Page 12 & 13
Thursday, October 26, 2023 ~ Volume 69 ~ Issue Number 1 ~ $1.00
Some Final Questions for Dave Calone By Matt Meduri With just a little less than two weeks left until the elections, we’re tying up every loose end of our election coverage. At the risk of sounding repetitive, the big-ticket race this year is that of the open-seat Suffolk County Executive, being vacated by term-limited Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). No Republican has been elected Suffolk County Executive since Robert Gaffney (R) in 1999. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) is competing for the spot with Dave Calone (D-Setauket), a former federal prosecutor and private equity financier.
Given Romaine’s credentials, long history in local government, decades-long popularity and name recognition, and twelve years supervising the largest and most complicated town in Suffolk County, The Messenger has already endorsed him for County Executive. But that doesn’t mean we still don’t have reasonable questions for Supervisor Romaine’s opponent. It’s more than just Romaine’s resume that makes him our pick, as well as that of Newsday, a critical endorsement that was unveiled earlier this week. There are several questions that should be asked of Dave Calone going into the final stretch of this election.
Continued on page 8
Election 2023:
Endorsement Alert Page 12 & 13 FULL STORIES ON:
The Ken Messenger’s Colón vs. Angie Crystal Carpenter Ball Page Page 12 & 8 13
Soundview Christine Pellegrino Opens New Center vs. Mike McElwee Page 10 20 Page
Legislature ISP Ranked Moves #5 To Ban Best Disguised Small Airport Vapes Page 20 22
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Endorsement Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
first E N D O R S E M E N T A L E RT: “The and most
ED ROMAINE for Suffolk County Executive
important duty of any government is public safety.” Ed Romaine
“My opponent would like to dismiss me because of my long record in government and my age…I may have to get my knee replaced in the future, but if I do that, I’m getting an experienced surgeon, not someone with ‘new ideas’.” - Ed Romaine, Stony Brook AARP forum 10/10/2023
“...Long Island’s most effective town executive.”
- Newsday Editorial Board, October 23, 2017
om front cover
Endorsement dorsement Alert: Ed Romaine for Suffolk 5 Co Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
that with nearly 500,000 residents, osystem - the only town in Suffolk he Long Island Sound, the Great “The importance of this race and the Atlantic - varying, cannot beOcean overstated. We stand a coalition of lawmunities here withunited, diverse interests, enforcement and labor, rinsic complications of governingin support of Ed Romaine because means governing Long Island’s of his experience as an most elected own. official. Now is not the time for concernon-the-job that faces all We Suffolk training. need the strong proven leadership nts is that of cost of living and fiscalof Ed Romaine invest in our law While Suffolk Countytohas dealt with enforcement and keep Suffolk ptroller’s perennial dead-last ranking County safe for all residents.” York’s sixty-two counties in terms of - John Becker, president of the , Brookhaven has received a perfect Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Police he state comptroller Benevolent regardingAssociation fiscal ne was elected Supervisor in 2012, two years of his fiscal policy, all Wall John Becker (center), president of the Suffolk agencies have given town County Deputythe Sheriffs Policetriple-A Benevolent Association, gives his endorsement to every rating period. not only Ed RomaineThis at thehas PBA Headquarters. xpayers massive amounts of money e to bond at low interest rates, but he Town to bond projects to improve , safety, and services.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
“ ca he en of ex N jo pr to an al
Coun Rom John Becker (center), president of the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs him, Police Benevolent Association, gives his endorsement to Ed Romaine at the PBA Headquarters. waterw indust throug rst and most important where applicable, and the need to preserve our open of any government is public safety.” - Ed Romaine Romaine was also an early advocate for sewers in and commercial space within 500 feet of an aquifer County, especially in times of fiscal uncertainty on the state and federal When it comes to realistic environmental pr a leader proven at balancing a budget fostering a culture of fiscal solutions that are not yet scientifically developed y. Ed Romaine is the man for the job. Romaine is the right man for the job. afety, another issue that concerns almost all suburban voters, is Romaine’s service as supervisor of the second he forefront due to a nearby New York City that continues to seep crime State would not go unnoticed if he was not a pro into its bedroom communities and a state that refuses to prosecute unions, as well as his understanding that small b h cashless bail, creating a revolving-door justice system where repeat United States - have earned him the highly-sought ve more safety than our parents, children, and communities. Romaine Municipal Workers (AME) and dozens of trade unio dorsed by all major law enforcement agencies. Romaine is the first In terms of job creation in Suffolk, Ed Romaine is ounty executive candidate to receive this distinction since he himself se endorsements in 2003 against Steve Levy. “...Long Island’s most effective ker, president of the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent - New aid in his endorsement of Romaine on October 6: “The importance of not be overstated. We stand here united, a coalition of law-enforcement Lastly, Romaine does not need to convince the support of Ed Romaine because of his experience as an elected official. public servant. The Messenger recognizes this ov he time for on-the-job training. We need the strong proven leadership coffers are filled with five-figure donations from ne to invest in our law enforcement and keep Suffolk County safe for all in which he himself invested through his private e Additionally, Romaine did not have to lend h of common-sense application of the law and a tough-onreport, unlike his opponent. Romaine’s e ach to keep our quiet, suburban communities safe and as paying Suffolk-anchored staff, while Ca -City-like as possible, Ed Romaine is the right man for campaign manager from Connecticu Furthermore, Ed Romaine does ng our suburban, small-town-like culture is fundraisers with nationalized polit o many Suffolk residents. Many believe Nassau Manhattan fundraiser with the Go the new Queens, while Suffolk is becoming the attended a Zoom fundraiser with . Romaine has understood improving existing (D-NY-08). Romaine’s donations e and working to receive as much grant money easily accessible by Suffolk resi rom state and local funds to ease the burden Lastly, 20% of Calone’s fina , while also developing smartly and as needed. to Colorado addresses, leading
Editorial
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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Too Many Questions for ‘Colorado Calone’ Why did he loan himself nearly $1 million for his campaign? Why does 20% of his money come from Colorado? Why does he have so many out-of-state people and politicians keyed into his campaign? Why is he running a local election with national overtones? Why has he spent over $200,000 in consultation to help him run a campaign in a place he grew up? These are just several questions we’ve been raising over the course of the campaign. We feel that these are realistic questions that should be asked of any contender for a local seat. It’s the same reason Perry Gershon (D) underperformed the blue wave year in 2018 against Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley); Gershon was from the city. It’s the same reason that this exact newspaper was instrumental in the downfall of Michelle Bond (R), a cryptocurrency investor from Maryland touting a Long Island profile that never truly existed as presented. What’s curious about Calone is that while he is a lifelong resident of Setauket, his campaign has the appearance of one from out of state. Someone who has lived on Long Island his whole life should not have too much trouble connecting with voters who are essentially his neighbors, and if he does have that problem, then it makes us dubious of his ability to connect with the county he may be elected to represent. Furthermore, someone with local connections should probably have an easier time raising funds from local groups and parties. The Democratic Party and its typical endorsers seem to be observing the writing on the wall that this is shaping up to be the third consecutive red wave year on Long Island, one in which control of Suffolk County is firmly returned
to the GOP for the first time in fifteen years. It’s possible that enthusiasm is stymied and the money just isn’t there. Even so, Calone’s $750,000 in loans to himself from an address and two separate post office boxes inflate his fundraising totals by large amounts. We’re not arguing a question of fairness - it’s Calone’s money and he’s allowed to donate to his own campaign - but we think it’s misrepresentative of a local election. This is further highlighted by his many years in private equity, scratching the backs of tech startups in other states who, in Calone’s time of need, have eagerly returned the favors. Again, Calone is allowed to have friends and people who will help him out, but tech entrepreneurs in California or Colorado funneling tens of thousands of dollars into a local election doesn’t exactly communicate “home-grown” values. The big question that has been revolving around Calone’s campaign is his ties to the Centennial State: Colorado. As it turns out, he was classmates with now-Governor Jared Polis (D) during their Princeton days. Jove Equity Partners, currently operated by Calone, was started by Polis and Calone became the managing partner in 2008 when Polis was elected to Congress. Even as recently as the 2018 gubernatorial election in Colorado, Polis’ bloated net worth - among the highest in Congressional history - his association with Jove Equity Partners was called into question by critics who felt he and his Republican opponent were too out of touch with the general Colorado public. Calone’s presence in the Colorado tech startup community, namely in Boulder, has been of assistance to him since he ran in the Democratic primary for New York’s First Congressional District in 2016. Calone received vocal support from the same entrepreneurs who helped elect Polis in 2008. The pattern of investing in tech startups to later receive campaign support is essentially what has defined
Calone’s political history, rather than consistent public service on Long Island. Calone’s relationship with the governor descended on Long Island earlier this summer when Calone attended a ritzy Manhattan fundraiser that was closed to the press. Just last week, Calone’s campaign sent out a mass text for a Zoom meeting fundraiser with Governor Polis and the House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08). Meanwhile, the only elected official with national connections has been Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), who is known for his local roots and specific brand of retail politics. Romaine has only appeared with Town Councilmembers, County Legislators, and other local elected officials. We could only imagine the outrage if Romaine appeared in a Zoom meeting, or traveled to Connecticut, in search of funds for a local race with Kevin McCarthy or the Governor of Oklahoma, for instance. Finally, if Calone is truly a lifelong Suffolk resident, then it’s difficult to imagine why he has spent nearly $200,000 on consultation. Some consulting services are necessary, but again, trying that hard to connect with residents who are essentially his neighbors makes us wary of his ability to connect with his potential constituents. To add insult to injury, the consultants he’s paid are nationally-aligned groups who work to elect Democrats on the national level. One of the groups actually lists Calone as the only local office candidate; the others are all running for U.S. House. Overall, we think that these are fair questions to ask a candidate running for local office that will undoubtedly have a large effect on our lives if elected. We most importantly ask for a candidate who not only is from our great county, but also acts like it too.
The Congressional Delegation Holds Out for Long Island The ongoing issues on Capitol Hill regarding the vacant Speakership seem over for now. Republicans glossed over well-known candidates like Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), Jim Jordan (R-OH-04), and Tom Emmer (RMN-06) in favor of the lesser-known Mike Johnson (R-LA-06) for Speaker of the House. Johnson’s ascension to the post of Speaker terminates the seemingly-endless rounds of closeddoor votes, dropouts, and failed elections and lifts the paralysis on House business. Intraparty fighting over more populist-conservative values, home-rule messaging, fiscal responsibility, line-item spending, and placed a needed check on the Biden Administration is what led to the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-21) and led to a lack of consensus among certain factions of the Republican Party. While some Republicans felt Jordan was too conservative and Emmer was too liberal, three holdouts had something completely different in mind: the values of Long Island. Our Congressmen Nick LaLota (R-NY-01) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), joined by
Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-04), were three famous holdouts against all nominees until Johnson. Their stipulations were someone who would not only represent conservative ideals realistically, but also be sympathetic to Long Island’s needs, namely State and Local Tax Deductions (SALT) and flood insurance programs. SALT Deductions are property tax deductions that are disproportionately enjoyed by Long Islanders because of nation-high property taxes that make other states clutch their paychecks extra tight. Meanwhile, flood insurance programs in tandem with FEMA is a need that is understood by many across the country, but apparently not enough to warrant it as a stipulation for a vote for Speaker. LaLota, Garbarino, and D’Esposito held out to ensure Long Island is not forgotten in the eyes of both Albany and Washington. While such protests could have been saved for the House floor in the form of lynchpin votes on key budgetary or legislative matters, the Long Island three knew that doing so would allow the issues to be swept under the rug as they perennially are. Long Island is
hardly ever returned money it sends to Albany and Washington; why would our Congressmen suddenly give someone from the middle of the country the benefit of the doubt? Our Congressmen have also upheld the high value of retail politics that drives Long Islanders voters in an otherwise quintessentially purple district. By conventional political wisdom, Zeldin should have been knocked off in 2018, or at least 2020, but his bipartisanship - among the highest in the House - and his reception of local needs insulated him against an environment that was inhospitable to Republicans in districts redder than NY-01. Johnson’s residence in Louisiana makes him intimately familiar with the need for flood insurance. His personal experiences make him aware of the needs of 9/11 victims and first responders and the need to fund the associated healthcare programs, and he understands that New York’s taxes are out of control. LaLota, Garbarino, and D’Esposito were criticized for their holding out, but it seems that they held out for just the right candidate.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
Public Safety Solutions Exist, It’s Time to Take Action By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay Living on edge, fearful they could be the next statistic in a surge of criminal activity in communities across the state, this should not be a New Yorker’s story. Unfortunately, following the misguided criminal justice reforms championed by progressives, too many people fall victim to the corruption of career criminals thriving in a seemingly lawless state. Law enforcement officials and district attorneys are desperate for the Legislature to act. So far, liberals have allowed their political stubbornness to halt any substantial solutions from being enacted. Inaction has shamefully allowed criminals of all ages and backgrounds to continue jeopardizing public safety. Remarkably, the city of Syracuse has seen a 55% spike in shoplifting since 2021. The Onondaga County District Attorney has echoed the sentiment from law enforcement officials across the state, citing repeat offenders as a cause. Some individuals have been arrested for the same incidents as many as twenty-nine times. For context, in New York City, nearly one-third of all shoplifting arrests were committed by the same 327 individuals, who were arrested over 6,000 times. As legislators, we must recognize the problems impacting our communities and resolve them with common-sense solutions. Earlier this year, in the wake of these concerning statistics from New York City, Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R,C-Staten Island) introduced legislation (A.5029) to increase penalties for persistent offenders. The bill would give district attorneys the power to consider the aggregate value of misdemeanor petit larcenies for up to 18 months after the first conviction in order to enforce stricter penalties. If that value is between $1,000 and $3,000, district attorneys would be allowed to charge an individual suspected of the thefts with the felony crime of “grand larceny in the fourth degree.” Additionally, as noted by Syracuse Police Spokesman Lieutenant Matthew Malinoski highlighting the 65% surge in car thefts from last year, “often, the thieves are juveniles.” This has been part of a growing concern since “Raise the Age” was passed in the 2017-2018 budget. Members of the Assembly Minority Conference and district attorneys have repeatedly warned of major flaws in the legislation which provided an avenue for younger individuals to keep committing violent crimes with little to no consequences. This week, Albany County District Attorney David Soares went as far as calling the refusal by the Legislature to fix the law “legislative malpractice.”
