Romaine Signs Water Quality Restoration Act
Referendum Goes to Voters
By Matt Meduri
The saga of Suffolk County’s quest for wastewater solutions has reached its penultimate stop - at least for now - as County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) signed the bill to put the proposition in front of voters in November.
The Monday afternoon bill signing was over a decade in the making, as legislators, stakeholders, and interested parties collaborated to design a formula, plan, and scientific outlook for the future of the county’s water quality. Negotiations came to a head last summer as the Suffolk County Legislature expressed doubt over ratios of taxpayer-funded wastewater solutions, with roughly 75% of funds generated from an eighth-cent sales tax increase going to Innovative Alternative Wastewater (I/A) Systems, 10% going to administrative costs, and 15% possibly going to sewers, although stipulations on the final 15% were not solid in the bill’s language.
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Brookhaven Receives Strong AAA Bond Rating from Moody’s and S&P Global
By Cait Crudden
The Town of Brookhaven has received a ringing endorsement of its financial health and management practices as Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings have both reaffirmed the town’s AAA bond rating with a stable outlook for the sixth straight year. This prestigious rating underscores Brookhaven’s strong fiscal management, prudent budgeting, and robust economic fundamentals, positioning it favorably in the municipal bond market.
Moody’s and S&P Global, two of the most respected credit rating agencies worldwide, cited several key factors contributing to their decision. These include Brookhaven’s robust local economy, effective financial management policies, and proactive conservative approach to maintaining balanced budgets. The agencies also highlighted the town’s moderate debt levels relative to its economic size and strong liquidity position as strengths supporting the AAA rating.
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Executive Romaine (seated, center) signs the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act (Credit - Matt Meduri)
A Walk Towards Grace Monthly Bereavement Series
Continued from front cover
Brookhaven Receives Strong AAA Bond Rating from Moody’s and S&P Global
By Cait Crudden
“The affirmation of the strong finances of Brookhaven Town is a credit to the long-term fiscal planning practices and core management team that we have instituted and kept in place for over a decade,” remarked Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) (pictured top right). “Our stellar credit rating exceeds that of even the U.S. government. We will continue to be mindful of our finances and will be truthful with those whom we represent on the costs and challenges of running the Town”.
The AAA rating is the highest possible credit rating assigned by Moody’s and S&P Global, indicating a town’s exceptional creditworthiness and ability to meet financial obligations. This prestigious designation not only enhances Brookhaven’s ability to access capital markets at favorable interest rates but also instills confidence among investors in the town’s financial stability.
“For more than a decade, the Town’s financial position has been gaining strength” said Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) (pictured above), Finance Liaison for the Town of Brookhaven. She continued, “As a result, we have maintained our superior bond rating despite the downturn in the economy”.
The stable outlook accompanying the AAA rating reflects Moody’s and S&P Global’s expectation
that Brookhaven will continue to maintain strong financial practices and prudent fiscal policies in the foreseeable future. The report also includes positive comments about the Brookhaven Industrial Development Authority. Highlights include numerous development project initiatives that provide outgoing investments in the town creating thousands of jobs and aimed at increasing revenue, effective cost controls, regular budget monitoring and a debt management policy of maintaining debt service carrying charges at 15% of expenditures or below.
Residents and community leaders have welcomed the news of Brookhaven’s reaffirmed AAA bond rating, viewing it as a validation of the town’s commitment to financial transparency and responsible governance.
“Our AAA bond rating from Moody’s and S&P is an affirmation of the strong management team that we have here in Brookhaven Town,” stated Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Neil Foley (R-Blue Point) (pictured bottom right). He continued, “We work on a daily basis to run a very large government, in the second most populated and geographically largest town in New York State, in a very truthful and transparent manner”. Looking ahead, Brookhaven will continue to have strong financial standing, and reserves will remain healthy over the next couple years. This will allow the Town to support initiatives that promote economic development and quality of life for residents while saving taxpayer money due to access to superior interest rates.
“Our AAA bond rating from Moody’s and S&P is an affirmation of the strong management team that we have here in Brookhaven Town, We work on a daily basis to run a very large government, in the second most populated and geographically largest town in New York State, in a very truthful and transparent manner”
-Deputy Supervisor Neil Foley
“Our
stellar credit rating exceeds that of even the U.S. government.
We will continue
to be mindful of our finances and will be truthful with those whom we represent on the costs and challenges of running
the Town”
- Supervisor Dan Panico
Suffolk County Urges Vigilance on Swimming Pool Safety Following Recent Drownings
By Cait Crudden
In response to a tragic spike in drownings across Suffolk County communities, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) held a poignant press conference at the Centereach Pool emphasizing the critical importance of swimming pool safety in a “Stop Drowning Now” campaign. Addressing a recent surge of over five drownings within the past month alone, Romaine underscored the need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to prevent further tragedies during the summer season.
Standing alongside local officials, including Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Town Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden), Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Rudy Sunderman, Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Groneman, and representatives from community EMS/fire departments and safety organizations, Romaine expressed deep concern over the recent incidents, which have cast a shadow over what should be a time of enjoyment and relaxation for families.
“In the last three days we’ve had three pool deaths on Long Island,” Romaine stated solemnly. “In the last month we’ve had over five pool deaths, all of which in most cases could have been avoided with a focus on safety. No one that has a pool should allow anyone to go in that pool alone if there is no one watching them. Things can happen in a matter of a few seconds”.
According to statistics shared during the press conference, drownings remain a leading cause of accidental death, particularly among children and young adults. Factors contributing to these tragedies often include inadequate supervision, lack of proper barriers around pools, and a failure to follow basic safety protocols.
Town Councilman Neil Manzella remarked, “Pool safety is very serious. As a father of two young children, I know that parties are as much work as they are fun. You have to constantly keep an eye out there, you’ve got to watch the pools, it’s not something that should be taken lightly. Here at the Centereach Pool, we have an absolute top-notch lifeguard staff here and we encourage everyone to come on down to have a safe outlet to come and use the pool”.
To address these concerns and promote proactive safety measures, Romaine, other officials and safety experts outlined key tips for families and pool owners including constant supervision by designating a responsible adult to actively always supervise children and swimmers.
Avoiding distractions such as cell phones or socializing can divert attention away from pool monitoring. Swimming lessons for children and even adults can ensure they have basic water safety skills. Pool barriers such as fences with self-closing and self-latching gates around the pool area can restrict access when the pool is not in use. Teaching children to ask permission to use the pool and even encouraging adults to never swim alone can set good examples to promote pool safety. Educating family members and guests about pool safety rules, including no running or diving in shallow areas, and the importance of respecting water depth and boundaries can serve as ground rules for any summer party. CPR can be crucial in emergencies, along with calling 911.
The elected officials highlighted the role of community initiatives and partnerships in promoting water safety. Local organizations and recreational facilities were encouraged to participate in awareness campaigns and distribute educational materials to raise awareness about drowning prevention. They acknowledged the increase of drownings over the past fifteen years by the CDC for children under four years old and individuals over sixty-five years old.
Legislator Leslie Kennedy, Chair of the Health Committee, encouraged residents to be safe. “No family is immune to childhood drowning; it takes an instant,” said Kennedy. “No cell phone, tablet, or laptop holds priority over having the full, consistent attention of an adult to a child, in or near the water”.
Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy reiterated Suffolk County Executive Romaine’s sentiments and added, “Eyes on the swimmers and concentrate. If you have to get up find, somebody else to come on and be the responsible party. It happens way too fast.”
In closing, Romaine expressed his commitment to supporting ongoing efforts to enhance swimming pool safety protocols and urged residents to remain vigilant throughout the summer season. He encouraged anyone who wanted to take CPR classes to call the county at 631-852-5080 to get necessary information on when these classes will be held reiterating that it can save lives.
As Suffolk County continues to grapple with the aftermath of recent drownings, the message from the press conference resonates clear; prioritizing swimming pool safety is not just a recommendation but a responsibility that can save lives and preserve the joy of summer for all.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Promotion and Mobilization Ceremonies Held in Smithtown
By Matt Meduri
U.S. Army soldiers of the 423rd Military Police Company, headquartered in Shoreham, received a mobilization ceremony at the St. Patrick School in Smithtown ahead of their deployments.
Families, military leaders, and local elected officials gathered to wish the group of America’s Finest off on their missions.
Reserve Ambassador Gary Portis addressed, not just the soldiers, but the military spouses and families present. Portis said that during his deployment, his daughter called him to inform him that his wife’s biopsy had come back positive.
“I didn’t even know my wife had gone in for a biopsy, but because I was away on duty, my wife chose to keep that information to herself,” said Portis, adding that his general offered to have him flown home. However, his wife objected.
“‘No, finish the mission,’” recalled Portis of his wife’s words. “That’s the kind of support that they are giving to you [active-duty soldiers], military spouses, military companions, and I want you all to remember that. Do not forget them.”
After a rendition of the National Anthem and prayer led by Chaplain and Lieutenant Colonel Brian McNamara, Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) (pictured left), himself a Navy Veteran, opened the remarks.
“The best job I ever had was being an officer in the finest Navy the world has ever known, and I got to work with some of the bravest, selfless, and dedicated Americans the world has ever seen,” said LaLota. “A couple days ago, we celebrated our nation’s 248th birthday, and in doing so, we celebrated the ideals which have made our country so great, ideals like equality, justice, freedom, and opportunity. But those ideals will not be associated with the great flag that we have, and we fly today in the honor of our soldiers, but for the sacrifice that so many continue to make for the defense of our great country.”
“You’re going to go on a year-long deployment, and you’re going to face difficult challenges. And I hope that when you do so, you rely upon each other, you rely upon your training, but I also hope that you recognize the toughest job in the military is being a spouse or a family member of a military man or woman,” LaLota added. “They are the backbone, not only of our communities, but our service as well. So I wish you on behalf of the many elected officials who are with me here today, Godspeed, safe employment, see you again. God bless.”
Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point) (pictured above), a Marine Reservist, said that his office is open to facilitate calls and needs of the troops facing deployment.
“I want to make sure that all of you are focused on your mission and that your families have the support they need,” said Lennon, adding that upcoming fundraisers and collection events will send items to fill the needs of the soldiers and their families.
Lennon also offered his services as a military and Veterans attorney should the need arise.
“The biggest thing we want to do is support all those units and communities that are deployed,” said Lennon. “Please feel free to pick up the phone, knock
on my office door, or email me. My office is here to support all of you to make sure that your children, your spouses, and your friends are fully supported. Good luck to all of you, have a good deployment, come home safely, and we’ll all be here for when you return for whatever you need and when you get back.”
The keynote speaker of the event was former Command Sergeant Major of the 10th Mountain Division, Mario Terenas (pictured right), who gave the troops four pieces of advice to remember while on deployment.
“The strength of our nation is the Army, and the strength of our Army is the soldiers, and the strength of our soldiers is the family,” said Terenas, before listing the four points that served him well in his thirty-two-year military career.
