Smithtown Messenger Archive Apr. 18, 2024

MESSENGER EXCLUSIVE Avlon’s Manhattan Residency Raises Concerns for Suffolk Congressional Bid

By Matt Meduri

New York’s First Congressional (NY-01) is one of the largest congressional districts in the nation by population and is an economic powerhouse for New York State and the northeast region of the country. The district, while fundamentally Republican leaning, has been at all ends of the competitive table in recent elections.

Because of its outsized importance in congressional politics, and the influence it can give its representative, NY-01 has witnessed successive election cycles marked by candidates who lack substantial ties to the district and its residents yet seek to represent them.

In 2018, Perry Gershon (D) challenged then-Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) for the seat. Zeldin, lifelong Suffolk resident, was running for a third term against Gershon, whose New York City residence earned him the moniker “Park Avenue Perry.” Despite the national Democratic year and the GOP losing three House seats in New York, Zeldin outperformed the national average and was re-elected by about four points.

In 2022, the Republican primary featured Michelle Bond, a cryptocurrency magnate who had big money behind her and big names stumping for her in NY-01. The Messenger filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and found that her registered voting addresses were in Potomac, Maryland. She was squarely defeated in the primary by now-Congressman Nick LaLota (R).

Continued on page 3

Inclusivity Forefront for Town of Smithtown

By Cait Crudden

In the heart of Smithtown lies a summer sanctuary unlike any other. As April unfolds and the world commemorates Autism Awareness Month, the Town of Smithtown’s Camp SMILE (Smithtown Motivating Individuals thru Leisure and Entertainment) along with the Adult Socialization Program for Individuals Living with Disabilities emerges as shining examples of compassion, understanding, and inclusivity for individuals living with neurodiversity.

Since its inception last summer, the Adaptive Sports and Socialization Summer Program for Children and Adults, which was wildly successful, has now been made into two separate programs for the upcoming season called Camp SMILE and the Adult Socialization Program. Continued on page

Avlon outside his NYC home on April 6.

Continued from front cover

MESSENGER EXCLUSIVE

Avlon’s Manhattan Residency Raises Concerns for Suffolk Congressional Bid

Now, 2024 is shaping up to be no exception, as The Messenger can exclusively report on the apparent Manhattan residency of Democratic candidate John Avlon (D).

Manhattan Attachments

Avlon’s attachments to NYC are evident in his real estate holdings. His Gramercy Park co-op, located at 149 East 19th Street, Unit 6, was purchased in 2015 for $3.6 million.

The building consists of six units and is owned and maintained by the Chanler House Corp. Tax records obtained by The Messenger from the New York City Department of Finance shows that the building, which includes 147 to 149 East 19th Street, are enrolled in the NYC co-op/condo tax abatement program. Enrollment in the program requires that all tenants have their units as their primary residences.

The tax block number, 875, and tax lot number, 38, are shown on the bill of sale of Avlon’s unit in his name and are corroborated by the NYC Department of Buildings website.

Recent sightings also show Avlon entering and leaving the building in April 2024, further cementing his residency in New York City. On April 6, Avlon was seen leaving the residence. The date is corroborated by the New York Post’s front page for April 6 pinned to a fence just beside the front door to Avlon’s building. The paper is seen depicting a shocked Statue of Liberty next to the headline “The Earth moved for Us,” regarding the New Jersey earthquake felt the day before.

Avlon has been seen leaving and entering his Manhattan residence over the last several weeks, showing a regular attendance in the Big Apple.

and other/short-term rentals within the period as $5,000.

Professional Past

Avlon is former editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast, a left-leaning news website that discusses politic, media, and pop culture, from 2013 to 2018. In 2018, Avlon moved to CNN as a full-time Senior Political Analyst and made daily appearances on the show New Day, with a segment called “Reality Check.” Avlon then hosted the digital series Reality Check with John Avlon: Extremist Beat

Avlon is also a founding member of No Labels, a 501(c)(4) organization started in 2010 to call for centrism, bipartisanship, and common sense problem-solving. Avlon ended his affiliation with No Labels when he became editor of The Daily Beast 2013

The Messenger also submitted a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to the Suffolk County Board of Elections (BoE) for Avlon’s voter profile. The documents obtained show that 2020 is Avlon’s date of effective registration at his Sag Harbor address. He purchased the Southampton home for $1.5 million in 2017.

According to records from the BoE, Avlon participated in the early voting, which requires in-person attendance, for the November 2020 general election and the 2024 Presidential Primary earlier this month. However, it also shows that he voted absentee in the November general elections for 2021, 2022, and 2023, all of which include local races.

The Sag Harbor residence, located at 70 John Street, has a listing on apartments.com, a website for viewing and leasing rental properties. The listing currently shows “check back soon for upcoming availability,” with rental terms listed as August to Labor Day for $25,000,

uses of the phrase “in Long Island” over “on Long Island.” Native Long Islanders insist the latter is the correct usage of the phrase, while out-of-towners are consistently corrected on the matter.

At a Democratic Candidates forum on March 11, Avlon said an object of the campaign was to make “life a little easier and better here in Long Island.”

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Avlon also served as a speechwriter for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and was appointed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the New York City Voter Assistance Advisory Committee. The VAAC advises the New York City Campaign Finance Board on its voter engagement, participation, and outreach.

Despite his past as an Independent, at least nominally, Avlon is running in the Democratic primary against 2020 congressional candidate Nancy Goroff (D-Stony Brook).

Questionable Suffolk Roots

Avlon’s roots and involvement in Suffolk politics have been called into question by Congressman LaLota, as well as several others.

Perhaps the most notable gaffe to date is Avlon’s multiple

Congressman LaLota replied to the video on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Saying ‘in’ Long Island instead of ‘on’ Long Island shows you haven’t spent much time here. When Manhattanite @ johnavlon made this mistake this week, it showed the arrogance and ego of a man using his Hamptons summer home to run for Congress to represent a people he doesn’t know.”

In a March 22 post on X, Avlon replied to Newsday’s Bacon, Egg, and Cheese (BEC) Battle, an exhibition contest run completely on public opinion on which establishment on Long Island has the best Bacon, Egg, and Cheese breakfast sandwich, a quintessential Long Island staple.

Avlon replied: “The winner of the best BEC in LI has been revealed – a hungry congrats to Everything Bagel in Commack!”

Avlon has since claimed that he has made his home in Sag Harbor his primary residence. However, he has stated that his wife and children will remain in New York City until the end of the school year.

Additionally, Avlon has no record of advocacy or governmental work in or for Suffolk County. He has, however, explained his intent to run for the seat in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter

“I love my job and my colleagues at CNN, and they are doing important work, but I felt that there is a real chance to flip a seat from a first term Republican, sort of Trump hugger/Trump flunkey, who is far too right for the district,” Avlon said.

Despite a late start to the campaign, Avlon has raked in over $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2024. Goroff’s $323,000 pales in comparison, while LaLota has raised over $560,000. However, LaLota has the cash-on-hand advantage, with a sizeable $1.7 million war chest as opposed to Avlon’s $1.03 million and Goroff’s $625,000 in the bank.

The numbers are expected to rise dramatically as Goroff and Avlon advance to a primary, and as New York is shaping up to host, yet again, a number of national marquee races.

April 6 cover of The New York Post visible behind Avlon on our cover

The bill of sale showing Avlon’s ownership of 149 E 19th St, Unit 6

County News

Romaine Capital Budget Rebuilds Suffolk Infrastructure, Invests in Safety and Community Projects

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) submitted the first capital budget of his term in office. It is the first time in four years the capital budget has been submitted on time. It includes funding for public safety, improving county infrastructure, upgrades, and investment for Suffolk County’s Board of Elections.

“This budget addresses issues long neglected by the prior administration,” said Romaine. “County infrastructure—especially many buildings and other facilities—are in pitiful condition. The county’s IT infrastructure has still not recovered from the 2022 cyber breach, law enforcement needs additional resources, and we must make upgrades at the Board of Elections to ensure accurate, fair elections, and prepare for the new even-year election law in New York State.”

The proposed 2025 Capital Budget is $488,760,526 and was submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature on April 15, 2024. The Legislature will review and suggest changes. The budget will be adopted after it is approved by the Legislature and signed by the County Executive. It is expected to be finalized in June.

“This budget represents a smart investment into our infrastructure and county operations that will continue to make this county safer and more affordable,” said Romaine.

The budget also includes significant investments for the Board of Elections for state-of-the-art voting machines to ensure election integrity.

“Changes in election law and questions in other areas regarding election fraud have caused us to

move quickly to upgrade our systems and ensure fair and accurate election results in Suffolk County,” said Romaine.

Highlights of the 2025-2027 Proposed Capital Program include:

Sewage Infrastructure

• $150 million for Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights and Deer Park sewer infrastructure

• $150 million to expand the Forge River Sewer District

• $139.5 million for upgrades for the Southwest Sewer District No. 3

• $101.3 for Smithtown sewers

Public Safety

• $10 million for state-of-the-art tasers

• $10 million for body cameras and accessories

• $36 million for new public safety vehicles

Bridges, Roads, and Transit

• $33 million to repair and resurface county roads

• $31 million NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), connecting LIRR stations at Amityville, Republic Airport, and Huntington

• $24.5 million road safety improvement

Information Technology

• $12.9 million for fiber cabling, network protection, hardware replacement, and technological disaster recovery upgrades

• $3.6 million for technology upgrades and digitization of records

Quality of Life Projects

• $41.6 million for improvements to the county parks, including campsite upgrades and park upgrades

• $24.2 million for improvements and renovations for numerous county historical sites and museums throughout Suffolk County

• $23.1 million for dredging, upland disposal restoration, and new dredging equipment

• $22.5 million for Hike and Bike Master Plan

Open Space Acquisition

• $15 million for farmland preservation

Economic Drivers

• $45 million for waterfront development at Vanderbilt Museum

• $11.5 million for Mastic Beach Revitalization

• $4.7 million for improvements at Gabreski Airport

• $1.8 Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program

Board of Elections

• $20.6 million ($34.3 million over five years) for new voting machines and other infrastructure.

“I am proud of this budget,” said Romaine. “Every aspect, every dollar, benefits the taxpayers of this county. We are moving forward, preserving this county’s assets, improving quality of life and keeping our streets safe. We are doing the work that the people expect from its government.”

Long Island Senate Republicans Push for Public Safety, Affordability to be Included in Final Budget

By Matt Meduri

Budget negotiations continue to loom as Albany has blown past the April 1 deadline to approve a budget.

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) submitted her $233 billion executive budget in January, which was immediately met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, namely regarding her plans to cut state-aid for school districts and create a new formula to determine annual aid relative to enrollment fluctuations.

Last year, the budget was not finalized until early May due to intraparty fighting between Hochul and her attempts at amending the controversial bail reform laws and the progressive wing of the party not budging on the matter.

Such topics are still of debate, but Senate Republicans are hoping that at-large problems facing New York State are addressed in the record-sized budget, especially in the forms of public safety and affordability.

Long Island Senators held a press conference at the Perry Duryea Building in Hauppauge last Friday morning.

Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) discussed the new heights the public safety crisis has reached, with the combined dysfunction from both the migrant and squatting crises.

“This has become an epidemic,” said Palumbo. “We had a migrant from Venezuela sending videos telling other migrants who take advantage of our squatters’ rights laws.”

Palumbo also said that a solution to the housing crisis is to crack down on ineligible residents from utilizing affordable housing.

“We have people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, living in rent-stabilized apartments in New York City, many of them paying less than a thousand dollars a month,” said Palumbo.

Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) said that “dysfunctional government has worsened” with the new budget proposals. Mattera, whose background is in construction and plumbing, railed against initiatives to ban natural gas and propane in new buildings of certain heights, part of a larger plan to eventually phase out such fuels altogether.

“In this budget, the Democrats continue to attack our ratepayers and our energy choices with mandates, not goals,” said Mattera. “They are telling our residents that they should not have natural gas, coal, or propane in their homes or buildings. It’s a mandate that everything will have to be electric.”

