Doubling Down: The Jake’s 58 Expansion
A Conversation with Phil Boyle
By Matt Meduri
Since its opening in 2017, Jake’s 58 Casino and Hotel has been a unique attraction for Suffolk County residents looking to take risks and perhaps spend the weekend. The casino is also unique by its identity as one of just two government-owned casinos in the entire country. All profits from the casino go to the New York State Department of Education, Suffolk County, and the Village of Islandia.
However, Jake’s 58 recently announced a massive undertaking: an expansion set to double the size of the entire facility. The May groundbreaking started a project that is set to bring in more food, more entertainment, more destinationlike attractions, and, of course, more games.
The Messenger sat down with Suffolk Off-Track Betting (OTB) and Jake’s 58 President and CEO Phil Boyle to discuss the expansion.
Continued on page 8
Trotta Rails Against Tanzi Property in Kings Park,
DRI Matters Scarcely Discussed
By Matt Meduri
The Kings Park community turned out for a Monday evening meeting at Kings Park High School with the intention of contributing input for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) plan for the Kings Park Business District, which is separate from the $10 million State grant to improve and beautify the core of the district.
The meeting’s guest speaker was Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), who essentially headlined the meeting to lambast a local resident and developer over a proposed fifty-unit apartment application in downtown Kings Park.
Tony Tanzi, a third-generation Kings Park resident, owns a construction firm, a hardware company, and several properties in the area. Tanzi is seeking to construct a fifty-unit, three-story apartment building on 2.26-acres near the corner of Meadow Road and Indian Head Road in place of a vacant restaurant.
Continued on page 10
Legislator Trotta speaks at the Monday evening Kings Park meeting (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Suffolk OTB CEO Phil Boyle (Credit - Suffolk OTB)
A Walk Towards Grace Monthly Bereavement Series
By Matt Meduri
Smithtown Youth Bureau Holds Second Adaptive Sports Program
To offer sports and physical activity to Smithtown’s differently abled children, the Smithtown Youth Bureau partnered with the Sports Arena in St. James to hold its second All Abilities All-Star Program as part of the bureau’s Adaptive Sports Program.
The program consists of seven weeks of sports geared towards youth ages six to seventeen with various disabilities, who would otherwise face steeper barriers to participation in traditional sports programs. On top of physical fitness and sports participation, the youth also enjoy team-oriented exercises, social and emotional conditioning, as well as general camaraderie and enjoyment.
Kids were offered one-hour weekly sessions to hone their skills in basketball, flag football, kickball, soccer, volleyball, and wiffleball. The program was held Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer and split participants into three age brackets: Kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade, and eighth through twelfth grade.
The Messenger took the sidelines of the turf at the Sports Arena to catch the athletes in action and learn more about the program in its final week of operation.
passed down from the State to the County. The grant allowed us to create this program. I reached out to the Sports Arena just knowing their reputation and seeing family members participate in sports here,” Janine Marc-Anthony, Executive Director for the Smithtown Youth Bureau, told Arena to see how we could work together and what was needed to create this program.”
and coaches who helped craft the program, as well as the special education teacher on staff to help with other unforeseen needs.
for this. All the staff were patient, kind, and very accepting to all the students. Students could not only learn the sports, but feel comfortable doing it at their own pace,” said Marc-Anthony.
Sports Arena Manager Susan Stanley to see what sports they could provide and on what schedule the program could be held. She also said that while the Adaptive Sports Program has been run before, the Youth Bureau “went a different route” this year to incorporate “more sports” and focus on “learning different things.”
registered, but that the waitlist was much longer. Smithtown, the program was opened up countywide.
(SEPTAs) and regular PTAs and the administration in the school districts. Our newsletter goes out to about 8,000 people, so we have a large reach that way,” said Marc-Anthony. School districts included in the coordination were Smithtown Central, Hauppauge, Commack, and Kings Park. Although most students hailed from Smithtown, the reach of the program
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extended far beyond its borders, incorporating kids from Centereach, Centerport, Marc-Anthony also spoke highly of the Town Council’s role in the program, namely the Council’s liaison to the Disabilities Advisory Board, Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo (R-Kings Park), as the Council must approve the establishment of the program before the
“This program really encompasses just how special and altruistic our Smithtown Youth Bureau is. It’s been an inspiration to witness the success of this truly unique offering from our Smithtown Youth Bureau, the happy faces, laughter, and pure joy each week on kids and their parents alike,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “This program; along with Smithtown Recreation’s Camp SMILE, provides our most resilient youth with the core memories every child should have as a part of growing up in our community. Our administration has made a point to improve our parks facilities, access and seasonal programming specifically so that residents of all ages with developmental or physical disabilities can enjoy the same activities and grounds without barriers. The Adaptive Sports program has been such a success that our administration is already looking into offering this truly one-of-a-kind program more frequently throughout the
The program includes students with autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and other raditional sports setting.
