Islip Messenger Archive Apr. 11, 2024

Solar Eclipse 2024: Lake Ronkonkoma Turns Out for Viewing Party

By Matt Meduri

The relatively rare treat of a solar eclipse passed through New York State on Tuesday afternoon, giving Suffolk County about 90% of the totality of the event.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. Depending on the alignment of the three celestial bodies, certain parts of Earth experience total darkness for the few minutes the moon passes entirely in front of the sun. The regions within the path for total darkness is called the path of totality. The farther an area is from the path experiences less of the darkness, but will still be able to see the moon move in front of the sun to some degree.

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District Attorney’s Office Holds Senior Scams Seminar

By Matt Meduri

As technology continues to advance and adapt at a pace faster than most people can follow, so too do the scams, tricks, and attacks that come with it.

The risk of online attacks and deceit is higher now than ever since thieves of money, personal information, assets, or all of the above have a plethora of creative routes and top-tier equipment at their disposal.

The risks of online attacks in the fledgling stages of modern technology were highly prevalent as the world adjusted to the new norm, but the attacks were not as nearly comprehensive, convincing, and cunning as they are now.

Accurate and realistic portrayals of emails, websites, and programs from trusted vendors, direct emails and text messages of high-importance or even threatening content, and the classic get-rich-quick and too-good-to-be-true advertisements continue to threaten the general public as they traverse cyberspace.

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CreditMatt Meduri

Phases of the eclipse seen from Lake Ronkonkoma

CreditMatt Meduri

(Left to right) D.A. Tierney and Congressman Garbarino

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District Attorney’s Office Holds Senior Scams Seminar

However, what makes these threats even worse is that hosts of information now sit firmly online when just a few years ago, a pen and paper or in-person business removed that risk. For scammers, there’s much more to gain, and for users, there’s a whole life to lose.

And to add insult to injury, scammers continually target those most unaware of their tricks and those least adept in navigating the Internet.

To help combat this, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) hosted a “Senior Scam” prevention seminar at the West Sayville Fire House last week, in tandem with Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) of the Second Congressional District.

“Nationwide losses to ransomware payments hit over $1 billion last year,” Garbarino told The Messenger, referencing a form of deception in which a device is “locked” by “law enforcement” who alleges that sensitive or illegal material is stored on said device, and that the only way to regain control is to pay the tab. Of course, these are never from actual law enforcement agencies, but the convincing attacks that lock down computers cost Americans a significant sum in 2023.

“Unfortunately, that’s only an estimate because we don’t always know when someone pays the ransom,” Garbarino added. “It’s not an exact science because it’s all based on what knowledge you have.”

Garbarino also said that it’s one thing to click on an email at home and expose only your information, but the problem gets worse when the hack infiltrates a workplace, especially those like government organizations or school districts.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” he said. Garbarino sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security and chairs the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.

Suffolk D.A. Tierney said that a massive problem is advanced technology that not only allows scammers to widen their breadth, but also makes it harder for them to be tracked.

“The problem is scammers are so sophisticated, they keep changing their phones and even their routers,” Tierney told The Messenger. “The technology is very difficult to control. It used to be that there was only a limited number of ways scammers could get into your home. Now, it’s virtually unlimited.”

The seminar was hosted by Derick Rill, Congressional Liaison from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Rill led the attendees through a wealth of information as well as tips and tricks for residents to better arm themselves against the dangers of cyberspace. Rill guided the seminar and offered tips and phrases to help arm the population against online scams.

“Payment mechanisms are an absolute red flag. Do not wire money; gift cards are for gifts, not for payments,” said Rill, referencing a recent form of scam in which victims are asked to send money to scammers via Visa gift cards. Rill says that any phone call or email requesting a form of payment from an unverified source are tell-tale signs of fraud.

“If you send money to someone you don’t know by the wire, might as well throw it in the fire,” he said.”

Rill also gave some tips as far as maintaining credit accounts and disputing charges.

“When you use a credit card, you have protections that other methods don’t,” said Rill. “By law, if you catch something that’s unauthorized on your credit card statement, within sixty days of the bill, they have to prove it’s you. You go to the FTC’s website and dispute the charge.”

Rill also encouraged attendees to monitor or even lock credit files for their children and grandchildren, as scammers will open up a credit report under their names. When children become of age and try to pay bills or get their first credit card, they’ll be hit with the damage.

Lucie Kwon, Chief of the Financial Crimes Bureau of the Suffolk County D.A.’s Office, said that embarrassment is what usually prevents people from reporting their victimization.

“When you raise your children and your grandkids, you always tell them, ‘don’t ever be afraid to come to us, don’t ever be afraid to tell us, we’ll always support you.’ Well, in turn, you can’t be afraid, you have to practice what you preach, right? Don’t ever be embarrassed to report that you’ve been scammed. The sooner you can get in front of it, the better.”

Kwon took the pressure off by saying that she was recently scammed by a convincing advertisement on a web browsing home page.

“What scammers do is they buy space, either on Zoom or any search engine such as Google, Yahoo, or MSN, so that they come up first to give the appearance that they’re legitimate,” said Kwon. “I’m the Chief of the Financial Control Group, it can happen to any of us.”

Kwon told users that in the event that they’ve been scammed to not change their passwords, as the scammers are already tracking their information.

Kwon also said that older people are more likely to be victimized because scammers know that older people tend to have amassed a degree of wealth at their age. She also said that women are 92% more likely to be victimized than men because they live longer, and can therefore accrue more wealth with age over time.

Kwon also shared the scary concept of synthetic ID theft and told the audience to be diligent in checking their statements.

“What happens is the scammers will actually attach their information or someone else’s information to your credit, and as you’re using your credit card, this synthetic ID person is actually building up great credit off of yours and then they’re off to the races with it. What they can do is not detach from you and they will ruin your entire credit.”

Kwon recommends running your credit regularly; many banks, as well as AARP, will do this for free.

“In the same manner that you take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally, taking care of yourself financially is equally as important because it gives you peace of mind. You all worked really hard to be here, to enjoy this moment in your life, and you should enjoy it with some peace.”

Finally, Kwon discussed the Homeowner Watch List (HOWL) program offered by Suffolk County, wherein you can

register your home with the database and be immediately notified when there is any activity against your home.

“Another scam that we’ve been seeing is fake deeds being filed, and the next thing you know, you’re getting a knock on the door that somebody sold your house, or that somebody else owns your home,” said Kwon.

D.A. Tierney informed the audience of a scam tactic called spoofing, wherein a scammer can make a phone call and the recipient sees them as a government or law enforcement agency. Tierney says that scammers will impersonate a police officer, FBI agent, or even Tierney himself, to scare the victim into sending money to settle charges.

“That’s not how our government works. We don’t call people up and say we’re going to arrest you or seize your assets unless you give us X amount of dollars. There’s no agency in the United States that will do that,” said Tierney.

“You can say imitation is the best form of flattery, but not when you’re a scammer,” Rill quipped.

Nick Moore, a U.S. Postal Inspector, gave a list of information to check when running a credit report.

“You’ll check that your name is spelled correctly, your current address, your previous addresses, your Social Security Number; it’s all going to be you,” said Moore. “And it’s going to tell you if you have any bankruptcies or liens that you didn’t file.”

Holly Rhodes-Teague, Director of the Suffolk County Office of the Aging, said that freezing credit accounts when inactive can be of benefit.

“If you have credit and you’re concerned that somebody’s trying to access it, you can freeze your credit through the credit reporting companies,” said Rhodes-Teague. “You can also turn off your credit cards and then turn them back on. There are ways to do that. You should try to do it if you are concerned about it, or if you know you’re not going to be using credit. If you’re not buying a house, a car, or making any major purchases anytime soon, you can actually have it so that somebody cannot access your credit during the period of time that you shut it down.”

Congressman Garbarino shared a tip from his experience on the Cyber Committee.

“One of the best defenses we have is you want to continuously update your devices and software,” said Garbarino. “When your phone or your computer software offers you an update, do it because most of the time it’s fixing something within that software that the bad guys are using to get in.”

Rill closed the meeting with words of hope for the new ambassadors for online safety: “You’re in charge. I don’t want you to leave here scared today. There’s a lot of scary things out there, but you’re in charge.”

Image by Freepik

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Solar Eclipse 2024: Lake Ronkonkoma Turns Out for Viewing Party

The eclipse was the first to pass over the continental U.S. since August 21, 2017, total visibility of which started in Depoe Bay, Oregon, and ended in Charleston, South Carolina. The April 8, 2024, eclipse essentially mirrored the 2017 eclipse’s path and had total visibility - within the U.S. - from San Antonio, Texas, across the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, and northern New England.

It was the first total solar eclipse visible from Canada since 1979, as the eastern provinces were in the path of totality, and the first over Mexico since 1991. No other solar eclipses will be visible from all three countries until the next century.

The first areas in the world to witness totality were the French Polynesian Islands and the island nation of Kiribati, with partial eclipse visibility as far north as Norway.

But The Messenger made sure to be on site in the de facto center of our three communities of coverage: Raynor Park at Lake Ronkonkoma. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) issued several County parks suitable for good views of the eclipse, including Smith Point, Gardiner Park in Bay Shore, Montauk Park in East Hampton, and West Hills County Park in Huntington.

The partial eclipse was visible as early as 2:30p.m., with near-total visibility peaking at around 3:45p.m. While Suffolk County was not in the path of totality, the proximity was close enough to the moon’s path, allowing 90% of totality for

the region.

Once the moon passed over the sun - mostly - temperatures dropped and partial darkness set in. Viewers all around Lake Ronkonkoma had their special eclipse-viewing glasses handy, taking in the rare spectacle on their home turf.

“I’ve never seen an eclipse before,” said Jannine Pergola, LMHC, of St. James. “It’s such a cool experience.

Pergola is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and practices at SATTVA Wellness and Counseling, located at 47 Route 25A in East Setauket.

“This was my first eclipse as well,” said Marlene Sicoli, of St. James. “It’s amazing how cold it got during the peak.” Sicoli is a real estate salesperson of Coldwell Banker-American Homes in Smithtown.

“I’ve seen other eclipses, but this one really stood out,” said Roselle Marinelli, of Mastic Beach. “Seeing the ‘bites of the apple’ gradually change as it moved across its phases was really cool.”

“This one was much better than the one in 2017, we didn’t get much of that here,” said Andria Beckles of Stony Brook. “Actually watching the moon slowly move across the sun was such a great experience.”

The next total solar eclipse over the U.S. will be March 30, 2033, which will only pass over Alaska. The next total eclipse over some of the Lower 48 will be on August 23, 2044. The next coast-to-coast eclipse will be on August 12, 2045.

Published

Why AI Can’t Replace Air Traffic Controllers

By Amy Pritchett | The Conversation

After hours of routine operations, an air traffic controller gets a radio call from a small aircraft whose cockpit indicators can’t confirm that the plane’s landing gear is extended for landing. The controller arranges for the pilot to fly low by the tower so the controller can visually check the plane’s landing gear. All appears well. “It looks like your gear is down,” the controller tells the pilot.

The controller calls for the airport fire trucks to be ready just in case, and the aircraft circles back to land safely. Scenarios like this play out regularly. In the air traffic control system, everything must meet the highest levels of safety, but not everything goes according to plan.