Even the strongest proponents of this legislation should be willing to undertake attempts to fix the glaring shortfalls and dangers that have resulted. The failure to provide accountability for youthful offenders of violent crimes is a disservice to public safety. There used to be mechanisms in place to identify troubled youth and provide opportunities for intervention before they progressed to more violent criminal acts. The Assembly Minority Conference has made a number of recommendations to address faults in the current law. Our legislation would: • Require any violent felony offense—especially gang assault and possession of a weapon—committed by 16 or 17-year-old adolescent offender to be maintained in the Youth Part of Criminal Court unless all parties agree to move the case to family court. • Include and define “circumstances” that would prevent a non-violent felony case from being moved to family court, should a district attorney prove one or more circumstances exist. • Amend Criminal Procedure Law and the Family Court Act to ensure judges, prosecutors and defense counsel can access records pertaining to arrests and juvenile delinquency proceedings. • Require a victim of a crime committed by a person under the age of 18 to be notified of the case outcome. It is time to start prioritizing public safety and putting an end to the career criminal lifestyle. However well-intended liberals’ criminal justice reforms may have been, the result is causing chaos. The Legislature has a responsibility to work with stakeholders across the criminal justice system to deliver meaningful change to restore order in our communities. Members of the Assembly Minority Conference remain ready and willing to begin the conversation. If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@ nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or on Twitter at @WillABarclay.
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Why It’s Important to Patronize Your Neighborhood Restuarants Why not patronize your neighborhood restaurants during Long Island Restaurant Week October 25 through November 5, with a wide variety of lunch and dinner specials all year long? My wife and I don’t mind occasionally paying a little more to help our favorite restaurants survive. Don’t forget your cook and server. We try to tip 20 to 25 percent against the total bill including taxes. If it is an odd amount, we round up to the next dollar. If we can afford to eat out, we can afford an extra dollar tip. When ordering take out, we always leave a dollar or two for the waiter or cook. It is appreciated. The restaurant industry employees hosts, bartenders, waiters, bus boys, cooks, cashiers and parking valets, wholesale food sellers, distributors and linen suppliers. There are also construction contractors who renovate or build new restaurants. Our local entrepreneurs work long hours, pay taxes, and provide local employment, especially to students during the summer. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either. Why travel into Manhattan when we have so many great neighborhood restaurants in Brookhaven, Islip, Smithtown, and other nearby communities in Suffolk County to select from? Larry Penner Great Neck
Election News
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
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The Messenger’s Crystal Ball Ratings Changes - Two Weeks Out By Matt Meduri With a little less than two weeks until Election Day, we’re getting close to the end of our in-depth examination of the elections from a race-byrace standpoint. To briefly recap our previous highlights: - Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) appears to be in the driver’s seat for the County Executive race against Dave Calone (D-Setauket). Political geography, the current shift in Suffolk’s mood towards the Republican Party, the twenty-year drought for the GOP at the County Executive level, and Romaine’s unique resume and credentials contribute to our forecast of Likely Republican for the race. - The Republicans are favored to retain ten of their eleven currently-held seats. A net gain of one will deliver them a veto-proof supermajority. - Republicans are also favored to flip three seats: the North Forkbased First, the Setauket-based Fifth, and the Rocky Point-based Sixth. - Democrats are expected to hold at least four of their currently held seats, three based in western Suffolk in the Ninth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Districts, as well as the Second District, encompassing the entire South Fork. - Democrats are favored to flip the Town Supervisorship of Southold, while expected to retain three other seats. The GOP is highly likely to retain control of Brookhaven, Islip, and Riverhead. Ratings Changes Suffolk County Legislature District Two moves from Likely Democrat to Leans Democrat. Suffolk County Legislature District Seven moves from Leans Republican to Likely Republican. Brookhaven Town Council District One moves from Leans Democrat to Toss Up. Suffolk County Legislature District Two Containing the entire South Fork, the Second District in the Legislature has been represented by Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) since 2015. Reelected three times with no less than 59% of the vote across her four elections, Fleming has decided to retire from the Legislature this year, creating an open-seat scenario in an otherwise uncontestable district for the GOP. Our long-held rating of Likely Democrat was mainly due to an abundance of caution of Republican strength in perhaps the area most inhospitable to Republicans in Suffolk County. An open seat after the 2022 elections in which East End Democrats, namely Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor), did relatively poorly allowed us to believe there was a possibility this seat could be on the outskirts of the competitive table in the right environment. We believe that while still an underdog, retired state parks police officer, current Albany lobbyist, and Chair of the East Hampton Town Republican Committee Manny Vilar (R-Springs) is making an extraordinary play for such a long-shot seat. The Messenger caught up with Peter Ganley (R-Cutchogue), who gave East End Assemblyman Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) a close race last year. “It’s always going to be an uphill battle for Republicans on the South Fork, but Southampton voters are incredibly engaged with their local government,” says Ganley. “I trust Southampton voters west of the canal to support the person over the party. Manny’s experience and qualifications far exceed those of his lackluster opponent. He has my total support and, in my view, is the obvious choice for LD-02. If Vilar can win big with working-class voters in the west end of his district, he has a solid path to victory on November 7.” We think that while some South Fork Republicans may come up short on Election Day, the race warrants watching, as this is perhaps the best opportunity Republicans have had in recent years to realistically contest the seat. A margin of around ten or eleven points for Vilar’s opponent, Southampton Town Trustee Ann Welker (D), is probably a decent bet
given the intense Democratic lean of this district. But if Vilar wins, it means that Republicans have likely secured an unprecedented fourteen seats in the Legislature and Ed Romaine has won Suffolk-wide by at least fifteen points. Suffolk County Legislature District Seven When Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) unseated then-Presiding Officer Rob Calarco (D) in perhaps the most shocking upset of the 2021 regional red wave, the big question was: how would Thorne fulfill the post of Legislator? Now, with just two years under his belt, Thorne has delivered large results for each corner of his Patchogue-based district, including, but not limited too, maintenance of Canaan Lake, helping put Gordon Heights on the map in terms of commerce and safety, road and neighborhood cleanup initiatives, fiscal support for Patchogue’s commerce and business district, transformation of blighted properties from Blue Point to East Patchogue, and a constant visible presence within the community. Additionally, his sponsorship of legislation requiring police officers to carry epinephrine injectors (EpiPens) in their cars received the support of all eighteen Legislators and the signature of Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). While Thorne’s opponent Ryan McGarry (D-Patchogue) is putting up a strong fight, we believe that Thorne’s granular knowledge of his district, his highly active first term, and the headwinds Democrats county-wide are likely to face this year contribute to us being more bullish on a second term for Thorne. Brookhaven Town Council District One In what was once a more electorally unremarkable part of Brookhaven for the GOP, Republican trends across Suffolk County in 2021 have also crashed ashore in Setauket, Stony Brook, and Port Jefferson. The First Council District, like the Fifth Legislative District, overlapping in this territory, finds itself in an identity crisis, as mainstream Democrats become increasingly endangered as the party continues to lose its twenty-year grip on Suffolk politics. While incumbent Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) received a lopsided 85% of the vote in a 2021 special election, it appears he will have to put up an actual fight this year, mainly because he has an actual fight on his hands. Special education teacher Gary Bodenburg (R-Port Jefferson Station) has embarked on an uphill campaign to oust Brookhaven’s lone elected Democrat in the bluest part of the Town. After Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station) ousted then-Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) in what was regarded as the most significant upset in the 2022 midterms, the district now finds itself in the eye of the hurricane, as down ballot energy from Ed Romaine will likely help pull Anthony Figliola (R-East Setauket) over the finish line in the Legislative race and will also likely assist Bodenburg from finishing within striking distance of Kornreich. It’s truly tough to say who - as of this moment - will win this race. Conventional political wisdom tempts us to believe Kornreich should have the benefit of the doubt of about two or three points, but ground game, internals, a close 2021 result of the Fifth District in the Legislature, and overall political environment lead us to believe Kornreich could certainly find himself two or three points short on Election Day. The key items to remember about previous results: in the 2021 special for this Council seat and the 2021 general for the Fifth Legislative District, both encompassing both areas, Republicans hardly tried for either. Kornreich was overwhelmingly elected, while then-Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) won her sixth and final term by just five points without a serious effort from the GOP. She had never won with less than 57% of the vote in previous years. This year, Republicans are trying at all levels, and Bodenburg is trying harder than many. This may certainly be a photo finish, but even if Kornreich is spared a shocking upset on Election Day, he’ll have essentially been put on notice by his constituents. At this point, we are designating Kornreich as the top member of our “Upset Watch” list, meaning that he has the likeliest chance of being upset on Election Day. We will issue one final Ratings Change and Race Preview column before Election Day.
This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
National, State and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri State Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (pictured below left) is being lobbied by a corporate group backed by the Koch Industries to refrain from signing a first-in-the-nation transparency bill that would publicize owners of shell corporations. Donors to Hochul’s campaign are also voicing opposition to new disclosure requirements for limited liability companies, LLCs, which allow for owners’ identities to remain concealed. The bill was passed by the state legislature in June. If it receives Hochul’s signature, it would not only unmask owners of shell corporations, but also require LLCs to report personal information while creating a landmark database providing public access to it. While LLCs are allowed to utilize legal tax breaks and protections, the guidelines are notoriously vague, which has led to a common pattern of abuse among money launderers, tax evaders, and other dishonest business dealers. LLCs can be used as fake “shell” corporations to hide money, avert income taxes, and keep owners and earners anonymous. Since assuming office in 2021, Hochul has accepted $2.1 million in campaign contributions from companies registered as LLCs, according to The Guardian. City & State also reported that real estate LLCs are among the largest donors to her 2026 gubernatorial campaign, with many executives across multiple firms already maxing out their legal contributions. Local Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) (pictured right) has introduced a resolution to recognize October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. “The resolution celebrates individuals with Down syndrome, their families and caregivers, and leaders in the advocacy and medical research community for their work to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.” “Down Syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States, but it is also poorly understood,” said Garbarino. “As the prevalence of Down Syndrome has increased in recent years, it has become all the more important that we educate ourselves and raise awareness – not just about the condition itself, but about the incredible talent and resilience found among those with Down Syndrome. I am proud to sponsor this resolution in support of National Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the House and I thank my colleagues for joining together in a bipartisan bicameral effort to stand with the Down Syndrome community.”
clerk.house.gov
In a weekend letter to his colleagues, Johnson stated that it is the duty of the Republican Party to “chart a new path” and that he has a “clear vision and plan for how to lead.” Johnson is generally well-liked by his caucus and is seen as a more policy-driven Republican, albeit somewhat milquetoast compared to his colleagues, and is less well-known outside certain conservative circles. Johnson does, however, have more of a relationship with the more populist wing of his party, many of whom stonewalled the McCarthy votes in January and are responsible for the vacancy created earlier this month. After a brutal Tuesday, Johnson was crowned the GOP nominee for Speaker and was elected Wednesday afternoon with 220 votes to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY-08). Long Island’s House delegation found itself in the eye of the hurricane, as Republicans Nick LaLota (R-NY01), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-04) held the line against certain conservatives while holding out for a Speaker who demonstrated sympathy to Long Islanders’ needs. All three Congressmen voted against Jim Jordan in all three of his votes and instead cast ballots for former Congressman and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley). In an interview with Newsday, Congressman LaLota said that “it’s not about the personality, it’s about the policy.” “What I have said to anybody running for this office is that my constituents matter most to me,” said LaLota. He stated that firstly, any Speaker must be willing to pass an actual budget, “pursue our commitment to America,” while holding the Biden Administration “accountable,” securing the border, and reducing debt. Specifically, LaLota mentioned working on State and Local Tax (SALT) Deductions, a prime issue among Long Island voters who face nation-high property taxes. Congressman LaLota issued a statement after the vote: “The election of the right Speaker is vitally important to the survival of Republican Freshman Members, like me, who won Biden Districts last year. We need a House Speaker who will unite Members from the reddest districts with Members from blue state Biden Districts like mine. We need a strong, dynamic and bold conservative who will fight like hell to protect and grow our majority to put our great country back on the right track. Mike Johnson is that Speaker.” LaLota highlighted Johnson’s understanding on Long Island’s needs: “Speaker Mike Johnson understands Long Island’s issues: he’s a Louisiana native who supports the National Flood Insurance Program. Mike Johnson is the son of a firefighter who was critically burned and disabled in the line of duty, with a keen appreciation for what First Responders and those who served on “the pile” went through and are still suffering from post-9/11. Finally, Mike understands New York’s taxes are out of control and that my constituents need a higher SALT cap. I am confident Speaker Johnson will lead the House and the Country in the right direction. The House is in good hands with Speaker Mike Johnson at the helm. Now let’s get back to work!”