“We also had students with physical disabilities as well, so it all really depends on how comfortable the students are with the setting and who wants to participate,” said
With a large reception that extended past Smithtown’s borders, the Smithtown Youth Bureau and the Sports Arena might have captured lightning in a bottle with their
The Sports Arena is located at 620 Middle Country Road in St. James. The Smithtown Youth Bureau can be reached at 631-360-7595 or by visiting them online
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State
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Murray Sponsors Bill to Combat Mask-Concealed Crimes
By Matt Meduri
While the chronic crime continues to bedevil Empire State residents, namely those in New York City, a bill to combat and deter crimes committed by mask-concealed perpetrators has emerged on the Senate floor.
Senator Dean Murray’s (R-East Patchogue) latest bill, S.9891, would establish a crime of aggravated criminal concealment of identity. The bill would not only establish the new crime as Section 498 within the New York State penal code and be levied to perpetrators who commit crimes while wearing face coverings, but also allow for enhanced charges to be brought forth for specified crimes while committing the new crimes of aggravated concealment of identity.
The Messenger sat down with Senator Murray to discuss the aspects of his bill.
Firstly, Murray notes a stark contrast between this bill and the recently-enacted mask bill in Nassau County. The latter bill, championed and signed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach), bans face coverings in public unless in the cases of illnesses or immunocompromised individuals. Murray finds the new law, which is already receiving an onslaught of litigation, difficult to enforce and counterproductive to both measures of combating crime and general political participation
“You have every right to protest; activism is your First Amendment right,” Murray tells The Messenger. “If you’re sick, had surgery, or are otherwise immunocompromised, but you’re also politically active, this bill would not affect your ability to protest while wearing a mask. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to gather outside with a hundred people to protest something you feel strongly about.”
“This bill wouldn’t do what the Nassau bill does,” Murray continues. “Rather than outright banning masks in public places, this bill would enhance criminal charges for crimes committed while wearing a face covering.”
Murray says that his bill would treat crimes committed while concealing one’s identity similar to how hate crimes or gun crimes are processed. For example, an assault or even a murder that’s proven to have been rooted in a racial bias are prosecuted as hate crimes on those grounds. A person who commits a crime with a firearm and does not have proper permits or registrations would face enhanced charges for commission of said crime.
“My bill does exactly that; it functions on the exact same premise. You can wear a mask anywhere, anytime, anyhow, but if you commit a crime while wearing a mask, it brings a charge of aggravated concealment of identity,” says Murray. “You will go to jail for longer and have more charges held against you.”
Such crimes committed have been observed as destruction of property, assault, and even assaults or attacks on law enforcement, many commissions of which have occurred while a perpetrator(s) is concealing his/her identity. Should the bill go into effect, those perpetrators would face larger charges and stiffer penalties.
Murray also uses another crime as an example, one that is less persistent in hot-button headlines as of late: stalking.
“If a woman takes out an order of protection against you, and you’re following her, that constitutes stalking,” says Murray. “If you’re stalking her while wearing a mask, it’s obvious that you’re intending to conceal your identity to get away with it. The penalties for stalking and the violation of the order become enhanced and you’re charged with the new crime.”
The breadth of the proposed legislation is not relegated to high-stakes protests, or even riots, that are especially active lately.
Murray adds that the bill is designed to serve as a “deterrent” to perpetrators who might use face coverings as an avenue to subvert criminal charges for crimes they commit while their identities are concealed.
“We’re not looking to take away anyone’s rights or be overzealous. We believe in personal freedoms. With that said, we don’t want you to think that you can use masks as
a way to get away with committing crimes anonymously,” says Murray.
Murray sums up his bill as a “compromise:” “Wear the mask if you feel comfortable, but do not commit a crime while wearing it. I think that’s a fair compromise. You’re perfectly welcome to wear your face covering for medical or even religious reasons, but do not commit a crime while doing so.”
Murray says that a Suffolk County-bred impetus for the legislation was the recent protests at Stony Brook University over the Israel-Gaza War. Furthermore, the bill would also offer a check on the relative power of protestors in New York City who are targeting Jewish communities, namely students at Jewish universities.
“I want to make sure that we’re putting forth legislation that protects every New Yorker and would apply to everyone,” says Murray.
The bill differs both in premise and enforceability from its Nassau County predecessor.
“How do you enforce that?” asks Murray of the Nassau County bill. Banning masks in public, except for medical reasons, requires much more scrutiny from law enforcement, and even hearkens to a time of mandatory vaccination identification for travel, leisure, and/or education in New York in the year following the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Such regulations were seen as overreaches by State and local governments, primarily by conservative lawmakers and residents.
“I’m looking for a sensible compromise, and I think this accomplishes that, but it’s also enforceable,” Murray says of his proposal.
Interestingly, Murray says that Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has signaled support of such an idea. Murray also says that this bill has a “better shot” of passing the State legislature than an outright mask ban would.
“Our democratic colleagues tend to shy away from anything that increases penalties for people doing the wrong things,” says Murray. “I think we might have some [Democrats] who will jump on board.”
Currently, the bill has six Senate cosponsors: George Borello (R-Sunset Bay), Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R-Malverne), Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), Peter Oberacker (R-Schenevus), Steven Rhoads (R-Bellmore), and James Tedisco (R-Saratoga Springs).
Murray is confident the legislation will receive an Assembly sponsor in the coming weeks.
