HAPPY DAY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
Thursday, February 8, 2024 ~ Volume 69 ~ Issue Number 10 ~ $1.00
Suffolk Votes to Support Wastewater Legislation By Matt Meduri The issue of water quality and wastewater management has long been a conversation for decades on Long Island. Living on a sandbar, surrounded by water, on top of a sole-source aquifer has prompted initiatives, referendums, and legislation over the years to protect our groundwater and innovate our wastewater systems, while also converting our downtowns to be more economically sustainable. The issue came to a head over the summer ahead of the 2023 local elections. Republicans in the Suffolk County Legislature voted against sending an initiative to the 2023 ballot in the form of a public referendum to create a oneeighth-cent sales tax increase to fund sewer installations and septic replacements across Suffolk County. Republicans argued that an extra tax was unnecessary in the time of economic uncertainty, especially in light of hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits the county is forced to pay back after misappropriating taxpayer dollars previously earmarked for sewer and septic upgrades under the Levy and Bellone administrations. Continued on page 3
Port Jeff and Mastic Beach Receive Highwater Rescue Vehicles By Matt Meduri Long Island’s precarious environmental situation has been a top priority of elected and local leaders for decades. The geography of the island and its regular experiences of weather extremes make it more susceptible to environmental concerns with potentially disastrous consequences, such as groundwater pollution, coastal erosion, and complex search-and-rescue efforts. The latest series of storms to batter Suffolk County are no exception and only prove how dangerous and expensive - in both and long and short term - unpredictable weather can be. In the latest move to aid search and rescue efforts in highly-affected areas, the Town of Brookhaven has transferred two highwater rescue vehicles to the fire departments of Port Jefferson Village and Mastic Beach. The vehicles are expected to greatly aid the search-and-rescue operations in these areas, mainly in light of extreme rain and flooding that made recent efforts extremely difficult. The Town announced the transfer at a press conference in front of Town Hall on Tuesday morning. “The marked increase in the frequency of these significant rain and flooding events present challenges for local fire departments,” said Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches). “Two of our most vulnerable coastal communities are Mastic Beach and Port Jefferson, and their fire departments need the right tools to help keep residents safe. Accordingly, we are pleased to be able to help them do their job with the donation of these Highwater rescue vehicles.” The Town has transferred two Stewart and Stevenson Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV) to the opposite-shore areas, which have seen staggering amounts of flooding and erosion due to storms over the last several years, especially recently. Continued on page 10
FULL STORIES ON:
Senator Palumbo Announces Re-Election Page 10
Holtsville Hal: Early Spring Page 15
Palumbo, Flood Host Rally For School Aid Page 22