“Number one: do not be average. I don’t want to be next to an average soldier who’s not been fighting. I don’t want to be led by average leaders. Our country doesn’t deserve to have an average Army. Your families don’t deserve to have average soldiers protecting you,” said Terenas. “Not being average means that you give everything it takes.”
“Number two: if you’re in a fight and you ask for my help, I’m coming for you, but the only way I will get to you is if I die in the line,” said Terenas. “I want you to think that. Any of your friends, your battle brothers, if they ask you for help, you better go to the fight. You give everything.”
“Number three: do not walk past the problem. Through this next year, you’re going to be posed with situations and problems. Don’t walk past it. Just imagine that we live in a world where every single one of us does not walk past the problem,” said Terenas. “Whether it is increased stress on the ground, whether it’s a body that’s in need of help, whether it’s an effort to live, just don’t walk past the problem. Average people walk past the problem. Don’t be average.”
“And number four, my favorite quote: ‘be humble in victory and be magnanimous in defeat.’ You are not defined by your victory, rather you’re defined by how you overcome loss and defeat, and how you rise to the occasion,” said Terenas. “You are going to fail this next year, at one point or another. What will define you as an individual, as a soldier, as a leader, is the way you rise from that and overcome it. We try, and we try and we try, and we try again, and we succeed.”
Some members of the troop were then issued promotions before deployment, with families and friends in attendance for the ceremonies.
In attendance also was County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), and Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset).
Water Quality Funds Must Go to Water Quality if Public Approves Referendum
The ongoing sewer saga in Suffolk County is one that we and many others wish is one that does not have to persist as long as it has. Precariously built on a sandbar, Long Island quickly became too populated for our environment to handle. We’ve effectively boxed ourselves into a corner, and now, we have to take the next steps forward to not only ensure our environment stays pristine and sustainable, but that our economy can continue to evolve with our society and give residents a reason to stay and build lives here.
Over the decades, Suffolk County voters have approved multiple referenda that earmark additional sales tax revenue for wastewater mitigation. It seems ironic that that’s the case, because we’re still here, eagerly awaiting the passage of another. If the others worked, why are we still looking for more funds?
Part of the question is likely due to the fact that we’ve become so populated, and so densely populated in some areas, that the earmarks of yesteryear might not cover the renovations of this generation. With dozens of areas across the county undergoing Downtown Revitalization Initiatives (DRIs), it only increases the demand for sewers and wastewater infrastructure.
The other part of the problem is homes built quite literally on sand with little to no space between the groundwater or the coastal waterways. Such is the case on Fire Island, which has prompted a landmark sewer feasibility study championed by Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters).
But homes on the south shore, the North Fork, the East End, and Shelter Island, for instance, are part of a much bigger equation, in that sewers might not be feasible in most areas, requiring a much newer form of engineering in the Innovative Alternative Wastewater (I/A) systems.
We and practically everyone else in Suffolk County can agree that sewers and I/A Systems are applicable, where necessary, for our economic and environmental survival. What the referendum that was approved by Albany, approved by the SUffolk County Legislature, and signed by County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) aims to do is institute an eight-cent sales
tax - twelve cents for every $100 spent - to create a fund for the county to implement such wastewater solutions.
This is already on top of an existing quarter-cent sales tax - the “quarterpercent fund” - that has previously been instituted to accomplish more or less the same goal.
Our history tells us that when the public is given a ballot initiative to support the environment, it passes with flying colors. It makes perfect sense as well, as Long Island heavily relies on environmental conscientiousness, and our elected officials are all in tune to such an important issue among constituents.
Our history also tells us, however, that whenever there were taxpayerapproved funds earmarked for wastewater, the money never got to its final destination. The Bellone Administration gave Romaine and company a dirty bomb, in that he and his associates bilked the wastewater funds to plug holes in the capital budget, prompting appropriate lawsuits from multiple environmental stakeholders and watchdogs. We’ll have to pay that money back, or settle, sooner or later. If those funds weren’t misappropriated in the first place, we might not even need this referendum on the November ballot.
We’ll put our cynicism aside and say that we have an infinitely greater level of trust in Romaine and the Legislature than we had in Steve Bellone alone. We believe that with Romaine’s decades of fiscal responsibility and environmentalism, this money will go where it’s intended.
Nevertheless, we feel it’s important to raise the issue that the money previously approved by taxpayers had not gotten sent underground where it belongs, in sewer mains and enhanced wastewater treatment options. We’re not taking an editorial stance on the ballot proposition itself, and we’re certainly not telling the public how to vote on it, but the history makes us wary of another endeavor down this path. We hope and fully expect, however, that with Romaine in Hauppauge, the result will finally be what we’ve been waiting for.
Donating Blood Seems Lost on the Younger Generations
“A chain is as strong as its weakest link.”
This phrase certainly isn’t lost on the younger generations; at the very least, they understand its most immediate meaning.
However, imparting that meaning to the likes of “it takes a village [to raise a child]” seems to be where we’ve become somewhat socially bankrupt.
It used to be that a community understood its own backbone, and it was a mix of being a strong chain link, being one of the village, and doing the bare minimum by giving back. This isn’t to take a cynically “communist” approach to life, but living in a community is, for the vast majority of the population, inevitable.
Some people are heavily civic-minded and give back whenever they can. Others have no problem taking what they’re given carte blanche. Not only is this why communism never works out, but it shines a light on the gaps we leave in our society and the small acts of selflessness that could literally mean life or death to someone else.
Donating blood used to be a much more common act of selflessness. In fact, it was almost part of the creed of raising one’s family, being a member of a church, or visiting certain functions, fairs, or festivals. The parents were the ones who were raised to be selfless in small ways, and they imparted that same value on their children.
But somewhere along the lines, a generation became apathetic in donating blood, sending the current healthcare world into a tailspin of blood emergencies, shortages, and question marks over what the next steps might be.
The cynics will say that in the age of 3D-printing and modern science, blood donations might be
a thing of the past entirely. Fortunately for humanity’s sake, blood is not something that can be engineered in a lab; it’s simply too complex to be recreated. The only way to source it is through a small, quick act of charity that can quite literally save someone’s life.
We understand some people are squeamish. We understand some aren’t the biggest fans of needles. But is it really the biggest deal in the world to undergo fifteen minutes of slight discomfort to give back in one of the most profound ways possible?
After all, would you let someone’s discomfort stand in the way of a blood transfusion you would need in a life-or-death situation?
For some reason, small acts of charity are lost on this generation, in more ways than just blood drives. We remember a time when a blood drive could easily surpass its goal of fifty pints. Now, some drives are lucky to register above fifteen pints, far short of thresholds that are much more than field work quotas.
Now that it’s summer, blood supplies are even lower than normal. With everyone on vacation, spending time out in the hot, humid air, and generally disconnected from some of their communities and schools, blood banks and hospitals are on red alert all season long. Do something painlessly selfless and painfully needed: find a blood drive and give a pint. For all you know, it might just be you one day in need of a seemingly-small donation. We hope there’s a village behind it.
By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay
Spikes in childcare costs, like those impacting just about every other good and service in New York, have created economic hardship for families all over the state. These challenges have forced many families to pass up earnings opportunities in order to care for their children, and for too many families, those missing wages are the difference between comfort and struggle. This is bad for families, bad for our communities, and bad for New York.
Adequate childcare provides children with a safe and nurturing environment while allowing working parents to continue their careers. Now that we have entered summer, these issues take on even greater significance as parents no longer benefit from schoolprovided care and meals. During these months, finding affordable care for working parents has become increasingly difficult as service providers face their own challenges like middling wages and staffing shortages. Again, these issues are exacerbated by an influx in demand during the non-school months.
The Assembly Minority Conference has been working hard to address this discrepancy, and for that reason, our membership developed the “A Blueprint for Childcare (ABC) Plan,” which is a package of proposals that would save families an average of approximately $2,300 a year. While some helpful measures were passed earlier this year, I do not believe the state has gone far enough to help those struggling with childcare costs. And doing so has never been so important. Even before inflation peaked, 60% of parents surveyed said the cost of programs was the top reason for not enrolling their child in after school care. Nearly 40 percent said there were no spaces available in their preferred program. Through a combination of tax incentives, expanded access to education and enhanced provider options, our Conference believes we can alleviate a lot of pressure preventing families from achieving their maximum earning potential. Those proposals include:
• Increasing the State Earned Income Tax Credit amount from 30% to 45% (A.9258, Ra);
Helping Families Afford Childcare Is Critical When Building Strong Communities Letters to the Editor
• Increasing the Empire State Child Credit amount to 45% of the federal Child Tax Credit amount (A.9257, Ra);
• Creating a new Child Care Facility Capital Improvement Tax Credit to help childcare providers enhance and update facilities (A.9264, Ra); and
• Increasing provider options by adopting rules and regulations that would establish a model for childcare that includes hours outside of traditional day care models such as nights and weekends (A.9126, Jensen).
There are significant benefits to making these changes. These measures provide critical relief to struggling families while allowing parents to find access to quality programs and services during their children’s formative years. Further still, if we empower families by making it easier for them to earn, we can help them become less dependent on expensive social services.
Everyone wins when we make it easier for families to afford necessities. For many, childcare is as essential as gas, groceries and housing. I will continue looking for ways to make it easier on these struggling families to afford all of those things. Unfortunately, in New York, we still have a lot of work to do.
If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @WillABarclay.
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Jefferson and Onondaga counties.
Happy 60th Birthday to Public Transportation on Long Island
Dear Editor,
July 2024 marks the 60th Anniversary of federal government support for public transportation. The success of public transportation can be traced back to one of the late President Lyndon Johnson’s greatest accomplishments which continues benefiting many Americans today. On July 9th, 1964, he signed the “Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964” into law. Subsequently, this has resulted in the investment of several hundred billion dollars into public transportation over time.
Millions of Americans today on a daily basis utilize various public transportation alternatives. They include local and express bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway, and commuter rail services. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single occupancy vehicles. Most of these systems are funded with your tax dollars thanks to President Johnson. Depending upon where you live, consider the public transportation alternative. Try riding a local or express bus, para transit or commuter van, ferry, light rail, commuter rail or subway.
There is MTA LIRR, NYC Transit bus and subway, Suffolk County Transit Bus, Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) Bus, and Nassau Inter County Express Bus. Using MTA Metro or OMNY Cards provides free transfers between the subway and bus. This has eliminated the old two fare zones, making public transportation an even better bargain. Purchasing a monthly LIRR or MTA subway/bus pass reduces the cost per ride and provides virtually unlimited trips. In many cases, employers can offer transit checks which help subsidize a portion of the costs. Utilize this and reap the benefits. It supports a cleaner environment.
