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Endorsement Alert: RAY TIERNEY FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
By The Editorial Board
Four years ago, Ray Tierney took the entrenched Democratic incumbent District Attorney Tim Sini, staking a campaign on a beleaguered internal prosecutorial process and questions over how a local D.A. can navigate the current headwinds released by Albany.
D.A. Tierney has more than exceeded expectations.
The Republican who calls Brookhaven Town home has spared no expense in ensuring that Suffolk County’s prosecutorial arm is working like a well-oiled machine, not only in terms of boilerplate cases, but in terms of internal department overhauls, leading groundbreaking investigations, and getting the numbers down in his first term.
He’s also unopposed for re-election this year, an indication that he’s lived up to the post and then some, we find.
Continued on page 4
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Endorsement
October 23, 2025
Ray Tierney for District Attorney
Navigating a Tough Political Climate
You don’t have to look too far to find opinions that law enforcement practices and the criminal justice system aren’t quite what they once were. Law enforcement personnel face more external challenges than they ever had, perhaps, and softon-crime policies from Albany only handcuff said enforcement and prosecutors, instead of the criminals for whom handcuffs are typically intended.
Tierney is a solid, regular, and vocal advocate in the reforms of these policies. He regularly rallies in Albany at the start of each session, as well as throughout the year in Suffolk County, for commonsense changes that, at this point, only those who seek to intentionally harangue justice would oppose. One of Tierney’s biggest requests is the tossing of New York’s antiquated “list” of known substances that can lead to an arrest, typically in the case of ostensibly impaired drivers. With the legalization of recreational marijuana, which, as of now, does not have onsite detection capabilities like alcohol does, and the blizzard of new, synthetic drugs hitting the black markets faster than they can be categorized by law enforcement, Tierney takes the correct stance in asking for a more comprehensive set of laws that aren’t confined to constricting goalposts.
Tierney has also regularly asked for reforms to bail reform, discovery processes, and New York’s Raise the Age Law, all areas that we opine need significant reevaluation.
But Tierney brings a nuanced approach to these issues. While he regularly cites these suffocating laws as counteractive to policing and prosecutions, he has also regularly stated his understanding of the need for reforms in the first place. His opinion, one that we share, the pendulum simply swung too far in the other direction.
Take, for instance, the very recent bust of a network of drivers who would raid church donation bins of second-hand clothing, intended for Suffolk’s neediest, instead redirected to outof-town exporters. Not only did this account for nearly half-a-million dollars worth of items, but it demonstrates that some people are heartless
cars come from off-Island to block intersections and parking lots to have impromptu drag races and feats of driving prowess. These not only mark up the roads and cause quality of life issues, but pose serious safety concerns and have even been documented to have blocked an ambulance from carrying a patient to a hospital.
While this stance is paramount to finding the common denominators of a reformed criminal justice system that truly works for the accused and the prosecutors, this is just a glimpse of the nuanced approach Tierney brings to the table in each circumstance - a testament, also, to his mindset of the classic prosecutor - innocent until proven guilty, and not everything is just one way or the other.
We find that Tierney’s position as Suffolk County’s D.A. is not only a massive benefit for the safety and quality of life to Suffolk residents, but also a valuable check on the runaway legislation coming from Albany. He not only articulates the problems from his perspective well, but he’s got the goods to back it up.
Taking Down Networks
While many forms of crime are still perpetrated by lone actors, or perhaps a dynamic duo, we’ve seen - and ran - many headlines over the last four years that show that many criminal actions are much more coordinated than one would assume.
enough to steal from the most destitute, as well as the sheer generosity that is alive and well here in Suffolk County.
Tierney has also headed investigations into several other criminal conspiracies, such as last year’s break of an Islip High School teacher and a crooked cop who operated massage parlors in Babylon and Holbrook, pulling back the curtain on human trafficking, coercion, and a criminal conspiracy, maintained even while the officer was on the clock in his cruiser.
Earlier this year, a Centereach woman was busted for running a drug trafficking network out of her garage. Each purchase was not only tailored to customer’s orders, but complete with little business cards that provided instructions on the use of each substance.
Less gruesomely, but also of significance, Tierney has also been at the forefront of the illegal street takeover scene, in which racers in suped-up
These investigations don’t come off hunches or word-of-mouth. They come from months or even years of observation and data collection, something at which Tierney and his elite team of prosecutors have proven adept.
Gilgo Beach, A Cold Case Finally Cracked
No mention of Tierney goes without the immediate association of Gilgo Beach. A serial killing spree that gripped the relatively quiet Suffolk County by storm decades ago, within his first year on the job, Tierney was able to provide a suspect.
Not only was the suspect, Rex Heuermann, connected to the crimes - he is still innocent until proven guilty, we remind - through dusted-off leads from Tierney’s predecessor, but also through cuttingedge, state-of-the art mitochondrial DNA technology. The Gilgo Beach case is the first in the state and one of the first nationally to utilize this type of technology to detect DNA and match DNA left behind years or even decades ago. Due to its avant garde nature, Tierney and company had to prove its feasibility and prosecutorial scrutiny to be used to mount a case - something that they recently saw ruled in their favor.
It’s also no secret that the Gilgo Beach murders likely could have been brought to light much sooner than they did, but we also know that insiders within the offices of Tierney’s predecessors and some former SCPD Police Chief Jimmy Burke, pushed federal partners out of the investigation - clearly a righteous reason for Tierney to have overhauled the internals of the department.
By the Numbers
D.A. Tierney shared with us in his interview last week that the raw numbers of violent crimes, crimes committed with firearms, and homicides, particularly, have seen a decline since his tenure started in January 2022. While other crimes like human trafficking, animal crimes, and environmental crimes have seen large increases, this isn’t due to a lack of attention from the D.A.’s office, it’s that more are being reported and adjudicated, meaning Tierney is filling in blanks where necessary.
As we said previously, it’s no wonder why Tierney faces no competition this year. We’ve seen not only a remarkable display of duty fulfillment, but a palpable turnaround from prosecutors of the past, making him all the more deserving of another term.
The Messenger endorses Tierney.
D.A. Tierney showcases evidence to the press (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, speaks of her sister.
By Matt Meduri
Candidate: Sheriff Errol Toulon
Candidate Spotlight Sheriff Errol Toulon
First Elected: 2017, re-elected 2021 Party Lines: Democratic, Conservative Notable Endorsements: Suffolk PBA, Superior Officers, police unions in Suffolk, Nassau, and New York City
Sheriff Errol Toulon is running for a third term as the County Sheriff. He is unopposed for re-election this year.
Sheriff Toulon sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments over the last four years?
A: A big thing is our Corrections Intelligence Center. We have an incredible amount of intelligence that we gather that we use to prevent or solve a crime. It’s grown so much that we have partners in 168 jurisdictions through the U.S. We also have partners in Australia, Canada, Ireland, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico as part of the information-sharing we have. We are a hub for this intelligence that’s happening globally and we disseminate the info out to our partners.
When we look at the men and women who are incarcerated in our facility, whether they’re in Riverhead or Yaphank, 85% of them are returning back to our communities. You’d never be able to tell if someone just got out of jail, whether you see them at a supermarket, ball field, or church. We’ve created several programs that are at zero cost to the taxpayers, including our addiction treatment program. We offer crossfit, yoga, and even memoir writing. Throughout the facilities, we offer trade education to the incarcerated, such as HVAC, plumbing, solar, electrical, carpentry, and small engine repair. We also train in anger management, parenting, and résumé writing.
We also have the Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Team (START) Resource Center. The team continues to assist individuals postincarceration to avoid the likelihood of returning to the justice system. From a public safety standpoint, we felt that that was very valuable. We have ten towns, but we have individuals from Nassau or New York City, and we want to connect to them the resources they’re returning to, rather than them trying to figure everything out on their own.
The national average for recidivism is 68%, regarding someone returning back to jail in three years. In New York State, it’s 43%. For our program, it is 17-20%. The program is not mandatory, so myself or a judge can’t mandate someone in our custody to participate. We started this in March 2020, and we’ve seen exponential returns.
I was one of the first ones to come out against the State against bail reform. I’ve actively worked with our District Attorney regarding the discovery process. When I got up to Albany, I realized how big the problem was. It’s not as simple as talking to one lawmaker. You need a consortium of them who can understand your point of view. That’s been our biggest frustration. We weren’t brought to the table when these bills were being crafted to see how it could have impacted us. We didn’t have a voice, yet we’re the ones who suffer because of the legislation that has been passed.
They could eliminate the bail reform legislation and give judges discretion, which is why they were elected to office, and people can hold them accountable if they feel there’s no justice among certain populations. I understand where people are coming from, but I’m also someone who’s been in law enforcement since August 1982. I’ve seen some very bad people regardless of skin color and I had to deal with them inside Rikers Island for twenty-five years.
Q: What are some of the biggest threats to your department that you’re actively navigating?
A: One is the way individuals are trying to introduce fentanyl in our facilities. Fentanyl is very deadly to anyone in our facility, staff or inmates. We’ve been able to thwart several rings within our facilities.
Drones are also a big problem for the Corrections side of the Sheriff’s office. I recently spoke to the Director of Prisons in Nevada; they’re averaging ten to fifteen cell phones a week that are dropped in by drones. The drones also drop in drugs. We have a great drone detection system to protect us. We’re in contact with all of our law enforcement partners to see what is emerging and if people are trying to smuggle in contraband or are making escape attempts. In Nevada, the cartels are the ones dropping off cell phones and drugs. In Indiana, they are averaging thirty to forty a week. It’s so bad that they actually have a remote vehicle that acts as a cell phone interceptor so that no phones work inside that facility.
Our biggest issue with criminal conspiracies is gang-related. It’s one of the reasons I visited El Salvador twice since I’ve been Sheriff. I toured their terrorism confinement facility (CECOT), where a lot of high-level MS-13 members are. As a leader of our organization, I make sure that I
Cuomo Should Drop Out, Not Sliwa
The New York City mayoral race is hitting the home stretch and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) seems to be the favorite according to the polls.
Last week’s debate featured the rising star of the far left, along with disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-Sutton Place), and Big Apple fixture in Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (R-Upper East Side).
For those who didn’t watch the debate, allow us to give you a summary: Mamdani Vs. Cuomo.
That was about it. The two launched attacks on each other practically every chance they got, while Sliwa had to insert himself and go over his time repeatedly just to get the remainder of oxygen in the room. Even though the two Democratic candidates are clearly at odds, there’s still the likely cooperation in ensuring Sliwa doesn’t get time to advertise himself as the true New Yorker in the room.
But now, as Mamdani is now polling above 50% in the polls, a soughtafter threshold in multi-candidate races, Republicans are calling on Sliwa to drop out, arguing he is splitting the votes and essentially promulgating a Mayor Mamdani.
Although Sliwa has been trailing in the polls all summer, what dearth of polling we do have since incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) dropped out last month suggests that Sliwa can take more of the former Adams vote.
Cuomo had to resign from office in 2021 amid sexual harassment and further scrutiny of his handling of COVID-19 which saw, in our opinion, an unnecessary level of death among senior citizens. Cuomo had trouble walking these allegations back during the debate, something for which we can thank the moderators for not letting him get off scot-free.