S.9891 currently sits with the Senate Rules Committee.
The Moloney Family
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Hochul Declares State of Emergency for Suffolk, Community Rallies Together for Storm Cleanup at Mill Pond
By Cait Crudden
In the wake of the flash floods that ravaged the historic Mill Pond in Stony Brook, community members have come together to initiate cleanup efforts and begin the long process of restoring one of Long Island’s cherished landmarks. The storm, brought on by Hurricane Ernesto’s proximity to the Atlantic coast, unleashed heavy rains that caused catastrophic damage, including the collapse of Harbor Road and the draining of the Mill Pond into Stony Brook Harbor.
The Mill Pond, also known locally as the Stony Brook Duck Pond, suffered significant damage when a flash flood overwhelmed the area. The surge of water was powerful enough to cause Harbor Road to collapse, leading to the pond’s water being drained into the harbor. What was once a serene, picturesque setting known for its beauty and historical significance was transformed into a muddy wasteland, littered with debris.
Homes in the vicinity were also impacted, with several residents forced to evacuate due to flooding and the risk of structural damage. Local businesses and the community’s cherished Grist Mill, which remarkably remained standing, were left to grapple with the aftermath of the floods.
As soon as the storm had passed, the community wasted no time rallying together to begin the cleanup process. Associations such as the Three Village Historical Society, The Stony Brook Yacht Club, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization and the Three Village Dads Foundation played pivotal roles in organizing volunteers and resources to clear debris and start the arduous task of restoring the area.
The Three Village Dads Foundation, a local group known for its charitable work, coordinated volunteer efforts, ensuring that teams were strategically deployed to tackle various aspects of the cleanup. Volunteers, including local residents and members of nearby communities, worked tirelessly, picking up debris, clearing paths, and assessing the damage.
The Stony Brook Yacht Club, whose members are deeply connected to the waterfront, assisted in removing debris from the harbor. Their efforts were critical in ensuring that the waterway remained navigable and that the harbor was safe for future use.
In response to the widespread damage, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) declared a state of emergency, which facilitated the allocation of local resources for the cleanup and recovery efforts. Town officials quickly followed suit, organizing emergency services to address immediate needs, including the evacuation of affected residents and securing damaged infrastructure. Local leaders such as Supervisor Dan Panico, Deputy Supervisor Neil Foley (R-Blue Point), and Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station) even rolled up their sleeves to assist the local residents in their clean-up efforts as well.
Supervisor Panico said in a statement, “Sometimes the worst of times brings out the best in people. Over the past few days, I have witnessed people who don’t know each other coming together to help each other and our environment”.
and
and State Senators Anthony
Suffolk) and Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), to urge Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to take immediate action and signed onto letters requesting assistance. They called for the Governor to sign an emergency order that would unlock additional state aid and resources. Although there was a delay due to Governor Hochul’s attendance at the Democratic National Committee Convention, the emergency order was eventually signed, enabling affected community members to access much-needed aid for damages.
“The announcement declaring a Disaster Emergency for Suffolk County following record rainfall on August 18-19 will offer emergency assistance to support homeowners impacted by the floods,” remarked Assemblyman Flood. He continued, “I continue to express my appreciation to the local volunteers, first responders, utility companies and officials who have shown resilience in the aftermath of the storm damages in Brookhaven and Suffolk County”.
With the emergency order in place, the community can now access state and federal assistance to help with recovery efforts. This includes grants for home repairs and other programs to assist individuals and businesses impacted by the flood. Local officials are working closely with state representatives to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.
“On behalf of every Suffolk County resident who has been affected by this storm I thank Senators Schumer (D) and Gillibrand (D), Governor Hochul and all the members of Suffolk’s Albany delegation for this emergency declaration,” stated Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “We can now move forward and begin to help families and communities begin to rebuild.”
Also joining the Governor in Stony Brook on Tuesday afternoon were Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), Smithtown Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James), Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), and Brookhaven Town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook). Not only does the State emergency declaration unlock funds for residents and businesses otherwise lost on non-insurable claims, but FEMA assistance approved by President Joe Biden (D-DE) gives Suffolk a significant advantage in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
As the cleanup efforts continue, there is a renewed sense of solidarity and hope among community members. Plans are already being discussed for rebuilding Harbor Road and implementing measures to prevent similar damage in the future. This includes evaluating infrastructure to withstand severe weather events and improving drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall more effectively.
The Stony Brook Mill Pond has long been a symbol of the community’s heritage and natural beauty. Its catastrophic damage is a stark reminder of the power of nature, but the response from the community has demonstrated the strength and resilience of Stony Brook’s residents.
As the sun sets over Stony Brook, the sounds of cleanup efforts continue, with volunteers working late into the evening to restore what was lost. While the scars of the storm remain visible, so does the unwavering spirit of a community determined to come together, rebuild, and protect their cherished home.
The scope of the disaster prompted local leaders, including State Assemblymen Ed Flood, Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville), Joe DeStefano (R-Medford),
Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow),
Palumbo (R-New
A Member of the Most Well-Known Democratic Family Endorses Trump
In perhaps one of the most surprising boomerangs of the many thrown thus far in the 2024 election, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has abandoned his long-shot Independent bid for the White House and has thrown his support behind former President Donald J. Trump (R-FL).