The Future
Dear Editor,
Doesn’t anyone read history anymore? When the USA, who was the major force for freedom and human rights advancement, loses its’ way and gradually becomes internally divided, it currently presents itself as being indecisive and weak and ineffective.
How will our foreign allies, and especially our foreign adversaries, react? History tells us. Remember Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo?
Let’s change the path we are currently on. Let’s elect leaders we can be proud of, not the two clowns that are currently running for president.
We owe this to our children and to future generations. Let this be our finest moment.
Paul H. Schmutz Nesconset
Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules which afford staff the ability to avoid rush hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. Join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting.
The ability to travel from home to workplace, school, shopping, entertainment, medical, library etc. is a factor when moving to a new neighborhood. Economically successful communities are not 100% dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility. Seniors, students, low- and middle-income people need these transportation alternatives. Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.
What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 60 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account?
Larry Penner, Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for NJ Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ.
8 Community Spotlight
Village Idiot Opens Hauppauge Location at OTB Racing Forum
By Matt Meduri
The Village Idiot, a well-known and revered restaurant and bar with multiple locations across Suffolk County, just added another address to its roster: the Off-Track Betting (OTB) Racing Forum in Hauppauge.
With locations in Patchogue, Oakdale, Lake Grove, and recently Riverhead at the Indian Island Golf Course, the Hauppauge location makes for a fifth installment in one of Suffolk’s favorite pubs.
Tuesday morning’s grandopening not only featured local stakeholders and community members, but also Mets World Series champions Art Shamsky and Dwight Gooden, who shared their enthusiasm for the chain and met with customers.
The Messenger sat down with founder and owner John Sarno to learn what the future has in store for the OTB-Village Idiot partnership.
“About seven years ago, a customer came into our Oakdale location and said that he worked for OTB and that they were looking to replace the cafe in the building,” said Sarno. “We liked the location, but what was needed was an exorbitant expense. We had a lease worked out, but it never came to fruition.”
But despite all the changes, Sarno says that he and the team are committed to delivering their same product, service, and style that they have to other communities.
Sarno says that in the meantime, he and his partner opened Drift 82 in Patchogue, followed by Village Idiot in Lake Grove, Chops Steakhouse in Patchogue, and Castaways in Port Jefferson. In February of this year, Sarno learned that OTB was still looking for a bar-restaurant at the Racing Forum.
“We replaced the floors, we painted, we redid the bar, we put televisions on the walls, with more on the way,” said Sarno. “OTB has been accommodating and they put in a separate entrance for us, since we’re open seven days a week, and OTB is closed on Monday and Tuesday.”
Sarno says that while the location is operational, it will be a steady progression to the full Village Idiot experience. More televisions and sports channels will soon be available, while the menu is currently limited to the most popular items, such as their well-known wings, appetizers, wraps, sandwiches, and burgers. New tables and chairs will be purchased once the staff and community are settled in.
Sarno says that their menu will be available to customers through DoorDash and GrubHub within the week and that the “corporate” happy hour is set from Monday through Friday from 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m, with live music on Fridays. Sarno says the logic of the corporate happy hour is to cater to the people who “want to get a drink after work.”
Sarno says the new pub’s location is advantageous to such an idea, as it sits in close proximity to the Hauppauge Industrial Park, Jake’s 58 Casino and Hotel, the Suffolk County government buildings, and a host of other potential clientele.
Sarno also says that Jake’s 58 and OTB employees will receive 10% discounts at any Village Idiot location due to the new partnership. OTB President Phil Boyle is optimistic about the future of the partnership, as Village Idiot’s name recognition across Long Island makes for a sensible locale as a sports bar.
Village Idiot is also known for their programs that give free meals every month to first responders and police officers, an effort through which Sarno can effectively give back to the community.
The Hauppauge location will not only serve as an after-hours community pub or a place to watch a football game, but also a place for players looking to hedge their bets on horses and sports, as OTB continues their expansion projects at the casino and company-wide.
The new location also puts a cheeky spin on the famed Village Idiot logo: a horse in a jester hat greets customers from the wall upon entrance to the bar (pictured above inset)
“I want this to be fun for everyone. I want this to be a fun place for people to bring their kids, as well as for some guys who want to come in and gamble,” said Sarno, adding that Village Idiot is also involved in the school districts and local rotary clubs.
“I’ll repeat what I said fourteen years ago when I opened up: ‘you can get a cold beer anywhere, but if you get great food with that cold beer, you will have to come back.’”
Sarno also mentioned that the steak tidbits are a classic Village Idiot item that the Hauppauge location is already serving up, ready to deliver their tried-and-true offerings for newcomers and seasoned patrons alike.
Village Idiot and OTB Racing Forum are located at 690 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge.
PENNSYLVANIA
Trump
6/25-6/27
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6/30-7/2EmersonCollege (SponsoredbyDemocratsforthe NextGenerationSuperPAC)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s quest for ballot access across the country continues as he has collected the required number of signatures in Delaware (3 electoral votes), Indiana (11), and the crucial battleground state of Georgia (16). At this point, Kennedy has either received ballot access or attained the number of signatures in twenty-nine states, collectively worth 390 electoral votes. Kennedy’s team is currently petitioning in all remaining states and the District of Columbia, with the exception of Louisiana, which opens its petitioning window on July 16.
Kennedy has gained access or presented signatures in some of the largest Electoral College prizes, such as California (54), Texas (40), Florida (30), and New York (28). Besides Georgia, Kennedy has achieved access in the swing states of Nevada (6), North Carolina (16), New Hampshire (4), New Mexico (5), Pennsylvania (19), Michigan (15), and Minnesota (10). Although less politically significant in the modern era, Kennedy nonetheless has access in Ohio (17), Iowa (6), and Colorado (10).
Oregon (7), Utah (6), South Carolina (9), and Alaska (3), in addition to Colorado, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina.
West has write-in access in Texas, New Mexico, New York, Indiana, and Illinois (19).
West is registering at just 1.6 in the RealClearPolitics average as of press time. He and Green Party nominee Jill Stein are about neck-and-neck around the 2% mark.
State
The ongoing saga of the last-minute reversal in the MTA congestion pricing plan by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) continues, as it has been revealed that the federal government was reportedly blindsided by Hochul’s decision.
Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, said on Monday that she was not aware of Hochul’s plan to indefinitely suspend the congestion pricing plan, which was set to begin on
“It is a privilege and an honor to be elected as the first woman to lead my nation,” said Goree. “This is not about me but the entire Shinnecock Nation and the work that we have accomplished to get to this historical moment.”
Legislator Ann Welker (D-Southampton), whose district encompasses the Shinnecock Nation, issued the proclamation.
“I wish the best of luck to newly elected Chairwoman Lisa Goree of the Shinnecock Council of Trustees, and I look forward to working with her. With the recent elections on the South Fork, the Town of East Hampton, the Town of Southampton, the Second District of the Suffolk County Legislature, and now the Shinnecock Nation, women are all in positions of leadership,” said Welker. “What a historic moment for the history of the Shinnecock Nation, and for our community as a whole.”
The Shinnecock Nation is located on the Shinnecock Bay in the Town of Southampton, near Shinnecock Hills, Tuckahoe, and the Village of Southampton. Its population, as of 2020, sits at 819.
Continued from front cover
Romaine Signs Water Quality Restoration Act, Referendum Goes to Voters
The Legislature voted to table the resolution, citing dissatisfaction with the lack of funds and prioritization for sewer infrastructure, a piece of water quality remediation in large demand across the county as it pertains to development, downtown revitalization, agriculture, aquaculture, preservation of coastal waterways, and the protection of the sole-source aquifer.
As Suffolk County government cannot institute sales taxes without authorization from the State government, new negotiations had to be submitted to the State legislature and passed in both chambers. Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) (pictured below left) sponsored the Assembly version of the bill and Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) sponsored the Senate version of the bill. It passed earlier this year and Governor Kathy Hochul (D) made the trip to Captree to sign it within Suffolk County’s borders.
in business, in labor, in the environment, in local government, all coming together for the issue of clean water.”
Thiele referenced the Grateful Dead album What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been, comparing it to the years of work and research put into getting this referendum passed.
Kevin McDonald, Conservation Project Director for Public Lands at the Nature Conservancy, invoked a Winston Churchill quote: “Americans will always do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else.”
“This is an example of people continuing to work to find a solution that we can bring to the voters,” said McDonald. “I’m really proud on behalf of the Nature Conservancy to say we think this is a nation-leading initiative unmatched by any county anywhere in America.”
Executive Romaine added that he would be “remiss” if he did not mention the “support of labor unions who have been key” in the passage of the legislation.
The bill then entered a period of public portion, where the Legislature formally voted to adopt it and send it to Romaine’s desk for signature. It passed 15-2 with one absence at the Legislature’s general meeting in Riverhead last Tuesday.
After another public portion, the bill was ready for Romaine’s approval. Suffolk voters will now be faced with a ballot proposition in November over whether to approve an eight-cent sales tax increase that will go towards funding septic and cesspool replacements across the county. The fund will work on top of the existing quarter-cent sales tax - colloquially referred to as the “quarter-percent fund” that already serves to fund wastewater solutions.
“It is a happy day because for years, we’ve struggled and watched as our bays, waterways, and groundwater have become contaminated and impacted,” said Romaine at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. “70% of this county is on cesspools; there has to be a better way.” Romaine added that while sewers and enhanced sewers are needed, some sewers within the county’s twenty-six sewer districts are “old and need to be refurbished.”
“Many of the sewers pour out into the Port Jefferson Harbor or into the ocean. We need sewers that are tertiary in nature and we need sewers for a new generation,” said Romaine.
Romaine said that the effort has been largely bipartisan and he was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers at Monday’s bill signing.
“This will now be in the hands of the people of Suffolk County. We’re going to make an investment, I expect, in the next few years,” said Romaine, adding that some sewers projects, such as Forge River, Kings Park, and Smithtown are progressing well.
Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) (pictured right) spoke on behalf of the Legislature and the Republican Majority, saying the initiative has been “a long time coming.”
“There’s been a lot of back-and-forth and different opinions, but one opinion we all share is the need to do something to protect our groundwater and our surface waters,” said McCaffrey. “We reached a compromise that is going to enable us to make these changes that are not only monumental, but generational.”
McCaffrey added that there is a “lot of work to be done” on the East End, namely in terms of implementing I/A systems “where appropriate,” as many areas are not topographically suited for sewer systems.
Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) (pictured below) spoke on behalf of the Democratic Legislative conference and opened by saying that Executive Romaine has been “working on this problem” before he took office.
“That led directly to our being here today to put this issue before the people,” said Englebright.
Assemblyman Thiele, who has previously served as Southampton Town Supervisor and as a County Legislator, has been one of the primary sponsors of this initiative for years.