The only thing that stands to be endangered here is Cuomo’s ego. If he loses this election, which seems likely, it’ll only be a further end of his political career. Not to mention, he lost his party’s primary fair and square, and then he decided to pivot to an Independent bid within that week, as if the Democratic voters made the wrong choice. Like a salesman who can’t take no for an answer, what makes him think voters want him at their
doorsteps any longer than he has been?
Moreover, we’ve seen instances in which a far-left progressive in a typically safe-blue constituency can get a real challenge. Sliwa seems to be galvanizing palpable support on social media and, we find, making excellent usage of branding Cuomo as the “master” and Mamdani as the “apprentice.”
We’re also hearing rumblings that mainstream insiders are failing to admit that Sliwa is not only within striking distance, but could even be leading. We haven’t seen any numbers or proof otherwise to corroborate those claims, so we’ll treat them as noise for now.
Even so, Cuomo is actually the candidate who is throwing this race to Mamdani - not Sliwa. Sliwa didn’t have a primary since he was the only candidate who qualified on the Republican side. Again, Cuomo lost a very large primary in an upset. He shouldn’t even be a factor in this race had he merely been gracious in defeat.
Cuomo is upset that his attempted return to power was thwarted by a changing party. While we don’t agree at all with Mamdani’s platform - we think he would be disastrous for the city, in fact - we understand why he resonates with the Democrats.
He’s to them what Donald Trump (R-FL) has been to the GOP since he first came down that escalator - a chaos candidate who promises fundamental reforms and to be a champion for the little guy who has been long forgotten by the political machines.
Cuomo didn’t understand that the Democratic Party is going through its own metamorphoses - something he should have picked up on when it was that wing of the party that effectively captured him in 2019 and ended whatever centrist streak he had left. It’s why he won’t win against Mamdani in a two-way race. The Democratic Party, in NYC at least, is not only done with Cuomo as an individual, but done with his brand of politics altogether.
Cuomo should suspend his campaign to increase the chances of Mamdani being defeated.
Otherwise, his campaign slogan might as well be, “If I can’t have it, no one can.”
Suffolk’s 311 Initiative Strikes a Workable Balance in Policing
On Tuesday, Suffolk County announced a comprehensive initiative to tie in social workers and mental health professionals working at the County’s 311 call center with emergency dispatchers and first responders.
The aim is to get those experts at the table as soon as a 911 call is made to emergency services to adjudicate further services and to potentially help police officers with their responses.
The move strikes a creative balance that can speak to constant overtures we hear nowadays of more mental health professionals in the field and overall police reform where necessary.
This initiative does not send social workers alongside police personnel to emergency calls, a caveat we applaud as sending those employees to potentially dangerous situations is nothing but a recipe for disaster.
But from an intake perspective, police can adjudicate the scene and the 311 operators can then take it from there, connecting the calling parties in question to the various resources, non-profits, and agencies who deal in domestic violence, abuse, and mental health.
This is the balance we should be striving for. Too much on the police side makes officers unequipped for problems not in their purview, while costing the public needed mental health resources, while too much emphasis on the social workers’ side underscores the need for deescalation, law and order, and officers trained in handling dangerous and potentially violent situations.
We hope this program sees much success, and if it does, expect it to be a model to be followed as reforms continue to permeate throughout the nooks and crannies of society.
Commuting Santos’ Sentence is a Bad PR Move
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump (R-FL) announced that he had commuted the prison sentence of former Congressman George Santos (R-Queens).
Santos needs no introduction. The sentence for his deception and fraud was seven years. He reported to prison in July and has sat mostly in solitary confinement, from what we know.
We’re certainly not on board with Santos getting off scot-free here. If anything, his sentence could have been made more in line with precedent for these types of crimes. We think, in some ways, he got overcharged. If anything, Trump should have advocated for some better prison terms. That move might have gotten him some criticism, certainly, but it’s nothing compared to what he’ll get from ending the nation’s most recent serial
pathological liar’s seven-year sentence after just about four months served.
But Trump’s move to commute Santos is only another squeeze of lemon juice over the paper cut. There’s little doubt he’ll take flack from both sides of the aisle on this one, and in our opinion, rightfully so.
Santos was such a curveball, it’s almost as if no one was prepared for what to do with him. We still believe that he shouldn’t have been excommunicated from the House until a guilty conviction was produced, which only set up Santos to rally at least some support around his identity as a political martyr.
Now, Santos has more credence to that theory. To what benefit for Trump that will muster, we’re not exactly sure, but we can’t assume that he’ll be seen favorably for this decision.
Op-Ed Many Will Benefit from New Charter Schools in Suffolk
By Steve Levy | Long Island Life and Politics
It’s great news that three new charter schools have been approved in Brentwood and Central Islip in Suffolk.
As noted in the white paper prepared by our Center for Cost Effective Government, charter schools provide an opportunity for many children, especially in minority communities, to break free of failing, violent public schools, and ultimately, poverty.
For the most part, the public school system on Long Island is very good, but there are pockets of lagging schools. Why should parents be trapped in these underperforming schools that are basically a monopoly? There seems to be something rather unconstitutional about forcing a student to go to a certain school simply because of the randomness of where they live.
Rich folks, many of whom oppose charter schools and school choice, often send their children to the better private schools because they can afford it. Why shouldn’t all parents have these choices?
Many states are now allowing educational funding to flow with the student and the parent rather than forcing them to go to a lousy school. And here’s the best part: Where charters have been implemented, it’s usually the case that the public schools in that area actually improve because they’re now faced with competition.
Charters outperform the public schools significantly and do so at a much lower cost. Some will say that’s because they can cherry-pick their students, but most of these charters now gain attendance via lottery systems. The point is, charters have stricter, higher standards and don’t tolerate insubordination and other nonsense. That’s what makes them work.
No one‘s forced to go to a charter school. Likewise, no one should be forced to go to a failing, violent local school when another alternative is available.
This may be the quickest way to end poverty in America today.
Steve Levy is founder, president, and CEO of Common Sense Strategies. He also served as Suffolk County Executive, Suffolk County Legislator, and New York State Assemblyman.
This op-ed originally appeared on Long Island Life and Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
Letter to the Editor: Revamp Town Code to Prohibit BESS Facilities
Dear Editor,
I want to begin by thanking Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) and the members of the Town Board for unanimously extending the moratorium on lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems in the Town of Islip.
I would like to respectfully suggest that the next step should be zoning that prohibits lithium BESS facilities from being located within a mile of any school, house of worship, residential neighborhood or major transportation route. This is a recommendation that we are making to the Town of Smithtown as well. Additional considerations should be:
• Potential contamination of our groundwater should be part of the discussion before allowing a BESS facility.
• The ability of local volunteer fire departments to provide the resources (manpower) to handle a multi-day or multi-week event.
• The long term Haz-Mat damage to the community following a BESS fire.
I understand that the battery storage industry and their proponents consider these facilities an important infrastructure improvement, but at what cost to the residents? The reality is that, despite all the claims that lithium storage systems are safer, is that it is still impossible to extinguish a lithium battery fire. There is no known technology
that allows the fire service to fight this kind of fire with rapid extinguishment being the goal.
The Hauppauge Fire District and the Hauppauge Fire Department remain absolutely opposed to the Rabro Drive location chosen by L.I.P.A and Key Capture Energy. We are joined in our opposition by the Hauppauge School District as well as by a significant number of Hauppauge residents. Our opposition is based on safety considerations for our residents, the thousands of workers in the Hauppauge Industrial Park and our emergency responders. We feel very strongly that this should be a local decision, and it should not be forced on us by L.I.P.A. or New York State.
I wish to make the following points:
• Based on recent BESS incidents, an initial evacuation zone of one to two miles is not out of the question. This places residents, schools, houses of worship, the Long Island Expressway, the New York State, and Suffolk County office buildings and the headwaters of the Nissequogue River in jeopardy.
• A fire at a BESS facility could drain emergency responder resources to the breaking point. A lithium BESS facility incident could last for days or weeks.
• The science to extinguish a BESS fire does not exist and no amount of discussion about safety improvements by the industry can change this fact.
• There seems to be no established science provided by the industry or government as to the health hazards to the public in the event of a fire. There are also questions about how runoff from a lithium BESS fire would impact our groundwater.
• United States EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) strongly recommended that local authorities have input into the placement of lithium BESS facilities. It is our opinion that our input should receive the greatest weight because, in the end, the responsibility and liability will fall on us.
Please think back to 2001. Following the attack on the World Trade Center the head of the EPA, Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ), told us that the air was safe to breathe. That misinformation is still causing 9/11-related deaths to this day, and our organization has lost members as a result of that terrible misinformation. My point is that we cannot always count on the government or companies like Key Capture for accurate safety information.
We would be happy to meet with the town attorneys to discuss zoning changes designed to protect us all.
Respectfully,
Louis A. Zara Commissioner, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Hauppauge Fire Deparmtent
23,
Suffolk Integrates 311 with Law Enforcement in Mental Health Response Program
By Matt Meduri
On Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk County unveiled a comprehensive new initiative that will connect social workers of the County’s 311 Call Center to law enforcement to better handle calls involving mental health crises.
Pursuant to this plan, trained 311 operators will take callers suffering mental health distress and connect them to County social workers, who will then work in real time with Suffolk County Police officers to provide onsite support. Participating agencies include the Department of Health, the Department of Social Services (DSS), the SCPD, and the Office of Mental Health.
County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured top) was joined by Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), and Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), as well as a host of personnel from the various departments in Hauppauge to announce the initiative.
“We have to take an initiative to not only protect our men and women who serve, but to also help people who have difficulties in life,” said Romaine. “We all have crazy days, but it can be a dangerous thing.”
SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina (pictured right) said that while the Behavioral Service Section has always been in the “background”, this program will help the agency that is “constantly evolving.”
“Suffolk County police officers do a phenomenal job, but one of the most complicated nuances that they respond to is behavioral health,” said Catalina. “They’re trained as EMTs, but being a trained EMT is not necessarily going to make you an expert in behavioral health.”
Catalina added that two Family Service League counselors are being directly embedded with 911 dispatchers. When calls of mental health crises come in, 911 dispatchers can hand it directly off to one of the counselors.
“They’ll be able to interface directly with the caller,” said Catalina, adding that this program has been successful in other parts of the country. “If the Family Service League counselor can take care of the situation, then those officers can be freed up to respond to violent crimes and ultimately be of help to others.”
Catalina said that the program should come online within the next couple of weeks and immediate results will be analyzed.
“We’re looking for ways to de -escalate, keep everyone as safe as possible, and prevent confrontation
whenever possible,” said Romaine.
Dr. Sylvia Diaz (pictured bottom), the County Health Commissioner and Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services, said that the initiative is timely with October’s designation as Mental Health Awareness Month.
“This is about actions we can take in making sure that every single individual who is in crisis, every family who is in need, can find the right help at the right time. Awareness without action is meaningless,” said Diaz. “Today shows what happens when health, human services, and public safety come together. These partnerships save lives and remind us that public safety and the care of individuals must go hand-in-hand.”