Getty Images
The race for Speaker of the House seems to have come to an end, for now, as Republicans have rallied around Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA06) (pictured below right), lifting the three-week paralysis on House business. Johnson’s election as the fiftysixth Speaker comes off the heels of Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA-21) historic expulsion from the post earlier this month. McCarthy’s expulsion from the leadership position is a first in United States history, as a contentious January election process resulted in conditions of his approval by several holdout members of the House. McCarthy’s gavel was held hostage until he agreed to a creative provision: a vote of no confidence in the sitting Speaker that could be enacted by just one member of the House. After the government shutdown was averted by a stopgap bill, Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01) submitted a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. The House of Representatives, already decided on fractious lines, was all but certain to push McCarthy out, as Republican intraparty fighting allowed for several GOP lawmakers to be the deciding votes on McCarthy’s leadership, while Democrats jumped on board citing McCarthy’s blame for the near-government shutdown on Democrats. Since then, Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) has served as acting Speaker until the House elects an official replacement. Kevin McCarthy is not running for the seat again. Since then, the question of what wing of the party from which the next Speaker will arrive has been anyone’s guess. A quick resolution seemed imminent in the wellliked, well-mannered, and reasonably conservative Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), who withdrew from the race one day after being nominated. The conversation then turned to Jim Jordan (R-OH04), a more firebrand conservative voice who chairs the powerful House Judiciary Committee. He failed to win the speakership in three rounds of voting and had his nomination revoked by the House Republican Conference. On October 24, the Conference nominated Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN-06). The Minnesota Republican has represented suburban Minneapolis since 2015 and has risen the ranks of the Republican Party to the position of Majority Whip. His nomination was initially seen as a more compromisable answer, as he has been a more faithful member of the party while also straddling a fine line due to the lean of his district and state. Emmer dropped out of the race mere hours after securing the nomination in a closed-door meeting, due to the prospect of not having enough votes on the House floor to obtain the gavel. The Republican Conference then moved to Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Congressman who was elected in 2016 who chairs the Republican Study Committee and is Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. Johnson’s candidacy, and subsequent election to the Speakership, are proverbial curveballs as he himself did not specifically seek the speakership, rather he had entertained the notion based on the encouragement of his colleagues.
House of Representatives
National
Candidate Spotlight
10
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Islip Town Council, District Three
Islip Town Council, District Three
Candidate Christine Pellegrino
Candidate Mike McElwee
By Matt Meduri Candidate: Christine Pellegrino Residence: West Islip Office Sought: Islip Town Council District Three First Elected: NYS Assembly District 9 (May 2017-2019) Party Endorsements: Democratic, Working Families Notable Endorsements: Long Island Federation of Labor, Buildings and Trades Council of Nassau-Suffolk AFL-CIO, 1199SEIU, LiUNA!, CWA Local 1109, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, UAW, United Steel Workers, Italian Americans PAC After serving a brief stint in the Assembly, Christine Pellegrino is eyeing a political comeback for the open seat of Islip’s Third Council District. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Town Council? A: As a former elementary school reading teacher for twenty-five years, I regularly organized and facilitated team meetings with colleagues and served as the outreach coordinator for my department. I communicated with various groups throughout the school community, worked with those students who were identified as being at-risk for reading below grade level and regularly advocated for their needs in various settings. I worked tirelessly as part of the Opt Out movement on Long Island and fought for educational funding with my colleagues in the New York State United Teachers’ union. In 2017, I won a historic special election for the New York State Assembly. In Albany, I proudly delivered millions of dollars of funding to our schools, libraries, seniors and military Veterans. I also delivered funding for programs offering treatment to people suffering from opioid addiction, to clean up toxic superfund sites, and protect our environment. Q: What would you say is your best professional accomplishment? A: During my time in the Assembly, I was unafraid to stand up for my constituents against the leaders of my own party, fighting for the people who elected me in the chamber where I served. Q: What do you think is the most important political issue facing Islip and Long Island today? A: What I am hearing from residents is that they don’t feel like their voices are being heard. They call and write to Town Hall about issues that fall on deaf ears. Town Council meetings are held during work hours. Residents are frustrated that colossal projects are being built with total disregard for public input. People want a say in what happens in their community. I will not and have not taken any donations from developers. The Town Council should
Candidate: Mike McElwee Residence: West Islip Office Sought: Islip Town Council, District Three Prior Elected Experience: None Party Endorsements: Republican, Conservative Notable Endorsements: Nassau and Suffolk PBA
be beholden to residents not campaign donors. Q: What is your stance on infrastructure developments in Islip, such as sewers, revitalization, land use, and other similar projects? A: I believe in smart development that does not dramatically impact or change the character of a community. Before any project is approved, studies must be conducted on the impact on our schools, traffic, and our environment. There’s no going back once these projects are built. The Town needs to do its part to make sure that the passage of the sewer referendum is accomplished so that our local residents get the sewers they deserve. Q: What is your top priority if you win this election? A: The Town should not be hiking taxes on residents, while passing out massive tax breaks to developers or big corporations. The Town should not be burdening residents with punishing tax schemes. Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: Be kind to everyone. No Matter What. Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community? A: Whether it’s enjoying the shops or restaurants on Main St. in Bay Shore, annual pumpkin picking in Brightwaters, or grabbing fresh farm veggies at the Farmer’s Market, there’s always something to do around the community. I especially cherish the times when I can spend time in Fire Island, our district’s gem, where our beaches are beautiful, the faces are friendly, and the sounds of rattling wagons, bicycle bells and children’s laughter are always plentiful. The Messenger thanks Christine Pellegrino for taking time for this interview. The Messenger’s forecast for Islip’s Third Council District: Likely Republican
Local business owner and community liaison Mike McElwee is running for the open seat to represent Islip’s Third Council District. Mike McElwee sat down with The Messenger for a one-on-one interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Town Council? A: I have been a small business owner in Bay Shore since 2003, mainly in the bar and restaurant business. I own both the Penny Pub and Goody Two Shoes in downtown Bay Shore, as well as Sayville Bait and Tackle. I am on the board of the Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Bay Shore Business Improvement District. I am also a founding member of the Bay Shore Restaurant Committee, which was started in 2017 for restaurants to work together to promote more commerce in downtown Bay Shore. We sponsor the Alive By the Bay summer street festivals. I was a legislative aide from 2019-2022 for Senator Phil Boyle (R) and I am currently community liaison for Assemblyman Jarrett Gandolfo (R-Sayville). I am also on the board of St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, a member of the Bay Shore Alliance Club, an associate member of Fraternal Order of Police, and a residential member of West Islip Chamber of Commerce. Q: What would you say is your best professional accomplishment? A: Putting together the restaurant committee. We got competing restaurants to work together to improve commerce in our town. During COVID, we had two organizations to which residents would make donations and the restaurants would feed healthcare workers at South Side and Good Samaritan Hospitals. Restaurants were feeding 300-400 hospital workers a night for almost a month straight just off donations. We passed it around so that every restaurant would get a $1,000 or $2,000 order. I’ve been in the hospitality business for thirty years, but you couldn’t make up the cooperation during the height of COVID if you tried. Q: What do you think is the most important political issue facing Islip and Long Island today? A: Quality of life and safety. People want a safe neighborhood, they don’t want potholes, they want street lights to work, and no loud parties happening. We have our Third Precinct community meeting where the inspector and officer let us know what
SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE Safe Dem
Likely Dem
LD-09
LD-15
Leans Dem
Toss Up
Leans GOP
Likely GOP
Safe GOP
LD-02
LD-16
LD-01 LD-05
LD-07
3,4,8,10
LD-17 LD-06 LD-18
11, 12, 13, 14
crime is happening and what they’re doing about it. They have an open forum and they listen to concerns. Q: What is your stance on infrastructure developments in Islip, such as sewers, revitalization, land use, and other similar projects? A: Many factors need to be considered when developing and zoning land, such as schools and services. There is widespread concern among residents about large complexes and luxury housing. People want to see residential homes and I think the ones that have been built have been smart. They’re not inundating the schools and services. We’re close to a saturation point in Bay Shore and I know there’s workforce housing applications going out now. Firsttime home buyers are receiving tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies for their first down payments. Some residents are former homeowners who are older and want to stay in Bay Shore but they want the ability to travel to Florida, not mow their lawns, or close their pools. Q: What is your top priority if you win this election? A: There can be streamlined ease of use; technology is an amazing thing. My goal as a businessman is to make it more userfriendly. Trying to open a business or add a deck to your house could be easier and more user-friendly. I’ve been through it and it’s not necessarily the easiest process. There are ways things must be done to ensure they are done safely and legally. I’d also love to see the parks continue being improved for my future grandkids. Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “Common sense makes for good government.” There’s a lot more in this world that we agree on than not. The bottom line is: quality of life and safety of your family are always the top priorities, that’s what people ultimately want on both sides of the aisle. Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community? A: My wife and I raised our now-young adult children here. My three children are my pride and joy and the reason I do what I do. I’m a baseball fan, I like to travel, I like the beach. I do enjoy doing things in the community and help put on these events. Those are the things you don’t get paid to do, but there is a satisfaction when you put on an event and thousands of people show up and they have a good time; they help every level of business. The Messenger thanks Mike McElwee for taking time for this interview. The Messenger’s forecast for Islip’s Third Council District: Likely Republican
News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
11
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Coastal Erosion on South Shore Beaches By Fran Bodkin Tropical storms and hurricanes over this last Department. OBPFD proposes the town should Before the recent storms, this sand formed a month have plagued the Northeast United States. push sand toward the “cut”, to raise the area gentle path right on to the beach. This is not the The South Shore of Long Island’s barrier beaches around it. This way, the fire department’s pumpers case any longer. have been hit particularly badly. can move freely on the beach. A press conference was held Tuesday, October Erosion of these beaches 3, 2023, at Davis Park, Fire has been the prime problem. Island with Senator Chuck As the wind and water moves Schumer (D-NY) hosting from east to west down the various Federal, State and beach, it pushes the sand on Town officials. the beach into the ocean. This “We are waiting to hear has become a major problem from the Brookhaven Town for our coastal emergency Department of Highways’ service departments, as they Superintendent Daniel cannot use the beach to Losquadro (R-Shoreham), respond to fires and medicalto let us know what is related incidents on the going to happen next,” shoreline. said Commissioner Edward Coastal fire departments Horton of the Ocean Bay use pumpers that move one Park Fire District. thousand gallons of water a Commissioner Horton’s minute. These pumpers need brother and lifelong to ride over the dunes at resident and Chief of designated spots called “cuts”, the Ocean Bay Park Fire which are lanes made over Department, Mike Horton, the dunes. The recent erosion has reached out to the Fire has led to six-foot drops in the Island Fire Chiefs Council dunes, hindering the pumpers’ to work with other Fire ability to drive over. Island fire departments In efforts to fix this issue, in the hope of solving Ocean Bay Park Volunteer this situation as soon as Fire Department (OBPFD) possible due to the great has reached out to the Town danger it poses for all of Brookhaven Highway coastal town residents. Steve Rubenstein, a member of the OBPFD, is standing beside a “cut”. Rubenstein is at least 6 feet tall.