Contrast this with the still science-fiction vision of future artificial intelligence “pilots” flying autonomous aircraft, complete with an autonomous air traffic control system handling aircraft as easily as routers shuttling data packets on the internet.

I’m an aerospace engineer who led a National Academies study ordered by Congress about air traffic controller staffing. Researchers are continually working on new technologies that automate elements of the air traffic control system, but technology can execute only those functions that are planned for during its design and so can’t modify standard procedures. As the scenario above illustrates, humans are likely to remain a necessary central component of air traffic control for a long time to come.

What air traffic controllers do

The Federal Aviation Administration’s fundamental guidance for the responsibility of air traffic controllers states: “The primary purpose of the air traffic control system is to prevent a collision involving aircraft.” Air traffic controllers are also charged with providing “a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic” and other services supporting safety, such as helping pilots avoid mountains and other hazardous terrain and hazardous weather, to the extent they can.

Air traffic controllers’ jobs vary. Tower controllers provide the local control that clears aircraft to take off and land, making sure that they are spaced safely apart. They also provide ground control, directing aircraft to taxi and notifying pilots of flight plans and potential safety concerns on that day before flight. Tower controllers are aided by some displays but mostly look outside from the towers and talk with pilots via radio. At larger airports staffed by FAA controllers, surface surveillance displays show controllers the aircraft and other vehicles on the ground on the airfield.

aircraft from en route airspace, line them up with the landing approach and hand them off to tower controllers.

A controller at each display manages all the traffic within a sector. Sectors can vary in size from a few cubic miles, focused on sequencing aircraft landing at a busy airport, to en route sectors spanning more than 30,000 cubic miles (125,045 cubic km) where and when there are few aircraft flying. If a sector gets busy, a second and even third controller might assist, or the sector might be split into two, with another display and controller team managing the second.

How technology can help

Air traffic controllers have a stressful job and are subject to fatigue and information overload. Public concern about a growing number of close calls have put a spotlight on aging technology and staffing shortages that have led to air traffic controllers working mandatory overtime. New technologies can help alleviate those issues.

The air traffic control system is incorporating new technologies in several ways. The FAA’s NextGen air transportation system initiative is providing controllers with more – and more accurate – information.

Controllers’ displays originally showed only radar tracking. They now can tap into all the data known about each flight within the en route automation modernization system. This system integrates radar, automatic position reports from aircraft via automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, weather reports, flight plans and flight histories.

Systems help alert controllers to potential conflicts between aircraft, or aircraft that are too close to high ground or structures, and provide suggestions to controllers to sequence aircraft into smooth traffic flows. In testimony to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 9, 2023, about airport safety, FAA Chief Operating Officer Timothy Arel said that the administration is developing or improving several air traffic control systems.

Researchers are using machine learning to analyze and predict aspects of air traffic and air traffic control, including air traffic flow between cities and air traffic controller behavior.

How technology can complicate matters

New technology can also cause profound changes to air traffic control in the form of new types of aircraft. For example, current regulations mostly limit uncrewed aircraft to fly lower than 400 feet (122 meters) above ground and away from airports. These are drones used by first responders, news organizations, surveyors, delivery services and hobbyists.

Others are targeting new business models, such as advanced air mobility, the concept of small, highly automated electric aircraft – electric air taxis, for example. These would require dramatically different routes and procedures for handling air traffic.

Expect the unexpected

An air traffic controller’s routine can be disrupted by an aircraft that requires special handling. This could range from an emergency to priority handling of medical flights or Air Force One. Controllers are given the responsibility and the flexibility to adapt how they manage their airspace.

The requirements for the front line of air traffic control are a poor match for AI’s capabilities. People expect air traffic to continue to be the safest complex, high-technology system ever. It achieves this standard by adhering to procedures when practical, which is something AI can do, and by adapting and exercising good judgment whenever something unplanned occurs or a new operation is implemented – a notable weakness of today’s AI.

Indeed, it is when conditions are the worst – when controllers figure out how to handle aircraft with severe problems, airport crises or widespread airspace closures due to security concerns or infrastructure failures – that controllers’ contributions to safety are the greatest.

Approach and en route controllers, on the other hand, sit in front of large displays in dark and quiet rooms. They communicate with pilots via radio. Their displays show aircraft locations on a map view with key features of the airspace boundaries and routes.

The 21 en route control centers in the U.S. manage traffic that is between and above airports and thus typically flying at higher speeds and altitudes.

Controllers at approach control facilities transition departing aircraft from local control after takeoff up and into en route airspace. They similarly take arriving

However, some emerging uncrewed aircraft companies are proposing to fly in controlled airspace. Some plan to have their aircraft fly regular flight routes and interact normally with air traffic controllers via voice radio. These include Reliable Robotics and Xwing, which are separately working to automate the Cessna Caravan, a small cargo airplane.

Also, controllers don’t fly the aircraft. They communicate and interact with others to guide the aircraft, and so their responsibility is fundamentally to serve as part of a team – another notable weakness of AI.

As an engineer and designer, I’m most excited about the potential for AI to analyze the big data records of past air traffic operations in pursuit of, for example, more efficient routes of flight. However, as a pilot, I’m glad to hear a controller’s calm voice on the radio helping me land quickly and safely should I have a problem.

Amy Pritchett is Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Penn State.

Scan QR-Code to view a FAA animation that explains the three basic components of the U.S. air traffic control system.

Scan QR-Code to view how NASA and the FAA are leading the development of a traffic control system for drones and other uncrewed aircraft.

Editorial

Albany Democrats Unanimously Reject Common Sense Laws, No Surprise There

The latest slew of proposed legislation from Republicans in the State Assembly ended in a shocking result: Democrats unanimously rejected all the common sense proposals set forth.

As the budget negotiations continue past the April 1 deadline, GOP lawmakers are using all the power they have to try to bring New York back to the logical center as Democrats dig their heels further.

Legislation downvoted include, but is not limited to:

• Congestion pricing exemptions

• Protecting municipalities and counties from “right to shelter” rulings, related to the migrant crisis

• Expanding bail qualifying offenses

• Creating a Class-E felony charge for criminal possession of fentanyl

• Establishes a crime of coordinated petit larceny relating to the smashand-grab epidemic

• Designating offenses against law enforcement, EMTs, and/or firefighters as hate crimes

• Prohibits supervised injection sites, as it relates to heroin and other drugs

• Establishing opioid rehabilitation facilities and diverting certain defendants to those facilities

• Expanding the criteria for hate crimes to include specified offenses on the grounds of a house worship

• Ensuring individuals convicted of murdering a minor in the first or second degrees are sentenced to life without parole

• Establishing the crimes of criminal sale of a substance resulting in death

• Requiring colleges to implement programs and training to stop incidents of antisemitism on campuses, or lose public funding

• Requiring residents of the state who are foreign refugees to register with the office of temporary and disability assistance

The way Democrats constantly carry on about a safer, better, more equitable New York, you’d think these pieces of legislation would have passed with flying colors.

Unfortunately, the GOP in the Assembly carries highly limited power. Since Democrats control the chamber, they control the committees and therefore, which legislation passes through. The 150-body member is also controlled in the supermajority by Democrats, meaning that Republican power is further diluted than it already is.

Still, our devoted Assemblymembers submit pieces of legislation that shouldn’t even have to be debated. In fact, it should have never gotten this far in the first place.

Only in New York can you legally take over someone’s home by ordering fast food and retaining a receipt as “proof of residence.”

Only in New York can you assault police officers, be released almost

immediately after, and flee the state for more liberal pastures.

Only in New York do you have to fight for felony charges for criminal possession of fentanyl, while the Governor and the Legislature make it a priority to stock men’s rooms with menstrual products.

Only in New York do overdose victims’ families have to fight for access to state funds for burial services while repeated drug dealers are treated with kid gloves and routinely given the benefit of the doubt.

Only in New York do you have to fight tooth and nail to see where your charitable donations are going after they hit state coffers, while billions of dollars are bilked from school districts to fund the self-inflicted migrant crisis.

Only in New York do bureaucrats nickel and dime commuters in the country’s largest city, while state agencies continue to be bottomless pits of fiscal irresponsibility and delusion.

Only in New York do power-hungry bureaucrats try to control how much soda you can buy in one purchase (remember that?), while degenerates get high on literal cattle sedatives, known as xylazine, or “tranq.” And to boot, xylazine is not a controlled substance in the state, while it’s becoming more responsible for overdoses across New York.

Only in New York are you expected to esteem others solely based on race, gender, or creed, while first responders are mercilessly victimized and shamelessly left to fend for themselves.

Only in New York can first responders be brutally attacked, while there is no criminal penalty for the sale of a controlled substance resulting in death.

We could go on, but why would we? We all know it because we all continue to call the Empire State home. But alternative options only look more tantalizing as Albany Democrats continue to dig their heels in and double down on their disastrous policies that have created a vacuum requiring aforementioned legislation.

The Messenger wholeheartedly thanks our Senators and Assemblymembers for their dedication in fighting one of the most brutal uphill state battles in the country. We’d say we’d have no hope for New York, but their tenacity gives us hope that there are leaders who are passionate about curtailing the insanity and making New York a sensible place to live again.

Within our tri-Town coverage area, Assemblymembers who sponsored legislation unanimously downvoted by the Democratic machine are: Keith Brown (R-Northport), Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), and Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station).

Not to slight our colleagues to the west and the north, other names on the list: Anil Beephan, Jr. (R-East Fishkill), Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski), Karl Brabenac (R-Deeprark), Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst), John Lemondes, Jr. (R-Jamesville), John McGowan (R-Pearl River), John Mikulin (R-Bethpage), Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), Michael Reilly (R-Eltingville), Matt Slater (R-Yorktown), and Michael Tannousis (R-Great Kills).

NY Feels the Earth Move and Sees Signs in the Sky

About 42 million Americans were treated to a rare occurrence last Thursday morning: an earthquake shook New Jersey, and many were quick to share their stories on how they “survived” the once-in-a-couple-centuries event.

At about 10:30a.m., we here at The Messenger felt some small vibrations that we first likened to the dogs running downstairs. When we realized the pups are simply not heavy enough to cause that impact, questions of a nearby explosion or a passing fleet of heavy vehicles then arose. After a quick call to our friends in Selden, to which they excitedly answered, “did you feel the earthquake??” we knew what we had just experienced.

The earthquake measured at 4.8 on the Richter Scale and its epicenter was located in Lebanon, Tewksbury Township, New Jersey. The vibrations were felt as far north as Maine and as far south as Northern Virginia.

This was the strongest earthquake to affect the New Jersey area since 1783. That quake measured 5.3 on the Richter Scale and historical accounts show that George Washington was visiting New York City to celebrate the evacuation of British troops from New York City. He was not awoken by the tremors.

This is also the strongest earthquake to hit the NYC area since 1884, an estimated 5.0 magnitude rumble.

Thankfully, no casualties or injuries have been reported. Apart from water main breaks and “partial topplings” of three now-condemned buildings in Newark, the only other sites of damage were gas leaks in Rockland County, an administrative building in Morristown, New Jersey, and a car that fell into a sinkhole in Suffolk’s very own Huntington.