Mattera also criticized the attempts of Hochul and Albany Democrats at removing the “100 foot rule,” a rule dating back to 1981 that requires energy companies to connect any new business or home to its gas line if the line is within 100 feet of the structure and if the customer wants the hookup. The connection is provided at no cost to the new customer and the cost is distributed among ratepayers.

“It will make it so costly that the homeowners or businesses will not be able to afford the construction. They will not be able to afford that main to go into the house because now they’re going to have to pay for it,” says Mattera. “This is an attack on all New Yorkers; the government wants to take away your energy choices with mandates. This is one more step in the war on fuel choices that will cost our residents too much and cost our workers their jobs.

Mattera echoed one of his famous soundbites in response to mandates: “We need a plan, not a ban.”

The proposal stipulates that by 2025, no natural gas or propane will be allowed in homes buildings six stories or under. By 2029, gas or propane appliances will not be able to be replaced.

“Stores won’t be able to sell any of this equipment, and we’re going to have New Yorkers go to bordering states to buy equipment,” said Mattera. “The other side says it’s just a cost of doing business. That’s totally unacceptable. In my union career, I always created jobs.”

Mattera also said that at least half of electric energy is produced by fossil fuel plants in neighboring states.

Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) discussed the ongoing controversies regarding school aid that has still not been settled, even as school districts are presently in the process of crafting their budgets.

“The fact that we have a late budget causes so many problems and one of the things that the one-party rule in Albany forgets is that our school districts are trying to put their own budgets together right now,” said Weik. “It’s really important that they have accurate information that they can run with, whether or not they’re going to be laying off teachers or cutting programs. These are important topics, not just for them, but for families here on Long Island.”

Weik, who is a member of the Senate Education Committee, also discussed the electric school bus mandate.

“Schools are suffering from so many different issues right now, and they’re being buried in debt. We have an electric bus mandate that’s coming up very quickly. It’s costing millions and millions of dollars for every single school district. We don’t have the grid for it,” said Weik. “We’re seeing so many problems with the battery storage facilities. We need Albany to press pause on this mandate for a short period of time, because we have no plans, no infrastructure, there’s no possible way to carry this out.”

Weik also said to consider the two years of learning loss due to the COVID-19 Pandemic when the topic of reforming and cutting school aid surfaces.

“This is a critical moment to make sure that we’re fully funding our school districts so that our students have the opportunity to catch up,” said Weik. We need for them [Albany Democrats] to remember that in this year’s budget, not only do they have to meet the goal they put in last year by fully funding Foundation Aid, but they need to hold a 3% increase for the save harmless [provision] of school districts in order to not cut programs and lose teachers.”

The safe harmless, or hold harmless, provision ensures that districts don’t see decreases in Foundation Aid funding compared to the previous year. Governor Hochul’s approach to reworking the formula takes into account inflation rates from the early-to-mid 2010s, when rates were far lower than they are now. Critics say that the Governor’s proposal does not accurately reflect current needs and economic uncertainty.

Weik says that until a budget is finalized, superintendents in her district are telling her they are preparing for the “worst-case scenario,” in which they fire teachers and cut programs until a budget determines if they can rehire and reinstate.

Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) discussed the need to fix Tier 6 retirement benefits in the budget.

“It was a bill that was passed in 2012 that waters down the retirement pension for our public employees. It was sold as a bill that saved the pension system. What it’s turned into is an actual recruitment and retention nightmare,” said Murray.

Tier 6 is a level of pension benefits for public sector employees. Tier 6 members are vested after five years of service and are entitled to retirement benefits even if they leave public employment before retirement age. Most Tier 6 members are eligible for benefits at 63, but can choose

to retire early at 55 with reduced benefits. Benefit amounts are based on retirement plans, service credit, final average earnings, and age.

Murray says that critics of reworking Tier 6 pension benefits are concerned about the cost passed on to taxpayers.

“You know what they don’t mention? They don’t mention the cost to taxpayers right now,” said Murray. The MTA just had a record year of $1.42 billion in overtime payments. We have workforce decreases all the way around; there’s a shortage. The only way we can fill those hours of serving the market is overtime, and it’s driving up costs. State agencies’ municipal employees were paid $1.36 billion in overtime last year.”

Murray says that with all costs added, New York spent over $4 billion in overtime payments, a bill footed by the taxpayer.

“All that because we can’t cut [work] over to the public sector,” said Murray. “There’s no more incentive to come into the public sector. I spent over twenty-five years working in hiring and recruiting, and it was well known that if you wanted a good salary, more flexibility, better income, and raises, you go into the private sector. But if you have the solid retirements and health care benefits, you’ll forgo the big salary for the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Senator Steve Rhoads (R-Bellmore) said that New York doesn’t just lead the nation in highest taxes, but also in outward migration.

“It’s not because people don’t want to stay here, but people can’t afford to stay here,” said Rhoads. “And while we’re talking about the context of another late budget, where you would think that the three people that are in a room, all of the same political party, would be able to figure out how to move the budget forward quicker, they seem to be having a battle of who can tax more, how much more we can make it difficult for New Yorkers to afford to stay here in New York.”

Rhoads also mentioned that $2.4 billion will be directed to combat the State’s “self-inflicted” migrant crisis if the budget passes as is. Rhoads says it not only diverts State money from taxpayers and citizens, but also decreases public safety.

“We have seen stories about migrants committing crimes, panhandling, making lives worse and less safe. It affects housing. The 200,000 migrants now in New York City is only exacerbating the housing crisis. We are probably one of the most compassionate states there is, but there has to be a limit to our generosity, because at some point in time, generosity turns to stupidity, and we are well past that point.”

Senator Jack Martins (R-Great Neck) said the budget does not prioritize any of “our priorities here on Long Island.” Martins discussed affordable housing and that New York can deliver an adequate supply of affordable housing if “affordable housing is made accessible to people who need it rather than protecting people who are not eligible for it.”

Editorial

Nothing New in NY-01: Another Out-of-Town Elitist Making a Play for Suffolk

Despite the unique concerns and current events that pair with living on Long Island, many can say that they’re proud to be from here, or at least to call our Island home. There’s beautiful scenery, plenty to do, great, hard-working people, opportunity, quaint communities and action-packed downtowns, along with locally conscious and home-grown elected officials who live among the communities they so accurately represent.

However, it’s those same facets of Long Island, namely Suffolk County, that give it a distinct problem that many other areas in the country don’t face: outsized importance in Congressional races on a perennial basis.

Randy Altschuler, Perry Gershon, Michelle Bond: these are some of the recent congressional candidates we’ve seen run for New York’s First Congressional District within the last decade, and they all had the same problem: they didn’t live on Long Island at all, much less NY-01.

Altschuler (R) was born and raised in New York City and made a play for NY-01 against then-Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) in 2010, which almost saw him win the seat amidst the 2010 red wave. Altschuler tried again in 2012 and lost by five points. Altschuler is the co-founder and CEO of Xometry, Inc., and was last seen donating $10,000 to Dave Calone’s (D-Setauket) 2023 Suffolk County Executive campaign from a Maryland address.

Perry Gershon (D) vied for NY-01 against Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in 2018. Gershon’s New York City residency earned him the nickname “Park Avenue Perry.” He made his family’s second home in East Hampton his primary residence in 2017 in order to make a play for the district. Gershon was defeated by Zeldin by about four points, even as Democrats won nationally by about nine points.

In 2022, Suffolk residents were bombarded daily with mailers and robo-calls from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and other prominent Republicans to vote for a littleknown candidate and cryptocurrency “queen” named Michelle Bond (R) in the 2022 Congressional GOP Primary. Thanks to The Messenger’s FOIA request, Bond’s primary residence was determined to be in Potomac, Maryland.

Many are proud to be from Long Island, particularly Suffolk County, but unfortunately, the allure of NY-01 just can’t stop carpetbaggers from setting up shop in Suffolk in hopes of wooing voters who take retail politics seriously. Residents here will vote for candidates they expect to hear from and access easily.

The Representative for NY-01 has some outsized importance in Congress, in that he or she represents most of the largest suburban county in the nation and one of the most affluent. However, Suffolk is home to a diverse population, with tourism, agriculture, and various industries making up the economic landscape. The Representative for NY-01, by virtue of the makeup of the district, will most certainly be sought for consultation by House leadership on how to better life for suburban residents in general, and by campaign committees on how to better advertise policy positions to such communities.

We’ve had two Republicans and one Democrat in the last decade carpetbagging to NY-01. Democrats seem intent on evening the score in November. This year’s model is John Avlon.

Avlon is a well-known CNN anchor and former Daily Beast editor. The journalistturned-anti-Trump-obsessor has launched a late primary against 2020 candidate Nancy Goroff (D-Stony Brook). Avlon waited for the lines to be redrawn amid the mid-

decade redistricting to better gauge his chances for election.

Avlon should have been informed that the lines for NY-01 were not projected to be anywhere near his Manhattan residency, but that didn’t stop him from waiting on the sidelines to mull over his intentions.

According to ownership documents and sightings obtained by The Messenger, Avlon’s primary residence is located in Gramercy Park. He was seen leaving and entering the building just last week, with New York Post cover stories hanging in the background, further cementing his regular residency and the timeliness.

Avlon purchased the $3.6 million apartment in 2015. Tax records show that the firm that owns his building applied for tax abatements with NYC, which requires that all unit-owners in the building to be primary residents in order to qualify.

Furthermore, Avlon added a $1.5 million house in Sag Harbor to his assets in 2017. According to a FOIL request to the Suffolk County Board of Elections submitted by The Messenger, Avlon’s effective date of registration in Southampton Town was 2020. He voted early, which requires in-person voting, for the 2020 general election and the 2024 presidential primary this year. However, he voted absentee in the November general elections of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Lack of community engagement and government work in Suffolk County makes us think the Sag Harbor residence is merely an East End summer home that many Manhattanites work to attain.

Avlon has insisted he has called Suffolk home for many years, but that hasn’t stopped him from stating in February that he intends to live in Sag Harbor full time, we assume to build up cred in Suffolk.

If Suffolk has always been his home, then why the need to “live full time” in his already full-time home?

Only adding insult to injury is that Avlon says his wife and kids will remain in New York City until the end of the school year.

Imagine wanting a congressional job so badly that you run almost 100 miles east to a district you don’t even live in full time, instead of working to change the disastrouslyrun city in which you’ve just left your wife and children.

This is the reality of the race in NY-01. Avlon also seems to think that Congressman Nick LaLota (R) is a loyalist to former President Trump, as stated in his campaign kickoff speech in Sag Harbor.

“We need to rebuild the middle class, protect women’s reproductive rights, invest in our infrastructure, and mitigate climate change — all while defending our democracy against Donald Trump and his MAGA minions like Nick LaLota, who do whatever Trump wants, including blocking a bipartisan border security deal,” said Avlon. “This district needs real leadership, not more hyper-partisanship, and I am going to hit the ground running, talking to voters across Suffolk County about the issues we all care about.”

Avlon calls LaLota a MAGA minion, while detractors, like ex-Congressman George Santos (R-Queens), who is now running in NY-01 as an Independent, calls LaLota a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only).

We’ve asked this question before, and we’ll ask it again: which is it? LaLota certainly can’t be both, and due to the high stakes of this election, we’re inclined to believe he’s neither.

We’re not optimistic we’ll get answers soon, but the voters of NY-01 can give their answers in the June 25 Democratic primary that pits Goroff against Avlon.

Squatters: What You Need to Know

In cities around the United States, the issue of squatters, which are individuals occupying vacant or abandoned properties without legal permission, presents a multifaceted challenge with profound implications for both property owners and communities at large. In New York, where real estate is at a premium and housing affordability remains a pressing concern, a solution is desperately needed as the legal system currently does not appear to protect homeowner’s rights.