Diaz said that casework staff, at present, consists of two undergraduate students from Stony Brook University who have been integrated into the 311 Call Center.
“Your compassion and skills ensure that every person who reaches out for help is met with understanding and care. We’re building a county in which care is not the exception, it is the norm,” said Diaz, adding that suffolkcountyny.gov is the “one-stop resource for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services.”
Diaz then introduced Ryan McDonald, who at 14, arrived home to find his father suffering from an overdose. Attempts to save his life were unfortunately unsuccessful, leaving McDonald, now 21, afflicted with trauma, panic attacks, and hospital visits.
“I didn’t know who to turn to. I didn’t know how to respond,” said McDonald, adding he eventually found the help he needed, but the delay made it much more difficult to process his trauma.
“I know my story is one of many; many people go through adversity and have no idea what to do,” said McDonald (pictured left). “Please don’t be afraid to ask for help. “Just as I asked for help, maybe later than I should have, I want you to ask for help as well.”
McDonald is now studying psychology, hoping to return the favor.
“I want to be one of the people who can make a difference for someone else in their time of need. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see our County taking action to bring more mental health resources.”
The 311 Call Center is operational Monday through Friday from 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m., as well Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. The optimal goal for the County is to make 311 available 24-7.
The SCPD still recommends that active emergencies are forwarded to 911. The 311 Call Center will not only be staffed with operators trained in 911, but also 988, the Suicide Prevention Hotine.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri
National
Israel has struck Gaza just a week into the ceasefire deal brokered by President Donald Trump (R-FL) with aid from Middle Eastern stakeholders, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.
The Israeli military has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire over the weekend. The IDF released a statement on Sunday that said that Hamas “terrorists fired an anti-tank missile gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in Southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.”
The IDF said in the same statement that they are striking the region to “dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity.”
Hamas, meanwhile, claims they have “no knowledge” of the attacks, saying in a statement, “we affirm our full commitment to implementing everything that has been agreed upon, foremost among which is the ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip. We have no knowledge of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area.”
Reuters has reported that Hamas has executed at least thirty-three people within the first few days of the ceasefire. Israeli sources claim that those casualties were of families who are believed to have collaborated with Israel or its allied militias.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says that Hamas might be on the brink of breaking the peace agreement by attacking the Palestinian people.
“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” said the DHS in a statement. “The guarantors demand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms. The United States and the other guarantors remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians, maintaining calm on the ground and advancing peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the region as a whole.”
President Trump wrote on X, “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Democrats are grappling with the leaked text messages of Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones (D), which have thrown the crucial, concurrent gubernatorial race into turmoil.
Jason Miyares (R-VA) won a razor-thin election to flip this seat in 2021. Polls had him trailing behind Jones until the messages came out.
Text messages from August 2022 have surfaced showing Jones fantasizing about shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R).
“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote to his colleague, State Delegate Carrie Coyner (R), who told Jones, “please stop.”
“Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time,” Jones continued over text.
Jones reportedly continued the tirade
to Coyner over the phone, saying that the deaths of Gilbert’s children might cause the then-Speaker to reassess his political views.
Lieutenant Governor Winsome EarleSears (R-VA), the Republican candidate in the gubernatorial contest, wrote on X that the texts are “wholly disqualifying of someone running for an office that protects the people of Virginia.” She called for the entire Democratic Party and Abigail Spanberger to call on him to drop out of the race. Vice President J.D. (R-OH) has called for Jones to drop out as well.
Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is running to flip the seat blue. Various nuances govern Virginia gubernatorial races - turn to Page 14 for that - but Spanberger seems well-insulated against the October surprise. She continues to lead in the polls, although her leads have dwindled. The question now is, does she wait out the Jones controversy for a 50-50 shot at getting a political ally in Jones to Richmond with her, or does she call on him to drop out and risk a 100% chance of having a political adversary in incumbent Miyares alongside her.
As of now, her candidacy doesn’t seem terribly threatened by it, likely owing to its late-breaking timing in the campaign season.
Finally, in the ongoing redistricting “arms race”, the North Carolina Senate has passed a map that aims to help the GOP net an additional seat ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The GOP has already participated in rare mid-decade redistricting in Texas - which can net the party four or five seats - Missouri - another seat - while California is giving the proposition to voters this autumn as to whether a Legislature-drawn map should replace the current one passed by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) - which could net the Democrats four or five seats.
The North Carolina vote came just a day after debate formally started. The map targets NC-01, which contains the Inner Banks and Black Belt counties from the Virginia border to the Raleigh exurbs. It is the only competitive congressional district in the Tar Heel State, which itself stands as a crucial swing state at every level of government. About 40% of the district’s population is black.
Congressman Don Davis (D, NC-01) won a close race for the open seat in 2022. The state’s map was redrawn yet again before the 2024 elections, allowing Davis to win an even closer race last year, despite Trump winning the district by three points.
Mid-decade redistricting isn’t uncommon in North Carolina. A racial gerrymander
was struck down ahead of the 2018 midterms. The state GOP redrew the map again following a court ruling. The regular redraw of the map after the 2020 Census was struck down as a partisan gerrymander. A special master drew a competitive map that saw a 7R-7D split in 2022. After the political composition of the State Supreme Court changed in 2023, the court reversed the prior decision and allowed the Legislature to pass a new map, which came online in 2024 and produced a 10R-4D delegation.
The new map now heads to the State House, where Democrats are in the minority. State law prevents Governor Josh Stein (D-NC) from veto redistricting bills, although litigation remains likely.
State
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) is hurdling towards the finish line to become the next Mayor of New York City.
The October 10-14 FOX News poll of 793 likely voters gave Mamdani his first majority poll since the general election sprint began and since incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) ended his longshot Independent campaign for a second term.
The majority mark is often seen as a crucial benchmark in a multi-candidate race. Although Mamdani has been handily leading this race all season, the plurality win versus a majority win is always given a slight form of credence from pollsters and analysts, only because less than the majority of the population’s electoral intentions can be tracked. If more voters turn out than expected, it’s plausible that a majority that has not been picked up by the polls at the race could technically, albeit unlikely, go another direction.
But Mamdani solidified 52% of the Big Apple vote last week, compared to 28% for Cuomo (D-Sutton Place), who is running as an Independent, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (R-Upper East Side), who clocks in third with just 14% of the vote. Mayor Adams still received 2%.
This is a stark contrast from the CBS News poll taken September 7-13, showing Mamdani at 43%, Cuomo at 28%, Sliwa at 15%, and Adams at 6%.
The two can’t be exactly correlated, but it does show the trajectory of each candidate’s level of support.
However, the AARP poll taken October 14-15 shows Mamdani under that majority threshold at 43%, Cuomo at a little-
changed 29%, and Sliwa boosting to 19%.
Most of the polls show a pattern: Mamdani leading the pack from the low40s to a peak of 52%, Cuomo more or less hovering around the mid-20s, and Sliwa getting about 15% each time, but shooting much higher and lower depending on the survey.
Speaking of Sliwa, the staunch New Yorker is facing calls from his own party to drop out of the race, of fears that his candidacy is splitting the vote and will throw the election to Mamdani.
The New York Post’s Editorial Board and Republican billionaire John Catsimatidis, whose daughter is the Chair of the New York County Republican Party, have, among others, called on Sliwa to exit the race. Sliwa has earned the support of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-Plattsburgh), and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River).
Local
Suffolk County’s bond rating just got an upgrade.
The ratings come from both Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings. The institutions have ranked Suffolk County’s bond rating AA-. They cite “sustained improvements in liquidity, growing reserves, and responsible long-term budgeting”, along with “strong management practices and historic levels of reserves and budgetary flexibility.”
“This upgrade is a resounding vote of confidence in Suffolk County’s fiscal turnaround,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) in a statement. “Through careful planning, responsible budgeting, and a commitment to transparency, we’ve restored financial stability and positioned Suffolk County for a sustainable future. This means lower borrowing costs for critical infrastructure projects and long-term savings for the taxpayers.”
Suffolk’s general fund now sits at $276 million, or 10% of general fund spending. The County’s restricted reserves sit at $543 million for pensions, debt services, and other obligations.
S&P’s continued praise of Suffolk’s fiscal state includes a “large and diverse economy, above-average household incomes, and prudent financial performance.” Suffolk now holds record reserve balances exceeding 21% of operating revenues.
“This achievement is proof that collaboration works. This accomplishment belongs to the taxpayers,” said Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) in a statement. “Their support for sound financial planning and infrastructure investment allows us to build a county government that protects their dollars, improves quality of life, and ensures Suffolk remains affordable for generations to come.”
The ratings will serve as a boon to Suffolk’s bonding interests, which often fund key capital projects at a reduced interest rate. The ratings will likely help fund a project $1.5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, particularly sewers and wastewater remediation projects.
Endorsements Kevin LaValle for Brookhaven Town Clerk
Two years ago, Kevin LaValle won a special election to fill the vacant seat at the Town Clerk’s office, fresh off several years’ experience as a councilman for the Middle Country-based Third Council District.
In just two years, LaValle has certainly made his mark as the “cover on the book” of Town government.
The Port Jefferson Republican hit the ground running with modernizing the Town Clerk’s office, including an online system for building and rezoning applications and permits, as well as first disability parking permits. The Town processes some 10,000 of those permits a year, putting Brookhaven well ahead of the average municipality to streamline such an arduous process.
LaValle also makes good use of Occam’s Razor - the simplest solution is often the correct one. He employed this point of logic to increase communication and decrease online chatter about projects coming to town. By simply placing a QR code on required notices on properties applying for zone changes, passersby can scan said codes and find the details of application right on the Town website. This is an excellent use of Town resources to simplify the process for the layman and get out ahead of the rumor mill, especially in a time when concerns of overdevelopment are arguably at peak levels.
Perhaps most noticeable of LaValle’s feats, however, is his institution of mobile office hours at each of the thirteen library districts in Brookhaven Town. Each month of the year brings LaValle to a different library, a great
Jim Mazzarella for Legislature, District Three
The Third District includes Center Moriches, East Moriches, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Moriches, the Poospatuck Reservation, Shirley, South Haven, and parts of Brookhaven hamlet, Eastport, Fire Island, and Manorville.
A relative newcomer to the horseshoe, Legislator Jim Mazzarella has certainly hit his stride.
The Moriches Republican is a life-long resident of the Tri-Hamlet Peninsula, giving him a leg up in terms of earto-the-rail constituent services and projects. Currently, Mazzarella is shepherding the construction of the new Smith Point Bridge, one that will not impede bay or vehicular traffic and will be more pedestrian- and bicyclefriendly than its current counterpart.
a co-sponsor of a safe housing bill that gives municipalities more local control over for-profit landlords hiding behind LLCs, as well as a bill of his own that establishes an unscrupulous contractors’ “Wall of Shame.”