“Improving water quality on Long Island isn’t just about the environment, it’s about the economy. No matter what aspect of our local economy you talk about, and certainly that’s the case on the East End with farming, fishing, and tourism, all depend on clean water,” said Thiele. “And that is why you see this rather unique coalition of people that have come together for this. It’s
“They know this means good-paying jobs and they know that these jobs will be doing great work for Long Island’s future,” said Romaine.
Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association (pictured right), said that the brutally hot weather over the past week serves as a reminder to keep the beaches and waterways clean for public enjoyment.
“We can’t close our beaches. We need a good quality system to care for the water, so we keep the beaches open,” said Herbst. Organized labor, the Long Island Federation of Labor, the Nassau-Suffolk Building Council, all of us are working together to make sure we are willing, ready, and able, once the voters make the decision that we know is needed, to build the sewers and put the I/A Systems in.”
Herbst added that the coalition present at the bill signing are “not disbanding,” and that they will continue working with local government and the communities to see the project through.
Finally, Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (pictured right), said that the bill will allow Suffolk County to lose its title as the “septic capital of the world.”
“Fixing our water problem will make Long Island’s coastline stronger. It will improve our wetlands, allow seagrass beds to regrow, making us stronger and more resilient to hurricanes and storms, sea level rise, and nor’easters,” said Esposito. She added that the coalition of environmental and labor groups will be “working together to do a massive public education campaign through Suffolk County to inform and educate the voters about the importance” of the bill.
“I cannot thank enough the people behind me and the people that are here that are behind him who made this all possible,” said Romaine before signing the bill. “Today is a lesson. Together, we’re stronger. Together, we’re Long Island. Together, we’re Suffolk. We can build a better Island.”
Romaine added that clean water is “step one,” while “step two” is improvements to transportation and infrastructure, saying that Suffolk County regularly gets “short changed” by Albany and Washington based on how much tax money goes to higher levels of government relative to how much of that money Suffolk receives back.
“This is a coalition that got it done, a coalition that will move this island forward,” said Romaine, seated before the legislation, pen in hand. “When we work together, when we put our partisan concerns aside, when we focus on what’s best for this island, we do the things that are right for the future of this island and for those who will be here afterwards. So, let’s stick together, let’s work together, let’s focus on our mission.”
Romaine then signed the bill into law, formally putting the decision in front of voters this November.
Romaine was joined by Suffolk County Legislators Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), Ann Welker (D-Southampton), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport).
Other partners in attendance were Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, David Seigerman of Save the Sound, John Turner of the Seatuck Environmental Association, Peter Topping of the Peconic Baykeepers, and Kevin McAllister of Defend H2O.
Kevin McDonald invoked a Winston Churchill quote: “Americans will always do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else.”
(Photos Credit - Matt Meduri)
On the Campaign Trail
Speaker Mike Johnson Visits Nissequogue for Fundraiser for Nick LaLota
The Village of Nissequogue was treated to an esteemed guest: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R, LA-04). Johnson was in Smithtown last weekend to headline a fundraiser for Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01).
The fundraiser, held by Steve and Carolyn Louro, is part of the ongoing “Defend the Majority” series, which aims to help Republicans maintain control of the House of Representatives ahead of the 2024 elections and defend incumbents.
LaLota won his first term by over ten points over then-Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) in 2022. After mid-decade redistricting shuffled the lines slightly, LaLota is now running on mostly unchanged, albeit somewhat more Republican-leaning turf. NY-01 contains the entire townships of Smithtown, Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton, and South Hampton, as well as most of Huntington and northern and eastern Brookhaven.
Johnson ascended to the speakership after the unprecedented October ousting of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20). After several rounds of voting, Congressmen LaLota, Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) coalesced their votes around Johnson, someone whom they felt was not only appropriate to be Republicans’ highest-ranking officeholder in the nation, but also one sympathetic to Long Island values and needs.
The three Long Island Republicans held their ground in waiting for a qualified nominee to come around, staking claims in environmentalism, protecting the Long Island Sound, fiscal conservatism, unifying the House Republican Caucus, and, most importantly, fighting the battle on State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions. Johnson’s visit to Long Island not only highlights the importance of retaining the incumbent, but also in retaining the House overall, as New York proved to be an unlikely provider of a tenuous House majority amidst an underwhelming national environment.
Christopher Macchio, New York Tenor, singing Hallelujah
Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport) and Bob Bontempi
Rep. LaLota, Comptroller Kennedy, David Manning (Brookhaven Science Assoc.)
Rep. LaLota presents Speaker Johnson with Yankees jersey
12
School Highlights
Shoreham-Wading River Class of 2024
Shoreham-Wading River High School’s 48th commencement was held on June 21. Families and spectators were welcomed by Principal Frank Pugliese, followed by the national anthem performed by Torre Cintorino, Cassandra Keany, Emily Murray and Robert Tacke with ASL interpretation from Abigail DeLumen, Carly Mulroy, Elizabeth Sabino and Emma Turley.
Salutatorian Lucas Portuese addressed his peers and thanked teachers, family and others in guiding this success. Assistant Principal John Holownia then applauded members of the Class of 2024 who will protect the nation after graduation: Alexander Castillo (U.S. Air National Guard), Keith Donnellan (U.S. Army), Armani Foglia (U.S. Navy), Jennifer Mensche (U.S. Navy), and Kyle Rose (U.S. Airforce ROTC). Robert Tacke sang Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
Valedictorian James Minetti shared his gratitude to his parents and siblings and encouraged his classmates to stick with what they are passionate about, spend time productively, bring something to the table and not to lose sight of what they are looking for.
Superintendent of Schools Gerard Poole lauded the students for their achievements in academics, arts and athletics. He shared his hope for the graduates’ future with their aspirations and plans and to embrace their dreams. Pugliese then called for a moment of silence for members of the Class of 2024, John Kane and Andrew McMorris, who were each honored with a posthumous diploma. Pugliese named each of the Exceptional Academic Seniors before members of the Class of 2024 were each called to the podium to receive their diploma. He then invited James and Lucas back to the stage for the ceremonial turning of the tassels, resulting in cheers and clapping all around.
Center Moriches Board of Education Reorganizes for New School Year
The Center Moriches School District Board of Education commenced the 2024-2025 school year during its reorganization meeting on July 1. During the meeting, Brian Tenety was sworn in as the board’s newest trustee. Additionally, Lauren Slionski was elected as the president of the board of education for the upcoming 2024-2025 term, and Ms. Thomasina Harrell was nominated and sworn in as vice president.
The Center Moriches School District thanks the board of education for its service and dedication and looks forward to a successful and productive school year.
Graduates from Centereach and Newfield HS Celebrate
The Middle Country Central School District’s high schools recently hosted commencement ceremonies for the 2024 graduating classes of Newfield High School and Centereach High Schools. The memorable ceremony highlighted the achievements and bright futures of their graduating seniors. The event was attended by students, families, faculty, and distinguished guests.
“Congratulations to the exceptional class of 2024. These remarkable young individuals have positively influenced the Middle Country community through their academic and personal accomplishments, excelling in academics, creativity, and athletics,” said Scott Graviano, Newfield High School Principal.
“I am immensely proud of the class of 2024 and all they have accomplished. I’d like to thank our teachers, staff, and families for their relentless support and dedication to our students’ success. We look forward to seeing the amazing futures this class will create,” said Centereach High School Principal, Thomas Bell.
For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website: https://www.mccsd.net/
Three Village Board of Education Commences New School Year
Sachem
The Three Village Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganizational meeting on July 2 to commence the 2024-2025 school year.
District Clerk Inger Germano began the meeting by swearing in reelected trustee Susan Megroz Rosenzweig. Newly elected trustee Dr. Stanley Bak was sworn in at the May 29 meeting, as he was elected to serve a one-year term previously vacated. Dr. Shaorui Li will be sworn in to begin her new term of office at a later date.
Additionally, Susan Megroz Rosenzweig and Karen Roughley were elected to serve as the board’s president and vice president, respectively. Dr. Stanley Bak was appointed to serve as the district clerk pro tem.
The board of education looks forward to a successful and productive school year ahead.
The Three Village CSD serves Old Field, Strongs Neck, Poquott, Setauket, East Setauket, Stony Brook, and parts of Terryville and Head of the Harbor.
Board of Education Begins New School Year
Sachem Central School District held its annual reorganizational meeting for the board of education on July 2.
Reelected board of education trustees Vincent Reynolds, Michael Isernia, Esq. and Sabrina Pitkewicz were sworn into oath to begin their terms. Additionally, Robert Scavo and Mr. Reynolds were elected and sworn in as president and vice president of the board, respectively.
Sachem Central School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri, district clerk Allison Florio, and the district’s treasurers were also sworn in.
The Smithtown Central School District serves portions of the towns of Smithtown, Brookhaven, and Islip.
The trustees of the Bayport-Blue Point School District held the annual reorganization meeting on July 2 in the high school auditorium.
Trustee Mallory Dougherty was sworn in by legal representative Edward McCarthy of Ingerman Smith LLP for an additional three-year term and newly elected trustee Paul Wright for a first three-year term. Additionally, the trustees reelected Michael Miller as president and Brian Johnson as vice-president.
The trustees also introduced Haley Hendershot as the 2024-2025 school year student representative to the board of education.
The Necessary Standard for American Education
House Standing Committees - Part II
By Matt Meduri
Congress, already divided between the House and Senate, becomes further departmentalized at the committee level. Standing committees are simply those that are permanent. The party with the majority in the chamber of Congress earns the chairmanship and majorities on the chamber’s committees. The top spot for the committee member of the minority party is called the Ranking Member.
Committees are divided to utilize specializations and knowledge of its members as it pertains to a certain area of focus, as well as view legislation before to debate, amend, or table it before the legislation can advance to the floor of the chamber for a vote from all representatives.
While standing committees are permanent, there are several other types of committees and caucuses that serve numerous purposes in Washington. Each committee also has certain subcommittees that are composed of members of the committee at large. Last week, we looked at Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, and Education and the Workforce - five of the House’s twenty standing committees. This week, we’ll look at the next five.
Energy and Commerce
This committee is at “the forefront of all issues and policies powering America’s economy, including our global competitive edge in energy, technology, and health care,” according to their website. The committee is divided into six subcommittees.
The Communications and Technology Subcommittee has oversight of electronic foreign and interstate electric communications, including voice, video, audio, and data, wired and wireless, transmitted by telecommunications, commercial or private mobile service, broadcast, cable, satellite, microwave, and other modes. It also handles matters of emergency and public safety communications, cybersecurity, privacy, and jurisdiction related to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Office of Emergency Communications in the Department of Homeland Security (DOH).
The Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee handles the National Energy Policy (NPE), energy infrastructure and security, energy-related agencies and commissions, and all laws, programs, and government activities affecting energy matters. NPE focuses on fossil fuels, renewable energy, nuclear energy, energy conservation, and utility issues relating to energy generation, marketing, reliability, transmission, siting, production, efficiency, cybersecurity, and ratemaking. Infrastructure oversight pertains to pipelines, the strategic petroleum reserves, nuclear facilities, and national grid cybersecurity.
The Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials handles matters of soil, air, noise, and water contamination, physical and cybersecurity emergency environmental responses, as well as standards and policies on hazardous air pollutants, Mobile Source Standards for aircraft, fuels and fuel additives, and regulation of solid, hazardous, and nuclear wastes, including mining, oil, gas, coal, nuclear, and combustion waste.
The Health Subcommittee has oversight of private and public health insurance, as they pertain to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. It also governs matters of biomedical research and development, hospital construction, mental health, health information technology, medical malpractice, the 340B drug discount program, and the regulation of food, drugs, and cosmetics.
The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Committee handles interstate and foreign commerce, consumer protection, data security, motor vehicle safety, and regulation of commercial practices in tandem with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It also handles matters of product liability, regulation of travel and tourism, and commerce regulation with foreign nations, states, and Indian Tribes.
The Oversight and Investigations Committee conducts oversight and investigations of any matter related to the jurisdiction of the full committee.
The committee has fifty-two members: twenty-nine Republicans and twenty-three Democrats. Cathay McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05) serves as Chair and Frank Pallone (D, NJ-06) serves as Ranking Member.
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
Ethics
The Ethics Committee is unique among House committees in that it is the only committee that has a purely bipartisan makeup: five Republicans and five Democrats. The evenly split is to ensure neither party has full control or veto power over the committee’s functions and investigations. Members are limited to three terms on the committee unless a fourth term is served as Chair. All committee staff are nonpartisan. Instead of being divided into subcommittees, the Ethics Committee functions with three main responsibilities.
The Office of Advice and Education serves to provide ethics training to Representatives, officers, and employees of the committee. Advisory functions of the committee are handled confidentially. Committee rules prevent an Advice and Education inquiry from being transformed into an investigation.
The second function of the committee is Investigations. The committee is tasked with investigating and adjudicating any alleged violations of House rules or statutes by Representatives, officers, and employees.
Finally, the third function is to review financial disclosure statements filed by Representatives, candidates, senior staff, and shared staff.
Equally divided between the parties, Michael Guest (R, MS-03) serves as Chair and Susan Wild (D, PA-07) serves as Ranking Member. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) is one of the five Republicans who serve on the committee. The committee rose to prominence with the investigations into former Congressman George Santos (R-Queens)
Financial Services
The Financial Services Committee has oversight of issues pertaining to the economy, banking system, housing, insurance, securities, and exchanges. The committee also has jurisdiction over monetary policy, international finance, and efforts to combat terrorist financing. The committee has oversight of the Federal Reserve Board and individual reserve banks, the Treasury, and the production and distribution of currency.
The committee is divided into six subcommittees: Capital Markets; Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy; Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion; National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions; Oversight and Investigations; and Housing and Insurance.
The committee has fifty-two members: twenty-nine Republicans and twenty-three Democrats. Patrick McHenry (R, NC-10) serves as Chair and Maxine Waters (D, CA-43) serves as Ranking Member. French Hill (R, AR-02) serves as Vice Chair. Congressman Garbarino serves on the committee and is Vice Chair of the Capital Markets Subcommittee and serves on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee.
Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Affairs Committee has oversight related to foreign assistance, the Peace Corps, national security developments affecting foreign policy, strategic planning and agreements, war powers, treaties, executive agreements, deployment and use of the U.S. Armed Forces, peacekeeping, enforcement of United Nations sanctions, arms control and disarmament issues, promotion of democracy, embassy security, and public diplomacy, including international communication, information policy, international education, and cultural programs.
The committee is divided into seven subcommittees, most pertaining to the continents of the world: Africa; Europe; Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; Indo-Pacific; Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia; Oversight and Accountability; and Western Hemisphere.
The subcommittees handle matters between the U.S. and foreign countries, legislation concerning assistance outside the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, international claims, human rights practices in certain countries, loans and financial relations, identification and development of options for meeting future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in said countries, and facility base rights and access.
Oversight and Accountability has oversight and investigation of matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee.
The committee is composed of fifty-one members: twenty-seven
The Homeland Security Committee handles matters relating to border security and enforcement, cybersecurity and infrastructure protection, oversight, investigations, and accountability, counterterrorism, law enforcement, intelligence, emergency management and technology, and transportation and maritime security. The committee has six subcommittees.
The Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement has oversight of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The subcommittee focuses on border and port security in the northern and southern land, air, and maritime domains, international aspects of border security, DHS policies and operations that facilitate legal trade and travel, CBP staffing and resource allocations, and ICE and USCIS border security activities.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee has oversight of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and cybersecurity missions and operations under the DHS. It focuses on protecting the federal network, strengthening critical infrastructure security and resilience, advancing cooperation between the federal government and non-federal owners and operators of critical infrastructure. Congressman Garbarino currently chairs this subcommittee.
The Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, chaired by Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park), focuses on emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, resilience, recovery, DHS grant programs, homeland security research and development, and protecting against and mitigating weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and health security threats. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY01) serves on this subcommittee.
The Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee maintains oversight of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and other federal security agencies. It focuses on the DHS’ effectiveness in providing homeland security and fulfilling counterterrorism missions, as well as its operations and preparedness. It also has oversight of DHS’ ability to identify and deter threats through collection, analysis, and dissemination of homeland security information and intelligence across federal, state, local, and private sector partners, as well as the protection of federal facilities, training, resources, and support for law enforcement, and strengthening protective, investigation, and cyber missions of the USSS.
The Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee focuses on organization, administration, and management of the DHS, policies, processes, and programs of DHS for contracts, acquisitions, human capital, civil rights and liberties, and privacy, as well as the strategy, policy, and planning efforts of DHS for its offices and components.
The Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee has oversight of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard. It focuses on enhancing security of U.S. transportation systems, security of passengers, cargo, airports, and aircraft, the security of mass transit, railroads, highways, and pipelines, as well as Coast Guard port and maritime security operations. Congressman LaLota serves on this subcommittee.
The committee has thirty-three members: eighteen Republicans and fifteen Democrats. Mark Green (R, TN-07) serves as Chair and Bennie Thompson (D, MS-02) serves as Ranking Member. This committee contains all members of cultural Long Island’s four congressional districts: Nick LaLota, Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D’Esposito, and Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove).
Republicans and twenty-three Democrats. Michael McCaul (R, TX-10) serves as Chair and Gregory Meeks (D, NY-05) serves as Ranking Member. Homeland Security
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Grucci Fireworks Illuminate the Night Sky in Spectacular Display
By Cait Crudden
The serene waters of the Long Island Sound became a canvas of vibrant colors and dazzling lights as the Port Jefferson Village Grucci Fireworks display kicked off the community’s Fourth of July festivities. Against the backdrop of the Port Jefferson Country Club, thousands of residents and visitors gathered to witness a breathtaking spectacle that marked the beginning of Independence Day celebrations.
Scheduled just ahead of the Fourth of July, the fireworks extravaganza drew families, friends, and spectators from across Long Island to marvel at the renowned Grucci pyrotechnics. As dusk settled over Port Jefferson, anticipation built among the crowd eager for the show to begin.
The Port Jefferson Country Club provided an idyllic setting for the fireworks show, offering panoramic views of the Long Island Sound. Attendees gathered along the waterfront creating a sea of faces illuminated by anticipation and excitement. Visitors from neighboring towns even joined in, from Mt. Sinai to Rocky Point, and even some from Smithtown.
As darkness enveloped the sky, the first bursts of color erupted overhead and filled the air. Spectators “oohed” and “aahed” as cascades of red, white, and blue illuminated the night. The Grucci family once again outdid themselves. Their fireworks are not just a display of pyrotechnic mastery but a celebration of our nation’s independence and the spirit of unity in our community.
The display featured a variety of pyrotechnic effects, from glittering sparkles to thunderous explosions that echoed across the water. Each sequence was met with applause and cheers from onlookers, reinforcing the shared joy and pride of the occasion. The fireworks display was absolutely breathtaking, events like these make me grateful to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community here on Long Island.
In addition to providing entertainment and awe-inspiring visuals, the Grucci fireworks display also served as a unifying force for Port Jefferson, bringing together residents of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate their shared heritage and values. The Fourth of July is a time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, and the sacrifices made by generations before us. The fireworks display reminds us of the importance of community and the strength that comes from coming together.
Port Jefferson Station Rededicates Flagpole Amidst Celebration of Community Spirit
By Cait Crudden
As the final fireworks lit up the sky, signaling the end of the show, attendees lingered, reluctant to leave the magic of the moment behind. Some continued their celebrations with late-night food and beverages at local restaurants, while others strolled along the waterfront, savoring the memories of another unforgettable Independence Day in Port Jefferson.
As residents and visitors departed, they carried with them the spirit of camaraderie and pride that had illuminated the Port Jefferson Village Grucci Fireworks display. It’s a testament to the enduring tradition of celebrating freedom and community under the summer stars.
The spirit of resilience and community pride was on full display at Port Jefferson Station during the rededication of its beloved flagpole at the Chamber of Commerce location. After being damaged in a car accident, the flagpole stood proudly once again, symbolizing unity and patriotism for all who gathered on a picturesque summer evening
The re-dedication ceremony began with a poignant rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, performed by a talented young member of the community. As the American flag ascended the newly restored flagpole to our national anthem, hearts swelled with pride and admiration for the perseverance that made this moment possible. It was a symbol of strength as a community. The flagpole represents our shared values as Americans and the commitment of residents to come together, no matter the challenges faced.
Local officials including Town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) and Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) addressed the local community during the ceremony as well. They thanked residents for participating and engaging with constituents throughout the festivities.
Following the rededication, the mood shifted to one of celebration as the Chamber of Commerce kicked off its Summer Concert series with an electrifying performance by Southbound, a popular cover country band known for their lively tunes and engaging stage presence. The crowd, consisting of hundreds of enthusiastic community members, quickly filled the area, eager to enjoy an evening of music, line dancing, and camaraderie.
Local vendors lined the venue, offering a variety of goods and services, adding to the festive atmosphere. From handmade crafts to specialty treats, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Chik-fil-A and Mister Softee Ice Cream provided delicious food options, ensuring that no one went hungry during the festivities.
The Summer Concert series, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, has become a hallmark of Port Jefferson Station’s summer calendar, drawing residents and visitors alike. Each concert not only showcases local talent but also serves as a catalyst for community engagement and economic vitality. Upcoming concerts will be hosted on Wednesday nights at 7:00p.m. every week throughout July with a rain date of August 7.
Southbound filled the air with their infectious country melodies, prompting spontaneous dancing and cheers from the crowd. Children played on the grass nearby, families lounged on blankets or beach chairs, and friends gathered to share in the joyous occasion. It was a reminder of what makes Long Island special and why we love living here.