Perhaps the saddest loss in the quake was the upper portion of the historic Colonel John Taylor’s Gristmill in Readington Township, New Jersey. The mill supplied grain for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

But overall, it’s an event most of us do not get to experience in the Northeast. And since it was not a catastrophic event, many have found the humor in the anomalous natural “disaster,” likening us to Floridians who shut down the state when there’s a half-inch of snow.

One shop in Manhattan quickly cashed in on the hype by making “I survived the NYC Earthquake - April 5, 2024” t-shirts. A picture was shared by a passerby on social media and the merchandise quickly went viral.

The Messenger congratulates all who braved the quake by sitting at their desks, driving to work, watching television, and simply going about their days normally. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

APRIL FOOLS!

Illegal Aliens Being Registered to Vote in New York

By Steve Levy

Thousands of illegal aliens in New York are being registered to vote and they, and most other New Yorkers, don’t even know it.

The new Motor Voter Law passed by the state Legislature and then signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) in 2020 automatically registered to vote anyone who obtains a New York State driver’s license. This was a major change from the previous law where you would have to affirmatively opt into the voting part by checking a box giving approval.

The new rules insanely grant automatic registered voting status once the driving app is filled out. The only way you wouldn’t become registered is if you checked the box to remain unregistered.

But we cannot forget that in 2019 New York joined a number of other liberal states around the nation in allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. https://www.ncsl.org/immigration/states-offering-drivers-licensesto-immigrants

So, now we will have the case in New York where thousands of illegal aliens are becoming registered to vote even though they didn’t ask to, and probably don’t even know it.

So then, what happens when these illegal aliens obtain information in the mail from the local board of elections that they are registered to vote on Election Day?

Wouldn’t it be natural for them to believe that it’s all legal and that they have the ability to vote? After all, the state registered them and sent them a notice of where and when the election is happening. It would be rational for them to assume that they could just fill out a ballot and send it back or show up in person to vote.

There is no photo ID required at the election site. Thus, the inspectors could not distinguish between a citizen’s driver’s license, and that which belongs to a noncitizen. All the inspectors would see is that this individual is registered to vote.

Will all of those improper ballots be counted? Probably not, but many of them most definitely will. How many? We just don’t know. Some pundits claim there is no evidence of massive fraud. But let us not forget that many elections are determined by just a handful of votes. The 2000 presidential election tilted by a mere 500 votes in Florida.

Why would the Legislature allow this to happen? It’s not far-fetched to conclude that they really want to start counting the votes from illegal aliens. After all, we live in the state where the New York City Council has previously passed legislation allowing the undocumented to cast ballots. (That move was struck down by a state court.)

And isn’t that really the design behind the open borders policy being pushed by the Democratic administration? In California, more than one million illegal aliens have obtained driver’s licenses since 2015. Moreover, the state also automatically mails out ballots to residents whether they ask for them or not.

Thus, tens of thousands of illegal aliens, at a minimum, are receiving ballots from the state for the upcoming election at their homes. Why would the aliens think that they didn’t have the right to sign the ballot and send it back? In New York, it’s estimated that there are approximately 850,000 illegal immigrants residing within the state.

What’s appalling is that the people of New York overwhelmingly voted in 2021 to oppose a measure that would have dramatically expanded mail-in voting and other measures to weaken election integrity. Despite the objection of the people, the state Legislature and the Governor pushed forward just the same in implementing a massive new voting process defying the will of the people.

Voters saw that sleight-of-hand as it occurred over the last few years, but we would wager that very few are aware that illegal immigrants are now being automatically registered to vote. In a time where there is so much division and dissension within our state and nation about the integrity of our elections, why would our state Legislature be adding fuel to the fire?

Steve Levy (R-Bayport) is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as a Suffolk County Legislator from 1985 to 2000, as a New York State Assemblyman from 2001 to 2003, and as Suffolk County Executive from 2004 to 2011. He is the host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias inthe Media.” www.SteveLevy.info, Twitter @SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com

Organ and Tissue Donations Save Lives

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

The unmet need for organ and tissue donations presents a significant challenge to patients across the country. And here in New York, the situation is dire. We have a list of nearly 10,000 patients in need of an organ transplant, according to the state’s Donate Life Registry. Sadly, close to 500 New Yorkers lose their lives each year while waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

April is National Donate Life Month, and it provides a great opportunity to raise awareness of this critical shortfall. Organ donation is a cause very close to the hearts of several of our Assembly Minority Conference members, and their inspiring sacrifices and commitment to this mission have been instrumental in highlighting the importance of life-saving donations.

Leading by example, Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) selflessly donated one of his kidneys last year to a Purple Heart recipient in need of a transplant. Assemblyman Brown already had a history of regularly donating blood, and his incredible act of compassion and generosity was nothing short of remarkable. In 2006, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) also donated his own kidney to his sister who was suffering from juvenile diabetes. In the years since, he has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. Both of these donations helped save someone’s life; one was a stranger, and another was a close family member. They are both miracles in their own way.

Earlier this week, many of our Assembly Republican members spoke on the importance of organ and tissue donation as we supported a resolution proclaiming April as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month in the State of New York. Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C-Mohawk Valley and the

Adirondacks) bravely spoke about the tragic death of his son, AJ, and the pride he has knowing AJ’s decision to be a donor means lives will be saved. Out of this tragedy, Assemblyman Smullen and his wife, Megan, were able to find some solace through the Donate Life program, where AJ was able to save the lives of five other people in need.

Whether it is blood donations through the American Red Cross or organ donations through the state’s registry, our members will continue to push hard to expand these life-saving efforts. Donation is not a partisan issue. The individuals who benefit from these incredible acts of generosity do not think in terms of political party or ideology when it comes to dire medical needs. I encourage all New Yorkers to think about how they might be able to help save a life—or several—and consider adding their name to this life-saving registry.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @WillABarclay.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Jefferson and Onondaga counties.

Legislation Addressing Public Safety, Antisemitism, Retail Theft, and Migrant Crisis Unanimously Rejected by Assembly Democrats

During committee activity in the Assembly, Democrats blocked several Republican proposals targeting the quality-of-life concerns impacting everyday New Yorkers. Legislation that tackles issues ranging from congestion pricing and retail theft to public safety and the migrant crisis was summarily rejected by Assembly Democrats.

“Albany Democrats won’t even look in the direction of legislation that makes people safer, puts guardrails on the migrant crisis or supports the men and women of law enforcement. It’s yet another example of how the public interest runs a distant second to party loyalty for members of the Majority Conference,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski). “It’s not surprising Democrats blocked Republican bills in committee, but they offer nothing in the way of solutions. Public opinion polling shows nearly 60% of New Yorkers believe the quality of life here has gotten worse in the past year. Today’s committee work gave us a clear indication of why and how One-Party Rule continues to fail us.”

In November, a Marist College poll reported 59% of New Yorkers feel the quality of life in the Empire State has deteriorated over the past year, while a Citizen Budget Commission survey released in March showed just 30% of New York City residents are satisfied with their quality-of-life conditions. A Siena College poll in February showed crime and the migrant crisis among the top three concerns on the minds of New Yorkers. On Tuesday, Assembly Democrats blocked twenty Republicansponsored measures – the majority of which addressed crime, migrants or qualityof-life issues – from moving out of various committees and to a full vote in the Chamber.

The list of Republican-sponsored proposals blocked in Assembly committees includes:

• A.8414 (Beephan): Congestion Pricing Exemptions - Establishes a central business district toll exemption for officers and employees of the city of New York, first responders, physicians, nurses and people entering the city for medical treatment

• A.8034 (Barclay): Protecting Counties and Municipalities From “Right to Shelter” Confusion - Requires local governing bodies in New York state to opt-in to accepting migrants from other jurisdictions

• A.8283 (Barclay): Expanding Bail Qualifying Offenses - Ensures that persons who commit hate crimes or make terroristic threats or threats of mass harm are held accountable for their actions by restoring judicial discretion to judges when making pre-trial release decisions, allowing threats of mass harm to be treated as hate crimes and providing enhanced penalties for these offenses to make the punishment proportional to the crime

• A.5395 (Brabenac): Green Light Law Repeal - Repeals the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act

• A.5592 (Brabenac): Criminal Possession of Fentanyl - Creates the class E felony of criminal possession of fentanyl, which is committed when a person knowingly or intentionally manufactures, distributes, dispenses or possesses with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense fentanyl or any derivative

• A.8399 (Brown, A.): TAP Prohibition for Antisemitic Activity - Prohibits the granting of tuition assistance awards to any student who has knowingly engaged in certain antisemitic activities

• A.8594 (Brown, K.): Smash and Grab - Establishes the crime of coordinated petit larceny, permits a principal to be eligible to be held on bail for coordinated petit larceny and creates a public service campaign on larceny

• A.6792 (DeStefano): Hate Crimes Against First Responders - Designates offenses against law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel and/or firefighters as hate crimes, thereby increasing the penalty for the offense

• A.7976 (Fitzpatrick): Employee Protection Concerning Shoplifters - Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for confronting an individual to prevent a theft or the unlawful taking of goods, wares or merchandise

• A.5336 (Flood): Supervised Injection Sites Ban - Prohibits supervised injection sites

• A.8828 (Flood): “Public School Instructional Materials Review and Transparency Act” - Establishes a review process for formal complaints by parents or guardians concerning instructional material

• A.4146 (Lemondes): Opioid Rehabilitation Facility - Relates to the establishment and operations of a dedicated opioid rehabilitation facility and the diversion of certain criminal defendants to such facility

• A.4632 (McGowan): Victim Right to Attend Parole Board Meetings - Requires notice to crime victims that he or she has the right to attend interviews between the Board of Parole and incarcerated individual; requires the Board of Parole to review victim impact statements

• A.6929 (McGowan): Hate Crimes at Houses of Worship - Expands the criteria for a hate crime to include specified offenses or violations committed on the grounds of a church, synagogue, mosque, or other house of worship

• A.7991 (Mikulin): Murder of a Minor - Ensures individuals convicted of committing murder of a minor (under 18 years old) in the first or second degree are sentenced to life without parole

• A.8279 (Ra): “DSA Act” - Enacts the “Dismantling Student Antisemitism Act,” which requires state colleges to implement programs and training to curtain incidents of antisemitism on campus; institutions that fail to comply would lose public funding

• A.8013 (Reilly): Protecting Locations Serving Children - Provides that schools, child day cares, day care centers, or community-based organizations that support activities for children under the age of 18 cannot serve as a shelter for migrants

• A.7319A (Slater): Migrant Registration Requirements - Requires residents of the state, who are foreign refugees, to register with the office of temporary and disability assistance

• A.7985 (Slater): “Death By Dealer” - Establishes the crime of criminal sale of a controlled substance resulting in death

• A.5186 (Tannousis): Protecting Law Enforcement and Their FamiliesEstablishes the crimes of harassment of a law enforcement officer or a member of the officer’s family in the first degree and second degree Members

This Week Today

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

While the primary calendar is on hold until April 13, national news pertaining to the 2024 elections has not slowed down. The Presidential election in particular has had several major developments in the last week.

Of the first notable occurrence, after much speculation, the No Labels movement has officially abandoned a third-party run for the White House this year, a move that is likely to be of more benefit to President Biden’s (D-DE) re-election campaign than it likely will to Donald Trump’s (R-FL) chances of returning to Washington.