Squatting, previously borne out of economic hardship or housing insecurity, is now being exploited by some individuals who have used fake documents and broken into homes to only then be protected by “squatters’ rights”. While some squatters may seek shelter out of necessity, others are now using legal loopholes or engaging in illicit activities, posing legal and safety concerns for property owners and residents alike.

In New York, laws pertaining to squatting are governed by a combination of statutes, regulations, and judicial precedents. These provisions include tenant protections, which in some cases, squatters who occupy a property for at least thirty days may be afforded certain rights under New York law. These protections can include the right to eviction proceedings with notice and the opportunity to contest the eviction in court, which can take up to a year through the housing court system in some cases. However, squatters must establish residency status and meet other legal criteria to qualify for these protections first such as exclusive use of the property as their primary residence, maintaining living quarters, personal belongings, and utilities within the property.

Regardless of squatters’ rights under tenant protection, property owners retain the right to take legal action against individuals who unlawfully enter or occupy their premises without permission. Trespassing laws in New York provide avenues for property owners to pursue eviction and seek damages for trespassing violations,

regardless of the duration of the squatters’ occupancy. Municipal ordinances and building codes can take aim to address public safety concerns associated with squatting, such as fire hazards, sanitation issues, and structural instability. Local authorities may intervene to enforce compliance with safety regulations and mitigate risks to community welfare.

For property owners grappling with squatters, navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, financially straining, and time-consuming. Legal representation is likely needed. Evicting squatters often involves a complex legal process that requires adherence to procedural requirements and judicial oversight. Additionally, property owners must weigh the costs and risks associated with eviction against the potential consequences of allowing squatting to persist.

Beyond the legal dimensions, squatting raises broader social and ethical questions about housing affordability, homelessness, and inequality. Addressing the root causes of squatting requires holistic approaches that encompass affordable housing initiatives, supportive services for vulnerable populations, and community-led interventions aimed at revitalizing vacant properties for productive use.

Additionally, the ongoing migrant crisis only adds fuel to the fire. Squatters have been reported to present Uber Eats receipts as proof of residency, which is acceptable under some jurisdictions. Migrants have also been seen sharing videos on social media, explaining how to take advantage of New York’s backwards system.

As New York grapples with the challenges posed by squatting, communities can work towards fair outcomes that ensure more access to safe, affordable housing for all residents while respecting the rule of law and upholding the rights of property owners.

Cuomo Tries to Reinvent Himself for Possible Mayoral Run

By Steve Levy

Say one thing about Andrew Cuomo (D): he knows how to reinvent himself for political gain.

Cuomo liked touting himself as a liberal in Bill Clinton’s cabinet. As Clinton’s housing czar, he orchestrated the homes-for-everyone equity crusade, strongarming banks to lend to underfinanced borrowers that eventually led to the real estate collapse a decade later.

Then, when he ran for governor in 2010, he sought to reinvent himself as a crime-fighting, fiscal conservative. I should know. As a fiscal conservative engaged in a short-lived run for governor that same year, I saw the vast majority of my proposed fiscal reforms posted on my website eventually being siphoned onto the Cuomo site.

Those policy stances fit the time, as New York residents were reeling from a recession (caused in part by Cuomo’s housing policy) and were looking for a steady fiscal manager.

And, in fact, for the first year or two, Cuomo delivered on fairly conservative fiscal budgeting. But soon, he was feeling the heat from the radical-left Working Families Party. He faced a primary from a little-known radical law professor named Zephyr Teachout and was able to handle it. However, Cuomo really got frightened when Hollywood celebrity Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City fame went after him from the far left in a primary in 2018. That’s when Cuomo reinvented himself once again and couldn’t run fast enough to the furthest perches of his leftist base.

All of a sudden, he started advocating for closing prisons and changing the state’s criminal justice laws to make it harder to detain the severely mentally ill and violent criminals.

He championed the “Me Too” movement and denied the rights of young men accused of sexual abuse to get due process.

He started spending like a typical liberal Democrat once again in his leftist renaissance, which became a disaster for the people of New York. Crime went through the roof. His reversing of his campaign promises to end the tax surcharge on high-income earners led to a mass exodus of the very people who fund the state coffers.

And then Cuomo was hoisted on his own petard when his strong “Me Too” rhetoric came back to haunt him after he was accused of sexual assault. He

was the guy saying you must believe all women and that men have no due process. It led to the sinking of his political career.

And, of course, Cuomo’s shutting down of the state’s schools and economy was the epitome of the heavy-handed, big-state authoritarianism copied by his fellow Democrat governors around the nation.

But now he’s looking perhaps to resurface on the political scene with a possible run for mayor since Eric Adams is sinking in the polls. His M.O. is to run for mayor from the right. So, suddenly, he is denouncing the very congestion pricing laws that he put into effect.

He’s calling for the mentally ill to be committed after he let them out of the institutions. He’s calling for more cops when his policies led to their mass exodus.

If you want to know who the real Andrew Cuomo is, check out the Woody Allen movie, Zelig

The main character was a simpleton chameleon who would adopt the position of whoever he was talking to at the moment. While Cuomo is no simpleton, he is a shrewd master of remolding himself into anything that will further his political career. That’s who we had in New York: Andrew “Zelig” Cuomo.

Don’t for a second believe that anything Cuomo is telling you is coming from the heart. It’s all calculated based on polls. And that might be good for a year or two, but, sooner or later, he’ll morph into yet a different Andrew Cuomo, when the polls change as well.

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

‘Good Cause Evictions’ Will Make Existing House Crisis Much Worse

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

The New York State Legislature continues to wage war on landlords, property owners, and small businesses by insisting on including policies that erode property rights and rejecting common sense. The latest salvo comes in the form of a proposal to restrict property owners’ ability to remove tenants without “good cause.” The same proposal also includes a requirement for property owners to justify rent increases of more than 3%.

Essentially, Albany Democrats are proposing legislation to extend New York City’s strict and often burdensome rent regulations to the rest of the state. Under their plan, most building owners upstate would be forced to renew tenant leases, and it would add even more obstacles to combat harsh economic conditions like rampant inflation. New York already places enormous pressure on small businesses and property owners, the last thing we need is another layer of red tape tamping down growth.

Proponents of the bill have attempted to paint the proposal as a way to protect renters. This is a reasonable idea on its face, and landlords taking advantage of their tenants is something we should all be working to prevent. However, proponents often ignore the reality that renters in New York already enjoy some of the most tenant-friendly protections in the nation, and one need look no further than the state’s backward squatting laws—individuals who set up shop in an unoccupied home or apartment for sale, for example, are given enormous protections after just 30 days—to see how difficult it is to be a property owner in New York. In addition, municipalities can already avail themselves of tenant protection—including rent regulations—upon showing a low vacancy rate for rental properties.

Shoehorning so-called “good cause eviction” into the state budget will also have ramifications extending far beyond making life harder for property

owners. With each new regulation forced upon landlords and owners, many of whom fall squarely in the middle class, more and more landlords are going to give up. This will lead to even further outmigration, a reluctance to build new apartments, and ultimately exacerbate the housing crisis plaguing New Yorkers. This isn’t a solution, it’s a catalyst for more problems.

Budget negotiations are ongoing, and the Democrats’ lack of transparency makes it unclear what version of this policy will be included in the final deal. Exemptions, limitations, and other caveats could greatly impact how this plays out for upstate homeowners. I sincerely hope any version of this legislation considers the massive challenges facing property owners in New York. Policymaking should never be a zero-sum game. We don’t have to cut down one group in order to serve another, and it seems a lot like that is what the Democrat leadership in New York wants to do.

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

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

By

The Dangers with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Crudden

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere in our modern lives, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and power tools. Their lightweight design and high energy density make them an attractive choice for manufacturers and consumers alike. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about the safety risks associated with these powerful batteries, prompting calls for greater awareness and vigilance to prevent accidents and injuries.

One of the primary safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries is the risk of thermal runaway, a phenomenon in which the battery overheats and can catch fire or explode. This can occur as a result of internal defects, physical damage, overcharging, or exposure to high temperatures. When a lithium-ion battery enters thermal runaway, it releases flammable electrolytes and generates intense heat, creating a potentially dangerous situation for anyone nearby.

In recent years, there have been numerous reports of lithium-ion batteries causing fires and explosions in various settings, including homes, offices, and public spaces. These incidents have resulted in property damage, injuries, and even fatalities, highlighting the need for greater awareness of the risks posed by these powerful energy sources. The fires can burn longer and reach higher temperatures than fires of other causes, which make them more difficult to put out.

One notable example occurred in 2016 when the Samsung smartphone was recalled due to reports of battery fires. The incident garnered widespread media attention and led to a massive product recall. In addition to electronic devices, lithium-ion batteries are also used extensively in electric vehicles (EVs), raising concerns about the safety of these vehicles in the event of a battery fire. Most recently in 2024, E-Bicycles and even Tesla vehicles have caught on fire from battery

malfunctions. While EV manufacturers have implemented various safety measures to reduce the risk of thermal runaway, including battery management systems and thermal protection devices, incidents involving vehicle fires have still occurred, often leading to questions about the safety of EV technology, especially now that New York State has pursued creating EV school buses that potentially can put our children at risk while simply commuting to and from school.

Another concern is the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries, which can pose environmental hazards if not handled correctly. When thrown in the trash or recycled improperly, lithium-ion batteries can release toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the soil and water, contaminating the environment and posing risks to human health.

To address many of these issues, local elected officials including Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) have advocated for lithiumion battery fire education and a pause in implementing the use of them in certain situations. In a recent Patchogue Chamber of Commerce meeting, while addressing fire safety he stated, “These batteries can’t be extinguished by throwing water on them. Please don’t do that, in fact it can actually make it much worse,” said Legislator Thorne at a recent Patchogue Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Lithium-ion battery fires are Class-B fires, indicating the presence of flammable liquids, so a standard dry chemical or ABC extinguisher cannot put them out. Legislator Thorne has been a local leader on the subject, holding lithium-ion battery education courses within his district and attempting to regulate their use in our communities on a larger scale.

Thorne has sponsored a bill that would create a local law to require certification for the sale of lithium-ion storage batteries for electric assist bicycles and other powered mobility devices. The legislative intent for the bill states that the batteries are becoming more prevalent and there are little to no regulations regarding their safety. The Legislature found that the lithiumion batteries contributed to 220 fires in New York City in 2022, and at least ten fatalities and 226 injuries in 2021 and 2022. The bill’s intent also states that the heightened risk and strength of related fires as well as emission of toxic chemicals prompts the need for regulation of sales, leases, or rentals of lithiumion batteries.

The legislation has gained bipartisan support in the Suffolk County Legislature.

By raising awareness of the potential safety risks associated with lithiumion batteries and promoting responsible usage and disposal practices, we can work together to prevent accidents and ensure the safe and sustainable use of this powerful technology.

This Week Today

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

The going primary contests this week were mostly uneventful, as two small states awarded delegates in the Democratic contest.

President Joe Biden (D-DE) won the caucuses in Wyoming, the nation’s least-populous state. Only 397 people voted in the caucus, 95.7% cast ballots for Biden. The “Uncommitted” option received 3.3% of the vote, while the now-suspended Marianne Williamson (D-CA) received just two votes, as did David Olscamp (D-CO).

Olscamp is running a long-shot bid for the White House, naming himself “America’s Dark Horse Candidate.”

Biden won all thirteen delegates available and carried twenty-two counties. Results for Lincoln County, home to Kemmerer and Afton, are not available, but it is assumed Biden will win the county when data is reported.

Biden also won the Alaska Primary, which wasn’t much of a win as it was a formality. The state Democratic Party shifted the contest from a mail-in primary to a video conference across the state’s forty House districts. The party made the change after Congressman Dean Phillips (D, MN-03) suspended his campaign. Biden was the only qualified candidate in the race. Biden won all of Alaska’s fifteen delegates. He now sits with 3,073 delegates, more than the amount required to be declared the party’s presumptive nominee.