The move comes just after the RFK team, with Kennedy himself joined by running mate Nicole Shanahan, hosted a roundtable with more than two hundred members of American media, with The Messenger in attendance. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the meteoric rise of RFK and his near-insurmountable task of obtaining ballot access in all fifty states. No one had accomplished such a task since Ross Perot (I-TX) did in 1992, an election that required a fraction of the ballots the RFK campaign did and literally set the stage to ensure that no such third-party bid could be mounted again.
RFK did the unthinkable and proved them wrong, and from the tone of the media roundtable, it seemed full steam ahead for the descendant of perhaps the most beloved Democratic scion in American history.
But that momentum apparently unraveled, or might not have existed as advertised, as just two weeks after the media roundtable, RFK addressed the nation in Phoenix to announce the suspension of his campaign.
While RFK’s move is certainly deemed admirable by many conservatives, it begs the question of just how much momentum the campaign actually had until the very moment RFK dropped out and endorsed Trump, just before Labor Day weekend, no less, which is typically seen as the official-unofficial kickoff of the campaigns.
Some believe the move to be disingenuous, as RFK took on a monumental campaign to contend with Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) nationwide, only for him to drop out just after the campaign made their unthinkable goal.
We had our suspicions that Kennedy was only in this to throw the election to Trump. Abandoning his Democratic primary effort against Biden and running a race where polling indicated to a zero-sum game in which Trump invariably walked away with almost all forms of vote-splitting advantages were two tenets that made us think RFK knew he couldn’t win, but he could help someone else win.
Furthermore, in the spring, one of the campaign’s top ballot access consultants said on CNN that her “top priority” was ensuring Biden was denied a second term,
and that if there was any path to victory for Trump in New York, it included Kennedy on the ballot.
At this point, we believe there was more to gain from Kennedy backing Trump than there was from him remaining on the ballot. It’s one thing to have notable endorsees from other strains of thought or political parties, but it’s another to have a member of perhaps the most beloved Democratic political dynasty back someone who, according to the modern left, is such a “danger to democracy.”
That alone is probably the logic behind the sudden suspension and eye-opening endorsement. If Trump can expect three or four points of support from the Kennedy movement, that could make a substantial difference in what’s expected to be a close election.
It’s no doubt a tough pill to swallow for the tens of thousands of volunteers who door knocked and collected signatures for months to get their guy on the ballot, and Kennedy’s decision to suspend is certainly one his most ardent supporters are not eager to relish.
But the Kennedy name and family was one that seemed likely to galvanize young voters heavily dissatisfied with the major party nominees and bring home a considerable amount of older voters who consider themselves “Kennedy Democrats.” Those avenues for ticket-splitting have now collapsed, and it remains to be seen just how many of those voters Trump will be able to court. Kennedy’s vocal endorsement and alarm-raising about Harris’ candidacy and the Democrats’ platform might be enough to sway those who can’t stomach Trump, but whose views don’t align at all with the modern Democratic Party.
Kennedy isn’t alone in the only notable Democrat-turned-Independent endorsing Trump. On Monday, former Hawaii Congresswoman and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard publicly endorsed Trump. While Democrats have the “Republicans for Harris” initiative, a list of Republicans who are virtually irrelevant backing the vice president, Trump now has a member of the Kennedy dynasty and one of the most outspoken Democrats from one of the bluest states in the country.
Although Trump selected a fellow Republican as his running mate, and one who was broadly seen as the least likely to net Trump crossover votes, he has the de facto makings of a fusion ticket, a historical rarity in American presidential politics. Should the votes play out as they would in a bona fide fusion ticket, Trump stands to take in a significant portion of the moderate Democratic electorate, one who feels increasingly estranged from the discourse and policies of the current party.
If Biden’s Candidacy Didn’t Count, Then the First Debate Didn’t Count
As we all know, the first presidential debate held in late June is what singlehandedly changed the race. Our editorial from the June 27 edition of The Messenger said exactly that. President Biden’s (D-DE) sad mental state left much to be desired of any leader of any party, but Democrats decided that the best way to circumvent a guaranteed loss in November, along with losing the House and Senate, was to force Biden to step down, nullify the primary results, throw in a new standard bearer in Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA), and continue with the campaign as if the most significant alteration in a presidential ticket since 1968 didn’t just happen.
It’s our opinion that if Biden’s candidacy, according to the left, didn’t count and was not representative of the best the party could offer its staunchest supporters and down-ballot partners, then the first debate certainly doesn’t count either.
The debates were mostly set when Biden was still on the ticket. As if the last-minute switch wasn’t a curveball enough to the electorate, it also put a large question mark over the schedule of the debates. The second presidential debate is slated for Tuesday, September 10, in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC News. The vice presidential debate is set for Tuesday, October 1, in New York, hosted by CBS News.
In reality, the second debate becomes the first. Although it’s almost impossible to make the case that Democratic Party business was conducted legitimately, it doesn’t negate the fact that we’ve essentially reset the clock on the entire election.