Suffolk County Early Voting 2023 General Election
Vote at ANY Location found below: Voting Hours Date
Time
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10:00am6:00pm
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Tuesday 10/31
7:00am3:00pm
Wednesday
11/1
7:00am3:00pm
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*NEW LAW:
Wyandanch Public Library 14 South 20th St Wyandanch, NY 11798
North Amityville Fire Department 601 Broadway Amityville, NY 11701
Robert Reid Recrea�on Center
Brookhaven Town Hall
West Islip Senior Center
Greenbelt
Defense Hill Rd, Shoreham, NY 11786
1 Independence Hill Farmingville, NY 11738
Babylon Town Hall Annex
281 Phelps Ln North Babylon, NY 11703
Ambulance Company
Islip Town Hall Annex
Greenlawn Fire Department
Nesconset Elementary School
American Legion Post 273
Shelter Island Youth
89 Hubbard Avenue Riverhead, NY 11901
1 Bateman Rd Shelter Island, NY 11964
Kings Park High School
SUNY Stony Brook Southampton
Board of
St. Mark’s Southold Town Episcopal Church Recrea�on Center
40 Main St, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
970 Peconic Lane Peconic, NY 11958
Manorville Fire Windmill Village Department 219 Accabonac Rd
Knights of Columbus
Dix Hills Fire Department
(Student Ac�vi�es Center) 39 Tuckahoe Rd Southampton, NY 11968
Bellport, NY 11713
East Hampton, NY 11937
96 2nd Ave Brentwood, NY 11717
200 East Main St Kings Park, NY 11754
Mount Sinai, NY 11766
739 NY-25A
16 Silas Carter Rd Manorville, NY 11949
281 Patchogue-Holbrook Rd
115 East Deer Park Rd Dix Hills, NY 11746
South Country Ambulance
1630 Montauk Highway
90 Higbie Lane West Islip, NY 11795
Holtsville, NY 11742
Rose Caracappa Senior Center
700 Yaphank Ave Yaphank, NY 11980
401 Main St Islip, NY 11751
54 Browns Rd Nesconset, NY 11767
are Accessible to voters with
Call 631-852-4500 Or visit www.SUFFOLKVOTES.com
23 Boulevard Avenue Greenlawn, NY 11740
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1335 New York Ave
or vote on
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Endorsements
12
ANTHONY PICCIRILLO
ANGIE CARPENTER
for Suffolk County Legislature, District Eight
for Islip Town Supervisor
Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) has served as Islip Town Supervisor since 2016. Upon her election, she inherited a town neglected by her predecessor and has since led Islip on a path of revitalization and innovation. Carpenter’s first order of business was restoring fiscal stability to the town. Her prior experience as County Treasurer contributed to her increasing Islip’s bond rating to triple-A status with a stable outlook, a rating that has been reaffirmed eight times under her tenure. The Town bonds at an extraordinarily low interest rate, saving the taxpayers money while accomplishing much-needed revitalization projects. Notable revitalization projects include Ross Memorial Park in Brentwood, a notably blighted property that was a hotbed of drug activity. In tandem with elected officials on different levels of government and the police department, Carpenter helped give back a beloved park to its community with the unveiling of the completed project expected in the coming weeks. Carpenter’s dedication to the environment has been on display with her efforts in restoring Byron Lake, which hadn’t been seriously surveyed in nearly sixty years. In addition to working with the DEC on dredging and cleaning the lake, the recreational space is in the process of being expanded with better venues and more accessible accommodations. Carpenter understands the need for downtown revitalization, which has been prominently displayed in her tenacious fight for grant money for large projects, namely the Central Islip Downtown Revitalization Project. For three consecutive years, Carpenter went to Albany to make Central Islip’s case for much-needed money for sewers to transform the commercial area into a vibrant business district to attract county-wide business. She secured $10 million in funding from the state and ground was broken on the project this summer. Carpenter’s in-depth knowledge of budgets and economics renders her uniquely qualified for finding ways to diversify Islip’s economy and keep it selfsustainable. She has acted as a highly effective government liaison to MacArthur Airport (ISP), by ensuring that the Town
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
can benefit directly from added commerce and inbound state travel. The Town has completed over $100 million in capital projects funded almost exclusively through airport grants. Carpenter has facilitated Uniondale’s Cradle of Aviation classes to take place at the airport to encourage more people to become interested in flying as a career. Carpenter also helped keep the airport open during COVID by aiding the installation of state-of-the-art air filtration systems. Carpenter has also laid out future plans for collaboration with ISP, including, but not limited to, the Midway Project, which essentially hinges on the reconfiguration of the airport and eventual accommodation for events and tourism that will stimulate the Town economy. The airport is also selfsufficient, a significant departure from her predecessors’ tendencies to use the general fund to keep it operational. Carpenter also adeptly handled Islip’s position in last year’s county cyberattack, making the most of a bad situation to determine if Islip was as penetrable as Suffolk County. Due to strong communication with government and IT leaders, a fine-tuned contingency plan in case of an attack, and possession of cyber-insurance, Islip’s systems were not compromised and were running just days after the initial attack. Through revitalization efforts, giving back to the community, being an excellent steward of taxpayer money and resources, top-notch responses to COVID and the cyber attack, and forward-thinking that will help the development and the economy of Islip, Supervisor Carpenter has proven that this role is not for on-the-job training. While her opponent poses an impassioned fight for mental health and addiction support, this seems to be his niche. While he could be effective as an advisor on these matters, he does not have the wealth of comprehensive knowledge and experience required to run a town like Islip. The Messenger is proud to endorse Supervisor Angie Carpenter for another term as Islip Town Supervisor. The Messenger’s forecast for this race: Likely Republican.
After denying Bill Lindsay (D) a sixth and final term in a 2019 upset, Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) has been a staunch advocate for taxpayers, public safety, and transparent government. With a distinct brand of retail politics, Piccirillo is constantly observed in the public setting, while also delivering common-sense votes and legislation for Suffolk County. His cooperation with both public and private entities gives him a comprehensive view of municipal work, as well as an understanding that small business is the backbone of Suffolk. With his chairmanship of the Government Operations, Personnel, Information Technology & Diversity Committee, the Environment, Parks
& Agriculture Committee, and vice chairmanship of the Veterans and Consumer Affairs Committee, Piccirillo has a wide breadth of knowledge pertaining to protecting our Veterans, preserving our environment and protecting our suburban culture. Additionally, his chairmanship of the Investigation Committee into the 2022 county-wide cyber attack has put him on the spotlight as a fierce fighter for government transparency and an advocate for renewed technology safety and procedures. The Messenger endorses Legislator Anthony Piccirillo for Suffolk County Legislature, District Eight. The Messenger’s forecast for this seat:
Safe Republican.
TRISH BERGIN
for Suffolk County Legislature, District Ten Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) won her first term in the 2021 red wave filling the seat of Tom Cilmi (R). Bergin has since been a reliable vote on holding the line on taxes and maintaining government transparency. Bergin’s storied career in journalism as well as her years as an Islip Town Councilwoman give her a unique perspective in the Legislature, reading the fine-print of legislation and keeping spending responsible. Bergin’s homerule advocacy regarding this summer’s sewer bills give us the confidence she will continue to represent her district accurately and not allow her residents to be financial support for East End residents.
We also find her efforts in fighting human trafficking within her district particularly commendable. While Bergin’s opponent has decent community experience and clerical work from within the Legislature, and while he does live in the district, we believe the lion’s share of his time has been spent aiding Legislators from Babylon and the North Fork. Bergin has lived in the area she serves, both on the Council and on the Legislature. The Messenger endorses Legislator Trish Bergin for Suffolk County Legislature, District Ten. The Messenger’s forecast for this race: Safe Republican.
TOWN SUPERVISORS Safe Dem
Likely Dem
East Hampton Southampton Shelter Island
Southold
Leans Dem
Toss Up
Leans GOP
Likely GOP
Safe GOP
Islip
Brookhaven
Riverhead
Endorsements Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
13
Thursday, October 26, 2023
STEVE FLOTTERON
JOHN LORENZO
for Suffolk County Legislature, District Eleven
Few Legislators have the budgetary and investment backgrounds that compare to that of Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters). Not only does Flotteron understand budgets and finance from a technical perspective, he understands every inch of the county’s budget and offers specific solutions on how to combat Suffolk County’s absurd cost of living. Perhaps Flotteron’s greatest legislative accomplishment - at least this year - is that of his initiative to roll out the firsttime homebuyer down payment subsidy to volunteer fire and EMS companies. The program was already extended to businesses of varying sizes, who could match a first-time home-buying employee’s contribution to a downpayment, while external grant money can kick in up to tens of thousands of dollars. Extending this program to volunteer frontline service workers is a phenomenal accomplishment
for Islip Town Council, District Four
and one that will help entice our youth to stay, live, and work in Suffolk County. Chairing the powerful Budget and Finance and Public Safety Committees, Flotteron understands that affordability and public safety go hand in hand. Additionally, his work ethic takes the classic “win-win-win” method of pathfinding success to a new level he describes as “win-win-win-win-win-win-win.” Flotteron’s mantra is that there is no reason everyone cannot win, and we’re inclined to agree with him, not only on the basis of the idea itself, but also on his record and tenacity. Flotteron’s opponent, Lucas Deitch (D), is not actively campaigning. With that, it’s no contest: The Messenger endorses Legislator Steve Flotteron for Suffolk County Legislature, District Eleven. The Messenger’s forecast for this race:
Safe Republican.
After serving on the Zoning Board, John Lorenzo (R-West Sayville) was appointed to the vacant Town Council position in January of this year. Lorenzo has owned and operated a small title insurance company for over twenty years and understands the needs and frustrations of a small business owner. Lorenzo understands where government is necessary in certain procedures, but also understands where services can be improved and streamlined and where red tape can be cut. His views on infrastructure and development, the need for an Adjudication Bureau, and the need to protect Islip’s suburban quality of life are pragmatic as they are desirable.
MIKE McELWEE
LINDA VAVRICKA
ANDY WITTMAN
for Islip
for Islip Town Clerk
for Islip Receiver of Taxes
Town Council, District Three
Linda Vavricka’s (R-East Islip) work for former Senators Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), Tom Croci (R-Sayville), Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore), and current Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) equip her with working knowledge of government and constituent services. Vavricka’s pragmatic views on the role of Town Clerk, as well as her priorities of digitizing records, increasing accessibility, and consulting with the Town’s Information Technology team to safeguard against potential cyber threats are exactly what the town needs in a Clerk. Vavricka’s opponent, Sarah Michele Smith (D-Ronkonkoma), seems more intent on elevating her progressive political profile than running a grassroots campaign in a local election. Since Town Clerk races are apolitical, it’s odd that she chooses to run her campaign with national overtones based on frail comparisons to highly-sensationalized cases that are ultimately few and far between. We also believe her relatively young age precludes her from having the comprehensive knowledge required to run the “cover of the book” in town government. The Messenger endorses Linda Vavricka for Islip Town Clerk. The Messenger’s forecast for this seat: Safe Republican.
Islip’s new councilmanic district system will put Districts Three and Four on the ballot for the first time. The open Third District contains parts of western Islip and local businesses owner, restaurateur, and government-community liaison Mike McElwee (R-West Islip) is running to fill the post. A decades-long business-owner and community organizer in the Bay Shore-Sayville area, McElwee has put his managerial and organizational skills to the test, as he has owned and operated the Penny Pub, Goody Two Shoes, and Sayville Bait and Tackle for many years. He has significantly helped strengthen the sense of commerce and cooperation among businesses in Bay Shore, namely by virtue of his status as a founding member of the Bay Shore Restaurant Committee. McElwee also helped spearhead a campaign to allow residents to donate to local restaurants, which would go to preparing meals for Islip hospital workers during the height of COVID. McElwee’s opponent, former Assemblywoman Christine Pellegrino (D-West Islip), served a brief stint in the Assembly before being defeated for re-election in the blue wave year of 2018. While Pellegrino did buck her party when necessary, especially on the bail reform laws, we believe that McElwee is a better barometer for his district’s moods. His recent work as a community liaison for former Senator Boyle (R) and current Assemblyman Gandolfo (R) equip him with an appropriate amount of experience to understand the mechanism of government, while also still being healthily involved in his community. The Messenger endorses Mike McElwee for Town Council, District Three. The Messenger’s forecast for this race: Likely Republican
SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE Safe Dem
Likely Dem
LD-09
LD-15
Leans Dem
Toss Up
Leans GOP
Likely GOP
Safe GOP
LD-02
LD-16
LD-01 LD-05
LD-07
3,4,8,10
LD-17 LD-06 LD-18
While Lorenzo’s opponent, Tom Murray (D-Bayport), has a law background that could be of use on the Town Board, we think his role as an advisor might be more appropriate. He sued the Town for appointing Lorenzo instead of holding a special election, making his run for the seat seem more based on spite and personal principle than on platform. Murray’s background as a litigator simply cannot compare to Lorenzo’s background as a smallbusiness owner. The Messenger endorses Councilman John Lorenzo for Islip Town Council, District Four. The Messenger’s forecast for this race: Safe Republican.