The GOP will hold their caucuses in Wyoming on April 20 and their primary in Puerto Rico on April 21. The next big contest is the Pennsylvania primary, where both parties will hold their respective contests.

In other election news, Democrats maintained their control of the Michigan House with two special election wins on Tuesday night.

Democrats gained control of both chambers of the Michigan legislature in 2022, forming a trifecta with Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) at the helm. Two vacancies kept the House in a deadlock, with each party holding fifty-four seats. Democrats were expected to easily retain both seats, barring surprise upsets from the GOP.

While Democrats did hold both seats, they did so with slight underperformance. In District 13, just north of downtown Detroit, State Representative-elect Mai Xiong (D) won with 65.6% of the vote, down from a 67% win by her predecessor in 2022.

In District 25, halfway between Detroit and Ann Arbor, State Representative elect-Peter Herzberg won with 59.6% of the vote. His predecessor was elected with 63% of the vote in 2022.

While the underperformances aren’t drastic, it might lend some clues to the state of local politics in Michigan. If suburban communities continue to drift to the right in certain precincts, even slightly, it could help former President Donald Trump (R-FL) carry the state he so historically carried in 2016, but lost in 2020. Trump was the first Republican to carry Michigan since George H. W. Bush (R-TX) did so in 1988.

Trump has consistently led the polls and polling aggregates in Michigan since last year.

State-level elections are often seen as one of the greatest bellwethers for results down the road. The Michigan special elections are also a welcome change for the GOP, who have been underperforming in statelevel special elections all year.

Moving to the U.S. Senate, a perennially-sleepy Senate race might just be one of the top races of the 2024 election cycle.

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) shocked

the political world in February when he announced his bid for the open U.S. Senate in the deep-blue seat being vacated by Senator Ben Cardin (D). Hogan did a complete turnaround in his political aspirations, keeping observers in suspense as it seemed he would mount a challenge against Trump for the Republican Presidential nomination. Hogan opposed Trump in 2016 and 2020 and has served as a vocal critic of the national positions of the Republican Party.

A self-proclaimed moderate, Hogan scored perhaps the largest upset of the 2014 election cycle by winning the open governor’s seat in Maryland by four points. Maryland had only elected one Republican governor - 2002 - since Spiro Agnew (R) was elected in 1966. Agnew would later serve as Richard Nixon’s (R-CA) Vice President.

Hogan was re-elected in 2018 by a convincing twelve-point margin amidst a national blue wave. His favorability ratings have remained high even after his departure from the office.

Maryland is one of the bluest states in the country. In addition to not backing a Republican nominee since 1988, Maryland has backed Democrats by double-digits in every election since then. No Republican has achieved more than 40% of the vote since George W. Bush (RTX) in 2004. Trump’s 32% margin in 2020 is one of the worst for any Republican in history. Biden flipped three counties and all but one of Maryland’s twenty-three counties swung left that election. Maryland’s strongly-Democratic profile has been mirrored in its Senate elections, which now increasingly mirror presidential elections results overall. Republicans have not won a Senate race in Maryland since 1980, and the seat that Hogan is contesting has not elected a Republican since 1977. Since then, Maryland has produced top names in Senate politics, including Paul Sarbanes (D), for whom the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is partially named, and Barbara Mikulski (D), the thirdlongest-serving female in U.S. history.

Hogan has raised $3.1 million in just two months of his candidacy. The Democratic primary is between Congressman David Trone (D, MD-06) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D). Trone is one of the wealthiest members of Congress and has loaned his campaign $41.7 million since the start of the primary race. Trone represents Maryland’s panhandle and some suburban D.C. areas in Congress.

Despite Maryland’s dark blue hue, Hogan has consistently outpolled both Trone and Alsobrooks. A March 12 poll of 1,004 registered voters conducted by The Washington Post showed Hogan leading Alsobrooks by fourteen points and Trone by twelve. Such numbers are considered outliers, especially for such an uncompetitive state.

However, a March 24 poll of 800 registered voters conducted by Goucher College found Hogan leading Alsobrooks by four points and Trone by one, still an unfathomable margin for a Republican in Maryland. But it appears that Democrats will have to funnel money to one of their most unexpected locales, as an April 10 poll of 1,292 likely voters conducted by OpinionWorks found Hogan leading Alsobrooks by eighteen points and Trone by thirteen.

However, Hogan does not have history on his side. Immensely popular governors of state’s opposite their party’s political ideology have made runs for Senate races that appear as toss-ups and many don’t come close.

In 2002, Governor Linda Lingle (R) was elected as Hawaii’s first Republican governor since 1959. In 2006, she became the only governor in the state’s history to be

re-elected, as she won with 62.5% of the vote. She would later lose the 2012 Senate race in Hawaii by twenty-five points.

In 2006, former Governor Phil Bredesen (D) was reelected governor of Tennessee by a near-70% margin. To date, he is the last Democrat to win a statewide contest in Tennessee. In 2018, it seemed realistic he could stage an upset and flip Tennessee’s open Senate seat blue to become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1988. Bredesen lost by eleven points.

While History is not on Hogan’s side, he still remains the best Republican to contest this seat. He remains popular among Democrats and liberal-minded voters, as he won many of them in his two gubernatorial elections. However, the era of increasing partisanship might doom any chance of candidacy he has. With Biden at the top of the ticket and the Senate results likely to mirror the presidential results, Hogan’s task appears, in some ways, impossible.

State

Budget negotiations are still underway, but Governor Kathy Hochul (D) said Monday that she and state legislators have agreed to a draft budget totalling $237 billion, more than the original $233 billion budget proposed in January.

Current proposals retain the $2.4 billion allocated for New York City’s migrant crisis. Additionally, the budget seeks to address housing and rent control, with a new tax incentive to spur affordable housing in NYC, as well as rent caps at 5% plus inflation or a maximum of 10% to prevent landlords from price gouging tenants.

Of top concern, the framework of the budget retains the “hold harmless” provision and will not reduce education aid for school districts that have seen drops in enrollment. However, Hochul is optimistic about overhauling the State’s school-aid formula in the near future.

Another initiative in the budget would allow local government authorities to shut down illegal cannabis shops as the State grapples with the massive influx of license requests.

Local

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) recently sponsored a bipartisan bill to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

The Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Reintroduction Act of 2024 would support “rescue, rehabilitation, reintroduction, and conservation efforts by zoos and aquariums.”

The legislation would “establish a Rescue and Recovery Grant Program, with supported expenses including facility costs, food, veterinary care, direct animal care staff, transportation costs, reintroduction efforts, developing networks of facilities qualified to conduct these activities, and more.”

The bill would also codify all aspects of the Wildlife Confiscations Network and would designate the network as a single point of contact for federal wildlife law enforcement.

Finally, the bill would develop a partnership approach between the federal government and organizations who seek to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintroduce threatened and endangered species.

“Zoos and aquariums play a pivotal role in the conservation of threatened and endangered species, especially as instances of wildlife trafficking continue to rise. The Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Reintroduction Act would ensure qualified facilities have the resources and tools they need to effectively perform this important work,” said Garbarino.

Continued from front cover

Inclusivity Forefront for Town of Smithtown

“I want to properly acknowledge a truly incredible team that is responsible for this wonderful addition to our Recreational programming,” said Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo (R-Kings Park), Recreation Director; Tom McCaffrey, his hardworking and thoughtful team members; Brandon Modrov and Tara Foglia along with the invaluable contributions of the Disability Advisory Board have made this dream a reality. No child should miss out on the enriching summer camp experience. These two programs champion accessibility, and underscore Smithtown’s commitment to fostering a welcoming environment where every resident can thrive and participate fully in community life”.

Camp SMILE will be offered throughout the summer season in three twoweek sessions from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m., Monday through Friday at a local school. Campers will have the opportunity to participate in arts in crafts, field and playground time, gymnasium games, and other entertainment scheduled throughout each week.

The Adult Socialization Program will be offered three to four nights per week and will include events in and around the community, such as bowling, dinners, socials, trips, arts and crafts, and special events. The events will change seasonally with the addition of nights at the pool in the summer at Smithtown Landing Country Club. Staff members for these programs are

professionals in the field with years of experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities.

“As we kick off Autism Awareness Month, we are so proud to introduce these incredible recreation programs that celebrate the diverse talents and abilities of all individuals,” stated Councilwoman Inzerillo, liaison to the Disability Advisory Board. “By fostering inclusivity and providing meaningful opportunities for participation, we aim to create a community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.”

It is the hope that during the summer months Camp SMILE and the Adult Socialization Program buzzes with the sounds of laughter, new friendships, and discovery as they can engage in a variety of activities designed to promote social interaction, sensory exploration, and skill development.

These programs will touch the lives of countless families and individuals affected by autism, it is a legacy of love and acceptance. The schedule and location details will be available in the upcoming 2024 Summer Recreation Guide, which will be mailed to residents and will also be available online.

Tom McCaffrey, the Director of Recreation states “With the help from our community members as well as the disability Advisory Board it is our hope that we can expand the scope of neurodiverse community programming. Together we can do anything”.

Smithtown Teams with Trex to Turn Household Plastics into Sustainable Decking

Residents can now recycle plastic bags, packaging, and film at the Municipal Services Facility, located at 85 Old Northport Road in Kings Park. The Town of Smithtown has joined forces with Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance, wood-alternative decking and railing, so that residents can upcycle discarded household plastics. The materials are used to create beautiful, durable, and sustainable outdoor living products. A public recycling hub has been added to the Municipal Services Facility in Kings Park.

The new drop-off container is a part of the NexTrex® recycling program. The nationwide material sourcing initiative for the composite decking leader manufactures decking from primarily reclaimed content. This includes a mix of industrial wood scrap/sawdust and recycled polyethylene (PE) plastic film. Each year, the company upcycles in excess of one billion pounds of these would-be waste materials and is one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America. Over the past three decades, Trex has diverted more than 5 billion pounds of discarded PE plastic from ending up in landfills.

Plastic film cannot be recycled at your curbside bins. The NexTrex program offers a simple solution for residents and local businesses to responsibly dispose of plastic bags, shipping wrap, and other plastic film waste.

The NexTrex Grassroots Movement provides partnership opportunities for municipalities, non-profit organizations, and small businesses to establish their own collection sites. Trex works with partners across the country to recycle post-consumer, commercial, and industrial plastic film via public collection and warehouse collection programs. Materials are sent to local collection sites where they are baled and shipped to the company’s manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada to be upcycled into durable, beautiful, and eco-friendly composite decking and outdoor living products.

“With the NexTrex program, you know exactly where your recycled plastics are going and how they will be used,” said Mike Englemann, Town of Smithtown Solid Waste Coordinator. “The best part is, participating is easy. Simply separate plastic film items from other recyclables and drop them off at our MSF collection site. We’ll work with Trex to do the rest.”

Community members are encouraged to drop off discarded plastic film at the new MSF collection hub. Common items that can be recycled by Trex include grocery and retail bags, bread bags, case overwraps, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, Ziploc and other resealable bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, salt bags, cereal and cracker box liners, and wood pellet bags.

Tips for Recycling Plastic Film

1. If it stretches, it qualifies.

2. Look for the #2 or #4 recycling symbols to indicate polyethylene films.

3. Make sure materials are clean, dry, and free from contamination.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle their household

plastics by expanding our network of partners and increasing accessibility,” said Stephanie Hicks, materials and recycling programs manager for Trex Company. “The new recycling hub at Smithtown MSF is not only conveniently located but affords access so that eco-minded residents from Smithtown can recycle at a day and time that works for them.”

To learn more about the NexTrex program, go to NexTrex.com. For more information about Trex, visit Trex.com.

Smithtown Elementary School Introduces Communication Board

In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, Smithtown Elementary School students and staff hosted a ribbon-cutting on April 5, for its new communication board at its school playground. The communication board is a specialized tool created to aid individuals who struggle with verbal communication. It uses pictures and symbols to convey messages and thoughts.

