clients to whom the victims were trafficked. Epstein and Maxwell are the latest examples of how the protection racket can be overcome. And while the newly unsealed court documents remind us of the nature of the sordid lives and attitudes of our supposed betters, genuinely equal justice under the law is the least we deserve.
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Bits & Pieces
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
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WORD esoteric OF THE
Week Origin: mid-17th Century Greek, from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, comparative of esō ‘within’, from es, eis ‘into’.
Pronounced eh · suh · teh · ruhk
adjective Definition: intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. Example: “The audience was lost as the panel engaged in an esoteric legal debate.” Synonyms: obscure, opaque, abstruse, involuted, arcane Antonyms: simple, familiar Source: Oxford Languages
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Word Ladder 1/11 The aim of the game is to get from the given initial word to the given final word by changing only one letter per line. Note that every line must be a valid word. Sometimes there are several possibilities. Initial word: MORE Final word: LESS Goal: 5 words 1. 2. 3. 4.
January 13, 1840: The steamship Lexington burns and sinks four miles off the coast of Eaton’s Neck. According to the Huntington Historical Society: “On the night of January 13th, 1840, midway through the ship’s voyage through the Sound, the casing around the ship’s smokestack caught fire. Unfortunately, it ignited nearly 150 bales of cotton that were stored on deck aft of the smokestacks! (Bad idea!) The resulting fire was impossible to extinguish, and order was given to abandon ship. The ships’ overcrowded lifeboats sank almost immediately, leaving the ship’s passengers and crew to drown in the freezing water. Rescue attempts were virtually impossible due to the rough water, lack of visibility, the frigid cold, and the wind. Of the 143 people on board the Lexington that night, only 4 survived, clinging to large bales of cotton that had been thrown overboard as makeshift life rafts. The ship’s usual captain, Jacob Vanderbilt (the Commodore’s brother), was sick and couldn’t make the trip, and was replaced by veteran Captain George Child.”
January 12, 1969: Joe Namath leads the NY Jets to their first and only Superbowl win.
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Check our Instagram @MessengerPapers and our Facebook for the answers to this week’s games.
In Super Bowl III, the New York Jets took on the Baltimore Colts in their first ever Super Bowl. The Colts were a fan favorite and suspected to win, however the Jets preformed at their best resulting in one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Many attribute the team’s win to one single player, Joe Namath, who was honored afterwards as the game’s Most Valuable Player. In the next 55 years, the Jets have yet to return to the Super Bowl, however their NY fans remain exhaustingly hopeful.
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Around Town
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
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Holtsville Hal’s Famous Prediction to be Revealed on Groundhog Day
Six more weeks of winter or an early spring? Hundreds will gather at the Holtsville Ecology Site on Friday, February 2, to hear Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro (R-Shoreham) announce Holtsville Hal’s famous forecast. According to tradition, if a groundhog sees its shadow after stirring from hibernation on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; if not, spring should arrive early. Superintendent Losquadro will reveal Hal’s forecast at approximately 7:25a.m. “Our annual Groundhog Day celebration is an enjoyable tradition for many local families,” said Superintendent Losquadro. “I’m always hopeful Hal will predict an early spring to help my snow removal budget, but either way this is a much-anticipated event each year in Brookhaven Town.” Although he’s sure to be the center of attention, Holtsville Hal will not be the only animal available for viewing on February 2. Following the ceremony, residents are welcome to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and bagels provided by 7-Eleven and Bagel Lovers and visit the more than 100 non-releasable, wild, or injured animals residing at the Animal Preserve, which will be open at 7:00a.m. Gates will open at the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville, at 7:00a.m. on Friday, February 2; parking is free. Residents are asked to arrive as close to 7:00a.m. as possible to get a good view of Hal. Call 631.451.5330 for more information.
Manorville Fire Department Friday, January 19th 1:00pm-7:00pm Location: 14 Silas Carter Road, Manorville All donors will be entered in a raffle for TWO chances to win a $50 gift card to Carlos Pizzeria of Manorville!