11, 12, 13, 14
Andy Wittman (R-Sayville) won a landslide race in 2021. Since the position of Receiver of Taxes is considered the most apolitical of the town elections, Wittman has done the job diligently and orderly. He has modernized the office processes, re-negotiated the town interest rates, invested in computerized systems for the office, and combatted mail fraud regarding tax office mail specifically. Since Wittman has revolutionized a relatively esoteric position in town government, all while remaining apolitical, we see no reason to fix what isn’t broken. Furthermore, his opponent, Laura Falbo (D), is not actively campaigning. The Messenger endorses Receiver Andy Wittman for Islip Receiver of Taxes. The Messenger’s forecast for this race: Safe Republican
History
14
Thursday, October 26, 2023
America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate West Virginia - The Mountain State
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
This is the thirty-sixth of a series column that will look at the history of all 50 States, all 5 territories, and the Capital and the influence history has on our current political environments. The aim of this column is to capture that our country is not just red or blue, but rather many shades in between. Each Lower 48 state’s current political landscape can be traced back to its early settlement and geography and its particular involvement in the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights Era.
By Matt Meduri The last eastern state to be added to the map, West Virginia is one of the best displays of the power of ancestral political DNA and perhaps the most intense display of the mass exodus of working-class whites from the Democratic Party.
Geography - The Mountain State
Early History - Two Virginias West Virginia was first explored in 1671 under the order of Governor William Berkeley of the Virginia Colony. While eastern Virginia would become an economic and population center, western Virginia was a mountainous hunting ground, scatteredly settled by Germans and the British. The social makeup of western Virginia was much less homogeneous than its eastern counterpart, consisting mostly of Pennsylvania transplants, New Englanders, Germans, and Protestant Scotch-Irish. The mountainous terrain also helped define not only the original borders, but also the state’s position on slavery. Less conducive to agriculture, West Virginia would not rely heavily on slave labor. The Allegheny Mountains of the region led to statehood petitions during the Revolution for a state called “Westsylvania,” stretching from Pennsylvania to eastern Kentucky and consisting almost entirely of present-day West Virginia. Political tensions between the two Virginias started in the early 1800s, as western petitions to address the state’s constitution were met with resistance from Virginia plantation owners reliant on slavery. Despite the near-unanimous vote of rejection from the western counties, the state constitution passed due to eastern support. Civil War and Reconstruction The State of West Virginia West Virginia was the only state in the Union to separate from a Confederate state during the Civil War, and is one of two states admitted during the War - the other being Nevada. During the Virginia secession vote, most of western Virginia voted to remain in the Union. After Virginia seceded, western Virginia began work on its own constitution. The final draft included proposals to establish public schools and gradually abolish slavery. While the abolition proposal was initially tabled, President Lincoln (R-IL) approved an act that inserted the abolition proposal as a condition of statehood. On June 20, 1863, West Virginia was admitted as the thirty-fifth state. Perhaps West Virginia’s most notable moment in the Civil War was before its statehood. In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a group of twenty-one men in a raid on the armory in the town of Harper’s Ferry. Brown had hoped to capture buildings and arms to start and lead slave revolts across the South. The raid was quickly subdued and Brown was later hanged for treason and murder. Harper’s Ferry would later be a critical control point during the War, which changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865. West Virginia fell somewhat easily to the Confederates and was not affected as negatively by the War as its neighbors. Reconstruction was unique to West Virginia as disputes endured regarding West Virginia’s share of the pre-War debt of the Virginia government, which had been leveraged to build infrastructure. Reconstruction followed the typical pattern that it did in other Southern states, with most Confederate sympathizers disenfranchised and the 14th and 15th Amendments adopted. Democrats would
regain control in the 1870s. West Virginia would first participate in the 1864 election, backing Lincoln handily. Samuel Tilden (D-NY) became the first Democrat to win West Virginia in 1876, which started a fiveelection streak for the Party of Jackson, albeit most decided by very thin margins. Industrialization and 20th Century A Billion-Dollar Coalfield After the War, new railroads brought new methods of transporting coal across an expanding country. The city of Bluefield in the southern part of the state became the epicenter of West Virginia coal country. Three competing railroads were heavily utilized to ship the seemingly infinite amount of coal from West Virginia, including the Virginian Railway that became known as the “Richest Little Railroad in the World.” The state’s flag and seal feature a miner with a pickaxe and the state’s pledge of allegiance references “rich veins of coal.” As West Virginia continued into the 20th Century, it became one of the tipping-point states for ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. The Great Depression and FDR’s (D-NY) New Deal policies helped West Virginia’s union presence that was defeated by the Depression and failed mining strikes in the 1920s. In the thirty years after the massive union expansion, 90% of West Virginia miners were members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). FDR’s heavy appeal to union workers, especially miners, would help solidify West Virginia as a Democratic working-class state, after its long-held Republican tendencies. World War II saw a huge demand for coal; by the early 1950s, mining accounted for almost 25% of jobs in West Virginia. However, after the population boomed in response to the growing industry, automation began slowly killing off the state’s mainstay industry. Republicans would win every election in West Virginia from 1896 to 1928, with the exception of Woodrow Wilson’s (D-NJ) 1912 win due to Republican vote-splitting. Although Republicans won in three national landslides in the 1920s, with most states voting for the GOP by landslide margins, West Virginia was a much more competitive state, with pockets of blue-leaning counties in the southern mining country, removed from tracts of blue counties in the central part of the state and the eastern panhandle. Herbert Hoover (R-CA) would carry the state by a landslide seventeen points in 1928, aided by Appalachian anti-Catholicism heralded by his opponent Al Smith (D-NY). FDR would then flip the state and win it by ten points in 1932, marking the beginning of a long Democratic voting streak that would last from 1932 to 1996, with only three GOP landslide exceptions in between: 1956, 1972, and 1984.
1. Metro Valley: the state’s urban center, home to Huntington and capital Charleston; historically Democratic 2. Ohio Valley: borders the Ohio River up to Pennsylvania, home to Parkersburg and Wheeling; home to more intensely Republican Union counties along the Ohio border, with more blue-collar, unionized counties outside Pittsburgh. 3. New River and Greenbrier Valleys: the southeast corner of the state, the coal capital of the state; home to Bluefield and Beckley; once firmly Democratic territory. 4. Mountains and Lake Country: the central part of the state, as well as the technology corridor; home to Morgantown, Fairmont, and Weston; formerly blue territories with the cities outlasting the intense Republican transition of the region. 5. Potomac Highlands: Allegheny Mountains, contains skiing and caving and the state’s eastern panhandle, home to Elkins and Harpers Ferry; this region has typically been more Republican-leaning than the state overall. Current Political Leanings - A Stunning Reversal In 1996, Bill Clinton (D-AR) won West Virginia by fifteen points in a three-way race, carrying forty-three of the state’s fifty-five counties. In 2000, George W. Bush (R-TX) would win the state by six points and forty-two counties. Since then, the margins have only continued to double year-over-year for the GOP. John McCain’s (R-AZ) thirteen-point win in 2008 is underwhelming compared to today’s margins. This is also the last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried a single West Virginia county. Hillary Clinton’s 26% of the vote in 2016 is considered the worst performance in the state by a major party nominee since 1912, which was a four-way election. As of today, it is the worst performance ever for a Democrat in the state. West Virginia’s massive shift to the right perfectly exemplifies - albeit, on a much more emphasized scale - the mass exodus of working-class, blue-collar, union voters from the Democratic Party who were traditionally aligned with the party for generations. No other state has seen quite a shift at such a magnitude to the point where even the urban areas are practically untouchable by Democrats. In just twenty years, the state went from slightly red-leaning at the federal level with Democratic dominance at all other levels, to one where the party is practically extinct. Part of the doom of the Democrats in West Virginia is their own fault, as Obama’s environmental policy killed much of the state’s industry, while Hillary Clinton’s pledge to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business” didn’t do the party any favors. 2014 was a mass realignment year for the state GOP. Republicans flipped both Democratic-held Congressional seats, one U.S. Senate seat, and flipped both chambers of the state legislature for the first time since the 1930s. Then-Democrat Jim Justice won the governor’s race in 2016, only to switch parties a year later. His 2020 re-election is the first time since 1972 a Republican won a gubernatorial race in West Virginia and he is the first Republican governor in history to carry every county. Republicans last held both Senate seats simultaneously in 1958 due to an appointment of a Republican. Based solely on elections, the party last held both seats together in 1931. Senator Joe Manchin (D) continues to be a thorn in the sides of both Republicans and Democrats. As the Senate’s most powerful moderate, Manchin has been called the most “powerful Joe” in the country, as he is a much-needed vote on Democratic legislation. Manchin miraculously survived a narrow re-election bid in the blue wave year of 2018, but will need significant crossover appeal of unparalleled proportions to survive in 2024, as any Republican presidential nominee is likely to win the state by at least forty points. Democrats cannot keep up with the changing patterns in West Virginia and they do not seem intent on reconnecting with voters who were once the party’s bread and butter.
Candidate Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Suffolk County Legislature District Eight
15
Suffolk County Legislature District Eight
Candidate Heather Gallagher
Legislator Anthony Piccirillo
By Matt Meduri Candidate: Heather Gallagher Residence: Sayville Office Sought: Suffolk County Legislature, District Eight Previous Elected Office: None Party Endorsements: Democratic, Working Families Heather Gallagher is looking to unseat twoterm incumbent Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) in the Sayville-HolbrookOakdale-based Eighth District. Heather Gallagher sat down with The Messenger for a one-on-one interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the County Legislature? A: I’ve worked in the management and execution of live entertainment for over fifteen years. Coming from a theater background, my work ethic is tireless, and I take a “the show must go on” mentality to every project I undertake. Problem-solving and logistics are my passion. I’m skilled at understanding problems and identifying solutions that others may not have considered. I serve as my union’s steward at my job and have gained a great deal of satisfaction negotiating agreements between my coworkers and our employer, two groups which often have very different goals. I believe all these skills and perspectives would serve the residents of Suffolk well in the Legislature. Q: What would you say is your best or proudest professional accomplishment? A: I have led the production of a comedy festival in San Francisco for over ten years. Under my management, we have been able to grow the festival to three times the size of when I took on the role. Making us now the largest comedy festival in the country. I love being able to not only support my managers through skilled logistics management, but also love being able to provide a supportive and appreciative work environment for my dedicated team. Q: What do you think is the most important political issue facing Suffolk County today? A: There’s no shortage of political issues facing Suffolk: Crumbling, out-dated, infrastructure; unaffordable housing; gang violence; lack of jobs; invasive plants destroying our environment; water pollution destroying our bay and rivers; the lack of protection of our historic properties; the list goes on. All of them are important. But partisan politics and intolerance get in the way of us working together to solve these problems in constructive ways, both in our government and as a community. Stoking fear, contempt, and decisiveness between our various communities only serves to prevent progress. Q: What are your thoughts on the sewer bills downvoted by the Legislature earlier this summer?