Principal Dr. Mary-Ellen Kakalos said this was an important step for the school. “We understand that students learn and communicate in different ways and having the communication board here,” Dr. Kakalos explained. “It serves as a visual replication of a learning tool our students use daily as well as a functional tool for all students to use to play together. I’d like to thank our dedicated teachers and students as well as our central office administrators Dr. Secaur, Dr. Simmons, Mr. Helms, and our amazing custodial and grounds crew for supporting this project.”

Smithtown High School West Hosts Veterans’ Breakfast in Honor of Late Veteran

Smithtown West senior, Brayden Stahl, was selected by his peers to be this year’s commencement speaker, it was announced during the school’s annual Gold Cord breakfast, on April 3.

“It’s a big honor, and the relationship I’ve built with my classmates and the respect I’ve hopefully earned from them is what got me to that position,” Brayden exclaimed.

Smithtown High School West Principal John Coady expressed his appreciation for the school’s highest academic achievers among the senior class.

The senior class encompassing 114 students who achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA assembled in the G Café for a breakfast to recognize their lofty achievements.

“Smithtown West is a great school because we have great students like you,” Coady told the honorees.

The gold cord honorees are slated to attend a second ceremony, with their families, on May 22. Each senior will be called to the stage and their college destination and planned major will be shared.

Charity Sports Night Raises More Than $27K for Student Scholarships

Students, staff and families of the Three Village Central School District elementary schools gathered for the annual TVTA Charity Sports Night on March 15. The event brings all five elementary schools head-to-head in a variety of events and relay races.

Three Village Teacher Honored

Ward Melville High School teacher Dr. Marnie Kula received the Distinguished Teacher 2024 award from the Harvard Club of Long Island. Dr. Kula is the science department chairperson at Ward Melville High School, as well as the director of the InSTAR program.

Current undergraduate students at Harvard University have the opportunity to nominate their former teachers for this prestigious award. Only 10 teachers from all of Long Island are selected to receive it.

The board of education honored Dr. Kula for her distinguished teacher designation at its March 6 meeting. Ward Melville High School Acting Principal Dr. Paul Gold described Dr. Kula as well-deserving of the award, attributing her commitment, knowledge, accountability and compassion.

This year, students and parents cheered on their favorite teachers and rooted for their home school from the Stony Brook University Island Federal Arena. This new venue allowed organizers to sell tickets beyond the usual 1,000 spectator limit when the event was previously held at the Ward Melville High School gymnasium.

As a result, more than 1,800 tickets were sold, raising more than $27,000. The money will be used to fund scholarships for Three Village students. Congratulations to W.S. Mount Elementary School for being named this year’s TVTA Charity Sports Night champion.

Sachem North Student Heads to Villanova on Scholarship

Sachem High School North senior Ryan DeSimone is off to Villanova University this fall on a full scholarship. DeSimone earned the Presidential Scholarship after a rigorous selection and interview process.

The Presidential Scholars Program looks to recruit and support studentleaders who have a passion for learning and a commitment to serving their local community, as well as the broader civic community. There is no GPA requirement, however, the program draws academic and civic leaders who are actively engaged in learning both inside and out of the classroom.

DeSimone was first nominated for the program, then had to submit a meticulous application. Those who are selected as finalists then participate in an on-campus interview program. Nearly 2,000 nominations are submitted each year for the scholarship with only 25 students being selected.

(Left to right) Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Scanlon, Dr. Marnie Kula, Board of Education President Susan Megroz Rosenzweig and Ward Melville High School Acting Principal Dr. Paul Gold

The Necessary Standard for American Education

Your Local Forms of Government

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.

By Matt Meduri

Last week, we touched on the three levels of government at the federal level: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. This week, we’ll discuss government at the state level, including the governorship, the State Assembly and Senate, and how their positions relate to community involvement.

The State Legislature - Trials and Trifectas

All fifty states have a level of state government, as well as separate constitutions, and their own domains of power that separate them from the federal level. Forty-nine states have a bicameral legislature, meaning it contains a large lower chamber and a smaller upper chamber, akin to the U.S. House and Senate. Only Nebraska has a unicameral legislature, which is technically nonpartisan.

When one party controls the governorship and both chambers of state government, it’s called a trifecta. When a state’s highest court is controlled by the corresponding ideology of the state government leaders, as judicial races are typically nonpartisan, it’s called a trifecta plus. When a trifecta is formed and a party has supermajorities in both chambers, typically defined as at least 60% or two-thirds of available seats, it’s called a trifecta with a supermajority.

There are currently forty trifectas in the country, more than at any point from 1992 to 2022; the GOP has twenty-three and the Democrats have seventeen. Eight states currently have one party in control of both chambers and a governor of a differing party. In Pennsylvania, Republicans control the Senate while Democrats control the House and governorship. Alaska has a Republican governor, but both chambers are split between a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

Utah is the only state to remain a trifecta from 1992 to 2024, with the GOP holding that title.

The state legislature functions similarly to that of the U.S. Congress, with the majority party gaining leadership positions in both chambers as well as all committees. Top members of committees in the minority party are called Ranking Members. Legislation is submitted to respective committees for deliberation. The committees then vote on whether or not to advance it to the floor of their chamber for a full debate and vote. Legislation that passes both chambers then heads to the governor’s desk for signature.

Since Democrats enjoy supermajorities in both chambers, both have powers to override Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) vetoes. New York is one of many states that requires a two-thirds majority vote in either chamber to override a gubernatorial veto. Six states require simple majorities, seven require three-fifths majorities, and Alaska requires a combined two-thirds vote of both chambers.

Between 2010 and 2020, New York saw 6.4% of vetoes overridden by the state legislature; 67 overrides for 1,049 vetoes in that period.

Although most states are governed by supermajorities in their legislatures, only nine states have Democratic veto-proof majorities, while twenty states have GOP veto-proof majorities.

In New York, Democrats currently have a trifecta with a supermajority. Governor Hochul was elected to a full term in 2022, while Democrats control the Assembly with 102 seats to the GOP’s 48, a supermajority, and the State Senate with 42 seats to the GOP’s 21, also a supermajority.

Democrats have controlled the Assembly since 1975, mostly with large margins. Republicans flipped five seats in 2022, including the Fourth District (Port Jefferson, Setauket, Stony Brook) with Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station).

Republicans controlled the Senate almost exclusively since 1939, with Democrats winning control just once since then, with the exception of the 2009 State Senate leadership crisis, in which two Democrats chose to caucus with the GOP. The defection left the Senate in a deadlock, and with Governor Elliot Spitzer’s (D) resignation and the Lieutenant Governor position vacant, there was no way to break ties.

Democrats won control of the chamber outright in 2018 by flipping eight seats and flipped three more in 2020 to gain a supermajority. The GOP made a net gain of just one seat in 2022.

Suffolk’s delegation in the Assembly includes twelve seats. In our tri-Town coverage area, the members include Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor), Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station), Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park), and Keith Brown (R-Northport).

The Suffolk delegation to the Senate includes just five seats, represented by Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), and Alexis Weik (R-Sayville).

Senate and Assembly district lines are redrawn every decade pursuant to the Census results, with rules and regulations similar to that of U.S. House redistricting.

The GovernorshipA Unique Position Relative to the Nation

New York is one of eleven states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia that do not impose term limits on its governors (or position equivalent). Governors serve four-year terms. Term limits are also not imposed on state legislators of either chamber. Only nine states and one territory impose lifetime term limits after two terms have been served. Almost half the states, plus three territories, governors are re-eligible to serve two four-year terms after a four year hiatus.

The governor is responsible for charting a course for the state, attracting commerce, residents, and tourism, as well as addressing the legislature on the annual state of the State and working with all levels of government, up to the federal level, and down to the County and Town level.

The Governor of New York sees an immense amount of power that governors of other states do not typically enjoy: crafting a budget.

In other states, the legislature is tasked with creating a budget as it relates to fiscal means, expenditures, task forces, addressing certain problems/crises, and strengthening or revitalizing communities of interest within their districts. The budget then goes to the governor, where he or she can approve, veto, or lineitem veto (pick and choose which measures are omitted) the budget.

In New York, however, the process is essentially reversed and more prerogatives are added. The Governor starts the yearly budget-making process by submitting his or her master plan to the legislature. This does not just include concerns of fiscal matters, but the Governor can add policy into the budget as well. The legislature then picks apart the spending plan and begins the fierce debates over which items remain and which items that they feel the Governor has not prioritized or adequately addressed.

Because of this, New York is no stranger to delayed budgets. With a working deadline of April 1, budgets in recent years have blown past the deadline as late as August. Last year’s budget was not resolved until early May, and this year’s budget appears to be on the same track.

The Governor and legislature will debate articles of the budget and might have to give in on certain policy positions in order to pass the budget and fund the government. While no budget is passed, State employees, including legislators, do not receive paychecks. Budget extenders are often passed to ensure State employees, often not including the legislators, are paid.

How State Government Affects Local Life

The State government is charged with affairs immediately under their purview, including, but not limited to: parks, recreation, programs, litigation, environmental and water quality, preservation, education, road maintenance, and administering certain grants either from the State or federal level. All of these categories, and many more, can also be accomplished by respective departments on the County or Town levels, or initiatives can be cooperative efforts across multiple forms of government.

A key example is road maintenance. County Routes are marked by the blue shield with yellow markings; these are maintained by Suffolk County. Some notable examples include Nicolls Highway (CR-97), Ocean-Rosevale Avenue in Ronkonkoma (CR-93), and Suffolk Avenue (CR-100) in Brentwood-Central Islip. For problems or suggestions regarding these roads, contact the County Department of Public Works (DPW) or your Suffolk County Legislator.

State routes are maintained by the State. These are marked by white shields on a black background with black numbers. Examples include Veterans Memorial Highway (NY 454) from Commack to Bayport, Smithtown Bypass NY (347) from Commack to Mt. Sinai, Middle Country Road (NY 25), which runs from Second Avenue in Manhattan to Orient Point in Southold, and Sunrise Highway (NY 27), which runs from Greenwood Heights to Montauk. NY 25 is the only State route on Long Island to leave the geographic boundaries of the Island, and one of just two State routes in Manhattan. For problems or suggestions regarding these roads, contact your state Assemblymember or Senator.

State officials have been mulling over a plan with County officials to create an overpass at the junction of NY 347 and CR-97 in Stony Brook. Ongoing restoration to NY 347 in Lake Grove is administered by the state. Contact Senator Dean Murray for questions regarding that stretch of the project.

These are simple, yet effective, examples of how to delineate one form of government from the other. Keep in mind also that despite most of Suffolk’s delegation to Albany being in the majority, they can still provide valuable input on issues as general legislators or Ranking Members on committees. Assemblyman Smith, a former school teacher, serves as the Ranking Member of the Education Committee. Assemblyman Gandolfo recently submitted a bill to end New York’s “sanctuary state” and NYC’s “sanctuary city” statuses. Senator Mattera submitted a bill to the Telecommunications and Energy Committee to direct the “public service commission to evaluate hydrogen, sewage thermal energy, and nuclear small modular reactors as renewable energy sources and report the results of such evaluation to the governor and the legislature.”

Ultimately, it is the Governor’s job to oversee safety, prosperity, and growth in New York. It is the legislature’s job to conduct constituent service, poll and garner public input, deliver that input to their committees and legislation, and act on behalf of that engagement. It is also the job of the legislature to ensure that state and federal funds can flow directly into their districts, for road maintenance, deer control programs, or establishing open space or State parks. The legislators are also tasked with directing constituents to the proper level of government or department as it pertains to an inquiry.

Finally, the legislature has the prerogative of maintaining checks on each other and the governor. As it pertains to rules, ethics, and chamber management, legislators, namely the committees on Rules and Ethics, are tasked with receiving letters of concern and investigating and reporting their findings as necessary.

New York is a behemoth of a state to direct, now more than ever. Contact your State representatives by visiting https:// nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ to find your Assemblymember and https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator to find your Senator.

Smithtown Matters

SCPD Officer Offers Safety Tips at Commack School

Suffolk County Police Department officer Jesse Levy is offering straight talk to CMS health classes this week.