As the final chords of the concert echoed through the night, attendees lingered, reluctant to let the evening come to an end. The rededication of the flagpole and the Summer Concert series had not only provided entertainment but had strengthened the bonds that define Port Jefferson Station.
Residents were left with smiles on their faces and a renewed sense of community spirit, and the message was clear: Port Jefferson Station stands tall, united by its past, present, and future.
Photo by Cait Crudden
Photo by Cait Crudden
Long Island Locavore
Pickle Perfection: Choosing the Right Cucumbers and Techniques for Homemade Pickles
By Nancy Vallarella
Fermented foods are all the rage for promoting gut health.
Most of the pickles found in the grocery store are not fermented. They are made using vinegar brine. Vinegar, combined with water, salt, and spices, creates a brine that preserves the vegetables and imparts a sharp, tangy flavor.
A traditional method that uses just water and salt is lacto-fermentation. Naturally occurring bacteria ferment the sugars in the vegetables, producing lactic acid which preserves the pickles. These pickles are prized for their probiotic benefits, promoting gut health.
The best part about making your own pickles is having full control over the ingredients. You can choose organic produce, customize the flavor with your favorite spices, and avoid any unwanted preservatives or artificial additives. The variety of cucumber you select is a critical decision when desiring a specific texture or needing time to produce a finished product.
When it comes to pickling, not all cucumbers are created equal. Two popular varieties often used are Baby/Persian cucumbers and Kirby cucumbers. Let’s explore the differences between these two types to help you choose the best one for your pickling needs.
Baby/Persian Cucumbers
Baby or Persian cucumbers are small and slender, usually about 4-6 inches long. They have smooth, thin skin and are nearly seedless. They are known for their crisp, tender texture, which makes them ideal for fresh eating and quick pickling. Their thin skin means they don’t need to be peeled. These cucumbers have a mild, slightly sweet flavor, which is less bitter than some other varieties. Due to their size and texture, Baby/ Persian cucumbers are great for salads, snacks, and quick pickles. They hold up well in vinegar brines and can be eaten fresh or lightly pickled.
Fun Fact -
Do you know where pickles get their chartreuse coloring? Turmeric!
Kirby Cucumbers
Kirby cucumbers are typically short and stout, about 3-6 inches long, with bumpy skin. They are thicker than Persian cucumbers and have a firm, crunchy texture that holds up well during pickling. Their thicker skin adds to their crispness and can be left on during pickling. Kirby cucumbers have a more robust, slightly bitter flavor, which mellows out during the pickling process. They are the quintessential pickling cucumbers, ideal for making dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, and kosher dills. They are versatile and can be used in both vinegar brines and lacto-fermentation.
Choosing the Right Cucumber for Pickling
If you’re looking for a quick and easy pickle that can be enjoyed within a few days, Baby/Persian cucumbers are a smart choice. Their thin skin and mild flavor make them perfect for this method. For more traditional pickling methods, especially those requiring longer fermentation or canning, Kirby cucumbers are the way to go. Their firm texture and thicker skin help them stay crunchy throughout the process. Both varieties bring something unique to the table, so your choice will depend on the type of pickles you want to make and your personal preferences.
Supermarkets are flush with Baby/ Persian cucumbers. Kirby pickles are harder to find. One local supermarket manager said their producers are having a mold issue this season.
I found Kirby cucumbers at the Huntington Village Farmers’ Market this past Sunday. Vendor Happy Now Farms is there every other Sunday. Fink’s Farm in Wading River has advertised having them. Thera Farms in Brentwood reported their first harvest will be ready this weekend!
Whether you opt for the tender Baby/ Persian cucumbers or the robust Kirby cucumbers, you’re sure to enjoy delicious, homemade pickles!
Long Island Locavore was created by Nancy Vallarella. Managing farmer’s markets, creating recipes, and giving food demonstrations all contribute to bringing awareness to all things farmed, fished, foraged, and produced on Long Island! For more recipes, or to ask a question, DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or contact her via email – lilocavore495@gmail.com
Bread & Butter Pickles
Ingredients - Makes 1 quart
• 1 pound pickling cucumbers, sliced (Kirby or Persian)
• 1/4 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 red jalapeno or fresno pepper, thinly sliced into rings
• 1 ½ Tbs. kosher salt
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/8 cup water
• 1 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1½ tsp. mustard seed
• ½ tsp. celery seeds
• ½ tsp. whole black peppercorns
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• pinch of ground cloves
Directions Combine cucumbers, onion, and peppers in a bowl; pour kosher salt over the top and stir to coat completely. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 hours. Rinse cucumber mixture in a colander under cold water until all salt is washed away, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.
Stir vinegar, sugar, water, garlic, mustard seed, celery seed, peppercorns, turmeric, and ground cloves together in a saucepan; bring to a simmer and cook until brine flavors combine, about 2 minutes. Add cucumber mixture to brine; heat until almost boiling, remove from heat, and cool completely. Transfer to jars and store in the refrigerator.
Half Sour Pickles – from Brooklyn Farm Girl
Ingredients – Makes 1 quart
• 5 Kirby cucumbers or how many fit in the jar
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
• a few pieces of fresh dill
• 3 bay leaves
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 6 cups water
Directions
Wash your cucumbers. Dissolve your sea salt in the water. Grind up all the dry ingredients (coriander, mustard seeds, peppercorns, 2 bay leaves). If you don’t have a mortar/pestle, throw it in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.
by Nancy Vallarella
Put the cucumbers in your jar. Put the minced garlic in the jar, then ground up spices, then pour the saltwater mixture on top. If you have any water left, disregard it. Add a few pieces of fresh dill on top. Add in your additional coriander seeds, peppercorns, and bay leaf.
Make sure your cucumbers are completely covered in water and close the jar. Put it in the refrigerator. Let them sit for at least 4 days before eating.
Photos
TFCC Bans Robocalls Using Deepfake Voice Clones − But AI-Generated Disinformation Still Looms Over Elections
By Joan Donovan | The Conversation
The Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 8, 2024, outlawed robocalls that use voices generated by artificial intelligence.
The 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act bans artificial voices in robocalls. The FCC’s Feb. 8 ruling declares that AIgenerated voices, including clones of real people’s voices, are artificial and therefore banned by law.
The move follows on the heels of a robocall on Jan. 21, 2024, from what sounded like President Joe Biden. The call had Biden’s voice urging voters inclined to support Biden and the Democratic Party not to participate in New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 GOP primary election. The call falsely implied that a registered Democrat could vote in the Republican primary and that a voter who voted in the primary would be ineligible to vote in the general election in November.
The call, two days before the primary, appears to have been an artificial intelligence deepfake. It also appears to have been an attempt to discourage voting.
The FCC and the New Hampshire attorney general’s office are investigating the call. On Feb. 6, 2024, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella identified two Texas companies, Life Corp. and Lingo Telecom, as the source and transmitter, respectively, of the call.
Injecting confusion
Robocalls in elections are nothing new and not illegal; many are simply efforts to get out the vote. But they have also been used in voter suppression campaigns. Compounding this problem in this case is the application of AI to clone Biden’s voice.
In a media ecosystem full of noise, scrambled signals such as deepfake robocalls make it virtually impossible to tell facts from fakes.
Recently, a number of companies have popped up online offering impersonation as a service. For users like you and me, it’s as easy as selecting a politician, celebrity or executive like Joe Biden, Donald Trump or Elon Musk from a menu and typing a script of what you want them to appear to say, and the website creates the deepfake automatically.
Though the audio and video output is usually choppy and stilted, when the audio is delivered via a robocall it’s very believable. You could easily think you are hearing a recording of Joe Biden, but really it’s machine-made misinformation.
Context is key
I’m a media and disinformation scholar. In 2019, information scientist Brit Paris and I studied how generative adversarial networks – what most people today think of as AI – would transform the ways institutions assess evidence and make decisions when judging realistic-looking audio and video manipulation. What we found was that no single piece of media is reliable on its face; rather, context matters for making an interpretation.
When it comes to AI-enhanced disinformation, the believability of deepfakes hinges on where you see or hear them or who shares them. Without a valid and confirmed source vouching for it as a fact, a deepfake might be interesting or funny but will never pass muster in a courtroom. However, deepfakes can still be damaging when used in efforts to suppress the vote or shape public opinion on divisive issues.
AI-enhanced disinformation campaigns are difficult to counter because unmasking the source requires tracking the trail of metadata, which is the data about a piece of media. How this is done varies, depending on the method of distribution: robocalls, social media, email, text message or websites. Right now, research on audio and video manipulation is more
difficult because many big tech companies have shut down access to their application programming interfaces, which make it possible for researchers to collect data about social media, and the companies have laid off their trust and safety teams.
Timely, accurate, local knowledge
In many ways, AI-enhanced disinformation such as the New Hampshire robocall poses the same problems as every other form of disinformation. People who use AI to disrupt elections are likely to do what they can to hide their tracks, which is why it’s necessary for the public to remain skeptical about claims that do not come from verified sources, such as local TV news or social media accounts of reputable news organizations.
It’s also important for the public to understand what new audio and visual manipulation technology is capable of. Now that the technology has become widely available, and with a pivotal election year ahead, the fake Biden robocall is only the latest of what is likely to be a series of AI-enhanced disinformation campaigns, even though these calls are now explicitly illegal.
I believe society needs to learn to venerate what I call TALK: timely, accurate, local knowledge. I believe that it’s important to design social media systems that value timely, accurate, local knowledge over disruption and divisiveness.
It’s also important to make it more difficult for disinformers to profit from undermining democracy. For example, the malicious use of technology to suppress voter turnout should be vigorously investigated by federal and state law enforcement authorities.
While deepfakes may catch people by surprise, they should not catch us off guard, no matter how slow the truth is compared with the speed of disinformation.
LI Life & Politics
Alleged MS-13 Member Sentenced For 2021 Murder
By Long Island Life and Politics
An alleged MS-13 gang member was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after his conviction for the murder of an 18-year-old man in March 2021.
In the early morning hours of March 1, 2021, 18-year-old Daniel GarciaCarbajal was lured to Cow Meadow Park in Merrick with the promise of meeting up with girls through a message sent to him on Facebook Messenger. The victim was picked up in a car that afternoon and taken to Cow Meadow Park in Freeport with the defendant, Kevin Torres, and other co-defendants.
Garcia-Carbajal entered the park with multiple co-defendants – including Torres – where he was shot once in the head, causing his death. After the murder, Kevin Torres was given the gun used in the shooting and buried it in a co-defendant’s backyard.
A family member reported Garcia-Carbajal missing and his body was found the following day in the park. The victim was a perceived enemy of MS-13 because of previous social media posts.
Torres, 26, was arrested on October 26, 2021, by members of the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations in Central Islip. He was convicted June 5, of second-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy, both Class A-I felonies, and second-degree conspiracy, a Class B felony. He was sentenced on July 10, 2024.