Legislator Mazzarella is also working to bring sewers to Montauk Highway to help revitalize the area from William Floyd Parkway down to the eastern end of Moriches hamlet, while also providing counsel to the ongoing Neighborhood Road Revitalization Area in downtown Mastic Beach. He’s also been at the forefront of consumer protection initiatives, signing on as
Legislator Mazzarella is in tune to his district’s precarious environmental needs, with his biggest achievement this term, perhaps, helping bring the Forge River Sewage Treatment Plant online, working with the Town of Brookhaven and local civic groups to improve coastal resiliency, and improving the ecology of the South Shore that was overlooked decades ago.
On top of all that, he’s also working to bring disc golf to Southaven County Park, getting Long Island’s foot in the door for the growing sport. Here’s to hoping that some attention-grabbing tournaments are played right here in Suffolk.
Opposed for re-election only nominally, Mazzarella faces Democrat Beverly Theodore, who is not actively campaigning.
The Messenger endorses Mazzarella.
method of ear-to-the-rail governance that also ties in with the growing synergies produced by the local library branch. Moreover, Brookhaven Town has more than 3,000 miles of paved roadways, meaning LaValle not only covers a lot of ground himself, but ensures that no part of town goes unnoticed.
The mobile office hours, as well as other inner-workings of the Clerk’s office, are tied into the social media page that LaValle has helped grow, giving the public a true connection to perhaps the most obscure branch of town government.
LaValle is also looking ahead at the next few years, aiming to work with the IT Department to overhaul all Town services to an online platform - a massive undertaking. LaValle and company also do this with the 2022 County cyberattack in mind, a point seemingly well taken by the county’s largest municipality.
And such strides seem to be in good hands to boot. LaValle and the Town’s IT leaders were keynote speakers at a recent convention of town clerks from across the nation.
Clearly, Brookhaven is leading. We hope to see what else LaValle can accomplish, with a full term, no less.
LaValle’s opponent, Democrat Tricia Chiaramonte, of Manorville, is not actively campaigning.
The Messenger endorses LaValle.
Nick Caracappa for Legislature, District Four
The Fourth District includes Selden, Farmingville, and parts of Centereach, Coram, Holtsville, Medford, Port Jefferson Station, and Terryville.
Legislator Nick Caracappa has had a productive two years in the County Legislature.
Last year, Caracappa had a bill signed by County Executive Ed Romaine (RCenter Moriches) that mandates workforce housing among new developments in exchange for tax breaks. This year, Romaine signed yet another bill submitted by the Selden Conservative, one that cracks down on unsafe and illegal housing by giving municipalities more local control over for-profit landlords, who are often faceless and hide behind LLCs.
CR-83 in Coram - a monumental task that could very much revitalize the hamlets unfortunately forgotten by many. Further sewer projects include Farmingville and the rest of Coram, although that remains down the line - no pun intended.
But for his district, which encompasses the heart of Middle Country, Caracappa has been working to push forward the much-needed first phase of a comprehensive sewer project that intends to hook up NY25 from Stony Brook Road/Hawkins Avenue in Lake Grove all the way to
Caracappa is also a regular at almost any event you can think of, from concert series at the Bald Hill Amphitheater, to fairs and community nights at the Centereach Pool and Bethel Hobbs Farm, to senior plays at the high schools of his district - it’s hard to say Caracappa isn’t in touch with his community.
A strong voice for organized labor and law enforcement, Caracappa has had some landmark bills passed. We look forward to what other solutions he can come up with from the horseshoe.
Caracappa faces no other opposition than Nancy Silverio, a Democrat who is not actively campaigning. A registered Conservative, Caracappa is also carrying the Republican line.
The Messenger endorses Caracappa.
Suffolk Bond Ratings Improvement
By County Executive Ed Romaine
Suffolk County’s positive credit rating was reaffirmed by S&P and Fitch Ratings at ‘AA-’ thanks to the long-term budgeting decisions we have made since 2024. The result is increased borrowing power at a lower cost to the county, and, in turn, lower costs to taxpayers.
Additionally, we also received a two-fold improvement in ratings for our outstanding bonds by Fitch, which further demonstrates the progress we have made.
The market has faith in our ability to pay our debts – debts which fund roads, bridges, sewering, and other vital infrastructure – and accordingly lends money to us at a lower interest rate. The lower the interest rate, the cheaper the loan, the more affordable it is for taxpayers and the county to maintain vital public infrastructure.
Our conservative approach to budgeting means we stick within the tax cap, do not overestimate revenues and treat every penny with care. The ratings agencies cite “sustained improvements in liquidity, growing reserves, and responsible long-term budgeting” as reasons for the increase and affirmation.
Since taking office in 2024, our County’s fiscal situation has stabilized and improved, resulting in enhanced credit ratings and a more positive economic outlook after years of financial challenges. Leveraging our higher ratings makes it easier for my administration to implement our plan for a safer and more affordable Suffolk County.
Positive ratings did not come at the expense of vital services. In fact, by better allocating existing positions and filling vacancies that the previous administration budgeted (and spent) for, we were able to decrease wait times in DSS, increase the number of uniformed police officers and detectives, while ambitiously pursuing clean water and downtown revitalization.
Our residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are no longer waiting for months for their application to be processed. Likewise, residents
calling 311 no longer have hours-long wait times. Unlike Suffolk County’s disciplined budgeting, unfunded mandates from Albany raise municipal costs. That’s why I work with state and federal representatives to secure Suffolk County’s fair share of funding.
I am particularly concerned that public transportation dollars are not reaching Suffolk County. Suffolk County only receives $40 million in state aid from New York State for public transportation. Nassau County, despite having a comparable population and being one-third of the size geographically, receives $110 million from Albany.
Roadway funding is another category that warrants concern. The Long Island region used to account for over a quarter of state roadway funding. Today, that number is 8% for the region. With a long-term perspective, my goal is for this county to receive an ‘AAA’ credit rating, allowing us to continue pursuing our capital program while passing on savings to taxpayers.
I know it is a realistic goal, as I was able to achieve the same feat as Supervisor of the Town of Brookhaven.
Our challenges require leadership, but with prudent, disciplined decision-making, we will continue to deliver results for our county.
Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has served as Suffolk County Executive since 2024. He previously served as a Suffolk County Legislator representing the North Fork from 1986 to 1989 and again from 2005 to 2012. He served as Suffolk County Clerk from 1989 to 2005 and as Brookhaven Town Supervisor from 2012 to 2023.
Executive Romaine’s office is located at the H. Lee Dennison Building at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway (NY-454) in Hauppauge. The Riverhead office is located at the Riverhead County Center off CR-51.
The County Executive’s office can be reached at 631-853-1600 or by dialing 311.
The Moloney Family
Candidate Spotlight
October 23, 2025
Councilman Greg Doroski
By Matt Meduri
Candidate: Councilman Greg Doroski
Residence: Mattituck
Current Office: Southold Town Council, elected 2021
Office Sought: Suffolk County Legislature, First District (LD-01)
Party Lines: Democratic, Working Families
Notable Endorsements: Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue), Southold Town PBA, CWA Local 1199, SEIU, CSCA, Sierra Club, NY League of Conservation Voters
Southold Town Councilman Greg Doroski is aiming for a promotion from his current position to the County Legislature.
Councilman Doroski sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the County Legislature?
A: I’m a brewer - so I know how to have a good time. I deal with truck drivers, waitstaff, assistant brewers, and suppliers. It gives me an opportunity to talk with all different people to get a sense of what their struggles and concerns are, but also what their aspirations are. I’ve been in the beer industry for over fifteen years.
I started as an apprentice at Greenport Harbor and moved all the way up to brewery owner. We took a raw 10,000-square-foot warehouse space in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and converted it into Three’s Brewing - a world-class brewery with production, a bar, an event space, and an outdoor yard. We pulled in $3 million a year in revenue and helped push the beer industry forward in New York. Being a small business owner, you can have a plan, but the second you open your doors, that plan goes out the window. Your fixed costs are fixed costs, no matter what. In government, it’s easy to point fingers. You don’t have that ability in small business - unless you want to go out of business.
In 2017, I stayed on as a consultant, and then ran for Southold Town Supervisor in 2019 against then-Supervisor Scott Russell (R-Cutchogue). I was elected to the Town Board in 2021. I’ve been the board liaison to the Economic Development Committee, the Deer Management Committee, and
Q: What are your priorities for the County at-large if elected?
A: As the Liaison to our Solid Waste Management District, I’m keenly aware and concerned about the solid waste issues, not only from the environmental standpoint, but also when the Brookhaven landfill fully closes. We need leadership from the legislative side, but it’s a classical regional problem. While the towns’ problems are a bit different, it doesn’t make sense for us to cart our waste off-island in different ways when we’re talking about the environment and traffic issues.
Water quality is also a big issue. We’re currently working with the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) on their regional pipeline expansion from Southampton to Southold. By the SCWA’s accounts, 70% of the water they pump goes to irrigating lawns. We need to conserve the water we have.
The Working Waterfronts Bill, sponsored by my opponent, is great, but it’s really only the starting point. We need to preserve the industries involved. With the Farmland Preservation Program, we’ve had people using preservation funds to protect fields of sod for themselves just so they can have a big lawn. We need to know who’s on the Working Waterfronts Committee and what the requirements are for preservation.
I’m a fan of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which you can mix in with affordable, workforce middle-class housing in the existing housing stock, and you’re not creating five-story behemoths concentrated in one place. But we run into challenges with the Suffolk County Health Department regarding adequate flow on the parcel. The Health Department has a ton of expertise and are the policy leaders in this, but navigating that department is very challenging. There should be a technical assistance component, where you’re not just submitting an application and they’ll get back to you, but a streamlined process that’s more collaborative. In Southold, the Building Department helps you through what you’re looking for, for example.
By Matt Meduri
Candidate: Legislator Catherine Stark
Residence: Riverhead
Candidate Spotlight
Legislator Catherine Stark
Office: Suffolk County Legislature, First District (LD-01)
First Elected: 2023
Committees: Environment, Parks, and Agriculture (Vice Chair); Public Works, Transportation, and Energy (Vice Chair); Economic Development, Planning, and Housing; Veterans
Party Lines: Republican, Conservative
Notable Endorsements: PBA, LILEF, AFL-CIO, CWA 1109, Local 393, Newsday, Suffolk Community College Faculty Assn.
Catherine Stark flipped a blue seat red in 2023. She is running for a second term.
Legislator Stark sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview.
Q: Over the last two years, what are your accomplishments for the Brookhaven parts of LD-01?
A: The biggest thing is Enterprise Park (EPCAL). My father was Riverhead Town Supervisor when the U.S. Navy gave the title to the Town. I’m not only aware of what’s going on, I grew up knowing about it. Grumman was an alternative emergency landing zone that was a designated landing place in an emergency for the Concord. It’s not only the length of the runway, it’s also the depth. I can remember the F14’s taking off, and I remember the day an F14 broke the sound barrier. It’s a jewel that has just not gotten the right redevelopment plan in place. There’s never been some long-term consistency to adequately manage that.