Officer Levy met with students in Donna Sita’s health classes on Tuesday, discussing vaping with eighth graders, bullying with seventh graders, and Internet safety with sixth graders.

Officer Levy impressed upon the sixth graders the importance of acting safely on the Internet. He noted to never put identifying information on social media, such as full names, dates of birth in handles, or what school they attend.

He also implored the students to turn off apps’ ability to track their whereabouts, such as disabling Snapchat’s share location feature.

Even when gaming, students must be careful, Officer Levy warned students. People pretend to be people they are not, play games against children, and start sending messages over time — perhaps waiting months or longer before trying to meet in person for bad intentions.

“Don’t think it can never happen to you,” Officer Levy cautioned. “That’s the worst thing you can do.”

The Suffolk PD assigns officers as school resource officers. The role of the SROs is to act as a liaison between the school administration, students, and the police department.

Please support

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta’s

Pet Food Drive for Baxter’s Pantry at LI Cares/Harry Chapin Food Pantry

Most Needed Pet Items:

Dry/canned food for Cats and Dogs

Cat & Dog Treats

Kitty Litter

Rabbit, Bird and Fish Food

Please drop off Items from now until May 1, 2024 at Legislator Trotta’s Office, 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, Smithtown Monday – Friday between 9am-4pm.

For more information, please call his office at 631-854-3900.

Thank you for your donations!

Suffolk County Executive Romaine Announces Sweeping Changes to Suffolk 311 – Significantly Reducing Wait Times

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) announced significant changes to the Suffolk 311 communications system, leading to a more efficient system which has resulted in reduced wait times, lower abandonment, and dropped call rates, the designation of additional employees to become auxiliary 311 call center staff, and changes to internal operating systems to ensure a more friendly constituent experience.

“The purpose of municipal government is to provide our communities with essential services in an expediated and timely manner, and 311 is an effective tool for communicating with our residents and accommodating their needs,” said Romaine. “By making significant changes to Suffolk 311 in the last couple months, we are now able to better serve our residents. I encourage our residents to call 311 for constituent affairs as we pride ourselves on professionalism and efficiency.”

In January 2024, constituents faced wait times that were at times longer than two hours – with many calls related to Department of Social Services-HEAP and Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency assistance.

Suffolk County re-organized Suffolk 311 in February 2024 by rolling out aspects of the call center and the County’s case management software to numerous departments, which designated staff members to become auxiliary call center staff to assist with inquiries when available leading to increased personnel and better efficiency.

Suffolk 311 wait times have been significantly reduced. For example, wait times on January 8, 2024, averaged 1 hour and 24 minutes and 2 hours and 24 hours for DSS-HEAP calls. In comparison,

wait times on March 8 averaged 28 seconds and 1 minute and 12 seconds for DSS-HEAP calls.

Average wait times in recent weeks into 311 is three minutes, significantly less than previous months. In addition, the abandonment/drop rate of calls has been reduced from 52% of callers to 10%.

The County’s Department of Information Technology also worked with 311 personnel to eliminate unnecessary data capturing procedures, improving the user experience, and reducing cumbersome data entry requirements.

In addition, the Suffolk County Executive’s Office and Suffolk 311 personnel will host a series of Community Days throughout the County at local libraries and community centers to further promote the program.

Suffolk County 311 is functional countywide except in the Town of Babylon. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends.

In addition to dialing 311, residents can access Suffolk 311 at suffolkcountyny.gov/311 and by downloading the Suffolk 311 app. The public outside of Suffolk County can contact the call center at 1-833-DIAL 311.

image by stockking on Freepik

Plan to Lower Drug Costs May Actually Hurt U.S. Legacy of Innovation

By Joseph P. Allen

For forty-three years, the Bayh-Dole Act has been driving American innovation. It provides the incentives needed to transform inventions from ideas in the laboratory into useful products and improve lives here and around the world. It allows universities and small companies to retain ownership of what they invent if they use federal funds to do it. The universities are expected to obtain patents, which they keep, and use any royalties to fund more research and to reward their inventors.

Before 1980, few federally funded inventions were commercialized. They were mired in government micromanagement that destroyed the intended protections of our patent system, which are necessary to motivate companies to invest the time and money required for development.

The Bayh-Dole Act, spearheaded by former U.S. Senators Birch Bayh (D-IN) and Bob Dole (R-KS), cut that Gordian knot. It decentralized technology management, shifting it from the federal government to the universities that make discoveries with agency support. It provided the needed incentives for commercialization, launching an unprecedented era of American innovation that continues to this day.

But that changed in December, when the Biden Administration issued its draft guidelines for implementing the law which attempts to change its meaning. Now, anyone accepting federal research and development funds does so at their peril.

When crafting the law, the authors wanted to ensure that good faith efforts were made to develop governmentfunded discoveries whenever possible. It was feared that big companies might license a university’s federally funded invention and keep it from being developed if it threatened

an existing product. There were also concerns that since universities were new at technology transfer, they might include unreasonable terms in their licenses that discourage development. The law included “march-in” rights, meaning the government can force a university to license their technology to others in those cases, or do so itself if the school refuses.

Luckily, that tool has never been needed.

For the past twenty years, those opposed to the law wanting to return us to the pre-Bayh-Dole days of Washington micro-management have filed a series of petitions against successfully developed products, asking the funding agency to march in and impose price control. They claimed that if a product was commercialized but not sold “at a reasonable price,” the government could license others to manufacture it cheaper. Every filing was rejected under Democratic and Republican administrations.

In March 2023, the Biden Administration issued one of the clearest rebukes to that argument to date. That makes it astonishing that nine months later the current administration’s guidelines endorsed the “reasonable pricing” theory it had just rejected.

The White House claims that by misusing Bayh-Dole so the government can control prices of successfully commercialized products by licensing copiers that it is unleashing a potent new weapon to control drug costs. But the proposed action will have little if any impact on drug prices. However, it will have a major impact on the entrepreneurial small companies that drive American innovation.

70% of university patent licenses go to small businesses. Under Bayh-Dole, we form approximately three new start-

ups around university inventions every day of the year. No other country comes close to that record.

These companies are highly dependent on attracting high-risk venture capital. But now investors will shy away, knowing that rival companies or foreign competitors can file march in petitions alleging that a product’s price is too high. The possibility of a filing throws a cloud over the technology to hamstring our entrepreneurs when they are most vulnerable.

Small companies licensing academic, environmental, energy and food production inventions are more likely to have key patents covered by Bayh-Dole. It’s now open season on them.

In 1980, I helped enact Bayh-Dole to free America’s research system from the crushing weight of government red tape and bureaucracy. In the decades since, this landmark law has reinvigorated U.S. innovation. It’s imperative that the Biden administration abandon its destructive proposal, which risks undoing that enormous progress. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

Joseph P. Allen served on former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh’s staff and helped enact the Bayh-Dole Act. He now serves as executive director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. This piece originally ran in The Seattle Times.

Senator Birch Bayh (D) represented Indiana in the U.S. Senate from 1963 to 1981. Senator Bob Dole (R) represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1969 to 1996.

Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Now Accepting 2024 Music & Drama Scholarship Applications

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 Student Scholarship program. The program this year has been expanded to include drama students. The deadline for applications is LIMEHOF will award $1,000 scholarships to graduating students. These scholarships will provide funding to eligible graduating high school students Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) counties who have shown an interest in pursuing a career in music or drama. To apply and to read the eligibility requirements, application. (https://www.limusichalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-StudentScholarship-Application.pdf)

Student Scholarships Applications Deadline: Friday, May 10, 2024.

All applications must be postmarked by the application due date in order to be accepted. For more information about LIMHOF’s education recognition programs, contact Tom Needham, Education Advisory Board Chairman at info@limusichalloffame.org. about LIMEHOF’s Education programs may be found scholarshipsgrants/

The LIMEHOF Education Committee will base selections on the completed application and the following:

• 400-to-500-word essay on education and career goals.

• High school transcript.

• Letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the applicant’s commitment to a career in music or drama.

Eligibility criteria is:

• Graduating high school senior from Nassau, Suffolk,

• Minimum 2.5 GPA.

• Accepted full-time at an accredited college or university.

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in music.

• Financial need.

• U.S. citizen or legal resident with I-55 permanent residency.

About LIMEHOF

Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, LIMEHOF opened in Stony Brook, New York. To date, the organization has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, and offers education programs, Island students and educators.

Guest Column

Woke Leftist Wrecking NYFD From Within

By Andrew Shirley | AMAC Exclusive

The New York City Fire Department continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons under its new woke leadership.

In the latest controversy last week, FDNY brass ordered an East Village ladder company to remove a “thin red line” flag after receiving a complaint from the office of a Democrat city council member. The flag, similar to the police “thin blue line” flag, is flown to honor deceased firefighters. The ladder company on the receiving end of the order notably lost six firefighters on 9/11.

As Fox News reported, “A staffer from Democratic Councilwoman Carlina Rivera emailed Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Madison Hernandez March 19 relaying the of a constituent who questioned whether Ladder Co. 11 was violating department rules by flying the flag.” But instead of standing behind the firefighters flying the flag, the FDNY leadership sided with Rivera’s office.

As if that weren’t bad enough, just a few days later, on April 2, a New York judge suggested that FDNY has a racism problem stemming from a March 7 incident where several firefighters booed New York Attorney General Letitia James during a FDNY promotion ceremony. Judge Nicholas Garaufis, a Clinton nominee known for liberal rulings, called the booing “vile” and alleged it “has to do with race.”

That a liberal judge should accuse FDNY of racism is particularly ironic given that the Department’s commissioner, Laura Kavanagh, has evinced nothing short of an obsession with so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) policies since ascending to her post back in 2022.

Kavanagh’s response to the booing of Letitia James – who has become a liberal hero for her persecution of Donald Trump – encapsulates how she has turned FDNY into yet another tool of the woke left. According to a leaked memo following the incident, Kavanagh said she wanted to “hunt down” the firefighters who booed.

Firefighters “should understand that BITS is gathering video and identifying members that brought discredit…to the department,” the memo read. “We want the members to come forward. They will come to HQ to be educated [on] why their behavior is unacceptable.” One shudders at what such an “education” might look like.

The memo quickly generated widespread backlash both inside and outside the Department. As prominent constitutional and criminal law attorney Alan Dershowitz put it, “Firefighters have an absolute constitutional right to boo the attorney general, and the government has no power to punish them for it.”

“It was a political stunt for the city to have the AG there. When it backfired, they sent their fascist pit bulls after guys for exercising their First Amendment rights,” added a FDNY retiree.

Following intense public backlash, Chief of Department John Hodgens announced the department was closing its investigation only weeks later. He did not apologize to rank-and-file firefighters, but conceded that “hunt” was a “poor choice of words.”

These two sagas are just the latest embarrassments for Kavanagh, who has faced serious scrutiny going all the way back to her appointment by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2022.

Historically, almost every FDNY Commissioner has had some experience as a first responder. Yet Kavanagh spent most of her career as a lobbyist for left-leaning causes and groups, most infamously the now-defunct left-wing organization ACORN. She then worked on President Barack Obama’s and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s political campaigns before being appointed as a “special assistant” to de Blasio.

Kavanagh only joined FDNY in its Department of External Affairs in 2014. Just three years later, she made Deputy Commissioner before being tapped for the top job by Adams. The move instantly drew criticism from many career firefighters as well as accusations that Adams was more interested in placing a political ally in the post rather than the most qualified candidate.

Since then, Kavanagh’s critics have seemingly been proven correct, as she has run the Department according to a decidedly left-wing ideological agenda.

Soon after Kavanagh’s October 2022 swearing-in, Mayor Adams signed five bills targeting the FDNY, including a measure requiring the Department to submit annual “diversity” reports, as well as a bill requiring mandatory annual “diversity and inclusion” training for all firefighters.