“Daniel Garcia-Carbajal trusted that Kevin Torres was just trying to show him a good time, heading to Cow Meadow Park for an afternoon of partying with friends,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly (R). “But he sadly put his trust in the wrong people, and because of Daniel’s social media posts, which were taken as disrespectful to MS-13, he was ambushed, shot, and killed by the defendant and his co-conspirators. NCDA will continue to aggressively prosecute cases involving this dangerous street gang to protect our communities from their violence.”
For more from Long Island Life and Politics, visit: www.lilifepolitics.com
Kerry J. Maher
Kenneth Maher, Jr. Lic. Director
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Joe Biden’s Jungle Of Regulations
By Ben Solis | AMAC Exclusive
Along with the 20 percent cumulative inflation that has ravaged household budgets since 2021, President Joe Biden’s tenure has been marked by a deluge of new regulations that have cost businesses and consumers dearly.
According to a report out earlier this year from the American Action Forum (AAF), new regulations imposed by the Biden administration from Inauguration Day 2021 through April 2024 have cost taxpayers some $1.4 trillion, while adding 267 million annual paperwork hours. For reference, Trump administration regulations introduced over that same period of time during his first term cost taxpayers $30.1 billion, while Obama rules cost $303.1 billion.
According to Wayne Crews from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, these regulations are having a significant impact on the economy, hampering growth and innovation. If these regulations were conceptualized as a tax, they would surpass the federal income tax, amounting to approximately $14,600 per family.
As former Trump economic advisor Casey Mulligan testified to Congress in 2023, four years of Trump in office “reduced regulatory costs by about $11,000 per household.” But if Biden remains in the White House and the current rate of new laws and regulations continues apace, costs per household from Biden’s regulatory onslaught could reach a staggering $60,000.
The sheer number of Biden regulatory actions is also shattering previous records. In 2022, AAF finds, Congress passed a total of 247 laws. That same year, the Biden administration introduced some 3,168 new regulations – a ratio of nearly 13 to 1.
In addition, the Biden administration has issued a torrent of guidance documents, proclamations, memoranda, bulletins, circulars, and letters outlining how agencies should perform their congressionally-mandated duties. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) terms these documents “regulatory dark matter,” as they “are subject to little scrutiny or democratic accountability but carry practical, binding regulatory effects.”
In an interview, retired Economics Professor August Fritz de Riehl, who advised the president of the Austrian Central Bank in the 1980s, described Biden’s regulatory agenda as a “bureaucratic jungle which stifles entrepreneurship and productivity.” Dr. Riehl, who observed first-hand the de-regulatory success of the Reagan and Trump administrations, told me that Biden’s approach was the exact opposite. While Reagan and Trump based their regulatory agenda on a few common-sense principles that everyone understood, he said, Biden is attempting to micromanage every industry from Washington D.C.
Dr. Riehl added that four more years with Biden in office would likely result in a “drastic collapse in competitiveness and product quality,” warning that, as is the case in Europe, overregulation would paralyze businesses. “It is an abyss,” he said. “One regulation can be accompanied by hundreds or thousands of pages of interpretations, and you have to comply with it all.”
Gianluigi Fisce, another retired economics professor, also warned me that Biden’s regulatory excess is putting on the United States “on the same path as Europe, which is heading toward economic stagnation and contraction.” In the 1990s, he explained, despite warnings from him and other experts, Brussels “chose judges and regulators over innovators and capital – a terrible mistake.”
“Regulators regard businesses as their slaves or even enemies,” Dr. Fisce said. This influence “limits consumer choices by effectively dictating what companies can produce.” A stark example of this which he pointed to is Obamacare, which notably expanded government control over health insurers, influencing clients in the direction the administration desired.
Small businesses under Biden have in particular found themselves buried by an endless sea of regulatory paperwork and
compliance requirements to bring any new product to market. Even one small mistake is enough to initiate a recall from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. As compliance costs have increased, many small companies have been forced out of business entirely.
Dr. Cnute Haukebo, an economist who advised Latin American governments in the 1990s, told me that another problem with Biden’s regulatory regime is “the moods and interpretive imaginations of bureaucracy.” As he explained, rules and regulations are often sufficiently broad to allow activistminded bureaucrats to apply rules in a manner that favors a certain political agenda.
For instance, Dr. Haukebo said, regulations labeled as “green” have provided a “green light for extensive bureaucratic intervention in businesses worldwide.” Under the guise of
Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens
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fighting “climate change,” the Biden administration has inserted itself into virtually every industry, from the energy sector to auto manufacturing. The result has been slowing growth and higher prices for consumers.
Throughout his campaign for president in 2020 and tenure in office, Joe Biden has been careful to rhetorically distance himself from the “socialist” label, repeatedly claiming that he is a “capitalist.” But his regulatory agenda has told a different story, granting the federal government broad leeway to put its thumb on the scales of the free market.
The costs of this approach to the American economy and American consumers are clear. With Election Day rapidly approaching, voters will finally have the chance to escape Biden’s regulatory jungle.
20
WORD OF THE Week
Origin: late Middle English (as a term in astrology): from Old French saturnin, from medieval Latin Saturninus ‘of Saturn’ (identified with lead by the alchemists and associated with slowness and gloom by astrologers). Source: Oxford Languages
Synonyms: somber, mercurial, moody
Antonyms: cheerful, jovial, bright
SATURNINE
& Pieces
adjective
Pronounced: sa·tr·nine
Definition: (of a person or their manner) slow and gloomy; (of a person or their features) dark in coloring and moody or mysterious; (of a place of an occasion) gloomy
Example: “The ghost town shook the travelers with its lonely and saturnine character.”
WORD WHEEL
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
July 12, 1843: Mormon leader Joseph Smith says God allows polygamy
July 13, 1956: Mark “The Animal’ Mendoza [Glickman], American bassist (Twisted Sister - “We’re Not Gonna Take It”), born in West Hempstead
This Week in History
July 17, 1996:
Paris-bound flight TWA 800, explodes off the coast of East Moriches, killing all 230 on board the Boeing 747, the third-deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history
July 11, 1967: “The Newlywed Game” premieres in the US on ABC TV
July 15, 1799: The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain PierreFrançois Bouchard during Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign
July 16, 1960: Leila Kenzle, American actress (Mad About You, Identity), born in Patchogue
July 14, 2023: Architect Rex Heuermann charged with 3 out of 11 possible murders in the Gilgo Beach murders dating back to 2007 on Long Island
Run Across America
Mark Backes Completes Run Across America for Parkinson’s Awareness
By Matt Meduri
One man, one cart, no medic, and almost three thousands miles.
On April 6, Mark Backes, motivated by the loss of his father to Parkinson’s Disease in 2018 and his wife’s recent diagnosis, decided to fulfill a life-long dream and bring awareness to the disease: run across the United States solo.
In an effort to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Research Foundation and to bring nationwide awareness to the disease, Backes employed his love of running and embarked on a cross-country journey that started at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan.
Backes completed his ninety-two-day, 2,811-mile journey that spanned thirteen states on Saturday, July 6, around 1:30 p.m. Appropriately, the Forrest Gump-esque marathon concluded in New York on the thirtieth anniversary of the premiere of the hit Tom Hanks movie.
Backes averaged thirty-one miles per day, more than a daily marathon for three months straight. Pulling only a wheeled cart that carried basic necessities, Mark was accompanied by no medic or dedicated help during the trip. Only the first third of the trip saw some family members accompany him for moral support. Any other support he’d receive along the way were from generous passersby or residents of the towns he passed through along the way.
Only less than four hundred people in history have made the run across the continental U.S., and Backes’ trip with the added challenge of no dedicated outside help makes his feat a significant one for the history books.
The Messenger took the trip into New York City to greet Backes at the finish line at the corner of ThirtyFourth Street and Fifth Avenue.
Backes said that the first third of the trip was the most greuling, as it contained the route through Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
“Through the deserts and Indian Reservations of Arizona, there’s stretches of eighty to one hundred miles where there’s nothing,” Backes told The Messenger. “There’s no mini-marts, there’s no gas stations. My family knew this and, without my approval, my family came out anyway as my ‘trail angels’ to bring me food and water.”
Despite the brutal heat and conditions of the desert, Backes says that the mornings were “incredibly beautiful” consolations.
“My favorite time was sunrise in New Mexico,” said Backes, remarking on the purple-orange skies that give the desert a backdrop unique to anywhere in the country.
Backes says that once he got to Taos, New Mexico, it was “home sailing” from there.
“I love Kansas!” Backes exclaimed, expressing relief at the level terrain that was a welcome change from the mountains of the Southwest.
Backes says that of the thirteen states through which he traveled, his favorite was Pennsylvania.
“It was gorgeous, it was the most beautiful state,” said Backes. “Everything about it was beautiful: how green it was, the trees, even the homes.”
Besides the help from his family, which he says he did not authorize, his only other help came from “trail angels” along the way.
“The strangers and their generosity just blew my mind,” said Backes, saying that while some gave him water or donated to the foundation, others even gave him lodging for the night.
“They took me into their homes, washed my clothes, fed me, and even let me use the shower,” said Backes, adding that he encountered such “trail angels” in every state on the itinerary. He also said that a stray dog followed him for about two miles after he gave him half of his burrito in New Mexico.
“Sometimes, people would find me online and see where [in the country] I was and they would contact me,” said Backes, referring to the map that continuously updated his location in the U.S. during his three-month journey.
Backes, a resident of San Diego, said he had plans to head home Tuesday - by plane - but not before going to the top of the Empire State Building.
Backes is also no stranger to feats of strength and endurance. Although his solo cross-country trek stands out among his personal physical accomplishments, other notable achievements include a one-day climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a back-to-back run of the Grand Canyon, and the Death Valley Badwater Run, a 135-mile race in the middle of summer where temperatures can reach upwards of 120 degrees.
Backes works in schools and raises funds through jog-a-thons in the elementary schools, adding that he’s been an avid runner for thirty-five years.
Remarkably, Backes says he did not consult with physicians before the run, saying “you just have to know your body.”
“The most amazing thing is I’m completely healthy, nothing happened along the way,” said Backes.
Backes, 61, said the most profound aspect of the trip was something that he saw in every town that reminded him of one thing: death.
“There are cemeteries in every town and they are prominent in every town,” said Backes. “It reminded me how short a time I have to live here. My best case scenario would be to live to one hundred years old; I only have forty years to go. You just have so little time here on Earth.”
Backes’ campaign raised about $25,000 of a $100,000 goal. Despite the conclusion of Backes’ meteoric trip, the donation portal is still active, and 100% of the proceeds will go the Michael J. Fox Research Foundation.