Started in 2010 as a response to the nascent Tea Party movement, the No Labels organization sought compromise, bipartisanship, and centrism at a time when high-stakes games of political chicken were only becoming more cutthroat. The 2024 election is currently seeing historic lows of frontrunner candidate favorability, and along with hyper partisan demagoguery and congressional gridlock - prompting the early exits of many GOP Congressmembers on Capitol Hill - the stage seemed more than set for the first formidable thirdparty candidacy since Ross Perot’s (I-TX) bids in 1992 and 1996.

However, the movement had just one problem: their ideal candidates passed on seeking the nomination one after another. Retiring Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) repeatedly earned the chagrin of Democratic leaders for fraternizing with the organization, increasing speculation that one of the last Senate Blue Dogs would break rank and run as an Independent. Manchin instead chose to not seek re-election to the Senate, giving Republicans a virtually guaranteed lock on flipping the long-elusive Class I Senate seat from West Virginia. The seat has not been held by a Republican since 1959.

The only notable No Labels associate that is intent on making a run for any office this year John Avlon (D-Sag Harbor), a former CNN anchor and former editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in New York’s First Congressional District. Avlon decided not to run to the tune of No Labels movement and decided to pick a side in the race. He faces 2020 candidate and Stony Brook professor Nancy Goroff (D-Stony Brook) in the primary.

It’s unclear just how much national support a No Labels candidate would have gotten. On paper, most Americans hold the ideals of centrism, bipartisanship, and compromise in high regard, but many are not willing to be the side that gives in on certain issues. Abstract support only goes so far, but a No Labels candidate probably would have benefitted Trump more than Biden, at least as far as current polling implies. Biden’s low approval ratings (mid-to-high 30s, give or take), as well as his underperformance among key demographics - young, Hispanic, and black voters - means he has much more to lose from a strong Independent bid this year.

Biden’s aggregate unfavorability rating - 14.1 points, according to FiveThirtyEight - is also almost five points less than that of Trump’s - 10.2.

Robert F. Kennedy’s (I-MA) Independent bid’s effect on the race doesn’t seem to hold as much weight as it did after he first suspended campaign for the Democratic nomination to run third-party, but it was assumed his rhetoric might have siphoned support from Trump. However, his selection of Nicole Shanahan, a young Silicon Valley attorney who has perennially donated to high-profile Democratic candidates, might make RFK’s presence on the November ballot more neutral.

As far as the Presidential race goes, a new set of

polls poses the question of just how far a Trump victory could go.

A recent Emerson College poll of 1,000 registered voters across New Jersey finds Biden up just five points - 46%-39% - against Trump in a head-to-head matchup, and seven points - 41%-36% - over the former president in a five-way race, with RFK, Green Party candidate Jill Stein (G-MA), and People’s Party candidate Cornel West. West is a famous author and social activist whose areas of focus include race, gender, and class struggles in the U.S. He has been affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America since 1982.

New Jersey has not backed a Republican candidate for President since 1988. Some polls from the Northeast show Trump might have more support than previously considered. Latest polls from Maine put Trump ahead in the polling average by six points, a large margin for a Republican in a state that has not backed the GOP since 1988.

The last Siena College polls for New York were released in February and showed Biden leading Trump by as high as twelve points and as low as nine points, both in head-to-head polling. New York has not backed a Republican since 1984, with no Republican eclipsing 40% of the vote here since George W. Bush in 2004.

Biden’s attempts to court voters under 30 - a demographic among whom he is markedly underperforming - continue as he revisits a student loan forgiveness plan.

Last year, the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s attempt at sweeping loan forgiveness, which would have forgiven up to $10,000 of debt for most borrowers. The new plan is more targeted and built off of existing programs, all to possibly circumvent the scrutiny of the country’s highest court.

Borrowers who now owe more money on their loans than their principal balances would be eligible for up to $20,000 in relief, regardless of income. Borrowers who have owed for more than twenty years, people who took out loans to enroll in “low-value” academic programs - as classified by the federal government - and those who face “financial hardships” are also included in the plan.

Missouri leads a suit against the plan joined by Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

“Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress,” the suit reads.

Speaking of Ohio, a technicality has possibly jeopardized Biden’s chances of appearing on the November ballot, as a state law requires candidate certification by August 7, almost two weeks before the Democratic National Convention. The Republicancontrolled legislature would have to create a special exception to the ballot deadline, or the DNC would have to be moved in advance of Ohio’s election business.

Ohio, long considered a quintessential swing state, has raced to the right in the Trump Era. Along with Ohio, Florida, another perennial swing state, appears to have moved off the competitive table almost entirely, as the state Board of Elections announced this week that registered Republicans now outnumber registered Democrats by almost one million voters.

The current breakdown consists of 38.8% registered with the GOP, 32.4% registered with the Democratic Party, and 28.8% registered unaffiliated. Even in an election year, the state Democratic Party continues to lose registered voters, and only eleven of Florida’s sixtyseven counties have majority-Democrat registration.

Finally, in Nebraska, GOP intraparty fighting is ongoing

as the state’s legislature aims to transition Nebraska’s electoral vote allocation from the Congressional District method to the winner-take-all method practiced by fortyeight states.

Since 1992, Nebraska has awarded the statewide winner of the popular vote two electoral votes, and one vote for the popular vote winner in each of the state’s Congressional District; Nebraska has three. NE-03 and NE01 are solidly Republican, while NE-02, containing most of the Omaha area. It’s the state’s only blue-leaning area. The district first backed a Democrat in 2008. Trump won it narrowly in 2016, but Biden won it by six points in 2020.

Maine is the only other state that distributes its electoral votes by the same method. Trump was the first Republican to win the Second District in 2016, capturing it again in 2020, marking the first and only time both states have simultaneously split their electoral votes.

Nebraska is also the only state with a unicameral (one chamber) nonpartisan legislature. Hardline affiliates of the GOP hope to prevent a narrow Biden win by having Omaha’s votes absorbed by the statewide popular vote, one almost guaranteed to go to Trump.

State

In state election news, Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-Wheatley Heights) has announced that she will not seek re-election in the Eleventh Assembly District.

Jean-Pierre first assumed office in 2014, winning each election by no less than 59%. In 2022, she was re-elected by a razor-thin over first-time candidate Christopher Sperber (R-West Babylon), winning by just 247 votes out of over 36,000 cast.

The open seat now sits as a top target for the GOP to flip going into the 2024 elections. The Eleventh District includes Amityville, Lindenhurst, North Amityville, North Lindenhurst, East Farmingdale, Wyandanch, Copiague, Amity Harbor, and parts of Deer Park, Wheatley Heights, West Babylon, and East Massapequa.

Local

Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) secured $1.5 million for Port Jefferson’s Harbor dredging and wave wall construction projects. The funding for the Town of Brookhaven is provided by the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. The funding will allow for dredging and structural improvements within the Town of Brookhaven Marina. The Port Jefferson Harbor is kept at a depth of twenty-six to allow for passage from the harbor entrance to Port Jefferson Village. Estimates say that 14,000 cubic yards of sediment must be dredged from the Town Marina and adjacent lands, and 40,000 to 50,000 cubic yards of sediment must be dredged within the larger harbor.

“Infrastructure projects like dredging in Port Jeff Harbor are vital to boosting our waterfront economy and quality of life for Long Island families. I will continue to work with all of my colleagues to continue to put Suffolk County first,” said LaLota.

“The dredging and wave wall construction at Port Jefferson Harbor is a priority, and now that this $1.5 million in funding has been secured, we are ready to move forward,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches). “While a lot of emphasis and attention has been focused on south shore erosion, it is important to recognize that our north shore has challenges as well. This funding will help us work to meet these challenges and we are thankful for Congressman LaLota’s advocacy on behalf of Brookhaven Town.”

10 Islip Matters

Bergin’s Brief March 2024

Legislator Trish Bergin joined the East Islip Community Chamber of Commerce at their monthly meeting to honor Barrasso and Sons, Inc., the Business of the Month! Congratulations! Also, Chamber Director Jeff Greenside arranged for the third precinct to host an extremely informative Q&A for residents. Thank you to the East Islip Chamber for being such a staple in our community and keeping residents informed.

This year, Legislator Bergin honored Betty Kreamer for LD-10’s Irish American of Distinction Designee. Betty is a charter member of the Division 7 Ancient Order of Hibernians which was founded in 1964 and a member of the Celtic Degree team. She originally introduced Irish Heritage into the East Islip Library and East Islip schools by donating Irish items on display to share her heritage with everyone. Not only is Betty a long time resident of East Islip, she is a beloved and incredibly active member of the community. Betty dedicates her time being an active member of Amvets Post 18 and parishioner at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church as a Eucharist Minister. In addition, she volunteers at a plethora of parish functions including summer bazaars, bake sales, and carnivals. To add to her busy schedule, Betty volunteers at Birthright 2 days a week. Betty’s generosity has touched the lives of many as she contributes immensely to her community, congratulations Betty!

Legislator Bergin attended last month’s Central Islip School District’s Board Meeting to honor Leighanna Tolan. Leighanna is a current Central Islip High School senior who captured the Suffolk Division A Girls Bowling Title. Over two games, Leighanna scored a total of 483 and began the second game with six strikes in a row! With an average of 233.4, she ranked first amongst both girls’ and boys’ teams. Congratulations on an extremely impressive season and winning this esteemed title!

LD-10 has extended our Pet Food Drive! Legislator Bergin’s office will be participating in the 13th Annual Legislative Pet Food Drive Challenge until May 1st. This drive will support Baxter’s Pet Pantry, a program of Long Island Cares, Inc. The Pet Food Drive has a goal of raising 15,000 pounds of pet food and supplies which will benefit families at Long Island Cares with pets. It is important to

understand that when a family struggles with food insecurity, this also impacts the pets in the home. Baxter’s Pet Pantry was created in recognition of this to ensure that those who are in need of emergency assistance also have access to pet supplies. Legislator Bergin’s office will be taking donations Monday-Friday from 9:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. of food of all types, toys, beds, leashes, litter, accessories and all other essentials for our furry friends. Please do not hesitate to contact the district office at 631-854-0940.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Attention college students and high school seniors! The Suffolk County Legislature’s Page Internship Program application is now live! This internship is a ten-week educational program that provides students with an in-depth experience of local government and the importance of being civically engaged. They will participate in a mock Legislature and attend Committee and General Meetings. In addition, they will be assigned to a Legislative District office working alongside a Legislator and his or her staff. This program offers a unique way to encourage a positive understanding of local government and the day-to-day operations of the Legislature and other departments in Suffolk County government. This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in public service and government all while being able to fulfill internship credit requirements with your university. Feel free to contact Legislator Bergin’s office at 631-854-0940 with any questions!

Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) has represented the Tenth District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2022. The Tenth District includes East Islip, Great River, Islandia, Islip Terrace, North Great River, Ronkonkoma, and parts of Central Islip and Hauppauge.

Legislator Bergin serves as the Chair of the Seniors and Human Services Committee, Vice Chair of Economic Development, Planning, and Housing, Vice Chair of the Government Operations, Personnel, and Information Technology Committee, and serves on the Committees on Education and Diversity; and Labor and Consumer Affairs.

The Tenth District office is located at 44 East Main Street in East Islip and can be reached at 631-854-0940.