Kavanagh was eager to comply, quickly appointing a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. She’s also given a litany of interviews in which she emphasizes that her main priority is making the FDNY less “white” and “male”.

Kavanagh has also appeared to use her position to dole out favors to her political allies while targeting her political enemies.

In February of last year, for instance, Kavanaugh abruptly demoted three of New York’s highest-ranked fire chiefs, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Joe Jardin, Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Gala, and Assistant Chief of Operations Fred Schaaf, who

Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

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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

shared a combined 150 years of experience. According to the New York Post, Kavanaugh used old and unproven Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints “to besmirch their reputations and justify her actions.”

In response, ten FDNY chiefs requested “demotion in protest.” Shortly thereafter, 15 other firefighters filed a lawsuit against Kavanagh.

Kavanagh’s tenure once again appears to prove that the DEI virus destroys everything it touches. Whether it be Harvard’s academic reputation, Bud Light’s stock price, or the largest fire department in the country, infusing woke politics into anything and everything is a recipe for disaster.

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

WORD OF THE Week ELECTIONEER

Origin:

First recorded in 1780–90; election + -eer

Source: Oxford Languages

Synonyms: campaign, canvas, doorstep

Antonyms: idle, studio

Verb (used without object)

Pronounced: ih-lek-shuh-neer

Definition: to work for the success of a particular candidate, party, ticket, etc., in an election.

Example: “There are laws in place that prohibit electioneering near voting sites.”

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 19, 1775: American Revolution begins in Lexington, Massachusetts. The “Shot Heard Round the World” takes place later that day in Concord

April 20, 1970: Pete Correale, American comedian, writer, and broadcaster, born in Oakdale, Long Island.

April 24, 2023: India surpasses China as the world’s most populous country according to UN estimates, with 1,425,775,850 people (estimated to reach 1.7 billion by 2064)

April 18, 1906: San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city

April 23, 1861: Robert E. Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces (US Civil War)

April 21, 1949: Patti LuPone, American stage and screen Tony Award-winning actress and Grammy Awardwinning singer (Evita; Life Goes On), born in Northport, Long Island, New York

April 22, 1967

Mike Buck, American NFL quarterback, 1990-96 (Arizona Cardinals, and 2 other teams), born on Long Island, New York. He attended high school in Sayville and currently is a teacher and coach at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington.

By Cait Crudden

Community Spotlight

Restauranteur Backs the Blue

In the heart of the bustling communities of Patchogue Village, Oakdale, and Lake Grove lies The Village Idiot, established in 2010, The Village Idiot Irish Pub, established in 2016, and The Village Idiot III, established in 2019, where tasty dishes meet warm hospitality in an ambiance that feels like a home away from home and the kind of place where everyone knows your name. Yet, beyond its reputation for exceptional cuisine and a delicious beverage, this beloved establishment has recently found itself in our spotlight for reasons extending far beyond the kitchen. John Sarno, the esteemed restaurateur behind The Village Idiot, has emerged as a vocal advocate for law enforcement, sparking both admiration and, at times, controversy with his unwavering support for those who wear the badge.

Sarno, a criminal justice major and former teacher prior to pursuing a career as a restauranteur, stated “this is something I believe strongly in and support,” and has always had a large amount of appreciation and respect for law enforcement as the son of a Suffolk County Police officer and with many family members still in local law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services professions, including a nephew in the Third Precinct currently following in his grandfather’s footsteps. In a show of support for these community heroes, Sarno has extended a special throughout April on Mondays at these establishments where firefighters and police officers have a meal on him. All they need to do is show an ID badge while dining in at one of the three Village Idiots and the men and women that defend us daily can get a great meal on him as a thank you for their selfless service.

The Village Idiot has long been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike, drawn not only by its culinary delights but by the sense of community fostered within its walls. For John Sarno, the restaurant is more than just a business; it’s a reflection of his deep-rooted connection to the community and his unwavering commitment to its well-being. This dining special sadly coincided with the recent passing of Officer Jonathan Diller. Many

Long Island communities have come together recently to support law enforcement and Officer Diller’s family after his death.

“We did this special last year as well, but I’m glad to see other restaurants and businesses back the community in light of Officer Diller’s death,” said Sarno.

In a recent interview with The Messenger, Sarno shared the motivations behind his public stance in support of law enforcement, a stance that has become increasingly prominent in light of ongoing debates surrounding recent tragedies, policing and public safety.

“They put their lives on the line day in and day out for our country and there is a level of disrespect that has grown increasingly towards them,” he remarked, his voice resonating with sincerity. “They are paid to protect and serve, but the job has been pulled out from under their feet while criminals run amuck. Bail reform makes it worse. We need to show them the respect and support they deserve”.

Indeed, Sarno’s support for law enforcement extends far beyond mere words, manifesting in tangible acts of appreciation and solidarity. At The Village Idiot, they proudly proclaim to “Back the Blue,” a simple yet powerful statement that has sparked conversations and stirred emotions among patrons and passersby alike.

Sarno’s public display of support has not been without its challenges. In a climate where discussions surrounding law enforcement are often fraught with tension and polarization, The Village Idiot has faced its share of criticism from individuals who view Sarno’s stance as divisive or politically motivated. Yet rather than backing down in the face of adversity, Sarno remains resolute in his convictions, emphasizing that his support for law enforcement transcends partisan divides.

Indeed, Sarno’s sentiments resonate with many within our community who share a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers. In a world where public servants often face scrutiny and criticism, gestures

of support like those demonstrated by Sarno remind us of the importance of standing together in times of adversity.

Yet, perhaps the most profound aspect of Sarno’s advocacy lies not in the public displays or bold statements, but in the genuine connections forged between The Village Idiot and the law enforcement community. Many officers have become regular patrons of the restaurant, not only for its exquisite cuisine but for the welcoming atmosphere and sense of camaraderie that permeates the establishment. It’s more than just a meal, it’s a gesture of appreciation; a way for law enforcement to know that there are people like John Sarno and his team who have their backs. It’s a reminder that they are not alone in their mission to serve and protect.

As debates surrounding policing and public safety continue to unfold on a national stage, John Sarno’s steadfast support for law enforcement serves as a beacon of hope and unity within our communities. Through his actions, he has demonstrated that, regardless of our differences, we are all bound by a common desire for safety, security, and justice.

Sarno’s support is not only extended to police officers and firemen this month, but also to Nurses, Dispatchers, and EMS workers who he plans to have “a meal on us” on Monday special in May for dine-in customers who show valid ID badges. He continues to give back in the best way he knows how, with a warm meal and welcoming atmosphere to give them a place to relax and to show his gratitude.

In a world often characterized by division and discord, Sarno’s unwavering commitment to backing the blue reminds us of the power of solidarity and the importance of standing together in support of those who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe. As we navigate the challenges of an ever-changing world, may we all draw inspiration from Sarno’s example and strive to build a community where appreciation, respect, and unity prevail.

Jake’s 58 Breaks Ground on Massive Expansion Project

By Matt Meduri

Perhaps one of the largest and most well-known local recreation sites and tourist attractors is none other than Jake’s 58 Casino and Hotel in Islandia. Jake’s is also one of just two government-owned casinos in the United States, the profits from which flow directly to the New York State Education Department for schools, Suffolk County, and the Village of Islandia.

Opening in 2017, the casino has become one of the most lucrative in the region, raking in $288 million in annual revenue, a number projected to nearly double after the two-year expansion is completed.

The $210 million expansion project will see a near doubling of casino amenities, more than triple the amount of current parking, renovations to hotel rooms, and a host of unique attractions the casino can use to boost local engagement as well as out-of-state tourism and conferencing. The expansion comes off the heels of legislation signed in 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) allowing the casino to add more electronic games, more doubling the number of machines allowed under state law.

The project is also expected to create over 800 union jobs throughout the two-year construction period and 125 to 150 permanent jobs once the ribbon is cut.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held Monday morning in the parking lot outside the casino just off the North Service Road.

The Messenger got details of expansion from former New York State Senator and current President and CEO of Suffolk Off-Track Betting (OTB) Phil Boyle.

“One of the biggest problems we’ve had is parking,” Boyle told The Messenger. “I’ve had people tell me they’ve circled the parking lot for fifteen minutes, couldn’t find a spot, and went home. We have 600 spaces now, we’re going up to 2,000 spaces. We’re going to have a three-story parking garage off the main building and some other lots.”

Boyle also says that the number of electronic games will double from 1,000 machines to 2,000.

“We’re also building a 110,000 square foot facility on the north side of the property, we’ve already cleared ten acres for it,” Boyle says. “We’re going to have a spa, a conference area, and an ultra lounge, sort of a VIP-type of deal.”

Boyle is also interested in introducing a sportsbook to the casino, a facet that would be unique to Long Island.

“We’re also renovating all 210 existing hotel rooms,” says Boyle. “It’s a forty-year-old hotel, it needs some updating.”

Jake’s 58 is unique in that it has contracts with local governments that allow the profits to be directly reinvested into the community. The casino has a contract with the Village of Islandia that not only allows the Village to have some of its services delivered to residents tax-free, but also enjoy the longterm benefits of being an attractive community for new homeowners.

The Messenger also discussed the overall doubling of the casino with a representative of one of its prime stakeholders, Islandia Village Mayor Allan Dorman.

“Right now, Village residents don’t pay a garbage tax, they haven’t since 2010” said Dorman. “About three or four years ago, we gave residents a 50% reduction in residential taxes because of the revenue the casino has seen. With the expansion, we’re looking to get rid of the other 50%. So, if you buy a house in Islandia, you won’t pay any real estate taxes on a residential home. It could save you anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500 a year.”

Dorman says such incentives raise home values and set the Village on a good course for the future.

“If a young couple wants to buy a place, this is the place to be.”

Dorman also explained how Islandia formed the contract with OTB and what protections there are to ensure one stakeholder doesn’t hold the purse strings.

“Their profitability determines whether they open or not. If they weren’t profitable, they wouldn’t be open,” says Dorman. “We already have an

agreement in our contract that OTB pays a set fee. It’s not based on good days or bad days. It’s a set fee for twenty years. Two years before the contract is over, we have to negotiate either an extension or a new deal. So, this will be here long after we’re all not here anymore.”

Majority Leader in the Suffolk County Legislature Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) also gave his thoughts to The Messenger on the groundbreaking.

“It’s a great day for Suffolk County, for the residents, and for those who like good entertainment,” said Caracappa. “We thank the Governor for signing the bill to allow this expansion. More parking, more games, more room, and a lot more revenue for the County; we can all appreciate that. To have the revenue go back toward the County, education, infrastructure, and our buildings, this is exactly what we needed at the right time.”

Boyle headlined the press conference and was joined by Suffolk County Legislators, state officials, Islandia Village Trustees, and even a representative from Governor Hochul’s office.

“We thank our New York State legislators and members of the Gaming Committee,” said Boyle. “They’re up in Albany right now, the budget is late and they’re not getting paid. So, we’ll get them loans here from Jake’s,” Boyle joked.

“Or they could try their luck!” quipped Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).

Boyle thanked Governor Hochul, State legislators, as well as Islandia Mayor Dorman and Trustees.

“We’d like to thank the residents of Islandia for partnering with us,” said Boyle. “I believe after this expansion, they will be paying no Village taxes, which is unheard of.”

Matt Aracich, President of the Nassau-Suffolk Building Construction and Trades Council, was also present, and Boyle said he looks forward to working with Aracich and the Council regarding the labor required for the job. Finally, Boyle thanked the team at Jake’s 58.

“We all know that a construction site is never easy to work in, but we want to thank all of our employees for Suffolk OTB and Jake’s 58. We have a tremendous team,” said Boyle.

Suffolk OTB Vice President Jim LaCarrubba said that since Jake’s 58 is a public benefit corporation, “everything goes back” to the community.

“What we’re doing here today is costing a little money, but it’s going to pay back in spades for everybody,” said LaCarrubba.

County Executive Romaine echoed the importance of a public benefit corporation, such as Jake’s 58, for Suffolk County.