Appointments strongly preferred: Scan the QR code above or call 1-800-933-2566, or visit www.nybc.org Any further questions contact Jennifer 516.310.2382
Brookhaven Town Seeks Nominations for 38th Annual Women’s Recognition Awards The Brookhaven Town Division of Women’s Services is seeking nominations for outstanding women of Brookhaven. Community groups, businesses, and individuals are being asked to nominate women they believe are deserving of special recognition for their outstanding service to the community as a professional or volunteer. Eligible candidates must live or work in Brookhaven Town and all nominations should include a resume or equivalent document and two letters of recommendation. This year, the Town will be celebrating its 38th Annual Women’s Recognition event during Women’s History Month, with a special celebration to be held in March 2024. Categories for nominations include: • Arts • Business • Communications/Media • Community Service Volunteer • Education • Government • Health Care Providers • Legal Profession • Military/Law Enforcement/First Responders • Religion • Science • Sports The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 2. Forms are available at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill in Farmingville, online at www.BrookhavenNY.gov/WomensRecognition or by calling the Division of Women’s Services at 631-451-6146.
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Puck Has Dropped: First Season of Professional Women’s Hockey League Has Begun By Kaitlyn Foley
between New York and Toronto. New York proudly took the win, four to zero. Ottawa hosted Montreal the following day resulting in Montreal’s tight win after final overtime. The game had a record-breaking 8,000 fans watching. In the following days three more games took place throughout the United States, most recently Minnesota taking the win over Montreal. Although that 3-0 win was rewarding, the record set by the Minnesota fans that night was the true trophy. Minnesota hockey fans flooded the Xcel Energy Center, making the 13,000-fan turnout the largest live audience to watch a professional women’s hockey game in history, breaking that record twice in four days. The consistently increasing audience record means great things for the league, and the sport as a whole. For reference, the NHL’s average spectator count is 17,000. While this comparison may seem degrees higher, it is important to note that with a total of 6 teams six in the league, three in the United States and three in Canada, it is more difficult for women’s hockey fans to attend these games live. 13,000 spectators in Minnesota are more than expected by many league officials, players, and even spectators themselves. The PWHL New York team has two “home” arenas available to them. Their first home game was played at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and second home game was played at the UBS Arena right here on Long Island. Attendance in New York has been low with the Connecticut game coming in at 2,000 spectators, a fraction of those in Minnesota and Ottawa. However, with two “home” arenas, both the team and the league have high hopes. “We are able to maximize our visibility across the tri-state area and bridge three different markets – Connecticut, New York City and Long Island,” Amy Scheer, PWHL senior vice president of business operations told The New York Times, making the team “unique in its ability to reach a larger potential fan base.” New York’s team was not considered to be a huge threat before the season started, however their first game proved they have a fighting chance with a stocked roster. Scoring the league’s first-ever goal for New York was Ella Shelton, 2022 Olympic gold medalist, in the first period. Also scoring for New York in the first game of the league was Alex Carpenter, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and alternate captain of the team, Kayla Vespa, and Jill Saulnier. Corinne Schroeder, 24, originally from Elm Creek, Canada, was New York’s MVP of the game after making 16-saves, shutting out Toronto completely. The PWHL seems to have a bright future ahead of it. League games are available to watch on multiple platforms throughout the U.S., including SportsNet, MSG, and NESN and streaming on YouTube.