Smithtown MessengerBrookhaven MessengerIslip MessengerThursday, April 11, 2024

East Islip High School Photographers Foray and Quintero Chosen for NYSATA Exhibition

Work by two East Islip High School photography students –sophomore Stephen Foray’s “Morning Gaze” and junior Olivia Quintero’s “Lake of Liquid Daydreams” – was selected for exhibition in the 34th annual New York State Art Teachers Association Legislative Student Art Exhibition. Cosponsored by New York State United Teachers, the event has been the Youth Art Month flagship event since 1990. Held in the Legislative Office Building in Albany each spring, it serves as NYSATA’s largest public display of student artwork in a government building.

Due to scheduling complications, this year’s exhibit is virtual. A Google slideshow of student artwork is available for viewing through December 2024 at https://www.nysata.org/legislative-exhibit.

“I am so proud of photography students Stephen and Olivia,” teacher Heather Toomey said. “These two wonderful student-artists are hard workers in my class and in general here at East Islip High School. They both have a wonderful eye for composition and have excelled at editing their photos while learning Adobe Photoshop. I am proud to have them exhibit in this year’s NYSATA show and hope they both continue taking wonderful photos and taking Photography 2 Honors next year.”

“I am excited to have my photography in this show and appreciate the opportunity,” Quintero said.

“It’s such an honor to be selected for this exhibit,” Foray said. “I love taking photography and it is the light of my day.”

West Islip Honored for Its Music Education Programs

For the seventh consecutive year, West Islip Union Free School District has been designated as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. West Islip is one of 975 to receive the designation in the nation.

The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that

demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.

“Over the past 25 years, the national BCME award has honored more than 1,000 schools and districts in 43 states, for their unwavering commitment to music education as an integral part of a well-rounded education for all students,” said Eric Albinder, West Islip Union Free School District’s director of art and music education. “Let’s celebrate the district’s dedication to music education for all students.”

East Islip High School Cosmetology Students

Attend International Beauty Show

Rain couldn’t stop Nina Casey’s cosmetology students at East Islip High School from recently participating in the International Beauty Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The students were able to watch demonstrations of the newest and trending hair tools, participate in educational classes

and purchase accessories, tools, and products.

“It was a good day for the students to have the opportunity to experience demonstrations from trending products and conversations with professionals in the industry,” Casey said. “We are already looking forward to going back next year.”

North Students Head to International DECA Competition

The Sachem High School North DECA team, advised by Mr. Tom Davis, had a successful trip to the state conference in Rochester earlier this month, bringing home several awards. The team’s seven competitors each won at least one medal in their respective categories and brought home 14 awards in total.

Most notably, High School North students Tricia Block and Sofia Miele qualified to compete at the International DECA Conference in Anaheim, California later this spring. In Anaheim, both students will compete against the best young business students in the country.

Bayport-Blue Point HS Seniors Receive Suffolk Zone Award

Congratulations to Bayport-Blue Point High School seniors Maclin K. and Kate L. on being selected as the recipients of the Suffolk Zone Health and PE Leadership Award. Sponsored by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the award recognizes one male and one female Suffolk County high school senior from each school district who exemplifies outstanding scholastic ability, physical education performance and leadership qualities.

To qualify for the Suffolk Zone Award, recipients must earn a 90% average in high school physical education and health classes and an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale by the completion of junior year. Recipients must contribute to the positive outcomes of their physical education and health classes and school, always working to support the instructional efforts of the class. Additionally, the recipients must demonstrate physical education and health class leadership and serve in a leadership capacity in an extracurricular organization. Finally, the recipients must achieve a high level of physical fitness and live an overall healthy lifestyle.

Kate is the basketball and soccer team captain, a New York State Champion for lacrosse, a two-time scholar athlete and national honor society member. “Health and physical education have taught me how to lead and teach others along with providing the opportunity to become closer to my peers in an athletic environment,” said Kate.

Maclin is the football and lacrosse team captain, is part of the Superintendent’s Student Council, is a two-time Long Island Champion for football as well as All-Division, All-County and All-State for football and All-Division and All-County for lacrosse. “Physical education has taught me how to interact, include and lead others in an athletic environment,” said Maclin.

The Bayport-Blue Point School District congratulates both Kate and Maclin on this exciting accomplishment.

Three Hauppauge Students Advance to National Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

The Hauppauge School District congratulates students Mihir Sathish Kumar, Vaibhavi Hegde and Atharv Prabhu (pictured left to right) who each earned first place at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

A program of the Society of Science, the challenge seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators to solve the grand challenges of the 21st century.

Mihir’s project is “BioPlast Clean: An EcoClean Solution for Microplastic Filtration.” Vaibhavi’s project is “What Materials Work Best for Creating Biodegradable Plastic?” and Atharv’s project is “Can Biodegradable Hydrogels Help Conserve Water While Farming?”

They will now advance to the national competition

The Necessary Standard for American Education

What is Civics?

By Matt Meduri

The word “civics” comes from the Latin word civicus, meaning “relating to a citizen.” Specifically, civics relates to the behaviors, obligations, and privileges of citizens regarding their communities, developments, and relationship with their governments, from political, practical, and theoretical perspectives. Laws, codes, and duties of citizenship are also included in the definition.

In the modern education system, the subject of civics has gradually been phased out with the introduction of the U.S. Department of Education in the 1970s. The subject of “social studies” combines aspects of history and civics, as well as subject of more experiential learning, such as values, social justice, and inter-community relationship not pertaining to government.

For the purpose of this column, we will look to revive the subject of civics from an objective perspective, specifically outlining the levels and divisions of government, the governmental rules, relations, and duties to its constituents, and how citizens are enfranchised by local laws all the way up to the U.S. Constitution.

As an introductory piece, we will briefly outline the three levels of government, a basic tenet of American civics usually introduced to students in middle school.

Federal

The three branches of the federal government are the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. In short, the Executive branch consists of the Presidency and most of his Cabinet members. The Executive branch’s main role is to enforce the laws of the United States, including, but not limited to, international diplomacy and commerce, dealing with state governments in relation to funding, disasters, and other means of organization, security, and the handling of the economy at-large. Cabinet members range from secretaries of Commerce, Transportation, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Education, State (foreign policy and relations), Homeland Security, among other departments and sub-departments. The Attorney General functions as the nation’s leading prosecutor and example for legal enforcement.

The President also enjoys the responsibilities of appointing Justices to the Supreme Court, the nation’s highest bench, as well as federal judges across Thirteen Circuits, eleven for states and territories, one for the District of Columbia, and one for the nation at large. New York is part of the Second Circuit, along with Connecticut and Vermont, and the Circuit Justice is Sonia Sotomayor. New York is divided into four Federal Court Districts; Suffolk County is located in the Eastern District.

Presidential terms are limited to two four-year terms or ten years of service, whichever comes first. This is to account for possible Vice Presidential succession mid-term.

Legislative

The Legislative Branch of the government is concerned with creating the laws. This is the responsibility of Congress. Congress is the collective term for the two chambers of government: The U.S. House of Representatives (the lower chamber) and

the U.S. Senate (the upper chamber). Together, they create a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature. The two chambers ensure a hybrid form of government, in which citizens receive representation proportional to their state and district populations in the House, while they also receive equal representation in the Senate.

The House is made up of 435 Congressional Districts. The number has been capped since 1960 when Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959. Every ten years, the Census is conducted to count the population and gauge which states gain and lose Congressional districts.

The state with the highest population, California, at about 33,000,000 people, has the most Congressional districts, fifty-two. Seven states are atlarge Congressional districts, meaning the population is low enough that the entire state is its Congressional district, giving it just one Representative in the House: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

New York just lost a Congressional district after the 2020 Census, giving twenty-six seats. Democrats hold sixteen seats, while Republicans hold ten, the highest number for the GOP in New York since 2000.

Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) represents the First District (NY-01), encompassing the entire Towns of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold, as well as most of Huntington, and northern and eastern Brookhaven.

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) represents NY-02, which includes the entire Towns of Babylon, Islip, and parts of southwestern and central Brookhaven. NY-02 also includes parts of the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County.

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Great Neck) represents NY-03, which includes northern Queens, most of Nassau County, and a few hamlets and villages of Huntington Town in Suffolk.

A majority in the House is 218 seats. Members then nominate Representatives to serve as Speaker of the House, the primary point of legislative agenda and third in line for Presidential succession. Currently, Republicans have a bare-minimum majority of 218 seats, a number that will slowly tick up when four solidly-Republican districts hold special elections. The majority party of the House not only has a chance to elect a Speaker of their party, although there is no Constitutional obligation that the Speaker hails from the majority party, but also receives the chairmanship of all committees of the House. Committee control can be a serious gate for legislation to make it to the House floor for a full vote. Committees’ areas of focus include Agriculture, Armed Services, Budget, Energy and Conservation, Ethics, Financial Services, and many other categories of governance. Subcommittees are even more specific in scope and can be formed on an ad hoc basis, such as the Subcommittee of Ethics that investigated the alleged fraud perpetrated by former Congressman George Santos (R-Queens).

Citizens can elect a U.S. Representative every two years. Resignations, deaths, or expulsions result in open seats, which can affect House business if one party has a thin enough majority. Special election dates are declared by the governor of a state in which the vacancy occurs and state laws vary as to when the special election must be set. In some jurisdictions, if

This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.

a vacancy occurs within close proximity of the regular election, the seat will remain vacant until that election.

The five territories each receive one non-voting delegate to the House. Delegates can sponsor legislation and sit on committees but cannot cast floor votes.

When legislation makes it out of committee, it heads to the House floor for a full vote. Debate on the House is limited due to the large body of legislators. Once the legislation passes the House, it heads to the upper chamber.

The Senate receives two Senators per state, each up for reelection every six years, ensuring that each state receives equal representation. Since the Senate only consists of 100 members, debate is much more flexible, allowing Senators to “filibuster” legislation, a long-winded speech against legislation that can last hours or even days. The Senate consists of committees similar to the House, with the majority party receiving the chairmanship of each committee and the coveted post of Senate Majority Leader.

Fifty-one seats is required for an outright majority, although the same party that controls fifty seats as well as the Vice Presidency gains control of the Senate, as the V.P. is the President of the Senate. This scenario occurred after the 2020 elections. Democrats currently control the Senate with fiftyone seats.

Control of the Senate is much more difficult to see down the road than that of the House, as six-year terms mean that certain Senate maps are aligned with presidential and midterm years. House elections occur every two years and are more susceptible to partisanship and down ballot voting. Neither the House nor the Senate currently have term limits.

Judicial

The Judicial Branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal court systems, as outlined in the Executive Branch section. There are nine Justices on the Supreme Court. Justices are appointed by the President and interviewed and either confirmed or rejected by the Senate. Justices serve life-time appointments until death or resignation.

While technically nonpartisan, conservative-appointed Justices currently control the bench with six seats to the liberalappointed Justices’ three.

The purpose of the Judicial branch is to interpret the laws, with the conflicting doctrines of “strict” or “loose” constructionism of the Constitution a major point of their decisions. The two ideologies treat the Constitution somewhat differently, with strict constructionism offering little to no room for interpretation outside the text, while loose constructionism offers for more debate on the Founding Fathers’ original intentions, as well as inclusions of recent precedents. Cases can be referred to higher courts or knocked down to lower courts based on scope, jurisdiction, or precedent.