Trump and Harris should continue with the September 10 debate as planned. As per tradition, there should be a town hall-style debate between the two candidates, bookended with a third classic-style debate in October.
It’s neither candidates’ fault that CNN hosted a historically-early June 27 debate that sent the Democratic ticket into a downward spiral. Is there a possibility this was done by design to start the national tirades against Biden, or were we all just eager to watch the two beat each other up from behind the podiums?
The Democrats might have procured themselves a do-over by ousting Biden, much to the suggestions of deep-pocketed donors who would not release their exorbitant campaign funds unless Biden was sent packing. But Harris shouldn’t get off that easy. She should have to compete with Trump in the first debate between themselves.
Harris might be the second Democratic candidate in this election, but the second debate cannot serve as the second regarding the June disaster. The first debate needs to be recognized only for posterity and not for meeting actual thresholds of a typical presidential campaign.
Any hesitation from the Harris team needs to be met with vocal disagreement. It’s one thing to fundamentally change the race because your side wasn’t doing well with the candidate who received a record eighty-one million votes in 2020, but it’s another to pass off the past of an alternate timeline as one that dictates the path forward.
Three debates. There is no debating that.
By Anthony Cacciato
The Milei Method: An Unexpected Solution to America’s Fiscal Woes
Argentina is a country which is known globally for many things: steak, tango, and a history of economic mismanagement and stagnation. With this in mind, Argentina tends to be the last country an American policymaker would turn to when looking for prudent economic decisions, but maybe they should.
Following the election of libertarian economist Javier Milei last December, Argentina has seen an economic and political revival. The new administration has taken a literal chainsaw to the regulatory red tape of the Argentine bureaucracy and the irresponsible spending of the Peronist regime which has plagued the nation since the 1950s. Under Milei, Argentina has begun what can best be described as a miraculous comeback which has primed a return to its former glory.
Many American news outlets were quick to dismiss Milei during his campaign, calling him a “far-right extremist” and a “Trump-like radical.” Even after his inauguration, they have been fairly harsh in their reporting on the short-term struggles, like an increase in the poverty rate, associated with uprooting the systematic rot of the Peronist system. What they have failed to bring attention to is our current administration’s push for the same policies which tore prosperity away from the Argentine people.
Argentina has long been a cautionary tale of what happens when governments attempt to intervene in the economy and stifle the free market. At the turn of the 20th century, Argentina was world-renowned for its wealth, with Buenos Aires being called “the Paris of the West.” When Juan Peron took power, he pursued a policy of strict economic protectionism. Argentina soon fell behind its peers on the world stage, and the once rich Argentina fell into stagnation. Between coups and corruption, the nation became a husk of its former self, and by the time the 2023 Presidential election came around, reckless spending had driven inflation near 215%.
Last February, just two months into Milei’s term, monthly inflation in Argentina dropped from 25% just two months prior to 13%.
As Americans, it might not be immediately obvious how this matters to us. If we take a closer look at the current economic state of affairs domestically, however, the picture begins to paint itself. Firstly, the United States has struggled to push below 3% inflation for almost a year to the pre-pandemic average of 2%. We’ve also seen the effects of drastic trade protectionism under Trump and Biden, with hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs lost in the name of “America First” policies. Reckless spending has driven our federal deficit to $34 trillion dollars. This vicious cycle, if allowed to continue, could spell disaster for America, but nobody has made any serious effort to stop this impending disaster.
After all, if America has the power to leverage on the international stage to be fiscally irresponsible, why would we change things? In the words of Ludwig von Mises, “One of the privileges of a rich man is that he can afford to be foolish much longer than a poor man.
And this is the situation of the United States. The financial policy of the United States is very bad and is getting worse. Perhaps the United States can afford to “be foolish a bit longer than some other countries.”
America is barreling towards a cliff whose edge hangs over a dark abyss. If we are to avoid the inevitable consequences of our actions, swift action must be taken to restore fiscal responsibility and economic freedom. It may seem like a daunting task, but the blueprints for the solution are already laid out. America can look no further than Argentina under Milei for an effective plan to reduce spending, inflation, and promote economic freedom and growth.
Dear Editor,
Last October, when the House of Representatives was voting on a new Speaker, I was one of just 20 House Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan. I made it clear to my constituents that I couldn’t support him because of his strident opposition to programs critical to my Long Island district, like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), SALT relief, and the 9/11 Health Care Program. While some of my constituents disagreed with my decision, the recent devastating flooding—causing tens if not hundreds of millions in damage—has unfortunately vindicated my position.
At their core, the ideas that Milei promotes are fundamentally American. Classical liberal conceptions of free markets and free people stood at the cornerstone of our nation’s values from the start. Not only would the embrace of these policies bring us to prosperity, but back to our roots as a nation that we have come to forget.
Anthony Cacciato is a student of Economics and Political Science at Carnegie Mellon University who specializes in libertarian economic policy. He resides in Huntington.