Leaving Her Mark at Floyd By PJ Balzer Kayla Gilmore will graduate William Floyd High School this upcoming June, but the three-sport scholar athlete is undoubtedly leaving her mark at Floyd before going off to play Lacrosse at nationally ranked Maryland University. At a home game against Walt Whitman last Saturday, Kayla, who has been the starting point guard on the varsity team since the eighth grade, scored her 1,193rd point to break Floyd’s all-time point record previously held by Melissa D’Amico. D’Amico is now the head woman’s basketball coach at Boston University. Gilmore is now the official all-time scoring leader at William Floyd. But on top of this tremendous accomplishment, Kayla hasn’t finished breaking records and building a sports resume. She’s also the all-time assist leader, all time steal leader, and holds the record for most points in a single game. She’s had the most assists in a game and most steals in a game. She has played varsity lacrosse and soccer since the seventh grade and is currently all-Suffolk County in all three sports. She volunteers at MYO Basketball every Saturday teaching young girls about the game. During the fall and spring, she is a referee for youth soccer. She is currently ranked 12th in her class academically and will be attending the University of Maryland on a Lacrosse scholarship. She is the number-one Lacrosse recruit in NY and number six in the entire United States. Last year, she was a lacrosse All-American and also received All American Academic award as well. It’s safe to say she is the type of athlete that each school district sees only every so often. Not surprisingly, her household is also no stranger to seasoned and accomplished athletes and coaches. Her father Tim and mother Adrian both went Concordia College in Bronxville. Tim played Division 2 baseball and Adrian played Division 2 soccer, both on scholarships. For the last fourteen years, they have both been volunteering as youth coaches in several different communities. Adrian for MYO soccer and Tim lacrosse. Tim also volunteers as a youth basketball coach for MYO and coaches teams for St. John the Baptist CYO program. He coached Shy Hawkins, Jacky Sutherland, and Kayla from 4-8 grade and together where they won the first LI championship for St John’s. He is currently the assistant coach for Shoreham boys’ basketball. Together, they also coach a travel boys’ soccer team . Adrian Gilmore has been the head coach of girls’ varsity soccer at Shoreham since 2011, where she’s won five county championships, two LICs, and one state championship. She’s coached the girls to the league five times. She’s been Suffolk County Coach of the Year twice, league coach of the year four times, and New York State coach once. She’s also had the honor of winning High School Regional Coach of the year. Congratulations Kayla on your new record, many accolades, and upcoming college career. Thank you to the Gilmore family for your ongoing accomplishments and contributions to sports in Suffolk County and beyond!
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After years of leagues beginning and folding, professional teams trying and failing, and the unsustainability of different leagues throughout North America, it seems the beginning of a new and, more importantly, durable Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has finally begun. The PWHL is the first of its kind in women’s hockey. Similar to the ways of women’s soccer and women’s basketball, there were many leagues prior to the PWHL, paving the way towards this current league’s projected success. The Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the Premier Hockey Federation, and the National Women’s Hockey League all have tried and failed to create an environment for professional female hockey players to succeed. The difference between PWHL and its predecessors? Compensation and resources. The PWHL conjoins hockey teams in the United States and Canada, three from both countries to create a six-team, 138-player league that meets the proper professional standards. Backing the league are some high hitters, including Mark Walter, controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, his wife, Kimbra Walters, attorney and career philanthropist, and Billie Jean King, former world number-one tennis player and advocate. Before the league officially came together to recruit players, its organizers put forth the makings of a collective bargaining agreement, something many of the professional hockey players were never offered before, and a livable salary with benefits to present. The full CBA can be read on the PWHL website; however the key terms ensure that a maximum of nine players per team can be paid the minimum salary of $35,000 (about $1,400 per game), which will increase by 3% each contractual year, and an average salary of $55,000 which will differentiate based of player performance. “These performance-based salaries and the entire CBA means the world for women’s hockey,” says Ariel Vuolo, 23, former female hockey player of Commack. “I’m excited to see where this league will go and how much it will grow as the season goes on.” Vuolo was injured playing hockey in her teenage years, however she believes that if she was aware there may be a career option in professional hockey, she would have made training and recovery a bigger priority, possibly going on to the college level. “The PWHL will give motivation to young female hockey players. As much as I wish I had that five years ago, I’m happy to see they have that inspiration and potential,” Vuolo adds. The first week of the season spoke for itself as history was made through multiple records broken and league firsts set. The first game of the league was on New Year’s Day
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Vargas
Messenger Spotlight
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Ranked