Judicial precedent is a massive part of the branch’s job. Precedent is essentially a pathway to a legal decision based on previous decisions, court rulings, or overturnings.

States are divided into Federal Court districts and are represented by Presidential-appointed judges.

From Our Electeds

Weik Pens Letter to Hochul Urging State to Audit Unspent Charitable Funds

New York State Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) recently wrote a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul (D) urging the Commissioners and Directs of the State Departments and Agencies to audit unspent uncharitable funds, according to State receipts and findings from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza).

Her letter reads:

“Comptroller DiNapoli recently issued a statement indicating that New Yorkers have donated almost $14 million through the checkoff options on their New York State income tax returns to benefit many charitable causes that has gone unspent. These causes include veterans’ homelessness, breast and prostate cancer, libraries, organ and tissue donation and research, and food banks. As you are aware, Comptroller DiNapoli’s statement indicated that over the past six years, less than one third of the funds designated have been distributed to the intended charitable organizations.

“My concern was increased when I learned that Comptroller DiNapoli issued a statement on April 15, 2015, that indicated the exact same situation existed at that time as well.

According to a 2014 statement, the Comptroller found that over the previous five

Comptroller’s statement cited the failure of State departments and agencies to comply with the reporting requirements.

“Therefore, there is lack of greater clarity as to why these funds are not reaching the charitable causes desired by the taxpayers that generously donated their hardearned income.

“In the case of the checkoff for the Veterans Home Assistance, as of 2022/23, the balance for the checkoff fund was $363,714. The largest accumulated fund balance is the $3 .1 7 million unspent funds designated for prostate cancer research, detection, and education.

“Additionally, $2.56 million designated for breast cancer research remains unspent. Libraries, food banks, and missing and exploited children assistance are among the other causes that New Yorkers were anxious to support, but the funds remain unspent.

“I strongly urge you to direct the Commissioners and Directors of the State Departments and Agencies where these funds have been laying fallow and unspent, to take all means necessary to immediately get these donations into the hands of the charitable organizations as designated by the generous New York State taxpayers.”

Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) has represented since 2023 the Eighth District in the New York State Senate, previously representing the Third District from 2020 to 2022.

The Eighth District includes Bar Harbor, Bayport, Biltmore Shores, Bohemia, Captree, East Islip, East Massapequa, Fair Harbor, Gilgo, Great River, Harbor

By PJ Balzer

Last week, Brookhaven Town lost a fifth grader to suicide. A young lady, not even a teenager yet, found herself in a place where taking her own life seemed to be the best future for herself. While we know nothing about the circumstances surrounding her untimely passing, and her family has asked for the utmost privacy in their time of tremendous mourning, it’s eternally beneficial to dive into why young people are increasingly taking this route. What is making our children anxious, depressed, and in some cases contemplate or fully attempt suicide?

The suicide rates amongst our adolescents and teenagers are astounding. Yet, there are many different factors, both societal and personal, that are behind these rates. The United States falls almost directly in the middle of suicide rates by country worldwide. We aren’t at the top of the list, but not at the bottom either. Youth suicide rates have risen as much as 62% from 2007 to today. We have approximately two million children and teenagers in the United States make at least one suicide attempt each year.

Statistics show that living in poverty does have an effect on the number of people attempting to take their life. A Boston University research team learned that the rate of suicides in children and adolescents is 37% higher in counties with the highest levels of poverty. Unemployment, economic disadvantages, and worrying about basic needs have a profound

The Ripple Effect

impact on the growing, developing brain of a young person. That would plainly tell us that a child’s circumstances undoubtedly have an effect on how valuable they feel their life is.

Social media use along with bullying is also are affecting our youth at alarming rates. The majority of children who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or tendencies are experiencing bullying at school that is following them home on their phone or smart device. In my own childhood and experience, there was bullying of course, but the bullying seemed to stay at the recess yard or lunchroom while we hoped it would dissipate by the following day. Many times, it did. In 2024, children can be bullied online all day long. They can wake up and go to sleep bombarded by pictures and comments about themselves. There are even photoshop options that can put the young person in places, with other people or even naked

when they truly aren’t.

Furthermore, everything we do and say as adults around our children matters. There has been a major ripple effect from the top right to the very bottom. The way we treat and speak about other humans, our children ultimately will end up mimicking. National figures have made it a common practice to label, degrade, and dehumanize people that are different or disagree with us. This speech is blasting into our living rooms and into the corridors of our hearts. We discuss or repeat what they say, our children are taking it all in as children do. The cycle continues, the statistics rise, and we have our neighbors’ children, and possibly our own, who hate themselves, want to die, and maybe are willing to prematurely try to.

I pray for her parents and loved ones who have a really long journey of grief ahead of them. I pray for children that are being bullied to a breaking point even as you read this article. I pray that common decency, compassion, and the willingness to get to know others as humans before giving them a label returns. I pray that people who are exhausted by life and how hard it can be at times find a renewed sense of hope today. I pray that those who have lost the will to live may have that flame rekindled in their hearts. I pray that our families, communities, and nation will heal and return to the ancient paths that we once knew and stood on. I pray for you.

TikTok’s Influence Continues To Grow Despite Concerns About Chinese Spying

By Andrew Shirley | AMAC Exclusive

Despite a wealth of evidence suggesting that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is using TikTok to spy on and even socially program American citizens, the popular social media app is continuing to gain users at breakneck speed. One big reason why could be the enormous sums of money the app’s parent company is spending on lobbying and advertising.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published on January 30, TikTok “spent $1.5 billion building an operation intended to convince U.S. lawmakers that the popular videosharing app is safe.” Moreover, according to Open Secrets, TikTok parent company ByteDance “spent more in the first three quarters of 2023 than any prior year” on lobbying efforts. In total, they spent over $7.4 million in 2023. From Q3 2022 to Q3 2023, the platform increased its lobbying spending by 326 percent.

At the same time, TikTok has launched a massive national advertising campaign to build its popularity with the American people. Although exact numbers have not been made public, the website TvRev reported that the company has “focused heavily on cable news networks and broadcast in that timeframe as well. Fox News is the No. 1 network by share of TikTok TV ad impressions since June 1, with 18.9%, while CNN is No. 2 at 15.2%. CBS, Fox, ABC, and MSNBC are all among the top 10 as well.”

In one ironic incident that made headlines, during the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by Fox News, a question posed to candidates about whether or not to ban TikTok was followed immediately by a TikTok commercial.

Those advertising and lobbying dollars appear to be quite effective, too. According to a Pew poll released on

January 31, TikTok is growing faster than any other social media platform in the United States. 33 percent of American adults polled said they used TikTok in 2023, an increase of 12 percent since 2021.

That increase is being driven in large part by exponential growth among young adults. 62 percent of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 29 said they have used TikTok, compared to 39 percent of 30 to 39-year-olds, 24 percent of 50 to 64-year-olds, and 10 percent of adults 65 and older.

Moreover, these numbers don’t even take into account the number of Americans on the platform who are under 18. An estimated 25 percent of TikTok’s roughly 100 million monthly U.S. users are between the ages of 10 and 19.

TikTok’s meteoric growth has raised serious concerns about both data privacy and the possibility that the CCP could be using the app to negatively influence American users.

As a Chinese company, ByteDance is required to report any and all data it collects to the Chinese Communist Party under the provisions of a 2017 Chinese law. That means that the CCP could be using TikTok to collect troves of data on millions of American citizens, including personal information such as their address and phone number.

These concerns led to a TikTok ban on all federal devices last year, and a number of states – led by both Republicans and Democrats – have followed suit.

But it’s not just privacy concerns that have led to pushback on the platform. Numerous studies have also found that TikTok pushes harmful content to kids, including videos that promote eating disorders and even suicide.

Dozens of American kids have also been hospitalized or even killed by dangerous trends on TikTok like the “blackout

challenge” and “NyQuil chicken challenge.” Virtually every American user, no matter their age, is inundated with hypersexualized videos, many of which feature underage girls.

During a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, Senator Ted Cruz blasted TikTok for promoting “self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda” to American children. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew denied the accusations while touting the effective safety measures the platform employs.

However, according to tech experts, the Chinese version of TikTok, called Douyin, offers a version of the app that is far safer than the one pushed to Americans. Douyin’s platform limits use by children to 40 minutes per day and reportedly promotes educational content, rather than the destructive and harmful content peddled to American kids.

Given the ongoing power competition with China, many experts strongly believe the CCP is deliberately using TikTok as a psychological weapon against the American people.

There is now no denying that TikTok is becoming one of the most powerful cultural forces in our society – a development driven in large part by Chinese lobbying and advertising dollars. The question now is if lawmakers will have the courage to do something about it.

Andrew Shirley is a veteran speechwriter and AMAC Newsline columnist. His commentary can be found on X at @AA_Shirley.

By Peter Chidichimo

Guest Column Descent into New York

We had enjoyed a comfortable ride on American flight 4555, cruising at 30,000 feet, enjoying our grab-and-go sandwiches, and the coffee that air passengers crave so much. One of the nice things about visiting Key West every March is the relatively expedient flight. While officially listed at three and a half hours, our experience has been closer to three hours, wheels up to wheels down.

As the flight attendant announced our initial descent into New York’s LaGuardia, I ruminated on that word, “descent.” To descend: to plunge, plummet, stumble, or tumble. I tried to remember if I heard that word when we landed in Key West, maybe or maybe not. I heard it now, any coincidence we were returning to New York?

25,000 Feet

As usual, I followed the news while soaking up the Florida sunshine. The latest from New York is the squatter disaster. According to a story published on Fox News on March 19, a property owner in New York City was arrested after encountering a standoff with a group of squatters, who decided to inhabit her property following her parents’ deaths.

“It’s enraging,” said property owner Adele Andaloro, who inherited the million-dollar home from her parents. “It’s not fair that I, as the homeowner, have to be going through this.”

Meanwhile, in the Sunshine State, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) just signed HB.621, which protects property owners’ rights and provides remedies against squatting.

“We are putting an end to the squatter scam in Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”

It’s true. Under this new law, a property owner in Florida can request law enforcement to immediately remove a squatter under certain conditions, which are clear and reasonable, including that the individual unlawfully entered the property and was directed to leave. Putting homeowners first, what is Florida thinking?

20,000 Feet

What else is going on in the Big Apple? Former NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has warned that among the thousands of migrants entering the city are notorious gang members from Venezuela and El Salvador. These are “prison spawned gangs” that bring “mindless violence” to our cities, according to Kelly and the FBI.

Apparently, we are in the midst of Albany’s newest great social experiment, the perfect storm of NYC declaring itself a “sanctuary city” for illegal and potentially dangerous migrants, while NYS Democrats reform our bail laws.

In 2019, the great social experiment began when Governor Cuomo (D) and the Democratic majority overhauled the bail system, which essentially removed the ability of prosecutors to remand defendants for certain crimes, or for judges to exercise discretion in keeping potentially dangerous offenders off the streets. Weak bail laws, sanctuary status for illegal migrants, possible gang members, what could possibly go wrong?

With NYC’s misguided sanctuary policy, the NYPD is barred from communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whereby illegal offenders could be detained or possibly jailed, which would protect the public.