“It’s a great day when we can create good, high paying union jobs. It’s a great day when a casino shares its money to help public education, and most importantly, the County of Suffolk,” said Romaine. “And we know we’re going to be spending that money because we’re going to be reinvesting in our county and our infrastructure, and it’s going to come without us having to raise taxes because the casino is going to provide us a stream of revenue that will allow us to do that. It’s a great entertainment facility and now it’s going to become even greater.”

Just before the official groundbreaking, a live bugler played the iconic “First Call” typically heard at horse race tracks, fully asserting that Jake’s 58 is, indeed, off the races.

On hand also were Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), Deputy Presiding Officer Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), County Legislators Sam Gonzalez (D-Brentwood), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), and representatives for Legislators Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point) and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport).

Jake’s 58 Casino and Hotel is located at 3635 Express Drive North in Islandia. The casino is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily and can be reached at 631-232-3000.

Shirley’s, Travis ‘What’s Next Kid’ Smith, Claims 2024 Ringmasters Boxing Title!

Up-and-coming Mastic-Shirley amateur boxer, Travis “The What’s Next Kid”, Smith, won his first, esteemed boxing tournament. The well-rounded, fourteen-year-old William Floyd High School Freshman, the younger brother of former WBO Light Heavyweight Champion, Joe “The Beast” Smith, Jr., claimed the 2024 Ringmaster Finals, 140lb Intermediate Division title, Saturday night at Brooklyn’s legendary, Gleason’s Gym.

“The What’s Next Kid”, Smith, trained by Coach “K”, cornered by Atlantic Veteran’s Boxing’s, Coach Mike Murphy and Freeport Boxing’s former U.S. Marine, NYPD Fireman and USA Boxing Metro president Joe Higgins was totally focused Smith, methodically sticking to the fight plan, boxing and punching his way to a thoroughly convincing three round unanimous decision win. Smith looks to compete again near the end of the month in Hempstead.

Lift the Man Up

By PJ Balzer

It’s no secret that New York is the toughest place to play a professional sport. The sports media here holds back no punches, they never have. One night, you’re the city’s hero and the next, you’re a bum that needs to be traded by tomorrow. Professional athletes are aware of this before signing with any of our teams. There’s a high price tag that they are paid to play here along with a crushing pressure to perform at the highest level all the time. There’s no mercy offered if you don’t.

The first few weeks of the Mets season have shown us just how true this can be. The Mets got off to a slow start despite having a team that fans are once again excited about. They made some popular and unpopular trades in the off season to try to fix up their bullpen. Our closing pitcher is back, trumpets and all, after a major injury and rehabilitation process. The team is healthy so far and there’s already possible playoff chatter as they just came out of the gates. They lost their first six games to begin the season.

Most of the attention and pressure has been aimed at our franchise player, Francisco Lindor. The young, well-spoken role model native of Puerto Rico has undoubtedly started the season in a slump. The married father of two hasn’t been himself the first ten games of the season. The shortstop has started off in a career-worst slump of just 6 for 54 at bats. Due to New York being New York, Mets fans on social media have been asking for his head on a platter.

“Trade him immediately. How much are we paying this guy? Is there anyone on the Triple-A team that knows how to hit better than him?” are just a few fans’ comments without obscenities.

In the midst of Lindor’s slumping start, Mets owner Steve Cohen put out a Tweet asking that Mets fans give him a standing ovation rather than booing him at the next home game. He strongly insinuated that positivity is better than pushing down a player that’s already down and feeling it. Despite much fan pushback at Cohen’s request, Lindor received a longer than usual standing ovation at a home game earlier this week. Francisco is quoted saying, “I felt the love, this is home. It’s easier to play when your heart is warm and lifted up.” Strangely enough, Lindor has been making some good contact with the ball since then. On Monday night, he was a part of an exciting late inning rally that helped the Mets beat a tough Pittsburgh team and fight back to now a record of 8 wins and 8 losses.

Professional athletes are human too. They spend weeks into months at a time away from home. Flying from city to city, sleeping in hotels, getting on a plane at midnight to fly across the country to play a game at noon in a different time zone. Many see their children walk and talk for the first time on FaceTime while getting ready for a game in Kansas City, California, Florida, Wisconsin, or anywhere else in the country. Players are nursing small injuries that the media doesn’t yet know about before they become big injuries, all while the fans and media are expecting them to never miss the ball and never have an off game. If you happen to have a few off games, they will gladly schedule your crucifixion.

I applaud Steve Cohen for rallying Citi Field around Lindor rather than against the hard working and award winning player who is with us until 2031. While one fan’s rebuttal on social media was, “Oh now we’re giving everyone a trophy too,” speaking of applauding Lindor when he isn’t playing well. To that I would reply, “There isn’t anything wrong with purposely lifting a fallen man up.”

Ducks Fan Fest

Saturday, April 20

The Long Island Ducks announced that the team’s annual Fan Fest will return to Fairfield Properties Ballpark on Saturday, April 20, at 10:30a.m. Admission will be free of charge for all fans.

Fan Fest offers Ducks fans the chance to see Long Island’s hometown team as they prepare for the 2024 season, presented by Catholic Health. The Ducks will be playing a spring training game beginning at 1:00p.m. against the California Dogecoin. Fans will have the exclusive opportunity to watch the Ducks take batting practice beginning at 10:30a.m.

Following batting practice, the Ducks will head to the main concourse along the first base line for a team autograph session with all fans. This exclusive opportunity will take place from 11:30 to 11:45. Fans are limited to one autograph per player to ensure all fans are able to meet as many players as possible. Ducks team introductions will then take place on the field along the first base line at approximately 12:30.

Youngsters will be able to enjoy several fun activities along the main concourse. The Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Fun Zone, featuring the Bounce House, DuckTail Slide, and Obstacle Course inflatables, are all scheduled to be open for children and free of charge (weather permitting). The Waddle In Shop will be open for fans to stock up on new merchandise for the 2024 season, including apparel and novelties. Dina’s Dynamics Face Painting will be in attendance for kids to get designs painted on their face free of charge. Select concession stands will also be open for fans to enjoy various ballpark fares.

Two exclusive events will also be taking place for select Ducks fans. Season ticket holders will be able to pick up their VIP ID cards at Customer Service, located on the main concourse next to the West Gate. During the 2024 season, these ID cards will allow season ticket holders access to the Duck Club restaurant and bar, a 10% discount at the Waddle In Shop and free tickets at any other Atlantic League ballpark. Those interested in becoming a season ticket holder to enjoy the best savings and most benefits on Ducks tickets are encouraged to contact the ticket office at (631) 940-3825

Members of the Ducks Kids Club, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, are also invited to pick up select items included in their membership at Fan Fest. Annual Kids Club member gifts and ID cards can be obtained by visiting the Ticket Kiosk, located on the main concourse next to Customer Service. To sign your child up for the Kids Club, please call (631) 940-3825 ext. 108 or visit https://ld6.glitnirticketing. com/ldticket/store/view.php?product_id=9857&s_custom_id=27

For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

Spotlight

Return of the St. Catherine of Siena Community Health Fair

By Peter Chidichimo

The St. Catherine of Siena Hospital Health Fair sprung back into action on Saturday after a three-year hiatus, due to concerns from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Using a large tent to shield patrons from the cool and gusty winds, the fair resumed on April 13, on the grounds of the hospital.

Mary Ellen McCrossen, the Hospital’s Director of Community Relations, was on hand to greet guests and visitors.

“We have sixty-three exhibits set up for our visitors, including one just for children,” said McCrossen.

Also on hand were several elected officials, including Senator Mario Mattera (RSt. James), Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), and Suffolk County Legislators Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) and Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset).

One exhibit was St. Catherine’s Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Program, otherwise known as HBO. HBO is extremely useful for many conditions, including non-healing wounds, leg ulcers, bone infections, and thermal burns. Dr. Terrana explained that during treatment, the patient breathes 100% pure oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. It is this high-pressure environment that allows the patient’s blood to deliver more oxygen where it is needed. The increased oxygen facilitates better healing.

Manning another booth was Dr. John F. Folan, Medical Director at the hospital. Dr. Folan was spotlighting the importance of calcium scoring. This test, a type of CT scan, can assess the degree of plaque in your heart’s blood vessels. A buildup of plaque can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD) which in turn can lead to a heart attack. Calcium scoring only takes about fifteen minutes and can be performed in an imaging center. Dr. Folan, who actively works with first responders, recommends calcium scoring as a routine screening test or as part of a cardiac work up.

One visitor at the fair was Ellen from Kings Park, who was visiting with her seven-year-old granddaughter, Kaitlyn.

“There is so much to learn here, the staff is so friendly and willing to shar their knowledge,” said Ellen. “There is face painting and a Teddy Bear Clinic,” added Kaitlyn.

Present at the fair also was Declan Doyle, President of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital. Mr. Doyle was happy to highlight the various initiatives taking place at the hospital, especially the ED expansion, including an improved triage area, and three new treatment bays.

“We are also proud of our expanded St. Francis Heart Center, our robotic surgery program, and our wound care services,” said Doyle.

One popular exhibit was a laparoscopic surgery simulation. The laparoscope is a slender tool that has a tiny video camera and light on the end. When inserted through a small incision, the surgeon can look at a video monitor. Using small, robotically controlled tools, the surgeon can affect a repair without the necessity of a much larger incision. This reduces recovery time. Many visitors tried their skill at operating the robotic hands, trying to locate and retrieve various objects, such as small blocks, seen through the lens of the laparoscope.

Another visitor was Mary Ann, a 65-yearold visitor from Smithtown. While interacting with Hazel, a therapy dog, Mary Ann expressed how impressed she was with how “all the providers were interacting with the public.”

“These are skilled professionals, and their interaction with people is what makes a good

hospital great, and this is a great hospital,” she added.

Many visitors to the fair also took advantage of the “blessing of hands,” which was offered by members of the St. Catherine of Siena Pastoral Team. While receiving this blessing, visitors learned the role of the pastoral team is to provide ongoing spiritual support for patients and their families, as well as being a supportive and spiritual presence for the hospital staff.

For visitors looking to turn in their expired or unwanted prescriptions, there was a prescription “take back” bin. Other visitors took advantage of the free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI (body mass index), blood glucose, and colon cancer. Many people seemed to enjoy chatting with the various health care professionals in an informal manor, and many others seemed to enjoy meeting Hazel while moving around the exhibits.

Both Declan Doyle and Dr. Folan were excited to discuss the innovative RoboticAssisted Surgery taking place at St. Catherine of Siena. Using a robotic system, such as the da Vinci robot, surgeons can utilize 3D high-definition views, while the robotic arms perform tiny, precise movements. With robotic surgery, there is minimal blood loss, less pain, and typically a speedier recovery. It is presently used for general, bariatric, urologic, and other types of surgery.

At the nutrition booth, Mandi Li, Clinical Nutrition Manager at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, was seen chatting with visitors about healthy food choices. In fact, there were snacks laid out for people to enjoy, including acai bowls with fresh ingredients, as well as hummus with veggies.

Michelle Pipia-Stiles, Director of Public Relations at St. Catherine’s, was also present. Ms. Pipia-Stiles said she was thrilled for the opportunity to resume the spring health fair. She also mentioned several upcoming events, including:

- Walk Safe with a Doc (Tuesday April 30, 1:00-2:00p.m.)

- Boardwalk to Wellness (Every Tuesday in May 5:00-7:00p.m.)

- Osteoporosis in Men and Women (Wednesday, May 15, 1:00–2:00p.m.)

- Summer Street Fairs for Smithtown (Sunday June 2) and Kings Park (Saturday June 15)

For more information on these community events, visitors are asked to call St. Catherine’s Community Outreach Manager at (631) 862-3523.

A community health fair, such as the one hosted by St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, is an excellent resource, where visitors and prospective patients can interact with, and ask questions of various health care professionals. At the same time, there are exhibits and written materials which provide additional information. Most of all, Hazel the therapy dog is well worth the visit.