Top 15 Boxers in the World By Kaitlyn Foley Long Island’s own, Alex “El Toro” Vargas, of Bellport, is stepping out of his home ring at The Paramount in Huntington and taking a leap onto the world’s stage. As of the new year, Vargas has been ranked number 14 in the world as a Super Lightweight boxer, according to the World Boxing Association. Vargas spoke to The Messenger in November after he won his first boxing title and belt. Since then, he has been ranked on the world’s stage and stands tall in 14th place, a ranking he was just hoping to make back in November. “I was told that winning the WBA Continental belt in my last fight gave me a chance at being in the top 15 but honestly, I didn’t expect that to really happen,” Vargas tells The Messenger. Waiting the two months after winning his belt to find out the results allowed Vargas to doubt his ranking. It was the first day of the new year when Vargas received the news. “It was so unexpected. The initial moment my jaw dropped and was shocked especially since I wasn’t expecting it at all. It took me a day or two to really realize that I was ranked 14 in the entire world. It was the perfect way to start the year.” This ranking was well-earned for Vargas, who quickly jumped the ranks from amateur to pro in 2018, at the age of 22. “I think I knew and got the confidence of what I was really capable of after my fourth pro fight. It took me a bit to adjust to the smaller gloves, no headgear, and other things,” said Vargas. “But then, I started sparring with former and current world champions, or just some of the best fighters in the world, week in and week out. I started getting phone calls to train with them and had my father, as well as some of the best trainers in the world, helping me.” Vargas’ fourth professional fight was against Deo Kizito of Maryland in 2019, one of the last fights of Kizito’s career. “Then promoters started offering contracts,” said Vargas. “That’s when I realized I wasn’t the only one who believed in how far I could go, but all of these other promoters and fighters that have been there and done it, felt the same way and let that be known.” Now that the ranking is out, and Vargas’ talent is seen on the world’s stage, support for him will likely not fade anytime soon. “With the ranking means it gets even more complicated. A lot of negotiations will be going on as to money, venues, and opponents to try to navigate moving up the rankings and getting that opportunity for the world title and ranked number one in the world,” explains Vargas. “As long as my team and I get what we deserve and aren’t being shortchanged, then I’m ready for whatever opportunity is next.” He explains that a career in boxing can be taxing on a person.
Some fighters jump at every opportunity to fight if it is their only source of income, even if it isn’t what the fighter deserves. Vargas has a team supporting him and ensuring he is fairly compensated each fight, something he is able to do because of his full-time career in law enforcement. “I’m very fortunate to have a job in the Suffolk County Police Department. I go to work where I live, which gives me an amazing quality of life. I’m very lucky to have something to fall back on.” Vargas lives, works, and trains within Suffolk County, a balance that he is still working on getting used to. “Honestly, the most difficult time in my boxing career is right now.” Vargas was never truly a full-time boxer, however there were times it was his only profession. Growing up in Bellport, Vargas boxed throughout high school but put fighting aside to pursue five-and-a-half years of college, earning his Master’s Degree. After higher education and going pro, Vargas was able to get back to his boxing roots. “When I first turned pro, it was stressful and I wasn’t making any money, but I was able to simply train and focus on fighting. Now, having a full-time job alongside boxing is very difficult. It’s hard when you’re not eating when you should, not getting the rest you need, having long stressful days at work and still having to go train before and after work is extremely taxing physically and mentally. Staying positive and focused with so many other things going on takes a lot. I’ve had a lot of tough opponents throughout my career but at this moment, the most difficult thing is trying to balance so much at once.” It may be the hardest part of his career, however it is also the most rewarding. Vargas is proud of his accomplishments and how far he has made it, although he did not make it there alone. “Huge thank you to my mom, dad, and sister for helping and supporting me in this journey since the beginning. Also, to my team, my sponsors, and my fans for all the support they have given me whether it was when I first turned pro to now,” adds Vargas. “Lastly, to the Suffolk County Police Department for supporting me and allowing me to represent the department in the best way I can. Everything you all do and have done means a lot to me.” The SCPD has been in Vargas’ corner throughout his whole journey as an officer and boxer. Hundreds of his coworkers sit in the stands of the Paramount to cheer him on, certainly loud enough for everyone to know who they are rooting for. It’s been a long and winding road for Vargas, who began boxing as just a child in his basement. He was able to join a real gym at the age of nine, where he worked hard to make a name for himself. “To any of the young boxers or athletes coming up, as cliché as it sounds, hard work truly does pay off,” says Vargas. Vargas says he was told many times throughout his career that he wouldn’t be able to accomplish the things he has in boxing, whether it be due to his size, his experience, or his attempt to balance it with other interests like school and work. “Use all of the doubt that people have in you as motivation. Anything is possible to accomplish as long as you put the work in and stay focused no matter all of the ups and downs you go through.” The Messenger congratulates Vargas on his world ranking, and while he may not know what is next for him in the coming months, we look forward to rooting him on as he reaches for the number-one ranking in the world.