The biggest part is the plume. The Navy did not do their part in remediating the contamination. One of the first things that Executive Romaine said to me when I got elected, is that he’s sending the well-drillers out there. The previous administration refused to send well-drillers to get adequate information on the contamination, how deep it went, and how to track it - not depending on the Navy’s testing. In conjunction with Executive Romaine’s efforts, my efforts, and the County Health Department, we’re going to start seeing some real numbers.
Grumman is much larger than other contamination sites on the Island. The plume is traveling south and spilling into the Peconic River. The cleanup is going to be very costly; we need the Navy to take responsibility. They don’t have it classified as an active
There are dockbuilders, private dredge makers, engineers, master welders, and master carpenters. There’s only one marina left in Greenport that is a major boatbuilder. This is something that could help hopefully save that.
There are many small fishers, but when these hedge fund guys come over and start buying up marinas - they’ve bought seven across the East End so far. Their restaurants are good, but I almost choke when I see the bill. Tourism is a vital part of our economy, but that’s not going to enable the people who grew up here to stay. You can’t maintain and raise a family on waiting tables.
Executive Romaine has talked about having a produce hub in Yaphank. Currently, restaurants are going all the way out east to bring fish back to where they’re caught, essentially. We’re looking to do something like that in Yaphank with local fish and produce, up to Health Dept. standards. It would save a lot of traffic, take trucks off the road, and benefit the commercial fishermen out here both in Shinnecock and Montauk. It all fits together.
My district happens to be blessed with the majority of open space in the County. In my first year-and-a-half, I preserved 290 acres of farmland and open space. 400 more acres are approaching closing. I remember the Anderson Farm - a local, legacy farm - in Riverhead that had to be sold because the family couldn’t afford the inheritance tax. That farm is now the Target on CR-58. I’ve seen that change in my lifetime and it’s sad. Preservation of farmlands and waterfronts, that’s not just my district; that’s Long Island. The heritage is farming and bays. Even on the South Shore in Babylon, they farm the bays. It’s a historic part of Long Island.
Q: You joined twelve other members of the Legislature to vote to sue the State over the even-year elections law. Explain your stance.
A: The State wants local elections happening at the same time as state elections. I would have to run this year, and if I win, run in 2026, and then again 2028. That’s not consistent in our terms by any means. National elections and local elections are so incredibly different. National elections are important and everyone should be
Civics 101
The Necessary Standard for American Education
Off-Year Gubernatorial Elections
By Matt Meduri
Since we’re intently watching the two gubernatorial elections held this November - Virginia and New Jersey - we’ll dig into why the state and territorial gubernatorial elections operate on the calendars they do.
As we’ve discussed in a previous iteration of this column, gubernatorial elections are cut from an entirely different political cloth than presidential, senatorial, and other statewide elections. We find three tenets that are key to governors’ elections: local issues, candidate quality, and retail politics. This makes for why both parties can find reasonable levels of success in all states. A quick example, Republicans currently govern the blue states of Vermont and Virginia - pre-2018, they had New Mexico, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland - while Democrats currently hold Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina - pre-2018, they even had Montana, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
History and Purpose
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.
The primary reason that many states have historically held their elections in off-years - those not aligned with presidential contests - is so that the states can operate within separate political vacuums, more or less removed from the nationalized politics that tend to dominate presidential elections, especially in the modern era.
Other states have more nuanced reasons. The two states up this year have interesting historical reasons for their gubernatorial and state legislative contests held in the years immediately following a presidential race.
New Jersey once had even- and odd-year elections. One-third of its Senate - whose members served unusual three-year terms - while its House was elected annually. The governor also served three-year terms, so the gubernatorial contest alternated between even- and oddyear elections. The 1947 State Constitution formalized the process, setting the Assembly terms to two years and Senate and gubernatorial terms to four years.
That constitutional change was largely due to then-Governor Alfred E. Driscoll (R) urged the convention that state elections should not coincide with presidential races, saying, “the problems confronting the state are frequently distinct from those confronting the nation.” Virginia, on the other hand, has been holding odd-year elections since 1851. The rewritten constitution called for elections every two years. Since the first elections were held that year, the tradition has been carried on ever since.
In Louisiana, which holds state elections in years immediately preceding presidential elections, their revised state constitution in 1974 organized the elections for those years. A large reason was because of Louisiana’s then-solidly Democratic profile. Parties held their primaries in odd-year winters, with necessary runoffs held the following January. Since Republicans were such a political minority in Louisiana from Reconstruction until the 1980s, Democratic primaries were more or less coronations of a virtually guaranteed victor. The primary system was scrapped in 1975, with the general election system replacing it that year.
But Mississippi was the first state to organize an odd-year schedule, starting in 1817. The state constitution required annual elections for the entire House and a third of the Senate. By 1832, two-year terms for both chambers were then adopted.
It’s also worth mentioning that many states have shifted their gubernatorial term limits throughout the years. Many more states were once held in both gubernatorial and presidential years as their governors served two-year terms. In the modern, four-year terms is the status quo in all but two states. Rhode Island is the most recent state to shift from two-year terms to four-year terms, having made the change in 1994.
Presidential-Year Gubernatorial Contests
Currently, eleven states and two territories hold their contests in presidential years - consult the map above for which states elect
governors in which years.
These states are arguably in the most nationalized environment, although ticket-splitting has been recent. The GOP has governed Vermont, Missouri, and New Hampshire since they flipped those seats in 2016. West Virginia and Montana elected Democratic governors in 2016, despite Donald Trump (R-NY) winning both states handily. That same year, Democrats flipped North Carolina, even as Trump won a state seen as crucial to his path to 270. Four remaining statesWashington, Utah, North Dakota, and Delaware - have been electing one party since the 1980s, while Indiana has stuck with Republican governors since 2004.
Midterm-Year Gubernatorial Contests
These are where the lion’s share of gubernatorial seats are. Thirtysix states and three territories are on the ballot in these years. These include crucial swing states, solidly red and blue states, and the territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The District of Columbia also holds its mayoral election in midterm years.
The midterm-year contests can be susceptible to partisan wave elections, but it’s important to note that gubernatorial politics are incredibly idiosyncratic. Many states elect their governors on a twoterm basis - that is, one party serves two terms, then the other party gets two terms. Many states operate on this like clockwork, including Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, and New Mexico.
2010 saw a big gain for the GOP in gubernatorial contests. They picked up twelve states, while Democrats picked up five. Interestingly, that year saw the GOP flip Wyoming, perhaps the reddest state in the union, and the Democrats flip Hawaii, one of the bluest - a testament to how removed from national overtones gubernatorial politics can beand often is.
2018 was another wave election, this time for the Democrats. They picked up seven seats, while the GOP only flipped Independent-held Alaska. Many of these governors are term-limited or retiring for 2026: Michigan, Illinois, Maine, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin are the pickups Democrats made that year. The GOP still managed to score landslide wins in deep-blue Maryland, Massachusetts, and Vermont that year, while Florida kept its GOP gubernatorial voting streak alive with Ron DeSantis (R) - perhaps the earliest harbinger of Florida becoming a Republican stronghold nowadays.
But these two elections also saw a significant convergence: termlimitation of incumbents amidst wave elections. There’s evidence that many states in 2010 and 2018 would have flipped to the opposite party, regardless of the environment. National environments certainly do help, but it’s not the basis for many gubernatorial contests.
Here’s a good benchmark of comparison. In 2018, Democrats won the House popular vote 53.4%-44.8% - about nine points. That same year, Democrats won the Senate popular vote 58.2%-38.7% - a massive twenty-point gap owing to the twenty-four seats they had up that year,
compared to the GOP’s nine.
But they won the gubernatorial popular vote 51.39%-48.28% - just about three points. The GOP had twenty-six seats up compared to the Democrats’ nine, but the contrast in popular vote compared to the national environment is markedly different. This is yet another reason that gubernatorial contests are of a different breed of politics altogether.
Contests Held in Years Preceding Presidential Elections
Three states hold contests in years before a presidential race: Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. All three have seen political whirlwinds. Republicans flipped Louisiana in 2023, after eight years of arguably one of the nation’s most moderate, pro-life Democrats, John Bel Edwards (D). Part of his election in 2015 was upon Bobby Jindal’s departure from office as one of the most unpopular governors in the country.
Democrats ousted another unpopular governor in Matt Bevin (R-KY) in 2019. Andy Beshear (D-KY) managed to oust him primarily on state education policy, and survived a close re-election bid in 2023. He’s now seen as a formidable presidential candidate in 2028 as one of the nation’s most prominent moderate Democrats, although he lacks name recognition compared to his counterparts. This is a great example of how off-year elections, held sans national moods, can elevate one to presidential ambitions.
Finally, Mississippi, which hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 1999, saw a close election that saw incumbent Tate Reeves (R-MS) narrowly re-elected in 2023. Reeves won a close race in 2019, and faced Brandon Presley (D), the second-cousin of the late, great Elvis Presley, as an interesting sidenote.
Contests Held in Years Following Presidential Elections
You are here. Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states holding gubernatorial elections this year.
New Jersey is one of those states that tends to elect two terms of one party, followed by two terms of another, more or less. This makes for a good harbinger for Jack Ciattarelli (R) to flip the state red, although it’s not ironclad. Given New Jersey’s long-held blue hue, this is usually seen as a good temperature check against the White House party’s electoral fortunes for the following midterm. Although, the GOP has picked some 200,000 new registered voters in the Garden State since 2021, and New Jersey’s presidential race last year was the closest it’s been in decades.
In Virginia, a built-in political institution dominates its gubernatorial politics. In every election since 1977, except for 2013, Virginians have elected a governor opposite the White House party. Its reliably contrarian streak was thought to be dead in 2021, owing to thenPresident Joe Biden’s (D-DE) historic ten-point win in the Old Dominion in 2020, and Virginia’s overall bluer profile.
But Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) proved that contrarian streak to be alive and well, which leads most prognosticators - including The Messenger - to assume that that streak will benefit former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D).
Term Limits
Like their election years, states have varying regulations on term limits, with some having none at all, to others barring one from serving for life after two terms.
No Term Limits, Four-Year Terms: Eleven states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico
No Term Limits, Two-Year Terms: Vermont and New Hampshire
One Term, Re-Eligible After Four Years: Virginia
Two Terms, Re-Eligible After Four Years: Twenty-three states, three territories
Two Terms, Re-Eligible After Eight Years: Four states.
Two Terms, Limited for Life: Nine states, one territory.
Endorsements
Laura Endres for Legislature, District Five
The Fifth District includes Belle Terre, East Setauket, Old Field, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Setauket, South Setauket, Stony Brook, Strong’s Neck, Terryville, and parts of Centereach, Coram, and Mount Sinai.
Fifth District voters have two choices this fall: a fresh face in attorney Laura Endres, or a long-familiar face in the incumbent Legislator Steve Englebright.
The incumbent, a Setauket Democrat, brings decades of venerable experience to ecology and environmentalism, as well as experience to the horseshoe in particular, having represented this seat for most of the 1980s until his election to the Assembly.
Ms. Endres, a Republican of South Setauket, also has decades of venerable government and private experience, including as Deputy County Clerk - which entailed her supervision and training of over 130 employees - as well as collaboration with non-profits to address domestic
wastewater, taxes and commons charges, and infrastructure. It’s a much smaller scale than the largest suburban county in the nation, but the foundation is there.