Photo Credit: Mark Backes
Photo Credit: Matt Meduri
Around Town
Quad-Chamber Meeting Event Unites North Shore
By Diane Caudullo
A simple, yet smart, business decision for any local business is to become a member in their local Chamber of Commerce. Almost every area has one, usually charging a nominal fee to join, but the benefits are endless. One key benefit is the opportunity to network with other businesses and service providers. Again, simple yet smart.
Within the last few years, a new trend has been on the rise amongst these chambers of commerce. They are joining together with two or three neighboring chambers and hosting events together. Each chamber takes a turn hosting the event in their town and the other chamber members are invited and encouraged to attend, creating the opportunity to connect with even more people from even more businesses.
This past week it was the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce’s turn to host their sister chambers. Included in their quarterly Quad-Chamber Meeting was the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber, the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber, and the Three Village Chamber. These chambers collectively cover a broad area across the north shore
Hosted by the Greater Smithtown Chamber at the exquisite Stonebridge Golf Links and Country Club on July 9 with hors d’oeuvres, a pasta station, and a bar, Smithtown was poised to impress. The setting was excellent and quite conducive for a relaxing after-hours feel perfectly blended with the opportunity to easily meet many new people.
The Messenger was in attendance as well as Brian Kennedy, partner of Forchelli, Deegan, Terrana LLP, Mary Ellen McCrossen of Catholic Health Services, Joy Vonurban from Island Nursing & Rehab, Anthony and Ellen Pellegrino of Windows on the Lake and Beach Club, James Thompson from Lexington Capital, Joe Horowitz of Stetson Cybergroup, and Kevin Sioss of Island Nights Outdoor Lights just to name a few and show the diversity of the types of businesses represented.
the quality and the reliability. They share your goals to have a distinctive aversion to mediocrity.”
Inserra also mentioned their annual “Nine and Dine” golf outing at St. George’s Country Club in Setauket on August 5.
Jennifer Dzvonar, President of the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce (pictured right), announced their summer concert series every Wednesday in July, 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m., which have tables exclusive to chamber members.
Barbara Franco, Executive Director for the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce (pictured above right), headlined the evening and thanked the attendees for their strong coalition and never-ending support for local business and community matters.
Franco received much of the acclaim for such a successful night.
Mary Ellen McCrossen, Vice President of the Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, mentioned emergency department expansions at St. Catherine’s and St. Charles Hospitals, as well as a blood drive at St. Catherine’s on August 29 and 30.
“We are in a blood emergency, please go in and donate blood,” said McCrossen. “One pint of blood can save three lives.”
Stuart Vincent, President of the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce (pictured left), mentioned an upcoming blood drive on Thursday at Mather Hospital.
“Every year, we have a wine and cheese soiree to welcome all the new members.
That’s held at the chamber offices [Roe House, 118 West Broadway, Port Jefferson] on August 8,” said Vincent.
He also discussed the Dragon Boat Race Festival in the Port Jefferson Harbor on Saturday, September 14.
Carmine Inserra, of ProSysCon Computer Technologies and Vice President of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce, (pictured below right) thanked the Smithtown Chamber for hosting the event and spoke on behalf of their president, Charlie Lefkowitz.
“Our sponsor was Ron Gonzales of RGG Consulting. They’re a computer network company based out of Stony Brook,” said Inserra. “They embolden businesses with partnerships to go beyond the infrastructure. They’re unrelenting about
The event drew all types of local businesses, community leaders, and some elected officials, such as Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, former Deputy Port Jefferson Mayor Rebecca Kassay, and Brookhaven Town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook).
Photo Credit: Matt Meduri
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Long Island Has Bolden Mack Park
By PJ Balzer
The saying that’s plastered on a huge banner court side while also resounding through the park, “Brooklyn has Gersh park. Queens has Lincoln Park. Harlem has Rucker Park. Uptown has Dyckman Park. Long Island has Bolden Mack.”
The saying couldn’t be any truer for basketball players, spectators, coaches, and talent scouts from Mattituck all the way to Hempstead. There’s undeniable excitement in and around the park that stretches up and down our Island.
The Bolden Mack Park officially became a park in 1973. Babylon Town helped name the park after a hardworking and honorable gentleman who migrated from Virginia to North Amityville in the early 1900s. Mr. Mack worked tirelessly, planting and farming his own property which was close to the park. He loved doing so and kept on working right up until his death which was two weeks after his 110th birthday in 1975.
Since then, several of North Amityville’s community leaders have stepped up to upgrade and bring young lives to the park. Mike James played basketball for Amityville High School before playing division one college ball at Duquesne University and then for several teams in the NBA. James was a part of pouring love and resources back into the community he grew up in by helping upgrade and care for the park, so much so that North Amityville celebrates “Mike James Day” every July 29 at the park with food, music, giveaways, and, of course, basketball.
Much more recently, another long-time North Amityville resident and alumnus, Andrew Ayodeji, created the Bolden Mack summer league. This league was created to curb gun violence in North Amityville and the surrounding communities in the summertime when it would statistically spike. Since the league’s inception, it has drawn talent from literally up and down the island, which is ultimately impacting dozens of our communities. “The Mack” is the place to be, especially in the evening, whether you’re playing or just watching some of Long Island’s best basketball players and their summer league teams go headto-head. It’s exciting, often high-flying, and a good preview of the upcoming high school basketball season. The league’s teams have catchy names and colorful uniforms that just add to the excitement.
When I pulled up to the park this week, which is located centrally on Great Neck Road in North Amityville, it was well before noon on an extremely hot and humid day. I was expecting to take a few photos of an empty park and its legendary courts. Yet, I was greeted by Coach Naz Mclamb of Ambitious Training along with Tymel Small and Amir Dickerson of Amityville High School and Ray Bradley of Copiague High School. Coach Naz and the young men were happy to show me around the park a little and explain some of the excitement surrounding the nightly summer league games. On the adjacent court was a few middle school aged kids practicing free throws
and an elementary aged child whose mother was watching and assisting him in practicing lay-ups. The Bolden Mack Park was clearly oozing with positivity.
This park and its leaders are giving our young people something productive to do during the summer and warmer months. Not only is the park cultivating the game of basketball, but it’s also cultivating healthy relationships, productive conversations, and strengthening a community using a round ball. It’s cultivating discipline, a strong work ethic, teamwork, and leadership skills for kids in your community and mine. Thank you for the impact you’re having on our youth, North Amityville!
Bolden Mack Park is located at 3453 Great Neck Road in North Amityville.
New York Stars Heading to Arlington For MLB All-Star Weekend
By James Haupt
On Saturday, July 13, the MLB will kick off its annual all-star weekend in Arlington, Texas, home of the Texas Rangers. The weekend’s festivities will include the Homerun Derby, Celebrity Softball Game, and the Future Games. It will then wrap up with the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16.
Both the New York Yankees and New York Mets will have their stars making an appearance throughout the weekend.
The Yankees are sending both Aaron Judge and Juan Soto to the games as starting outfielders. Judge received the most votes in the league as he is having yet another historic season. He is leading the MLB in home runs (32), RBIs (83), and OPS (1.118) which gives him his sixth allstar appearance.
Soto has been an amazing acquisition for the Yankees this season as he makes his first all-star appearance as a “Bronx Bomber.” Soto has put up stats of 21 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .291 batting average, earning him his fourth all-star appearance and first ever as a starter. The best outfield duo in the league will play side-by-side in this year’s All-Star Game.
The Yankees closer Clay Holmes also received an allstar nod, the second of his career. He has a 1-3 record, 19 saves, and 37 strikeouts this season. Despite a recent slump, he’s still proven to be one of the best closers in the league.
In Queens, there is a slightly different story for the MLB All-Star weekend. The Mets had a cold start to the year but are on a hot streak as of late as they make a wildcard push. Despite the recent success of most of its players, the Mets will only be sending star 1st baseman Pete Alonso to the All-Star Game as a reserve.
Alonso has 18 home runs and 48 RBIs, making him one of the most productive players on his team. Some people believe SS Francisco Lindor and OF Brandon
Nimmo were snubbed from an appearance this year as they have both had terrific seasons, especially as of late.
Despite this, Alonso will be on his own this weekend. Thankfully, he will be in familiar territory as this is his fourth all-star appearance, only the eleventh Met to reach this mark.
Alonso will also be making his fifth Home Run Derby appearance. He’s a 2x champion in this event making him one of the favorites to win.
The Yankees and Mets also have some young talent making appearances in the Future Games which will take place on Saturday.
The Yankees will be sending pitcher Brock Selvidge and OF Spencer Jones who play for the Somerset Patriots, its AA team. Selvidge has a 7-6 record this season along with 83 strikeouts in 84.2 innings pitched. Jones is a fan-favorite who has put up 10 homers, 46 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 287 at-bats this season.
The Mets will also have a prospect from their AA affiliate making an appearance in the 2024 Future Games. Pitcher Brandon Sproat, who plays for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, will take the mound this Saturday.
Sproat has been stellar this season boasting a 6-1 record and a 1.71 ERA in 14 games played. He’s also recorded 85 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched, making him one of the best pitchers in AA.
It’s great to see the New York Stars take the big stage this weekend, but it’s even better to see the future of the Mets and Yankees perform at their best. Make sure to tune into both the AllStar game and the Future Games this weekend in Arlington.
by PJ Balzer
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7,000+ Enjoy Fourth of July Victory for Flock
Stephen Woods Jr. Earns Fourth Win with Eight Strikeouts in Quality Start
The Long Island Ducks defeated the Charleston Dirty Birds 5-4 on Thursday night in the rubber game of a three-game series before a past-capacity crowd of 7,059 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
Tillman Pugh’s sacrifice fly to center field in the third inning off Ducks starter Stephen Woods, Jr. (pictured right) gave Charleston a 1-0 lead. Frank Schwindel (pictured left) answered in the bottom of the third with an oppositefield three-run home run to right off Dirty Birds starter Mack Lemieux. Scott Kelly’s (pictured middle right) RBI single through the left side in the fourth bumped the Ducks lead up to 4-1.
Keon Barnum drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh, closing the gap to 4-2, but the Ducks got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Chance Sisco scored on a double play.
Phillip Ervin scored on an error in the eighth inning to make it two-run game at 5-3. Barnum lifted a solo homer to right in the ninth, trimming the Ducks lead to one, but the visitors were unable to pull even.
Woods Jr. (4-3) earned the win, tossing six innings of tworun ball, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out eight. Lemieux (1-4) lasted four and two-thirds innings, conceding four runs on seven hits and three walks with one strikeout. Ramon Santos picked up his third save of the year, striking out four while giving up a run on a hit.
Sisco (pictured right) led the Ducks offense with three hits and a run, while Bradley Jr. (pictured below left) added two hits, an RBI and a run, and Schwindel drove in three runs.
The Ducks are in their 24th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, led all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance in 2023, and have sold out a record 710 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 25-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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Credit: Sergio Fabbri