Candidate: Legislator Anthony Piccirillo Residence: Holtsville Office: Suffolk County Legislature District Eight First Elected: 2019 Party Endorsements: Republican, Conservative Notable Endorsements (including, but not limited to): Newsday, Suffolk Police Conference, Suffolk AME, SCCC Faculty, IBW, voters of 8th District
A: It is disappointing that members of the Legislature chose to stonewall such an important piece of legislation. While I understand the concern for only setting aside 25% of the funding for sewage systems, it seems like that detail could have easily been negotiated or amended before the bill was brought to the table. Instead, the entire bill was shelved, delaying desperately needed funding for the county. The bills are quite dense, and comprehensive. They are a little overwhelming to read to an outsider. But they are well thought out, reasonable, and include forms of oversight and futureproofing. I hope the Legislature approves the bills in the immediate future. Q: What is your top priority if elected to the Legislature? A: Water quality issues are definitely one of my top priorities. Our water systems are integral to so many aspects of our lives. Poor water quality is a risk to our health, beach closures and reduced fishing are risks to our economy, and pollution is devastating our environment. The residents of Suffolk are overdue aggressive action to protect our health and well being. Q: What figure do you find particularly inspiring? A: I have always been inspired by Victoria C. Woodhull, an American suffragette, entrepreneur, and women’s rights activist. Her story is one of bravely taking risks and pursuing one’s dreams in spite of challenges and opposition. Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community? A: I enjoy serving my community whenever I can. I became an election worker during the pandemic to support our government, I volunteer for the Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group as a foster home for rescued rabbits, and I participate in the annual River Herring Survey conducted by the Seatuck Environmental Association. I’m also a big wine and craft beer fan and love supporting all our local breweries, and visiting our wineries. The Messenger’s forecast for Suffolk Legislature’s Eighth District: Safe Republican
After ousting long-term incumbent Bill Lindsay (D) in a 2019 upset, Legislator Anthony Piccirillo largely expanded on his margin in 2021 and is eyeing a third term this year. The Messenger sat down with Legislator Piccirillo for a one-on-one-interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Legislature? A: I spent twenty years in the private sector before working as a legislative aide for Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) in 2018. I was then elected to the Legislature in 2019. I am currently the chair of the Government Operations Committee, chair of the Environments, Parks, and Agriculture Committee, chair of the Capital Budget Working Group, and chair of the Cyber Intrusion Investigation. Q: What would you say is your best or proudest accomplishment in your professional career? A: I would say my best accomplishment is winning an election against very unfavorable odds. In 2019, I campaigned hard against then-Legislator Bill Lindsay, who was going for his final term that year. The area of Holbrook I represented was long held by Democrats despite being more fundamentally Republican. The Legislative District covering that area was the last to flip Republican, and we did it despite being outspent by over $1 million to our $65,000. Q: What do you think is the most important political issue facing Suffolk County today? A: By far, taxes and cost of living, as well as public safety. Holding the line on taxes while also delivering great services is necessary in retaining our population and keeping Suffolk County an attractive place to live. Public safety is another crucial issue since people won’t pay to live somewhere they don’t feel safe. It all goes hand in hand Q: What are your reasons for voting to table the sewer bills earlier this summer? A: We had to vote to table the bills so we can make changes to them. The funding mechanism is wrong and the bill
SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE Safe Dem
Likely Dem
LD-09
LD-15
Leans Dem
Toss Up
Leans GOP
Likely GOP
Safe GOP
LD-02
LD-16
LD-01 LD-05
LD-07
3,4,8,10
LD-17 LD-06 LD-18
11, 12, 13, 14
itself is fundamentally flawed. There is no money for stormwater runoff or stormwater mitigation. Additionally, the bills were not discussed with the Legislature while it was being drafted. I am interested in working with our colleagues in the state legislature and keying in all stakeholders so we can put it out to the voters. We don’t want to have to go back and fix it once it’s passed. We want it to be a well-crafted bill that will work when we pass it. Once you pass legislation, it’s very hard to change it; we want to get it right the first time. Q: What is your top priority if you win this election? A: I will continue working to improve our quality of life, preserve our suburban culture, hold the line on taxes, stop wasteful government spending, and ensure that the budgets are in line. I campaigned on improving quality of life, hiring more police, and making sure that Oakdale got its sewer money. I have accomplished those goals, especially for Oakdale, which received $41 million in sewer funding. Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: Ben Franklin’s quote when asked what type of government we have: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Q: How do you like to connect with and enjoy your community? A: I grew up in the Eighth Legislative District. I’ve lived here my entire life, worked in Oakdale during my time in the private sector. We have lots of great restaurants and small businesses, which is the backbone of our district and our county. It’s great representing people I grew up with and worked with for many years in the district. It’s been humbling to represent them and I hope to continue doing so if lucky enough to be re-elected. The Messenger thanks Legislator Anthony Piccirillo for taking time for this interview. The Messenger’s forecast for Suffolk Legislature’s Eighth District: Safe Republican
News
16
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from front cover
Some Final Questions for Dave Calone
Why did he loan himself $750,000? Last month, The Messenger did a deep-dive on Calone’s campaign donations and expenditures. Available to the public, it is shown that Calone loaned himself $250,000 from a physical address in July 2022, another $250,000 from post office box in January, and a final $250,000 from a separate post office box this past July. The campaign reports of Ed Romaine show no such donations. While Romaine has received sizable donations from Suffolk-based donors, the only donations from “himself” are those from his Supervisor campaign accounts, which is a common and legal form of transferring campaign funds. While Calone’s methods of self-funding his campaign are also perfectly common and legal, it begs the question: why does he feel the need to inject booster shots into his campaign when his opponent has had no issue raising money and support without loaning himself nearly $1 million? Who are Calone’s friends in high places? Calone is the President, CEO, and Managing Director of Jove Equity Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm which invests in companies operating the healthcare, real estate, digital media, software, transportation, energy, and Internet sectors. One issue posed by his background in finance and investment is that he shouldn’t have to look too far to find capital for his campaign. While we’re not asserting that his self-financing is unethical, it begs the question as to why he needs to do it in the first place. Someone with his experience in investments should probably have coffers full from where he can find money from within Suffolk. Is it possible donors didn’t want to fund his campaign, or are many seeing the writing on the wall that Romaine is likely to become the next Suffolk County Executive? Calone’s private equity background also prompts another topic: the finance he has received from his private equity connections. Top donors include Glen Tullman, CEO of the San Francisco-based consumer-direct healthcare platform Transcarent. Tullman, of Chicago, chipped in $50,000 to Calone’s campaign. Records on Crunchbase, a company that provides funding and investment information for private and public companies, show that Calone has been a board member of Tullman’s company since October 2020. The website also shows that Calone’s Jove Equity Partners is an investor of Transcarent. While the site does not disclose the amount shown, there is clearly a relationship between the two businessmen. There is nothing necessarily unethical about the relationship, it’s just a fair question as to why Calone’s top donors include people like Tullman, clearly a friend and a partner of Calone. According to the most recent campaign finance reports, the largest donation Calone received since July is a $50,000 check from Cayley Tullman, president of the Tullman Family Office, who listed an Alexandria, Virginia, address on the form. There is a relation between Cayley and Glen, further solidifying the relationship Calone has of friends in high places. Another partner of Calone The Messenger has previously discussed is that of Larry Mizel, founder and executive chairman of MDC Holdings, a Denver-based home construction company. Mizel made two $25,000 contributions to Calone, with one occurring on July 5 and the other on July 9. MDC and its subsidiaries have operations in fourteen states; New York is not one of them. Mizel helps bridge a gap between two other important factors in our questions for Calone. Mizel helped fund
the 2019 inauguration committee of Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D). The ultimate friend in a high place for Mr. Calone is none other than the Colorado governor himself. Friends since their time at Princeton, Calone’s political and financial connections with Polis are hardly new. When Calone ran for New York’s First Congressional District in 2016, a technology entrepreneur and investor, Bart Lorang, founder and former CEO of FullContact, a technology company that provides cloud-based software products for businesses, developers, and brands, used his blog bartlorang.com to stump for Calone over the Internet, specifically mentioning his efforts to get Polis elected to Colorado’s Second Congressional District in 2008. According to Lorang’s blog: “It’s not often that we have a chance to put a real supporter of entrepreneurs into Congress. We did it awhile back, when we voted Jared Polis into U.S. Congress as Colorado’s 2nd District Representative. It’s been awesome to watch Jared take a stand on important issues…Now, we have a chance to elect another huge supporter of entrepreneurship and innovation. This time with Dave Calone for a House seat in New York! Dave is an amazing entrepreneur and angel/ venture investor who has been active in the Boulder tech community for the last seven years as a mentor and board member. I should know. He was an early believer and investor in FullContact and has been supportive for the last four years. I can’t thank him enough for not only his financial support, but for his advice and his counsel during the inevitable ups and downs of the startup journey…So please join me in supporting Dave! See you in Boulder on Friday!” This adds to the pattern of behavior Calone is displaying while running for County Executive. Even during his 2016 run for Congress, Calone invested in an out-ofstate firm and then received campaign contributions from his friends. Calone lost the 2016 House primary to Anna ThroneHolst, who would go on to lose to incumbent Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in 2016. Speaking of the Governor of Colorado, the formation of Calone’s Jove Equity Partners is actually attributed to Jared Polis himself. Calone took over the firm in 2008 when Polis was elected to the U.S. House. A local Colorado outlet VailDaily, documents the questions Polis received from his opponent during the 2008 U.S. House races specifically mentioned Jove Partners. A 2018 piece from The Gazette during the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election also shows Jove Equity as a notable asset of Polis, the value of which was estimated to be between $25 million and $50 million according to a 2017 OpenSecrets report. Why is Calone so connected to Colorado? Last month, The Messenger examined Calone’s numbers and found that even though the Colorado addresses listed in Calone’s contribution report account for just 4% of his total unique donations, those same addresses account for 17% of his total contributions, omitting the $800,000 Calone loaned himself. With nearly 20% of his total funding coming from the Centennial State, Calone has also demonstrated a decently-sized list of coffers from the Rockies, who have spared no expense in returning the favor when Calone invested in their technology startups. Moreover, Calone attended a Manhattan fundraiser with Governor Polis in July in search of $100,000. The event was held at a private residence and was closed to the public. As if Calone didn’t need more outside help, on October 17, a text message invite to a Zoom fundraiser
was sent out. The fundraiser included not only Governor Polis, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY08), nationalizing a local race while Supervisor Romaine has not appeared alongside any players from the national stage, except for Lee Zeldin, who still has verifiable and legitimate roots in Shirley. How much has Calone spent on consultants? According to the July report, Calone spent $48,500 on consultation services from Global Strategy Group (GSG), a New York City-based public relations firm. According to their website, GSG has worked as “top Democratic pollsters” who worked for “dozens of winning campaigns and political organizations.” They claim their work was “pivotal” in securing Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in 2020. Calone paid $102,820 to Tucker Green Consulting and Threshold Group, Inc. Green is the founder and president of Threshold Group. Green touts his first political job being on the 2004 presidential campaign for Vermont governor Howard Dean (D), and his time as Threshold’s leader “working for candidates and organizations across the tri-state area and country.” Green lives in Westport, Connecticut. Calone’s consultation numbers beg another question: why does someone born and raised in Setauket need hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultation from nationally-minded groups to run a local campaign? While consultation is expected and often necessary in most campaigns, his knowledge of his own neighborhood would be expected to run farther than what consultants from out of state tell him. The Latest Numbers In the final campaign report of the season, Ed Romaine has $1,539,352 cash on hand, while Calone has $1,019,685. In filings dated from July 13 to October 6, Calone has raised $526,390 compared to Romaine’s $460,021. State filings show the massive disparity between spending, with Calone having spent $1.88 million since July, and Romaine having spent $461, 521. Additionally, Calone has spent $1.1 million on television commercials, while Romaine has spent $240,395.
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Falling for Fall Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Happy Halloween! By Kaitlyn Foley
Kid-Approved Halloween Movies Every year, parents struggle to find spooky yet kid-friendly Halloween movies to screen as a family. The assumption that if children are in the movie, then the movie is appropriate for children, fools parents, babysitters, and even teachers year after year. Despite how much we love the holiday as adults, Halloween is truly appreciated by the children. The Messenger asked six children to recommend their favorite Halloween movies this year. Ethan, seven years old from Commack, says his favorite is Haunted Mansion. Available on Disney+, the movie follows the Evers family as they go on vacation, stopping at a house for sale on the way. When the house turns out to be haunted, the Evers family find themselves trying to help the ghosts break their curse. According to Alexander, of St. James, Nightbooks is the “best scary movie” made in all of his long ten years of life. This recommendation may come with some bias as Alex and the main character share the same name, however we trust his judgment. The movie can be found on Netflix, rated TV-PG, and tells the story of a young boy who loves to write scary stories. When imprisoned by a witch, the boy
must write a new story every night, while attempting to escape the nightmare. Disney’s classic Halloweentown, is a favorite of six-year-old Kayla, from Hauppauge, and six-year-old Savanna of East Setauket. In the movie, Marnie Piper finds out that she is a witch on her thirteenth birthday, and that her magic is needed to save the only town where supernatural beings can exist freely from the danger looming ahead. “Marnie’s so cool!” Kayla is excited to become a witch when she turns thirteen too. Halloweentown can be watched on Disney + or Hulu. Savannah agrees with Kayla and loves the part where Marnie sneaks out to visit the grandmother. Jayden, eight years old, of Central Islip loves the movie ParaNorman, found on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. In ParaNorman, one special boy has the power to talk to ghosts. One day, the ghosts tell him there is a curse upon them and only Norman can help them stop it. One very brave fifth-grader, Maisy, eleven, of Commack says she loves Halloween Ends. However, as an R-rated movie, The Messenger does not recommend this to other children. We do, however, endorse Maisy’s second favorite Halloween movie, Coraline, rated PG and found on Hulu, Max, and Amazon Prime Video. Jonathan, eight, of Centereach, loves The Nightmare Before Christmas, found on Disney + and Amazon Prime Video. He also really loves Goosebumps, specifically Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, found on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
This is the third of a weekly column for the month of October that looks to help readers enjoy the season of autumn by providing the best tips and information on scenic parks, fall-favorite activities, recipes, and more.
17
Around the Town
Celebrations
Tips For Halloween The only thing parents should be afraid of on Halloween are their little ghosts, ghouls, and goblins overdosing on chocolate. Yet child pedestrian injuries are more likely to occur on October 31, than any other night of the year. So, before we let our neighborhood children run free scaring their friends, playing pranks, and collecting candy, The Messenger urges everyone to speak with their children, of all ages, about trick-ortreating safely. There should be an adult supervising any child who is going out to trick or treat. However, supervised or not, kids can get very excited while going door to door, tempted to run ahead or cross the street to a friend’s house without notice. Because of this, it is important for kids to understand the rules of the Halloween Road. 1. Only cross the street at a corner or a designated crosswalk, looking both ways before crossing no matter what. 2. Be sure to make eye contact with the driver of the car before crossing, to ensure they have seen you. 3. Always walk on the sidewalk, and in the opposite direction of traffic (left side) so that you can see a car coming, even if they do not see you. 4. Once night falls, be sure to have some sort of reflective tape on the costume and candy bucket or change into bright colors or light-up sneakers. Costumes like Black Cats, Batman, or Mickey Mouse can be dangerously difficult to see due to the usual all-black clothes.