Endres brings to the table several ideas
Chad Lennon for Legislature, District Six
The Sixth District includes East Shoreham, Miller Place, Ridge, Rocky Point, Shoreham, Sound Beach, Upton, Yaphank, and parts of Coram, Middle Island, and Mount Sinai.
Two years ago, we argued that Chad
Lennon has also been an ardent researcher in human trafficking, hosting roundtables and ensuring a tight relationship with the District Attorney’s office to help curb the issue in the more
Legislator Leslie Kennedy demonstrates the hard work, tenacity, and knowledge of government to get things done.
She is the sponsor of the Veterans hardship fund, providing heating and utility assistance to those in need. She also sponsors Capital Budget initiatives to bring Med CAT assistance to all seven of Suffolk County’s Police Precincts. In total, Leslie Kennedy has secured over $30 million in Capital Project funding for the years of 2024 and 2025 for the Twelfth Legislative District.
More locally, she has collaborated with County Executive Ed Romaine to secure $8 million to rebuild the Stump Pond Dam. She has also obtained additional money for Smithtown Sewers, Centereach/Selden Sewers, and the Maple Avenue flexible Weir at Maple Avenue.
She understands the importance of preserving peaceful suburban life, and has worked to create and pass legislation that impose harsher penalties and fines for illegal street races and car meet-ups.
Having worked as a nurse for over thirty years, she has a background in health that makes her perfect for her position as Chair of the Legislature’s Public Health Committee, and is a member of the County’s Board of Health.
Legislator Kennedy has maintained her district office in the North County Complex, saving more than $1 Million in
16
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Local History
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway
By Ellyn Okvist B.Sc.
The “temporary” end of the Long Island Motor Parkway to Ronkonkoma Lake, known as the Eastern Terminus completed in 1911, was momentous - another over-the-top creation of William “Willie K” Vanderbilt.
Was all of this grand pageantry predecessors of the final building plan of Willie K? Could the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway have become his greatest accomplishment?
William Kissam Vanderbilt II (1878-1944) was an American motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman, and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt Family, but there was a dash in his blood - the love of racing.
The Mercedes speed record, which was the founding of the six Vanderbilt Cup Races held here on Long Island from 19041910, were the greatest sporting events of the day along with being the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. Although the roar of the races never passed east of Round Swamp Road, Nassau County, the excitement and huge attendance was worldwide for the competition. Racers and their racecars came from all over the world to compete in the Vanderbilt Cup Races. The Vanderbilt Cup Races are known as the first United States Grand Prix, the first Formula 1 races.
He followed in the keystone’s shoes, Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), nicknamed “the Commodore”, was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. He was fortunate to have built an empire that had more money than the United States Treasury. By the time Willie K presented himself on the scene, there was less money, but the same Vanderbilt drive for excellence.
Sailing took second place to his enthusiasm for fast cars. In 1904, Willie set a new land speed record of 92.30 mph in a Mercedes-Benz at the Daytona Beach Road Course at Ormond Beach, Florida. Willie K twice set the world land speed record. The first time Vanderbilt claimed the record, he was driving a Mors Model Z, he was clocked at 76.08 mph August 5, 1902. The second time Vanderbilt took the record, he used a Mercedes Simplex 90 PS to run 92.3 mph on January 27, 1904, at Daytona Beach, Florida.
That same year, he launched the Vanderbilt Cup, the first major trophy in American auto racing. At the age of only 26, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. proposed the first international road race to be held in the United States by donating the Vanderbilt Cup made by Tiffany.
An international event, designed to spur American manufacturers into racing, the race’s large cash prize drew the top drivers and their vehicles from across the Atlantic Ocean who had competed in Europe’s Gordon Bennett Cup. Held at a course set out in Nassau County, the race drew large crowds hoping to see an American car defeat the mighty European vehicles. However, a French Panhard vehicle won the race and fans would have to wait until 1908 when 23-year-old George Robertson of Garden City, New York, driving the Locomobile, became the first American to win the Vanderbilt Cup. The Cup Races were the greatest sporting events of the day.
The Motor Parkway Inn, later renamed The Petit Trianon, was built at the end of the Long Island Motor Parkway on the shore of Ronkonkoma Lake in Spring of 1911. Used as destination by motorists on the Motor Parkway for a rest stop, a meal, automobile repair, or an overnight stay on their journeys. No expense was spared in its construction. The Inn was managed by The Hotel Astor of New York City in its early years and indicated a high standard of service and cuisine, The clientele was Long Island’s smart social set. The menu offered high end items like filet mignon and Long Island roasted duckling, with a separate dining room and menu for chauffeurs. After various owners, the building succumbed to fire in 1958. Vintage automobiles celebrated the 104th anniversary of the opening of Petit Trianon on April 26, 2015, with “The Motor Parkway Sunday Drive to Ronkonkoma Lake”, where 82 vintage participants took to the Parkway, escorted by four separate Police Jurisdictions. The Sunday Drives take place from Cunningham Park, Queens, to Lake Ronkonkoma, and is hosted by the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association.
The Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway would have rivaled the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1909) in scale, size, and shape. There were two tracks in contention - either a three-mile or a fivemile track - the first in a sort of tri-oval shape (pictured above), the second of a more elaborate shape incorporating three loops, a hairpin, some sweeping turns, and a few good straightaways. While both would have included grandstands, which were to be re-located from Levittown, the latter would have included garages, a scoreboard, officials, and photographer stand, and would have accommodated as many as 53 vehicles on the track at once. Indianapolis to date only accommodates 33 cars. Plans were made and estimates written, as the Motor Parkway Co. had $500,000 to spend, the estimates came in under at $260,000 and $375,000.
Residents could only see but not understand the nearly 900 acres of now prime Long Island real estate dedicated to racing automobiles at a time before many people had even seen a race. But the track size ultimately ended up preventing the track from ever becoming reality. The effort to build the speedway, work to establish not only the eponymous race but also the Long Island Motor Parkway, was more than full-time. The race, first run in 1904 on public roads, quickly drew the eye of Long Island residents and public officials as early as 1906 the American Automobile Association demanded that Vanderbilt not conduct the race on public roads.
To do so, Vanderbilt began construction on the parkway as a private limited-access toll road extending from Queens to, initially, Bethpage. This was troublesome to deal with. Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt Cup races logged another two deaths in the 1910 event and Carl Fisher proved able to attract international talent and the country’s most technologically advanced cars to his oval in Indianapolis. It opened in 1908 and for three years hosted part of the Vanderbilt Cup race, though the races still relied on public roads for some sections. Only after the New York State Legislature banned racing anywhere but on a dedicated racetrack did Vanderbilt move the race to other venues throughout the country during the 1910s.
Vanderbilt held out hope for the Ronkonkoma speedway as late as 1913, but right-of-way issues dogged him even then. The parkway held on to the 890 acres in Ronkonkoma until late 1937, when real estate developer Walter Shirley bought much of the land and sold it off in quarter-acre lots. The Long Island Motor Parkway closed a year later when the State, owed back taxes, bought it. The Vanderbilt Cup continued through 1916 but never returned to the parkway. Things did not always go smoothly, Willie K’s son, William Kissam Vanderbilt III (1907–1933), only 26 years old, who inherited his father’s love of fast cars and exotic travel, was killed in an automobile accident in South Carolina while driving home to New York City from his father’s Florida estate while attending college. The Vanderbilt Cup auto races repeatedly had crowd control problems and at the 1906 race a spectator was killed, and two more in 1910.
In 2017, The Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association established the NYS Marker for the Eastern Terminus, and it is permanently displayed at the Lakeland Fire Station on Motor Parkway.
In 2025, Vanderbilt was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Thank you to Daniel Strohl at Hemmings Classic Car and Howard Kroplick. I strongly suggest vanderbiltcupraces.com for further reading
(inset)
(1904)
Long Island Locavore
Bell Peppers: LI’s Vibrant Harvest Meets a Halloween Twist
By Nancy Vallarella
As summer fades and local farm stands transition to fall’s bounty, bell peppers hold their ground—bright, crisp, and abundant across Long Island fields from mid-July through October. Whether you’re picking them up from a local farm, or your local farmers’ market, these glossy gems—red, orange, yellow, and green—add both beauty and nutrition to your autumn table.
The Nutritional Powerhouse
Bell peppers are as nourishing as they are colorful. Rich in vitamins A and C, they bolster immunity—perfect timing for the onset of cold season. The red variety contains 11 times more beta carotene than green peppers, offering potent antioxidants that support skin and eye health. Low in calories but high in fiber, they’re an ideal vehicle for stuffing with hearty, wholesome ingredients.
The Art (and Fun) of the Jack-O’-Lantern Pepper
For a festive family activity, swap out the pumpkin and carve a Jack-O’-Lantern Pepper! Choose large, firm orange or yellow peppers—colors that mimic the glow of a lantern. With adult supervision, kids can use a small, pointed paring knife to carve simple triangle eyes and a toothy grin. The tops can be trimmed and saved as whimsical “lids.” (pictured below)
Stuffing for Every Palate
What makes this recipe shine is its flexibility. Stuffing peppers (pictured inset at right) is like assembling a meal in miniature—each portion can balance protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, and sauce in one edible vessel. Try one of these combinations or mix and match your favorites:
• Protein: ground turkey, chicken or beef, lentils, crumbled sausage, black beans, or quinoa
• Carbs: rice, farro, bulgur, quinoa, or even riced cauliflower for a low-carb twist
• Veggies: diced zucchini, spinach,
mushrooms, avocado or corn
• Sauces: marinara, pesto, salsa, or creamy yogurt-based sauce
To Bake—or Not to Bake
Once filled, the peppers can be served raw for a crisp, refreshing texture or baked at 375°F for 20–25 minutes until tender and aromatic. A sprinkle of cheese on top before baking adds an indulgent finish.
If peppers aren’t your thing – these ingredients are wonderful served in a bowl!
For a Quick and Satisfying Halloween Dinner
Cook components ahead and reheat in microwave or bake in the oven. Sautee your proteins with aromatics and spice. Cook carb of choice. Clean, dice, or defrost veg of choice – leave avocado prep for just before serving. Place chosen ingredients inside carved pepper and bake or serve unbaked. Store bought sauces are a great on hand item for this dish or to have on hand in the pantry. For an added bump of flavor try a quick and easy chipotle sauce or one with an extra boost of protein:
Quick and Easy Chipotle Sauce
Ingredients:
1 c mayonnaise
1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 Tbs adobo sauce from the can with peppers
Juice from ½ lime salt to taste
Directions:
Combine the mayo, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and lime juice in a small food processor.
Blend the ingredients until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Taste and season with more lime juice or salt as needed.
For the best flavor, transfer the sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow for the flavors to meld.
Created by Nancy Vallarella, who brings farm-fresh recipes and local food knowledge to Long Island through farmers’ markets, demos, and more. For more recipes or to ask a question, DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or email lilocavore495@gmail.com. Happy cooking!