The Great Experiment Blows Up

To illustrate the danger of the great experiment, in September 2022, 26-year-old Jose Ibarra came to NYC, after entering the U.S. illegally under Biden’s open border policy. While here, he was arrested but not detained. He then went to Athens, Georgia, where he was again arrested more than once, and again released (Athens is also a sanctuary city). Ibarra is now charged with the murder of an innocent college student, Laken Riley.

In a brutal melee in January, as many as thirteen offenders were caught-on-camera assaulting two police officers in Times Square. Many of the suspects, including migrants, were released without bail. A week later, authorities revealed that several of the men had fled the Big Apple for California. The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) declined to respond when asked about allowing the defendants to walk free. Many have since been re-captured.

Federal officials say that in many cases, New York officials do not alert them when an undocumented defendant is released from court or jail. Doing so would be prudent, until such time that Federal authorities can decide the proper course of action. Apparently, this is how criminal justice works in Big Apple sanctuary land.

I did some checking and learned that, in 2019, Governor DeSantis signed legislation requiring all law enforcement agencies in Florida to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The legislation prohibits local governments from enacting policies that protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. Those jurisdictions will be required to honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers for undocumented immigrants who are arrested or convicted of a crime.

It’s called protecting the public.

“Sanctuary cities basically create law-free zones where people can come to our state illegally, commit criminal offenses and then walk right out the door and continue to do it,” DeSantis said. “In Florida, that will not happen.”

10,000 Feet

In a case that has shaken Long Island residents, human remains were recently found across Babylon Township and Bethpage State Park. Suffolk police tracked down suspects living in a shared home in Amityville, where “sharp instruments, multiple body parts, and other related items” were found. Four people were charged with concealing a human corpse, tampering with evidence, first-degree hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence. Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroder, of the Homicide Bureau, stated police have obtained damning evidence against the four, including human remains, meat cleavers, butcher knives, large amounts of blood, as well as video surveillance.

The four defendants were released without bail, after being issued GPS monitoring devices, pursuant to New York Democrat’s lenient bail laws. Governor Hochul (D) blamed their release on the D.A.’s office, alleging that the prosecutors failed to build their case. But she is totally wrong. Per D.A. Ray Tierney (R), law enforcement had to act and make the arrests to protect the public.

“You would think leaving body parts in a park for children to find would be bail eligible,” quipped a prosecutor at a news conference.

If you’re wondering about bail policy in Florida, it’s really quite straightforward. Bail is determined by several factors, including the seriousness of the crime, the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the weight of the evidence. Importantly, Judges can use discretion when determining bail amounts based on the defendant’s likelihood to return to court and their previous criminal history.

5,000 Feet

Meanwhile, New York residents can take solace that Albany Democrats have been hard at work looking after the quality of life for all its citizens. About a year ago, the New York State Education Department released a directive that public school districts are to stop using Native American-themed mascots and logos by the end of the 2022-2023 school year, or risk certain withholding of state aid.

Meanwhile, Long Island school districts are projecting higher tax increases pending a lastminute handout in state financial aid. Preliminary reports show that property taxes would rise an average 2.67% during 2024-25 school year. It’s no secret Long Islanders already pay sky-high property taxes, with 60% of those taxes allocated to school districts. Fixing the so-called mascot issue will undoubtedly cost money for some districts, while having nothing to do with educating our students, as they struggle to catch up from the Pandemic lockdown.

Still not convinced that Albany has the best interests of New Yorkers at heart? This past November, the Governor signed legislation requiring middle and high schools to provide free menstrual products in all school bathrooms, even men’s rooms. It also requires cosmetologists to receive training on all hair types and patterns, including natural hair types. All fine and good, but are these really the top priorities the state faces?

Since 2016, and maybe earlier, the Empire State has topped the list for residents relocating to the Sunshine State, according to data from the Census Bureau. It was during the COVID-19 Pandemic that many New Yorkers were attracted to Florida’s less harsh COVID restrictions and open economy, not to mention lower taxes and school choice.

And speaking of school choice, Florida’s “Schools of Hope” charter school program has attracted the attention of Success Academy, New York’s largest charter operator. Citing Florida’s openness to school choice, Success Academy founder Eva Moskowitz is planning to become a provider in the Sunshine State, reportedly telling the NYS Board of Education that working in New York, though gratifying, has become increasingly difficult.

“I want to be in a place that’s high-growth, high-innovation, and welcoming to parental choice,” said Moskowitz.

0 Feet

With the descent into New York over, can’t possibly get any lower than this, or can we?

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Guest Column

The Conservative Podcast Revolution

By Aaron Flanigan | AMAC

In a national media and digital information landscape dominated by the left, from social media companies to cable networks, to legacy news outlets, the conservative podcast ecosystem has emerged as perhaps the right’s most effective platform for information dissemination.

According to a recent Pew Research study, 49 percent of Americans have listened to a podcast within the last year, and nearly one in five reported listening to a podcast on a near-daily basis. Podcasts, in the words of the report, have “become a big part of the normal routine—and news diet—of many Americans, especially younger adults.”

Another recent survey found that Americans aged 18 to 34 listen to podcasts at the same rate as they watch television. Podcasts have given listeners the freedom to consume an enormous library of content ondemand while they commute to work, go to the grocery store, or mow the lawn.

Of course, political shows account for only a fraction of the nation’s most widely listenedto podcasts. But even so, current podcast rankings indicate that conservative content is not only present in the world of podcasts but is in many ways thriving.

According to a recent examination of the “News” subcategory of Apple’s podcast chart, which ranks the nation’s top 200 news shows, 45 of them, or nearly a quarter of the shows included in the rankings, feature outspoken conservative voices.

The top of the list includes figures like Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Dan Bongino, Megyn Kelly, Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, and Matt Walsh. Conservative thought leaders Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Michael Knowles, Allie Beth Stuckey, Victor Davis Hanson, and Senator Ted Cruz are also in the top 50, with other rightof-center strongholds like Bill O’Reilly, Andrew Klavan, and Steven Crowder making the top 100. Voices such as Tim Pool, Jesse Kelly, Sean Hannity, Benny Johnson, and Lou Dobbs also earned a spot in the top 200.

Of the top 50 “News” shows, 16— or approximately a third—are hosted by conservative voices, signaling a strong conservative footprint in the podcast world. Even outside of the “News” category, right-ofcenter shows like “The Joe Rogan Experience” (which ranks as the third highest national podcast in any category) and “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” as well as traditional religious podcasts like Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “The Bible in a Year,” often beat out left-wing favorites like “Pod Save America,” “The Rachel Maddow Show,” and other MSNBC-produced shows like the left-wing “Prosecuting Donald Trump.” (Nota bene: readers looking for a conservative podcast to follow should be sure to tune in to AMAC’s “Better for America,” hosted by AMAC CEO Rebecca Weber. You can find every episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and AMAC’s YouTube channel.)

Though Apple’s rankings fluctuate slightly, the presence of conservatives on the podcast charts only appears to be growing stronger—a clear sign that large swaths of American citizens are hungry for content that dissents from leftwing political orthodoxy and openly promotes conservative points of view.

The rise of conservative podcasts has been several years in the making—and unsurprisingly, prominent voices on the left have already begun to sound the alarm. “I think the sheer volume and consistency of rightwing shows that currently populate the charts tells us something quite real,” Vulture writer Nicholas Quah worried in a 2020 piece.

Additionally, according to Pew Research, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to listen to content that clearly expresses political opinions. “Among podcast listeners overall, Republicans who listen to podcasts are also

somewhat more likely to be listening to content with political opinions,” the report states. “About three-in-ten podcast listeners who are Republicans (31%) say they listen to podcasts that include a host’s or guest’s opinions about government and politics, vs. 21% of Democratic listeners.”

What this suggests is that the conservative establishment and the Republican Party have a vital opportunity to reach and activate voters through podcasts. The success of hosts such as Matt Walsh in mobilizing his audience to pressure the Tennessee legislature to ban the University of Vanderbilt’s transgender clinic from performing surgeries on minors demonstrates the potential of podcasts as a political tool for the conservative movement.

For a digital medium that has long been considered a stronghold of the left, this trend should be taken as a significant

Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us

victory for the right. Much as conservatives have dominated talk radio in recent decades, we may be witnessing the birth of a new generation of opportunities for the conservative cause, reaching voters directly through podcasts.

The rise of conservative podcasters should also remind conservative Americans that their values and beliefs are far more widespread and popular than the corporate media would have them believe. One of the primary goals of the liberal press is to convince right-of-center Americans that their principles and way of life are antiquated and dying –a narrative that is completely undermined by the surging popularity of conservative voices in the podcast space.

That alone is reason enough to queue up a conservative podcast on your next road trip, visit the gym, or time spent simply relaxing at home.

WORD OF THE Week vapid

Origin: mid 17th century (used originally in description of drinks as ‘lacking in flavor’): from Latin vapidus.

Source: Oxford Languages

Synonyms: insipid, uninspired, colorless

Adjective

Pronounced: va·puhd

Definition: offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging

Example: “Instead of an interesting dialogue, the date only consisted of vapid conversation.”

Antonyms: lively, exciting, invigorating

WORD WHEEL SUDOKU

See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.

This Week in History

April 14, 1865: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington; he dies a day later

April 13, 1742: George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” performed for the 1st time at New Music Hall in Dublin

April 11, 1783: Hostilities formally cease in the American Revolutionary War

April 15, 1912: RMS Titanic sinks at 2:27 AM off Newfoundland as the band plays on, with the loss of between 1,490 and 1,635 people

April 17, 1492

Christopher Columbus signs a contract with the Spanish monarchs to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found, and the governorship of any lands encountered.

How Conservatives Can Directly Defund DEI In K-12 Education

By Max Eden | AMAC Outside Contributor

Three years ago, Republicans were reluctant to take direct aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion. It just sounded too nice to oppose. Better, political strategists thought, to go after the toxic concepts and practices by a different name: critical race theory.

After years of public debate and controversy, a substantial share of the public understands the core ideas, be they labeled CRT, promoted as “social justice,” or implemented as DEI. And as policymakers ponder how to root out this ideology from higher education, it is important that they also revisit K-12 education for places where their policies failed to bear fruit because they didn’t use quite the right words.

A few weeks before American universities’ morally demented reaction to the Hamas attack against Israel helped to solidify citizens’ understanding of the true meaning of DEI, USA Today ran an article claiming that K-12 public schools spend about $20 billion per year on DEI training. Of the 45 major school districts they examined, seven came from Florida. Tampa, for example, spends $36 million per year on DEI training for its teachers.

The most popular DEI training, according to USA Today, is Glenn Singleton’s “Courageous Conversations,” which explicitly peddles critical race theory. Rounding out the top five is “UnboundEd,” which explicitly teaches anti-white racism (insisting that there’s no such thing as a good white person).

But wait — isn’t that against the law in Florida? Possibly, but Florida’s anti-CRT law, as with virtually every anti-CRT law, wasn’t clear enough in its language or savvy enough in its structure to accomplish the

goal that many of its supporters hoped that it would. The official materials used by the state of Florida to promote the Stop WOKE Act claimed it “prohibits school districts, colleges, and universities from hiring woke CRT consultants.” But it clearly didn’t.

