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Thursday, August 24, 2023 ~ Volume 68 ~ Issue Number 44 ~ $1.00
Exposed...Again... Former P.D. Chief Arrested in Prostitution Sting By Matt Meduri
Courtesy of Matt Meduri
(Left to right) Sgt. Brian Quattrini, Chief Stephen Laton, Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
The Island-wide sewer conversation now lands in Central Islip, as elected and community officials convened off Carleton Avenue last Thursday to unveil grant money earmarked for sewers and the ongoing revitalization project for the hamlet’s business district. Elected officials from all levels of government gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate $12 million secured to connect the business district to the Suffolk County sewer system. Despite political conversation being dominated by sewers for the last few months, this project has been a few years in the making. New York State awarded the Town of Islip $10 million as part of the Central Islip Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) in 2018. A portion of that money will be used to sewer the business district. The plan will connect sixty-four parcels in the hamlet’s business district along Carleton Avenue, extending from Suffolk Avenue to Smith Street. The project is expected to be completed in eighteen months. The event was headlined by County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon), who has been credited with prioritizing wastewater solutions during his twelve-year tenure, as well as Deputy County Executive Peter Scully, who has earned the nickname the “Water Czar” for his own efforts and experience in wastewater management. “We know water quality underpins our quality of life, our economy, and why people live here to a great extent,” said Executive Bellone. “It’s also about economic development, job creation, and communities being able to realize their vision for the future. Here, you have had a town working together with the community to put forth that vision. Without that, it doesn’t matter about the infrastructure or the plans. If you don’t have that community vision, support, and drive, you’re not going anywhere. That has not been the case here.”
Central Islip Receives Grant for Sewer Project
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(Photo right) Officials break ground on the project.
FULL STORIES ON:
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Continued on page 3
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Courtesy of County Executive Steve Bellone
By Matt Meduri
One of perhaps Suffolk County’s most scandalous figures has solicited his way back into the public eye. Although former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke left much to be desired during his tenure at Yaphank, his notoriety continues to precede him, primarily as information regarding the long-unsolved until now - Gilgo Beach murders. However, Tuesday’s ordeal reeked less of conspiracy and intrigue and more of humiliation, desperation, and bad manners. Burke was caught at a county park allegedly petitioning a male for sexual relations while exposing himself. Instead, the encounter quickly changed course as he was arrested on charges of solicitation and indecent exposure. Burke, 59, was processed at the Sixth Precinct in Selden on Middle Country Road Tuesday afternoon. A brief press conference by Commissioner Rodney Harrison was held during Burke’s processing. According to Harrison, the department was conducting a regular prostitution sting operation using plain clothes officers at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park on Bald Hill in Farmingville due to complaints about activity in the area. “At 10:15 a.m. today, during this operation, we engaged one individual who was soliciting for sexual engagements,” said Harrison. “Due to the actions which I am not going to share, this individual was placed under arrest. Rangers ascertained that the perpetrator involved was James Burke, former Chief of Suffolk County Police Department.” Harrison shared the charges: “He is being charged with offering a sex act, indecent exposure, public lewdness, and criminal solicitation in the fifth degree. Additional charges may be pending.