Letter to the Editor
Always Long Island First
The recent storm and flooding have underscored the essential need for robust infrastructure and reliable support systems in our Long Island communities. As a staunch advocate for the NFIP, I recognize how vital this program is in providing protection for homeowners and businesses against the growing threat of extreme weather. Beyond that, investing in our infrastructure and ensuring disaster relief funds reach those in need are crucial for the stability and resilience of our region.
In Congress, I’ve been tirelessly working to secure the necessary investments in infrastructure that will help safeguard us from future storms. However,
this effort requires leadership that prioritizes the well-being of our communities above party. That’s why I could not support Jim Jordan for Speaker—his continued opposition to a national flood insurance program is out of step with the needs of Suffolk County. Supporting him would have meant leaving our residents vulnerable when they most need protection. I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that our communities have the resources they need to recover and prepare for the challenges ahead.
In Service, Congressman Nick LaLota Suffolk County
Doubling Down: The Jake’s 58 Expansion A Conversation with Phil Boyle
Boyle, a resident of Bay Shore, served in the New York State Assembly for a collective sixteen years, followed by ten years in the State Senate. Leveraging his career as a lawyer and his decades of government experience and believing it was “time for a new challenge,” Boyle took on the monumental task of guiding Jake’s 58 and OTB not only into a new era of modern gambling and the expansion of the casino, but also into an era of relatively uncharted waters.
The History
New York State OTB consists of five OTB regions. All OTBs in New York are public benefit corporations, whose profits go to the counties in which they operate. Due to declining horse betting revenues, Suffolk OTB declared bankruptcy in 2011, but the company wasn’t eager to cash out just yet. With just one casino - Jake’s 58 - with 1,000 machines, creditors were paid back in just two years, with the casino now turning in massive profits.
In 2013, realizing the losses of revenue to out-ofstate gambling tourism and underground betting in New York, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and the state legislature decided to implement seven casinos across the state. The first four were built in Upstate New York, primarily to address the region’s cratering economy, and after a fiveyear break, the remaining three were built downstate.
The Expansion
Looking to augment the casino’s already-massive successes, Suffolk OTB recently launched a $210 million expansion that will effectively double the size of Jake’s 58.
“We’re going from 1,000 video lottery terminal (VLT) machines, or slot machines, to 2,000 in a brand-new building,” Boyle told The Messenger. “At the same time, we’re going to renovate the current hotel and casino. It’s been decades since the 210 rooms have been truly updated.”
Boyle discussed some of the prominent features of the expansion, including a VIP lounge, a conference center, a gym, a spa, and hopefully Long Island’s first sportsbook.
“We have a number of amenities that people are really going to like,” said Boyle, making specific reference to a food hall, essentially a corridor consisting of different dining options, including contracts with big-name fast-food chains.
“We’re looking at four or five different restaurants, such as a Mexican place and a steakhouse,” said Boyle. “We’re also working on a couple of big [chain] names to bring into Jake’s.”
A large aspect of the project is the construction of a new casino building just north of the existing structure, one that will contain all or most of the slot machines Jake’s offers.
“Right now, we’re planning on moving the 1,000 existing machines and the 1,000 new machines moved over to the new building,” said Boyle. Such a move will leave the existing location open for the amenities.
“We might have some machines in the existing building, but the lion’s share will be in the new structure. We have Las Vegas casino experts advising us on the layout of the new building,” said Boyle.
The VIP lounge will offer a classic casino amenity to guests looking for such an experience without having to drive upstate or take a ferry to Connecticut, complete with comfortable chairs, a bar, and possibly even a cigar patio.
However, of particular buzz is the much-awaited sportsbook.
“New York State law says that a facility can only have a sportsbook if they are a class-three casino, which primarily have poker and Blackjack. We are a class-two casino because we have no table games, only slot machines. The sportsbook would require a change in the law,” said Boyle.
A typical sportsbook consists of couches, chairs, tables, chicken wings, and drinks, and allows players to watch the
sports games on which they’re betting, or even to watch games or races in which they have no literal or figurative horse. Sportsbooks as seen in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or even at Mohegan Sun, have numerous televisions with tickers running across the screens with all the pertinent betting information on constant display.
Boyle also discussed a unique aspect of gambling in the Twenty-First Century and how it can be an asset to Suffolk OTB’s business: mobile betting.
“Right now, the law allows us to run what I would describe as mobile sportsbook. We could partner with a company for mobile sports betting. You would still be betting on your phone, but if you bet on your phone while in our casino, we would get a little cut, but you would also have the amenities available. We hope to get more people coming in that way,” said Boyle.
Boyle also mentioned the nearby Racing ForumVillage Idiot location on Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, a 17,000-square-foot facility with numerous television sets that is geared towards horse racing. Boyle says that while horse racing is a more old-fashioned form of gambling, it’s possible to open that practice up to a younger crowd through the mobile betting partnerships.
Boyle is also hopeful that the Jake’s expansion makes the facility more of a destination, rather than just a casino, visà-vis the options set to be offered.
“As a member of the Great River Volunteer Fire Department for many years, my goal is to have fire department installation dinners in the conference center. I think there’s ample opportunity for growth and expansion there,” said Boyle. The conference center could double for corporate meetings, as well as private parties, weddings, or family gatherings, typical of a classic party hall. Jake’s could also offer its service as a small-scale venue for entertainment, such as musical acts, stand-up comedians, and other live shows.