That’s because Florida’s Stop WOKE Act listed a series of concepts that “woke CRT consultants” may not explicitly endorse. But what if, instead of self-declaring as “woke CRT consultants,” they call themselves “DEI consultants”? What if they promote those concepts through slightly different words? Or, what if they promote those concepts directly with the backing of local officials who want to spend tens of millions of dollars on left-wing indoctrination instead of, you know, tutoring or teacher pay?

This is why the budding effort to dismantle DEI bureaucracies in higher education should be accompanied by an effort to defund DEI consultants in K-12 education directly.

There are two key elements to an effective strategy

for the latter. The first, which was unthinkable three years ago but is becoming more common in legislative language, is to name DEI directly to send an unambiguous signal to local school administrators. The second, which has not yet been attempted, is to task state superintendents with creating lists of vendors that are ineligible to receive state funding.

This second step is key. Simple statutory language is inadequate to defund the constant linguistic churn of CRT/DEI/”woke” consultants effectively; there must be an element of executive discretion. A state secretary of education should be charged with creating and annually updating a list of vendors that the state will not permit its money to flow to. “Courageous Conversations” obviously belongs on that list, as does “UnboundEd.” But so, too, would “Brave Talks” or “Boundless Ed,” if either of those two companies decide to form spinoffs to try to get around the law.

In late January of 2024, Florida issued its final regulations to dismantle DEI in its higher education system. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz should explore whether the law gives him the flexibility to issue a regulation specifying “woke” K-12 consultants that are ineligible for state funding. If not, it should be an easy fix for the legislature to do so.

Defunding DEI consultants won’t, of course, fix the culture of American education overnight. But with so many problems facing this generation of students, not spending $20 billion dollars on divisive indoctrination consultants would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Reprinted with permission from AEI by Max Eden.

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Justin Lundbye, MD, Named President of Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital

Justin Lundbye, MD, has been named President of Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, New York. Dr. Lundbye will oversee all Good Samaritan’s clinical areas and operations, with a particular focus on enhancing the patient experience and reinforcing Catholic Health’s commitment to HighReliability Organization principles.

“Justin is an exceptional health care leader, both clinically and managerially,” said Catholic Health President & CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA. “His track record of leading teams and steering operations toward outstanding performance makes him the ideal person to take the lead at Catholic Health’s Suffolk County flagship hospital.”

One of Dr. Lundbye’s priorities in his new role will be to oversee the construction of Good Samaritan’s state-of-the-art Patient Care Pavilion, due for completion in 2025. The 6-story, 300,000-squarefoot addition will feature a new 75-bay Emergency Department, a new surgical pavilion comprised of 16 high-tech operating rooms and 36 private patient rooms.

Both a cardiologist and an internist by training, as well as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Lundbye is a proven health care leader. He brings over fifteen years of experience in health care systems and clinical leadership, most recently serving as CEO of Waterbury

Organizations and Town of Islip Team-Up to Clean-Up

The annual cleanup of Spur Drive South from Brentwood Road to 5th Avenue is scheduled to kick off on April 23rd at 10:00a.m. This year, South Shore University Hospital and the Town of Islip are proud to participate in the event, in partnership with the Islip Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee and KIC (Keep Islip Clean).

For the past twelve years, this collaborative effort has aimed to beautify and restore the cleanliness of our beloved community.

“We are fortunate here in the Town of Islip that residents take tremendous pride in the communities they call home, and devote their free time to beautification efforts,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip).

Edward Fraser, Vice President of the Islip Chamber of Commerce, expressed the urgency of the cleanup, stating, “There is just so much garbage along this road as I travel it each day, unfortunately, this is indicative of many roadways across our Town, County, and State. The Town of Islip under the leadership of Angie Carpenter and the Suffolk County Police, along with KIC, have always been great partners in this cleanup, however, it takes the whole community working together to affect meaningful change. This cleanup initiative aims to not only remove litter, but also to identify structural issues such as fallen fences and trees. It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and take pride in their surroundings.”

Fraser emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “We hope that this cleanup helps raise awareness, and brings everyone together to better our community.”

All members of the community are encouraged to participate in this important event, and help make a difference in the cleanliness and aesthetics of the neighborhood.

For more information, please contact Angela Mandelos at acapone@northwell.edu or call 516-987-3296

HEALTH in Connecticut. In this role, he steered the growth of the system’s physician network and the delivery of quality patient care.

Prior to his tenure as CEO, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Waterbury Hospital. During that time, he spearheaded a team responsible for community impact activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning them the 2020 Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Council Leadership Award.

Dr. Lundbye received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and his Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Business. He is board-certified and fellowship-trained in Cardiovascular Medicine as well as a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. He holds academic appointments at the Frank Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University and the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Lundbye was designated a Fellow of The American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE), a prestigious recognition of high expertise in all areas of health care management.

Good Samaritan University Hospital is located at 1000 Montauk Highway in West Islip.

Around Town

Suffolk County Executive Romaine Announces Return of ‘Heroes of the Game’

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), in partnership with Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), the Long Island Ducks, Flagstar Bank, and the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, announced the return of the Heroes of the Game program for the 2024 season to honor local veterans and active-duty personnel.

More than 100 local veterans and active military personnel will be honored during the season. Up to two “Heroes of the Game” will be selected during all home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Each will be honored with an in-game tribute for their selfless and courageous service. In addition, each hero will receive 10 complimentary tickets to the game for their friends and family.

“The ‘Heroes of the Game’ program gives baseball fans the chance to honor and recognize the selfless men and women who put their lives on the line for our country,” said Romaine. “With Suffolk County being home to the largest veteran population in New York State, it is critical that we continue to do all that we can to ensure our nation’s heroes receive the financial, medical, psychological and physical help they deserve.”

“Suffolk County’s partnership with the Long Island Ducks in honoring our local veterans is the absolute best salute to service in the game. With over 100,000 veterans calling Suffolk County home, what better way to celebrate ‘America’s greatest Heroes’ than paying tribute to them during ‘Americas greatest pastime!’ It’s important we recognize these brave men and women of our military for their services, sacrifices and commitment

to our great Nation,” said Legislator Nick Caracappa. “As a community, we come together as one to show our Love of Country and our Love of the Game. Thank you to all those who have served and are currently serving. God Bless our Veterans, our Troops, and God Bless the United States of America.”

“The Ducks are pleased to be able to continue this terrific program,” said Long Island Ducks President/Chief Business Officer Michael Pfaff. “The feedback we received from fans, veterans, sponsors and the community has been tremendously positive, and we’re looking forward to another great season saluting those we owe so much to.”

“Flagstar Bank is proud to sponsor the ‘Heroes of the Game,’ who are selected at each Long Island Ducks game,” said Rosa Murciano, Flagstar Long Island branch banking division executive. “As active members of the Long Island community, we are honored to have the opportunity to recognize veterans among family and the communities these men and women have worked tirelessly to serve and defend.”

Since 2015, Suffolk County Government and the Long Island Ducks have proudly honored hundreds of local veterans and military personnel. Suffolk County is home to nearly 100,000 veterans, the largest amount in New York State.

Veterans and active-duty personnel can register to be recognized as one of the “Heroes of the Game” at suffolkcountyny.gov/heroes, by contacting HeroesGame@suffolkcountyny.gov

WFHS Youth & Government Excels at 88th Annual Youth & Government Conference

The William Floyd High School Youth and Government program continued its tradition of success and dominance at the 88th annual New York State YMCA Youth and Government conference held March 22-24 in the state’s legislative chambers in Albany. This was the largest conference in the program’s history with 643 students participating from across New York State. William Floyd students continued to outshine their peers by garnering election to seven of the nine elected state leadership positions including the governorship, as well as securing numerous awards.

William Floyd High School senior Nikolas DelVecchio presided over this year’s conference as youth governor. Nikolas, who was elected governor at last year’s conference, passes the torch to Olivia Phillips, who will lead the 2025 conference as governor.

In addition to securing the top leadership role for the third consecutive year, William Floyd students were elected to six other state elected positions. Those include: Mathew Reis, lieutenant governor; Aisha Barrie, Senate ProTempore, Senate Liberty; Hiba Farooq, speaker, Assembly Freedom; Kaitlyn Corn, deputy speaker, Assembly Liberty; Alice Chen, attorney general; and Kayla Bundick, public defender.

Throughout the weekend, students debated original legislation and argued appellate cases with their peers in the actual governmental chambers. In addition to having the top six ranked bills that were heard, William Floyd students Mackenzie Hackett and Hailey Hamilton garnered the Best Brief award, and, Berline Francois won the Best Attorney award in the judicial branch.

In the legislative chambers, Nia Alicea, Hiba Farooq and Rachel Chen (Assembly Freedom), and Victoria Basharina, Giselle Canales and Joyce Chen (Senate Freedom) won Best Bill awards, respectively. Madison Lockwood (Senate Freedom) won the Best Debater award.

Please note that due to the number of students involved, each legislative branch of government has two versions – example: Assembly Liberty, Assembly Freedom, Senate Liberty and Senate Freedom.

Additionally, students who were among the best at the state conference

were selected to represent New York at the YMCA Conference on National Affairs (CONA), a 10-day, nationwide summer conference held in Black Mountain, North Carolina, which primarily focuses on gaining awareness of issues of national concerns, as well as increasing an understanding of the federal government and its relation to state, national and international affairs. Students will write and debate federal proposals with their peers from across the nation. Students selected for this prestigious honor include:

Olivia Phillips, Mathew Reis, Alice Chen,

Robert Feeney, who has served as the program’s advisor since 1985, has had the opportunity to mentor generations of students with an interest in government and public policy. Under his guidance, dozens of former students have achieved success in public policy, government and law, with many serving prominent roles in the public sector. He is also a member of the YMCA Youth & Government Hall of Fame. This year, Mr. Feeney is joined by Alyssa Tepper as the co-advisor. Both Mr. Feeney and Ms. Tepper are extremely proud of the accomplishments of the William Floyd Youth and Government students, who worked very hard since September preparing for the conference.

Aisha Barrie, Joshua Schultzer and RenaeMarie Kelly. Alternates to the conference are: Antonio Cortes, Hiba Farooq, Jason Alexopoulos, Madison Lockwood, Mars Smothergill and Sarah Foley.

Hauppauge’s Hoops for Heroes

On April 5, Hauppauge High School’s faculty and staff faced off against members of the New York Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Hauppauge Fire Department, Hauppauge-Central Islip Volunteer Ambulance Corps. and active-duty military members during the district’s first Hoops for Heroes basketball game.

The Hauppauge community filled the stands of Hauppauge High School’s gymnasium for the March Madness-style game for a good cause. The proceeds raised from the event benefitted the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Hauppauge High School’s Share and Care charity, a nonprofit that aids students in need of help paying for school related expenses.

Each team was coached by the high school’s students and the varsity cheer team along with teaching staff members cheered the teams on.

Ahead of the game, the entrance to the gymnasium was filled with informational booths, concessions and raffles for visitors to enter and win. The NYPD band performed along with Hauppauge’s pep band made up of students from grades five through 12 to usher in

the players. The event was a massive success, raising a total of $9,548 for charity.

Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) attended as well as Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), and Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset). It was also a fun night with games, prizes and raffles.

“The outpouring of support for our members of law enforcement and first responders is clearly evident on the faces of all the students here,” said Legislator Kennedy. “I’m proud to stand alongside them in their fundraising initiative.”