If trick or treating around the neighborhood isn’t quite enough time to get use out of those amazing costumes, there will be plenty of local celebrations this coming weekend. Trunk or Treat events have been all the rage in recent years since the Covid-19 Pandemic and continue to sweep our communities by storm. Local organizations and businesses participate so children can have more safe places to trick or treat. Middle Country Youth Civic held their Trunk or Treat event last weekend, seeing many businesses celebrating with over 350 children. Each car had creative decorations for their trunks. Organizations handed out candy, juice boxes, and toys to anyone who came.
Kidtastic Kids, in Farmingville, will be hosting their Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 28, from 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. The $10 entrance fee will cover the safe trick or treating, bounce house, goodie bag, and craft activities. The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce has their 17th annual Running of the Bulls this Saturday, October 28, inviting kids to come in costume and participate in the 1K fun run and following breakfast. Hoyt Farm of Smithtown will be having their annual Halloweekend (below photo) this Saturday and Sunday October 28 and 29. From 11:00a.m. till 4:00p.m. kids can enjoy safe trick or treating, games, and activities. Adults will be charged $5 cash at the door, children $25 at purchase of the ticket. All children must be registered in advance at Hoyt Farm.
Hauppauge Public Library’s Trunk or Treat event will be held on Friday, October 27, from 5:00p.m. to 6:30p.m. free of charge. Local businesses and library staff will be there with their cars to hand out treats.
5. Never walk between or behind parked or idle cars. Teach children what reverse lights look like so they know when a car might back up. Pay special attention to cars in driveways. If your children are old and mature enough to go trick-or-treating on their own, they should also be taught the dangers of distracted walking. Texting, listening to music, or talking on their cell phones will make it more difficult for them to notice incoming dangers. Parents and guardians should map out a route with their children so that they stay on residential roads with sidewalks, and so that they will not get lost. Whether adults plan on handing out candy this Halloween or driving to a party, there are some safety precautions that you can take as well. 1. Ensure that the lights within your yard are working, and bright. Also, try to remove any tripping hazards, jack-o-lantern candles, and wet leaves from the yard and porches to limit injuries. 2. Restrain all pets when answering the door for children and be careful when allowing them outside. Energetic children in costumes can trigger some dogs and create dangerous situations. 3. When driving, pull out of driveways, parking lots, and alleyways very slowly. Continue to be watchful, drive slowly, and take turns with extreme care. Excited kids can also mean unpredictable movements. 4. Do not use your phone or radio while driving. Even something as simple as turning on your heat can take your eyes off the road long enough for kids to run in the road. 5. Just like every other day of the year, drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. Even one single drink can lower your reaction time as a driver, and that one drink will not ever be worth endangering children.
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
Fighting Fire With Fire Isn’t ‘Against Our Principles’ By David P. Deavel | AMAC Exclusive This week, bad things happened to supposedly good people who think Hamas’s actions are just fine. CEOs and judges said they wouldn’t hire law students who signed on to letters that claimed the responsibility for the torture and deaths of what is now counted at over 1,400 Israeli men, women, and children is fully the fault of Israel. Many on the right and even some on the left (but quietly) cheered. But there was also a lot of complaining that this contradicted what people on the right have been saying about cancel culture. It’s important to note that what we have been saying about this is that corporations should not give in to online or other mobs demanding that persons be fired for social media posts in bad taste, supporting traditional moral norms, or talking about their Christian faith—not that people can say anything. Making threats, dehumanizing people because of some characteristic such as color or ethnicity, or promoting terrorism should have consequences. This kind of language does warrant social shaming and, in the case of threats and terrorism, legal action. Nevertheless, many on the left shouted, “Hypocrites!” Many on the right lamented that This Isn’t Who We Are and that We Must Stick To Our Principles. The left’s claims are not really all that important. But it is important for people on the right to understand that it is not against our principles to use the tools we have and force the left to play by its own rules. We on the right complain endlessly about how our opponents make us live by one standard while they live by another. We appeal to some broad middle that we think will see how unfair things are and save us. But in reality, it is only when we make the left adhere to the rules they have set up that we are going to be able to change those rules ourselves. It’s actually surprising that anybody would think that what happened to those 20-somethings who signed on to such letters is really cancel culture. Those who blathered on for the last decade about “microaggressions” being a reason to discipline students or kick them out of college suddenly think that companies have some sort of moral obligation to hire 20-something students who effectively justified terror on Jewish noncombatants just because said 20-somethings have a diploma from Hahvahd? If you affix your name as an adult to documents that effectively justify terror against civilians, do you expect that you will be welcomed with open arms to jobs where you will likely have Jewish colleagues and clients— or anyone who objects to the slaughter of innocents? It’s not really conservatives who made these supposed “cancellations” anyway. True, Judge Matthew Solomsen, who reportedly said signers of the infamous letters would not be his clerks, is a Trump appointee, but there’s probably little chance such Ivy League lefties were going to be working for him in any case. The rest of the group are all openly liberal or not openly anything. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who initially asked for the names of students signing the Harvard document, is a long-time donor to Democratic candidates including Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez. It’s safe to say that big-name law firms such as Davis Polk and Winston & Strawn are not known as conservative legal bastions. In fact, just last week Winston & Strawn refused to answer any questions about its “diversity fellowships” from conservative legal activist Edward Blum, who contends that they discriminate against white men. Even if it had been mostly people on the right, what would have been the problem? And even if those on the right encouraged these decisions, what would have been the problem? Among others, Christopher Rufo observes that those supporting Hamas are not just single-issue terror supporters. They are intimately tied not only to many other radical groups, but they are provided cover by the academic theorists and activists. Backing this up, Ryan Mauro of Capital Research discovered that one Antifa funding group called Network for Strong Communities has been pouring money into all sorts of radical Islamist groups. Rufo argues that now is the time to force the issue: “As the public begins to connect the dots between Hamas, BLM, the DSA, and academic ‘decolonization,’ responsible political leaders will be forced to accept that recent events in Israel are not simply a matter of foreign affairs but have deep domestic ramifications.” We should be working to encourage corporations and law firms to start rejecting these noxious professors and students who are preaching hatred not only of Jews but of our country and its history. Finally, it is not wrong to encourage even cancellations that we wouldn’t necessarily approve of in a different climate. If leftists are willing to cancel us for old social media posts or infelicitous words, requiring them to follow through with these rules for people on their own side—or even initiating such action—is not hypocritical. If they are not willing to apply their principles fairly, then they are the hypocrites. It’s also realism on our part. The way to fight against bullies is to punch back at them. If they want to operate according to insane rules and cancel people not of their political tribe for stupid things, we ought to force them to do the same for their own. And what is true of cancellation is true, too, of more serious matters. This week Trump supporter Douglas Mackey was sentenced to seven months in prison for election interference. He shared a meme that encouraged Democrats “Avoid the line. Vote from Home” by texting “’Hillary’ to 59925.” According to Obama-appointed Judge Ann Donnelly, this was “nothing short of an assault on our democracy.”
Strange, because Kristina Wong, a Hillary supporter, tweeted on November 8, 2016: “Hey Trump Supporters! Skip poll lines at #Election2016 and TEXT in your vote! Text votes are legit. Or vote tomorrow on Super Wednesday!” She has never been charged with anything. And her tweet remains up today. So too the pro-Palestinian protests on Wednesday, October 18, in which hundreds were arrested for taking over a Capitol building, including three for assaulting police. As Julie Kelly of American Greatness commented in a thread on X on Saturday, the way this event was being handled was distinctly different from the way the very similar January 6, 2021, protest was: “Assault on officer a local misdemeanor not a federal offense like J6ers. And someone was in an office without permission? Gulag worthy.” She continued: “Doesn’t matter how they got in the building. Assaulting/impeding police, threatening a lawmaker (MTG), remaining on restricted grounds (USCP confirmed demonstrations are NOT allowed) and interrupting Senate business all treated as federal offenses for J6. And media dropped it.”
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Not surprising about media, but the GOP ought not drop it. If Republicans cannot do anything about Douglas Mackey or the January 6 protesters who have been treated so unfairly, they can certainly figure out how to start punishing Kristina Wong and those who protested in the Capitol this week. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene should not have been the only one to call for the events to be treated similarly. She called for a censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib, for Capitol Police to save all reports, photographs, and film of the event, and for the House Administration Committee to launch a full investigation. If we want to get back to equality under the rule of law and the peace of a country in which there is a healthy tolerance of differing ideas, we are going to have to fight back in ways that we may not like. It’s not just ordinary people but Republican politicians who need to understand that when they refuse to fight back with the political and legal tools they have, they are themselves putting in danger the principles of freedom they claim to profess. We didn’t start this fire. But unless we start fighting it with our own fire, the blaze is going to consume us.
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‘What’s Next?’ Suffolk Leg. Moves to Ban Sale of Vape Devices Disguised as School Supplies By Matt Meduri In addition to being in the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, Suffolk County now finds itself in the midst of a new enemy: vaping devices camouflaged as school supplies. While vaping devices themselves are relatively new and have faced mountains of legal challenges in New York, the addictive cigarette-alternatives have been intensely popular with middle and high-schoolaged children. After New York State moved to ban the sale of certain vaporized nicotine products in 2019, vaping manufacturers have been relentless in marketing to their target demographic, even if it means resorting to unscrupulous tactics. Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) of the Third District has introduced Resolution No.1882-2023, a bill that would create a local law to ban the sale of camouflaged vaping devices in Suffolk County. A section of the resolution’s legislative intent reads: “This Legislature also finds that vapes are now manufactured to look like highlighters, USB drives, ballpoint pens, smartphone cases, and smartwatches, and there are even vaping backpacks and vaping hoodies that hide tubing and a mouthpiece so the wearer can inhale inconspicuously.” A press conference was held Monday morning at William Floyd High School in Mastic led by Legislator Mazzarella and attended by Suffolk Legislators, members of the William Floyd School District, and Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R). “The pioneers of the vaping industry sold their idea as a way to move smokers from traditional cigarettes to what they promoted as a safer alternative,” said Mazzarella. He explained the rationale of the vape manufacturers. “Consequently, the cornerstone of their innovation was to maintain the addictive nature of smoking. They achieve this through nicotine. It was of paramount importance that vaping maintain a significant delivery of the addictive compound nicotine.” Mazzarella also stipulates that the intent is not to ban vaping devices outright, rather to hold manufacturers who target children accountable. “This resolution is not about attacking the vaping or tobacco industry; adults are free to make their own decisions regarding their health,” said Mazzarella. “We’re here today because the industry has hit a new low. Manufacturers are now making it easier for children to hide vaping activity by selling devices that can easily be carried into and around school. Devices that manufacturers are creating are identical in nature to regular school supplies. I ask ‘what’s next?’” Mazzarella went on to describe the staggering statistics surrounding the issue. “Since 2019, the use of vaping devices has increased 1000% among high school students and 400% among middle school students,” he said. “As lawmakers, we have the responsibility to protect our residents, especially our children, from those who want to profit from these dangerous and addictive chemicals.” District Attorney Ray Tierney offered his perspective on the current drug epidemic in New York State and voiced his support for the Legislature’s initiative. “We are within the throes of the opioid overdose epidemic. Last year alone, we had over 400 overdose deaths as a result of fentanyl,” said Tierney. “Studies show that the younger individuals get involved with addictive substances, be it alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, the greater the likelihood of addiction with something more serious down the line. We need our partnerships with our school districts, police department, public officials, and we need to tell the individuals who seek to prey upon our children that enough is enough.”
Tierney then went on to say that the Legislature is stepping in where New York State has not: “I’m happy to see that the Legislature has stepped into the void that has been left by our state legislature, who, while they offer lip service on public safety, are really doing nothing to protect our communities and our children, because if you look at our current narcotics laws, there are loopholes that you could drive a truck through, and that truck is flattening our communities and our children as evidenced by our opioid overdose crisis.” Tierney gave a final comment on the controversial bail reform laws that alter how local jurisdictions can process and detain criminals. Relevant to his first point on the “slippery slope” of drug experimentation, Tierney said: “Let us hold fentanyl dealers in jail pending trial.” Brookhaven Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) offered his perspective on the drug epidemic he and his colleagues fight in Brookhaven “Everyone here can thank New York State for their abhorrent rollout of marijuana across this state,” said Panico. “I can’t tell you how much time we spend in Brookhaven tracking down illegal stores selling marijuana and these illegal devices. When I was a kid in William Floyd High School, you didn’t have items like these being marketed to kids. You couldn’t have alcohol or tobacco commercials on television; look how far we have gone. Look at how our state, with its craven and insatiable appetite for revenue, has forsaken the futures and health of our children. New York State controls this field and it is doing little to nothing to protect our children.” Robert Vecchio, President of the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association said that covert vaping devices like these hurt all types of communities. “It’s exploitative of our kids. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, it impacts every community, zip code, race, religion, income, and whether or not you have a stable home,” said Vecchio. “It starts with the little stuff like nicotine and it slowly progresses. Nobody above the age of 21 needs to disguise their vaping device as a highlighter. This is purely to market to kids and I’m so glad the Legislature stepped up to attempt to make it illegal in Suffolk County.” Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), with a background in EMS and public safety, is signing on as a cosponsor of the bill. “Yet again, the almighty dollar has targeted our children,” said Thorne. “This county will stand for safety and our children, we will not back down. The state may fail but the county will not. We will continue to watch for the shortfalls of this state that come down on our county and we will be there to meet it each and every time.” Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), a former nurse of thirty years, expressed her support of the bill. “When I read this, I thought it was magnificent,” said Kennedy. She then read the aforementioned section of legislation intent. She followed it up with an anatomical perspective on why exactly vaping is so damaging to a user’s body: “This is what we are dealing with to protect our children. Vaping is a bad thing; it contains numerous heavy metals, including cadmium, and specific types of substance-laced oils that go right into your lungs and cause lung disease.” Legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) said: “This is very encouraging to see because I had no idea that this was taking place. I’m a father and a grandfather and this is such a necessary piece of legislation.” The bill is currently in committee where it will be deliberated before being taken up in next month’s general session.