Parking has been perhaps the biggest concern of Jake’s 58 regulars. Boyle says that parking capacity is expected to increase from 600 spots to 2,000 spots, in part facilitated by a multi-story parking garage and electric vehicle charging stations.
What makes Jake’s 58 different from other well-known casinos is its lack of live table games. The casino currently offers Blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps, but in electronic forms. Boyle says that a license for live table dealers at Jake’s 58 is currently off the green-felt table.
“There are about a dozen proposals for the three downstate casino licenses that can be issued. Just to get that license from New York State costs $500 million, before anything is even built,” said Boyle, referencing the contentious bidding process for the paltry number of licenses currently being offered by New York State.
“We are a government entity; that’s too rich for our blood. That’s up to Sands and Bally’s and the other big names to pay that much money. We’re going to stick with our slot machines.”
However, Boyle says that Jake’s slot machines are worth their weight in chips, a perk of playing just off exit 58.
The Numbers
“Our slot machine odds are actually better than other casinos. Vegas casinos can dial the machines down to set the payout. Our machines, by law, have to be set at 94% going back to the customers,” said Boyle. “Even if we have a bad month, 94 cents of every dollar goes back to the players in wins. Our profit margin is just six cents on every dollar, and because we are a public benefit corporation, by law, we have to give 45% of our profits to the New York State Education Fund. 45% of that 6% profit is what goes to the NYS Education Fund.”
The 2023 annual totals for Jake’s 58 show that over $123 million was paid to the NYS Department of Education, accounting for 2.9% of amounts wagered by players. Another $27 million was paid to the NYS Gaming Commission, 0.6% of amounts wagered, followed by $11.6 million to Suffolk County, $13.6 million to the NYS horse racing industry, 0.3% of amounts wagered, and a $2.25 million rights fee to the Village of Islandia.
“We have to run this place, and we have about five hundred employees. Our profit margin really comes out to just two cents on the dollar,” said Boyle.
Residents of the Village of Islandia cash in on an exclusive perk for serving as the casino’s home. The Village is already offsetting municipal costs from the $2.25 million flat rate OTB pays, regardless of the casino’s profitability. The casino’s contract with the Village will double to $4.25 million once the number of machines doubles. At that point, residents of Islandia will no longer have to pay Village taxes.
5% of earnings go to the Horse Breeders Association to help the horse racing industry, the remainder goes to the County. Last year, because of financing for the expansion, OTB temporarily reduced the yearly contribution to the County’s coffers until the project’s expansion is complete.
The Outlook
Boyle is confident in a two-year plan from the groundbreaking to the ribbon-cutting for the new building. “My goal is to have our ribbon-cutting before the other proposed casino project, and even have the groundbreaking,” said Boyle
“We’re also moving our [Suffolk OTB] corporate headquarters. We bought the IRS Building on Veterans Memorial Highway and we’re hoping to move in by the beginning of the year,” said Boyle. He also remains optimistic about Suffolk OTB’s future.
“Instead of working with 1970s numbers, we have 2024 numbers,” said Boyle, adding that metrics and previously settled sciences of the regulated gaming industry weremostly - not worth the cashier checks on which they were printed. The somewhat-esoteric horse racing scene has had a meteoric fall from grace over the decades and the advent of online betting somewhat shuffled the airwaves of brickand-mortar casinos’ viability.
Suffolk OTB also has almost fifty quick-bet locations where players can bet on horses and games. They can be found at bars, restaurants, and card stores across Suffolk County, an aspect of managing OTB that Boyle says contributes to the “many moving parts” of the business.
The Messenger thanks Phil Boyle for his time and insight of the project, and we’d be remiss if we bet against this house any time soon.
Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel is located at 3635 Express Drive North in Islandia.
Boyle and public officials break ground on the expansion at Jake’s 58 Casino in April (Credit - Matt Meduri)
This Week Today
National, State and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri National
The political world was upended last week as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (pictured right), dropped his Independent presidential campaign to endorse Donald Trump (R-FL) for the White House.
The move comes somewhat unexpectedly, as Kennedy had just clinched ballot access in more than five hundred electoral votes worth of states, with just Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wyoming showing as pending on his ballot access HQ webpage.
Kennedy said he would remove his name from the ballot in the ten battleground states so as to not act as a “spoiler” between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA). However, secretaries of state for Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan have confirmed Kennedy’s name will remain on the ballot due to withdrawal windows. In North Carolina, absentee ballots with Kennedy’s name have already been printed. Said ballots are set to be mailed to voters on September 6.
Kennedy’s name will not appear on ballots in perhaps the most competitive states of the election: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. He will also not appear in Florida, Ohio, and Texas.
Kennedy joined Trump on stage in Arizona on Friday, where he was warmly greeted by the tens of thousands of supporters in attendance.
Kennedy cited that his internal polls indicated his third-party candidacy would have hurt Trump’s electoral prospects and would have helped Harris take the election. Despite this, public polling has largely shown the opposite, with Kennedy’s presence on the ticket helping Trump in national and state polls.