This recipe contains more ingredients than the quick and easy version but provides a deeper more balanced taste with a higher protein value.
Ingredients:
1 garlic clove peeled
2/3 c Greek yogurt
2 Tbs mayonnaise
1 Tbs water
2 tsp honey
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 – 2 tsp adobo sauce
(from a can of chipotle chilies in adobo) salt to taste
Directions:
Place garlic clove in a mini food processor and process until coarsely chopped.
Add the next 7 ingredients. Process until smooth.
Add salt and adobo sauce to taste. For the best flavor, transfer the sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow for the flavors to meld.
CreditNancy Vallarella
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
Legal Insights
Important Estate Planning Tax Topics: Estate and Gift Taxes
By Wayne R. Carrabus, Esq.
I have written prior articles about tax topics that routinely come up during my consultations that seem to be misunderstood or confusing to most people, and when there is overlap between different taxes, the confusion tends to worsen. An example of two taxes that can become entangled, are the Estate Tax and the Gift Tax.
Estate Tax
The estate tax is a tax on property that is passed from a deceases person’s estate to the heirs of the estate. In other words, before an heir can receive his or her inheritance, the estate must pay an estate tax. There is a federal estate tax, and some states, including New York, impose an estate tax, as well.
An exemption is available at both the federal and state levels, so if the value of an estate is less than the exemption amount, no estate tax is owed. For 2025, the federal and New York state exemptions are $13.99 million and $7.16 million, respectively. Because of these very high exemptions, the estate tax is not a tax that most people need to worry about.
One thing worth mentioning about the New York estate tax is the “cliff.” In the case of most taxes, like the federal estate tax, when there is an exemption offered, the tax is applied only to the amount that exceeds the exemption. That is not always the case for the New York estate tax. If the total value of the estate exceeds the “cliff” of $7.518 million (for example 5% above the exemption for 2025), the entire estate will be subject to the estate tax.
Gift Tax
The gift tax is a tax on assets transferred by one person (the donor) to another person (the donee), when the donor does not receive an asset of equal value in return. If there is a gift tax owed, it is the donor who is responsible to pay the tax. There is a federal gift tax. New York does not currently impose a gift tax.
The federal estate tax exemption ($13.99 million) also serves as a lifetime gifting exemption. This means that a person can transfer while they are alive, and/or at the time of his or her death, up to a total of $13.99 million without owing any gift or estate taxes.
Federal Gift Tax Return
The requirement under the federal tax code to file a gift tax return is often what triggers much of the confusion surrounding the estate and gift taxes. According to IRS rules, if a donor gifts more than the annual gift tax exclusion ($19,000 for 2025) to any one donee during a calendar year, the donor is required to file a federal gift tax return on Form 709. Because of this rule, most people mistakenly believe that they must keep gifts below the annual gift tax exclusion, or risk having to pay a gift tax. This is generally not true.
The annual gift tax exclusion is the gift amount that the IRS wants to know about so that the grantor’s lifetime gift/estate tax exemption can be reduced. If a gift exceeds the annual gift tax exclusion, the donor is required to file a gift tax return and the donor’s estate tax exemption is reduced by the amount that the gift exceeds the annual gift tax exemption.
Now, an example to illustrate how the federal gift tax works with the federal estate tax, applying the 2025 estate tax exemption and annual gift tax exclusion.
• Scenario #1: Person A gifts Person B $10,000.00.
• Scenario #2: Person A gifts Person B $100,000.00.
Under Scenario #1, since the gift amount is less than the gift tax exclusion, Person A does not need to file a gift tax return, and there is no reduction to Person A’s federal estate tax exemption. Under Scenario #2, Person A must file a gift tax return, and Person A’s federal estate tax exemption is reduced by $81,000.00 (the difference between the gift of $100,000.00 and the annual gift exclusion of $19,000.00) to $13,909,000.
Note, even though Person A made a gift in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion under Scenario #2, no gift tax resulted because Person A has plenty of the federal estate tax exemption left over after accounting for the gift. A gift tax would only result after Person A makes more gifts in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion, and those gifts completely deplete the remaining balance of the estate tax exemption. This is why I say above that, with the federal estate tax exemption as high as it is, most people don’t have to worry about federal gift and estate taxes because they simply don’t have enough assets to transfer (during life or at death) to create a tax obligation.
New York Gift Tax
I mentioned that under New York law, there is no gift tax. This means that a donor can gift unlimited amounts to unlimited donees during lifetime without incurring any state gift tax liability. Under certain circumstances, however, gifts can be clawed back into the donor’s estate if the gifts were made within three years of the donor’s death. Because there is a New York estate tax, the clawback is intended to prevent donors who may be over the New York estate tax exemption from giving assets away right before they pass away, to avoid paying state estate taxes.
Although the Estate and Gift Taxes may not apply to most people, it is important for anyone who is, or could become, wealthy enough to threaten the estate tax exemptions to undertake planning to reduce or eliminate the estate tax to the greatest extent possible. It’s also important to keep in mind that the tax laws, and specifically the exemption amounts, are subject to change. Even though the exemptions are currently very high, future changes can reduce the exemption amounts or impact the way in which the laws are applied.
One last point to be mindful of regarding gifting. Before making a gift, the tax consequences of a gift may not be the only consideration. Gifts can significantly impact eligibility for public benefits, like Medicaid. Just because a gift is “ok” from a tax perspective (i.e. the gift does not result in a taxable event or require a tax filing), that does mean the gift is without potential negative consequences. For example, Chronic (Nursing Home) Medicaid has a 5-year lookback on applications, and impermissible gifts made within the 5-year period can disqualify an applicant for a certain period of time. In this context, a poorly timed gift can end up costing the donor far more than the amount of the gift itself.
Whether you are interested in planning to address a potential estate tax obligation, or you are considering making gifts to family members, it is important that you consult with an experienced estate planning attorney so that you can fully understand your options, and the potential impact of your actions from a tax and benefits perspective.
Wayne R. Carrabus, Esq., C.P.A, at Futterman, Lanza, LLP with offices in Smithtown, Bay Shore, Melville and Garden City, NY, and clients throughout metro New York. He concentrates his practice on Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Medicaid Applications, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration and Estate Taxes.
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Mamdani’s Damage Will Go Far Beyond the 5 Boroughs
By Nora Sullivan | AMAC Outside Contributor
“Together, we can tax the rich, heal the sick, house the poor, defund the police & build a socialist New York,” Zohran Mamdani tweeted in 2020. On his current mayoral campaign website, he calls for shifting the city’s tax burden to “richer and whiter neighborhoods.”
These aren’t slip-ups or stray remarks. They are at the heart of his campaign for mayor of New York City this November. And if he wins, the fallout won’t just be felt here. It will ripple far beyond the five boroughs, dragging down not only New York but the nation as well.
I know a lot of Americans will shrug and say: “Well, New Yorkers get what they deserve.”
I get that reaction. I really do. Everyone has seen the footage of the spoiled brats at Columbia University taking over buildings and shouting in the faces of cops, and thought these idiots should be put on a slow boat to Venezuela or some other socialist paradise.
But those people aren’t the ones who will bear the brunt of Mamdani’s experiment. Most of them aren’t even native New Yorkers. They’re mostly shipped in from leafy suburbs that are glad to get rid of them.
The real casualties will be New York’s middle class—the cops, firefighters, and nurses who hold this city together. My own family is full of them. I was born in the Bronx, surrounded by firefighters and police officers who worked brutal shifts and risked their lives every day for their neighbors. These men and women aren’t radicals. They’re the ones who keep the city running, and they’re the ones who will get squeezed the hardest.
Mamdani’s platform is as destructive as it is delusional: $10 billion in new taxes on high earners and businesses, a $30-an-hour minimum wage by 2030, rent freezes, so-called free buses, so-called free child care, and even city-owned grocery stores.
This isn’t some bold new vision. It’s the same tired socialism that has failed everywhere it’s been tried. And just like everywhere else, it risks hollowing out the very tax base that pays for everything else.
Here’s the thing: the top 1% of New Yorkers, those making around $800,000 and up, pay nearly half the city’s income taxes, per the 2023 NYC Independent Budget Office. If just 2% of them leave, the city could lose $5-$10 billion every year hedge fund manager Bill Ackman estimates.
Who makes up the difference? Not the wealthy, who can relocate to Florida or Texas with ease. Not the poorest, who qualify for welfare and public housing.
The burden falls squarely on the middle class. On the firefighters, cops, nurses, and small business owners who can’t simply pack up and leave.
And when the city runs short? It’s not Mamdani’s leftist base that suffers most. It’s working families.
But the danger doesn’t stop at the five boroughs. New York isn’t just any city. It’s America’s economic engine, producing $1.1 trillion in gross domestic product last year alone. The city is also a cultural beacon. The skyline, Broadway, the Met, the museums, and the energy that has always stood as a symbol of American ambition.
If Mamdani’s socialist experiment drives away wealth and enterprise, New York could spiral into decline. Businesses will fail, jobs will disappear, the economy will shrink, and America will lose far more
than tax revenue. We’ll lose a piece of our national identity. A city that once represented freedom and opportunity will become a cautionary tale about what happens when ideology trumps reality.
There’s a better path. New York doesn’t need to punish success to support its workers. It needs leadership that understands wealth isn’t the enemy. It’s the engine of opportunity. Smart tax policies, incentives for businesses, and targeted relief for the middle class can keep the city both compassionate
Overview - AMACThe Association of Mature American Citizens
The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels.
AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us
and competitive.
Because if New York falls, it won’t just be New Yorkers who suffer. We will all be worse off. And as someone whose family has given their lives and labor to this city, I can tell you: We can’t afford to let that happen.
Punishing success punishes everyone. Mamdani’s vision might appeal to radicals who think money grows on trees. But for the middle class that actually makes the city run, it’s a disaster. And for the country, it’s a warning. If America’s greatest city falls to socialist decline, nobody wins.
WORD OF THE Week
Etymology: late 15th century (as indeleble): from French, or from Latin indelebilis, from in- ‘not’ + delebilis (from delere ‘efface, delete’). The ending was altered under the influence of -ible.
INDELIBLE
adjective
Pronounced: /in·deh·li·bl/
Definition: (of ink, a pen, etc.) making marks that cannot be removed; (sense 2) not able to be forgotten
Example: “His career left an indelible mark on the nation’s political history.”
Synonyms: permanent, lasting, ingrained
Antonyms: unremarkable, forgettable
Source: Oxford Languages
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
LEVEL: Hard
See bottom of page for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
October 23, 2015: Adele releases her single “Hello,” becomes the first song with more than a million downloads in its first week
October 24, 1962: Soviet ships approach but stop short of the U.S. blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
October 22, 1962: “Rebel Without a Cause”, directed by Nicholas Ray, starring James Dean and Natalie Wood, is released.
October 28, 1886: Statue of Liberty is dedicated by President Grover Cleveland (D-NY),
Source: Onthisday.com.
October 26, 1861: Pony Express (Missouri to California) ends after 19 months.
October 29,1929: Stock market crash on Wall Street, known as “Black Tuesday,” triggers the Great Depression.