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
By Matt Meduri The saga of the Suffolk County cyber attack of last September continues as Legislators on the Investigation Committee brought Suffolk County Information Technology (IT) Commissioner Scott Mastellon back in for questioning. Last week’s meeting of the committee, chaired by Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) sought to disseminate dueling narratives about the county’s preparedness for the attack and uncovered a shocking revelation. The most significant part of the three-hour long hearing is that Suffolk officials were aware that the county faced a high risk of a cyber attack months before a breach was detected. Portions of the “Suffolk County Assessment Final Report” were read during the hearing; the full report was not made available due to sensitive information that could further endanger county systems. The report was commissioned by Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) and was performed by the Texas-based company CyberDefenses. CyberDefenses reviewed the county’s systems, domains, and networks from September 2021 to December 2021 and issued its analysis in February 2022. The takeaway line from the report read: “There is a heightened concern that should the threat actor achieve success through reconnaissance or initial access, that the damage that could occur would be significant.” To add further insult to injury, members of the Investigation Committee were not made aware of the report until Monday, the day before they were set to interview Mastellon ahead of Friday’s public hearing. At the hearing, Mastellon and his counsel referred to the delay in producing the report as an “oversight.” The committee’s outside counsel, Richard Donoghue, a former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, said: “That report is as close as you get to a smoking gun in a case like this, and you sat on it until the day before you’re interviewed.” Throughout the hearing, Donoghue outlined the report’s findings of outdated and
inadequate systems of which county officials were made aware months before the September 2022 attack. The report also indicates that attackers were able to penetrate the county’s system through a vulnerable domain at the county clerk’s office. The hearing consisted of the ongoing pattern of county officials ascribing blame on different departments, with Mastellon doubling down on his view that the blame lies squarely on the county clerk’s office, saying that the attack was a “direct result of the clerk’s office failure to take appropriate cyber security measures against threats that quickly spread through the system.” The Committee displayed another smoking gun page at the hearing: the report of vulnerabilities across all fifteen county domain systems. The domains were graded on vulnerability from a scale of 0 to 100, from least to most vulnerable. All were shown to be highly vulnerable, with twelve receiving the highest score of 100, meaning most vulnerable. One domain received a score of 60, another received a score of 90, and another of 95. Furthermore, only two subcategories of security were rated as “no risk identified:” certificate takeover and weak passwords. All other categories, such as backups, provisioning, and network topography were all rated with varying levels of vulnerability. “What we saw were dueling narratives about what occurred, the systemic failure of the Department of Information Technology, a lack of training, and a lack of adequate service,” said Chairman Piccirillo to The Messenger. “We need to make sure that our departments are fully staffed in the next county executive administration and that everyone has proper training. We also need to ensure that all stakeholders are brought in to make sure that we can adequately address vulnerabilities and staff training and development.” Mastellon was named on the Chief Information Officer (CIO) 100 Awards list in 2021. He placed eighty-second out of one hundred.
TOWNLINE RAIL: WHAT’S PROPOSED Townline Rail is a proposed alternative to trucking locally generated incinerator ash from the Huntington-Smithtown waste-to-energy facility as well as Construction & Demolition debris off Long Island once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The proposal is for: One train arrival and one departure per weekday. No planned weekend arrivals or departures. Loading and unloading of materials during our regular DEC-permitted hours. Indoor facility with dust suppression, negative air system filtration and high speed roll up doors. Rail cars covered securely. New natural landscaped berm along Townline Rail. 140 Old Northport Road Kings Park, New York 11754 631 368 4000 | CarlsonCorp.com
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Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) recognized West Babylon Fire Department’s firefighter of the Year, John Manzi, Jr., at the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Annual Dinner at the Coram Fire Department. While responding to a fire last Thanksgiving, firefighter Manzi recognized fellow firefighter Matthew Smith as unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. He got him out of the building initiating CPR and rescue breathing before being transported to the hospital. His quick response saved his fellow firefighter’s life.
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Legislator Flotteron Recognizes WBFD Firefighter of the Year: John Manzi, Jr.
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
Deceptive Marketing: What’s in Your Can? Earlier this month, our community was flabbergasted by the news of a Smithtown bus driver casually drinking a White Claw while driving students home from school. After the driver was reported, immediately fired, and arrested, her tear-soaked interview with News12 garnered empathy. Amal Hanna, the sixty-year-old bus driver, was released and did not face any criminal charges. Hanna’s life was changed all because one Wednesday morning, while walking out the door, she grabbed one of her roommate’s White Claws thinking that it was a nonalcoholic, canned seltzer. The idea of this seems highly unlikely. Even with the support of the students’ parents, and the closed investigation of our local law enforcement, some community members think Hanna was lying. How can you not know a beverage has alcohol in it? It is quite easy, actually. Other than a few simple differences, the packaging and design of canned beverages are relatively similar, which speaks volumes for an extremely saturated market of cocktails, spiked seltzers, beers, non-alcoholic seltzers, water, and more.
purchasing. It is a well-known aspect of consumer psychology. Hence why companies think long and hard before changing their logo or branding; there is a deep-seeded relationship between that logo and their regular customer. When you see Oreos on the shelf, you assume it is the chocolate sandwich cookie that you have been eating all your life. When you see Coffee Mate, you assume it is the creamer you wake up to each morning. When you see Sunny D, you assume it is the orange beverage your children have loved for the last fifteen years. Then, when you arrive home, you realize you accidentally picked up Oreo Thins, your coffee is bitter because the creamer is sugar-free, or your 10-year-old asks, “Why does my Sunny D taste different?” You know what they say about assuming…
A Saturated Market The rise of spiked seltzers skyrocketed in 2016 when beer sales seemed to plateau, yet seltzer and liquor sales were thriving. This market led to the production of seemingly “healthy”, low-calorie, and “all-natural” alcoholic beverages by brands like White Claw and Truly. Their success inspired a spiked seltzer and canned cocktail trend that beer and liquor companies decided to cash in on. Smirnoff Spiked Seltzer, Bud Light Seltzer, Malibu Splash Sparkling Malt Beverage; companies were creating new product lines off of the same basic recipe: sparkling water and fermented cane sugar. While the market was being flooded by large corporations, smaller companies were struggling to compete. The reinvention of cocktails in a can launched High Noon into success in 2019, promoting their product as stronger and better due to the use of “real vodka, real juice and sparkling water.” “In creating High Noon, we decided to approach the concept of Hard Seltzers in an entirely different way,” says Britt West, Vice President of Marketing for Gallo Spirits, parent company to High Noon. “High Noon answers the increasing demand for beer alternatives driven by health and ingredientconscious consumers looking for low-calorie, more sessionable beverages. Unlike the maltbased and artificially flavored offerings that are currently dominating the Hard Seltzer category, High Noon is made with real vodka, real juice, has low calories, low ABV, low sugar and is gluten-free.” As the story goes, High Noon’s success was quickly admired by other companies, inspiring them to follow suit. Now, in 2023, the hard seltzer global market amounts to over $17 billion, according to Statista, and is estimated to continue growing. Currently, there are more than 150 different products occupying the Hard Seltzer category. The Assumption To many shoppers in grocery stores, or arguably any store, the look of a product is all that matters. If a brand is immediately recognizable to the consumer, shoppers assume they know what they are
A Major Design Flaw The packaging of canned beverages is extremely similar no matter what the contents are, and when popular, identifiable brands make important ingredient changes, consumer confusion is natural. Sunny D is a beloved childhood drink by Gen X and Millennials, forcing the brand to grow up with their consumers. Recently, the company came out with their own version of spiked seltzers. Though the packaging differs between alcoholic and nonalcoholic Sunny D, the addition of spiked seltzers to the product line has been a whirlwind for parents. On the spiked seltzers, both the box and the cans display the words “Vodka Seltzer” with bold font in the center. This way, consumers know exactly what they are purchasing. However, this is not the same for the majority of canned beverages. Like Hanna, the confusion comes from the idea that canned beverages, alcoholic or not, look very similar. Spiked Seltzer companies like White Claw and Truly began using tall, thin cans to differentiate themselves from canned soda or seltzers that use the stereotypical short, wide cans, like CocaCola or Pepsi, and the energy drinks that use tall wide cans, like Monster and Bang. However, the design of the tall, thin can became very popular and is now used by many energy drink companies, like Celsius and Prime. The key to knowing the difference is reading the can. If it says “hard” or “spiked”, the drink has alcohol in it. If the can references “energy” or “power”, the drink has caffeine in it. Words like “sparkling” or “bubbly” can be found on non-alcoholic seltzer water or soda. Daniel Terra, 26, explains that while he was drinking a Celsius energy drink on his way to the gym, he was pulled over because the officer mistook the Celsius for a White Claw Hard Seltzer.“The thought didn’t even cross my mind. All of a sudden I just saw his lights flashing behind me. I didn’t even think about somebody confusing [the drinks].” In Illinois, a state law was passed forbidding stores from shelving non-alcoholic drinks next to alcoholic drinks for the simple reason that consumers were confusing one for the other. “In some situations, in some instances, these co-branded products have nearly identical markings as the non-alcoholic
Photos by Kaitlyn Foley
By Kaitlyn Foley
C4, a popular energy drink with flavors geared toward children are shelved next to alcoholic beverages products, so it’s creating a lot of confusion in the marketplace,” reported the Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s Executive Director, Lisa Gardner to CBS News. Through this state law, retail stores larger than 25,000 square feet that sell alcoholic beverages are forbidden from placing co-branded beverages with alcohol next to soft drinks, juices, water, candy, toys, and snack foods. With this law, it will be less likely for parents to mistake beverages with alcohol for those safe for children. Misleading brand names can also lead to consumer confusion. Hop Water, a product that many would assume is alcoholic due to the familiar ingredient, hops, which is in beer. However, it is quite literally just water that has hops for flavor. There is no actual alcohol in it, even though it is also shaped and designed like a typical beer can. The product was made to be a substitute for beer, however when placed in the beer aisle of a grocery store, it is easily misinterpreted. This phenomenon has been seen as a problem in areas where well-established companies of canned beverages, like soda and iced tea, dip their toe in the world of alcoholic beverages. “I ran into a gas station on my way to work and picked up a can of Arizona. When I got to the sales counter, the cashier told me the total was $5 and asked for my ID,” says Jay Kanulitz, 32, of Ronkonkoma. “I was confused because Arizona Iced Tea cans are pretty famous for being ninety-nine cents. He thought I was purchasing Arizona Spiked Tea. If the cashier didn’t notice the difference, how should I?” The moral of the story is that consumers should be reading every canned beverage they pick up, to assure they are purchasing what is desired. However, in reality, we are busy people, and we do not always pay attention to the things we should while in a rush even if we should. What happened to Hanna was mere ignorance on her part; however, it really can happen to anyone.
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, October 26, 2023
FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE Ed is the only candidate who has a plan to make Suffolk safer and more affordable. He will: 9 Hire more police officers and
prosecutors and beef up the detective squad 9 Prevent Suffolk from becoming a sanctuary city for unvetted migrants 9 Institute accountability budgeting 9 Support the suspension of the county’s gasoline tax 9 Support the suspension of the energy tax on home heating oil during the winter months
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Republican/Conservative • Vote Row B or C on November 7 for a SAFER and MORE AFFORDABLE Suffolk. Early Voting
Early voting begins on October 28 and ends November 5 at locations throughout Suffolk County. Scan the QR code to find the location nearest you. For more information, call the Suffolk County BOE at (631) 852-4500.
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“[W]hat Suffolk needs most in Hauppauge is experience, proven leadership, and an ability to work with the county’s famously fractious Republican-led legislature. Newsday endorses Romaine.” — Newsday, October 22, 2023