October 25, 2017: Chinese Premier Xi Jinping unveils his new ruling council in the Great Hall of the People; none of the five members are young enough to succeed him.
By PJ Balzer
Standing on Someone Else’s Sidelines
This past weekend I attended a football game at my hometown high school. This week specifically was a really big game, one we’ve been anticipating all year. The stage was set for two of Suffolk County’s best football teams to call the coin toss and then get straight to business. Nerves, emotions, and some rivalry tensions were definitely running high.
As I found my usual spot in the stands and glanced out onto the field, I saw something different to the prior weeks. There was some familiar faces from years past, out on the sidelines standing next to our current players. There was a nostalgic variety of varsity jackets being proudly sported of championship teams of years past. Some were green jackets with white lettering. Others were a more faded, older green with yellow lettering. But there was a common denominator and uniformity in all of them. They were there to cheer, coach, encourage and help push our young boys in one of the biggest games of the season. They were standing on someone else’s sidelines as a source of support.
You and I are pretty much conditioned to try to nestle next to the powerful people. We so easily set out to fully support celebrities, strangers, and people that we really don’t know and vice versa. We post them, share them and gladly rally around them and their cause. Meanwhile, they don’t even know our name and probably never will. Nevertheless, we find ourselves going all out for their projects, their ideals and their pursuit of power. We cheer them on and help to fluff up
their already full pockets. We are so much less likely to support the “little people.” Our all too familiar childhood friends who are starting their little business, pursuing their lifelong dreams and passions. We have neighbors selling homemade hand soaps, cutting the ribbon at their first storefront or struggling to get a new idea off of the ground. These little people are hoping that someone will come alongside them, stand behind them to cheer or help them to stay afloat. Yet we’re often busy cheering for the big people who are adding brick to brick with all the support in the world.
Many of the young men that were on the field supporting the current players are currently away at college. Some of them are playing college football and are themselves mid season. Other’s were older men with families, children who play sports, packed parental schedules and a tremendous amount of responsibility. Yet they took three hours out of their weekend, some drove down from SUNY Brockport and Cortland to come stand on the sidelines of the younger players. Just to offer their presence, words of encouragement and more football insight.
We ended up winning the game and I’m completely convinced that these guys standing on someone else’s sidelines play a substantial role in the victory. The current players needed every ounce of support for this one.
Get out there and clap for a friend.
Congratulations Natalie Affenita: Top 40 Under 40
Natalie was recently Honored in a special edition of the Long Island Real Producers Magazine as being one of the Top 40 Under 40 Licensed Real Estate Agents
Natalie Affenita has never been one to follow a straight path. In fact, she’s taken more detours than most-including captaining a collegiate dance team, traveling the world, working as a travel agent in Florence, and selling stone in a mason’s yard before realizing that real estate was where she was meant to be.
Her journey into the industry was anything but conventional. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was working with her father in construction when a customer walked in, looking for materials. Natalie didn’t just sell him a piece of stone-she sold him on her talent. So much so that he took her to lunch the next day, not to discuss masonry but to convince her to get into real estate. After a few conversations and some paperwork, she was officially in the business, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Real estate has tested her in ways she never expected, especially when health complications forced her to undergo surgery to insert a cardiac monitor, which Natalie still has today. But slowing down? Not an option. Even during recovery, Natalie found a way to keep her deals moving, show properties, and stay present for her clients-thanks to an incredible support system of family, colleagues, and sheer determination. “Real estate doesn’t pause, and neither do I,” she says with a laugh.
Now, with Douglas Elliman Real Estate, She’s laser-focused on breaking into the luxury market, expanding her network, and making a difference through her extensive charity work. And if her track record proves anything, it’s that no matter what life throws at her, Natalie will always find a way to turn it into an opportunity.
Ward Meville’s Aliya Leonard
Represents United States in Lacrosse
By Ashley Pavlakis
Lacrosse is not in season right now on Long Island; it’s a spring sport. That doesn’t mean things aren’t happening at the next level. For Setauket, New York native, Aliya Leonard, she recently got to play with the United States U17 Youth National Team.
Aliya Leonard is a midfielder for the Ward Melville Patriots girls varsity lacrosse team, she’s entering her fourth season playing with varsity. Leonard is a multisport athlete, competing in varsity soccer and track in addition to lacrosse.
“I started playing lacrosse when I was younger because I grew up around the sport, a lot of my friends and family played, so I picked up a stick and fell in love with it. I loved how fast-paced and competitive it was, and over time it became something I was really passionate about. My mom was a very influential person for me when it came to lacrosse and she’s really the one who got me into it. She played at the University of Virginia and is also in the Smithtown Hall of Fame, so I grew up surrounded by the sport. She’s always been one of my biggest inspirations and a huge part of why I play today,” said Leonard. Leonard received high praise from her high school coach when describing the type of player she is.
“Aliya is the do-it-all midfielder, she is super versatile. I’ve played her at attack, I played her at low Attack, I’ve played her at D, which in my opinion, makes her just the perfect midfielder. Because she moves around based on other girls’ versatility, not her own. She really just kind of gave herself a good blueprint to be able to do anything on the field,” said Ward
Peragallo.
very talented, so it really tested us and showed what we could do when we played together with confidence and intensity. We also played some Sixes, which made everything faster and more challenging, but also really fun. Another great part of the event was getting to play alongside girls I had competed against all summer. It was cool to come together as teammates and see how quickly we could build chemistry,” said Leonard.
Echoing Leonard’s statement, Peragallo expressed the importance of being challenged and competing at a high level.
The midfielder was 1 of 24 players to be named to the U17 youth national team for Team USA. Four more Long Island natives got invites as well, Madison Herr for the U17 roster, Sabrina Asdurian, Sophia Buffardi, and Rudy Cacioppo for the U19 roster.
“This was actually my first time being involved with Team USA, and it was such an amazing experience. Getting the opportunity to wear “USA” across my chest and represent the country was something I’ll never forget. The level of competition was incredible, every player there was talented, hardworking, and passionate about the game, which really pushed me to elevate my own play. I learned so much, not just about lacrosse but about leadership, communication, and how to perform under pressure. It was definitely one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far in my lacrosse journey,” Leonard told The Messenger
In typical rivalry fashion, the United States faced off against their ‘friends’ across the way, Team Canada. The first of two series as part of the Rivalry Challenge took place in September at the National Team headquarters in Maryland for four days of competition. They’ll meet again at the end of October to compete for the Brogden cup. Both teams competed in the ‘sixes’ format, which is said to be a quicker, compact style of play.
“The USA U17 event in Maryland was such an amazing experience. The competition level was incredibly high, and one of the most memorable moments was getting the chance to play, and beat, the U19 team. They were older and
“I think playing with high-caliber opponents is just important in general. Nowadays with lacrosse, there are so many options for different things that you can do. But Team USA is Team USA, it’s so cool. I feel they do a really good job picking a good array of the best kids in the country. I mean, she’d be good regardless, right? There are so many things that she could do, but the fact that she was able to get on this prestigious Team USA is just awesome. I feel like when she goes and then comes back, she has a little bit of a fresh look on it [lacrosse], it just helps her IQ a ton. Leonard is currently a junior at Ward Melville, but she has her future in lacrosse planned out. She’ll attend the prestigious Ivy League University and play Division I lacrosse for the Yale Bulldogs. “I actually committed earlier in September to Yale University, which I’m super excited about. It’s been a dream of mine to play lacrosse at the collegiate level, and Yale felt like the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically. The coaching staff and team culture really stood out, everyone is so driven and supportive. I’m really looking forward to being challenged by such a competitive environment and continuing to grow as both a player and a person there,” said Leonard.
A household name in women’s lacrosse is Taylor Cummings. The three-time Tewaaraton award winner was highly regarded throughout her career at every level.
“I think my game most closely resembles Taylor Cummings. She’s a really aggressive and gritty midfielder who makes an impact on both sides of the field, and that’s how I try to play as well. She’s strong on draws, plays tough defense, and can take over offensively when her team needs it. I like to bring that same all-around intensity, doing the little things, competing for every ground ball, and staying involved in every play. Like her, I try to be the kind of player who can change the momentum of a game through effort and energy,” said Leonard.
A positive first experience with Team USA has left Leonard ready to share everything she’s learned with her Ward Melville teammates to help win a championship.
“I want to bring everything I learned there back to Ward Melville, the speed, the communication, and especially the trust that great teams have in each other. At Ward Melville, we already have such a strong culture and a competitive environment, so my goal is to help us keep building on that, pushing the pace, staying connected, and playing with the same confidence and teamwork we had with Team USA,” said Leonard.
Melville head coach Stephanie
Credit - United States Lacrosse Organization - Official Team USA Photography
The Last Push Before the Playoffs
By PJ Balzer
As we come around the last lap of the regular season in high school football, this past weekend definitely didn’t disappoint and will have implications in just a few short weeks when the playoff brackets are released. In some of the most anticipated games around the county, there were some upsets, games that came down to the very last snap and others that we thought would have ended closer than they did.
Half Hollow Hills East was ranked one of the top ten teams on the island before the season started this year. To everyone’s surprise they lost their first two games of the season and started off the year 0-2, leading people to prematurely count their season out as a disappointment. They have won their last few games and capped it off this weekend by convincingly beating a strong East Islip team last night 21-7. East Islip was undefeated this season up until meeting Nick Sevilla (QB) and Daniel White (RB) of Hills East. The Redmen drop to 5-1 while Hills East improves to 4-2. There’s a good chance for these two teams to face each other in the playoffs, possibly even the Suffolk County championship game for division 2. Hills East is the epitome of the saying, “It’s not how you start but how you finish.”, with Bayport-Blue Point beating Babylon in each of their matchups since 2018. The Panthers came into this game with much more to prove than just the final numbers on the scoreboard. They were here to prove that they aren’t to be looked over as an easy win. Aidan Winters, Babylon’s stud running back, stepped up
and answered the call as he ran for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 27-6 win over Bayport-Blue Point. This win for Babylon also broke Bayport’s 33 game regular season winning streak.
On Saturday late morning the Ward Melville Patriots loaded a bus and headed south into Colonial territory to take on William Floyd. This was the first time the two teams faced off since last year’s Suffolk County championship game at Stony Brook University. Both teams were coming in 5-0 with most local sports analysts predicting Ward Melville to beat the defending Suffolk County champs William Floyd. Floyd’s defense stepped up in a serious way against a Ward Melville offense that truly runs like a well-oiled machine. The Colonials defense caused five turnovers, three coming at crucial moments in the fourth quarter. Ja’Quan Thomas ran for over 200 yards and four touchdowns to put the Colonials over the Patriots at the final whistle. Thomas is currently the leading yard rusher in all of Suffolk and number two on the island. There’s a good chance that these two powerhouses could meet again later in the playoffs, even back at the large school championship game.
Keep an eye out for some tough teams and underdogs that could make a statement in the upcoming playoffs by beating any team on any given day. Sachem North, Huntington, East Hampton/ Bridgehampton and Bellport. A really big shout-out to Northport who is also currently running an undefeated season for the first time in nearly 15 years!
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