Kennedy said that free speech, the Ukraine War, and a “war on our children” were the main reasons he removed his name from the swing state ballots.
“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” said Kennedy.
The move is as close to a fusion ticket this election will get, with Kennedy describing their alliance as a “unity party.” Speculation now swirls around a possible Kennedy role in a second Trump Administration. At his Arizona rally, Trump called Kennedy a “man who has been an incredible champion for so many of these values that we all share. We are both in this to do what’s right for the country.”
Trump then pledged to establish an independent commission to investigate the 1963 assassination of Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy (D-MA).
However, Kennedy’s family has been less than enthused about his support for the former president.
“Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear,” sister Kerry Kennedy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Kennedy called the decision “agonizing” for him, mainly as it relates to difficulties between him and his family and friends.
“But I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do,” said Kennedy. “And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.”
Some supporters are motivated to vote for Trump after previously vouching for Kennedy, with one Las Vegas rally
attendee saying that the Democratic Party now is “not the party he [Kennedy] grew up in.”
Trump also picked up another crossaisle endorsement this week, one from former Congresswoman and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard (pictured above)
Gabbard grew estranged from her party when she ran for president in 2020. Although a progressive by some metrics, she took chagrin with her party’s modern stances on bigger issues, so much so that after she suspended her presidential campaign, retired from her U.S. House seat from Hawaii, she left the party and registered as an Independent.
Gabbard endorsed Biden in 2020, but has since stated that the Democratic Party is controlled by an “elitist cabal of warmongers” and “woke” demagogues.
Gabbard, a National Guard Veteran who served two tours in the Middle East before her congressional career, joined Trump on stage in Detroit on Monday.
“He understands the grave responsibility that a president and
commander-in-chief bears for every single one of our lives,” said Gabbard.
Gabbard was not overly quick to criticize Trump during his time in the White House, even voting “present” in his 2019 impeachment trial in the U.S. House. Gabbard is now expected to become a campaign surrogate and is slated to moderate a town hall with Trump in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
In other election news, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) (pictured right) has announced that one million names from the state’s voter rolls have been purged following a three-year-long “crackdown” on illegal voting.
“These reforms have led to the removal of over one million ineligible people from our voter rolls in the last three years, including noncitizens, deceased voters, and people who moved to another state,” said Abbott. “Illegal voting in Texas will never be tolerated. We will continue to actively safeguard Texans’ sacred right to vote while also aggressively protecting our elections from illegal voting.”
Half of voters removed from the rolls are deceased, while others who were removed either requested to be taken off or are living in a different state. About 7,000 names were tied to noncitizens who had registered illegally, while 6,000 were convicted felons who were unable to vote.
Finally, Independent candidate Cornel West has reportedly been offered a position in a Harris administration by the campaign and even faced offers from the Harris-Walz team to have his campaign debts settled if he suspended his campaign.
West, a philosopher, author, social critic, and notable socialist, has been running a long-shot bid for the White House and currently has ballot access in nine states with write-in access in twenty-five other states.
West penned the 1993 social sciences book Race Matters and has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America since 1982.
West has not registered a significant amount of support in state or national polls, but in tight races in a few key states, a percentage point or two his way could spoil the election for Harris.
State
Before coming to Suffolk County to view the extensive damage, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) stopped at the New York State Fair in Syracuse on Wednesday and informed reporters that the number of migrants entering the state is dropping.
The governor said that 4,000 migrants were arriving in New York City on a weekly basis at the peak of the crisis. That number is now hovering around 800.
“We’re seeing a huge decline in the number of individuals coming to our city and our state,” said Hochul. “Their adaptation to the communities have been great, and I want to commend all of our Upstate communities who’ve welcomed them with open arms.”
The State Department of Labor has not shared official numbers on how many migrants who applied for asylum are now
employed, but the body has reportedly been working with over 10,000 migrants to help them find employment.
Hochul also said that the federal government’s legal red tape is haranguing the state’s response and the migrants’ abilities to have asylum granted to them.
“They have to bring in judges from elsewhere, it’s a lengthy process,” said Hochul.
Congressman Brandon Williams (R, NY22) has said that “New York City has tried as hard as possible to export the migrant crisis in New York City to Upstate New York.”
Local
Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) is leading a call for state and local officials to request the State Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study of the Calverton Grumman Site.
Health concerns swirl as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” possibly still reside at the site of the former plant on Grumman Boulevard. The plant was active until 1996.
In July, LaLota sent a letter to the Department of Defense regarding delays and lack of responsiveness from Naval Facilities Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) regarding the Calverton Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant (NWIRP) cleanup.
“I’m a lifelong Long Islander and I have seen firsthand the water quality issues our communities have faced. I am proud to have secured critical funding for the Town of Riverhead to address these issues and support residents but it is clear there is more to be done,” said LaLota. “Urgent action is necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of the Calverton community. Given the health risks associated with PFAS, including cancer and liver damage, it is imperative that the New York Department of Health quickly begin this study.”
The letter has been cosigned by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard (R-Aquebogue), and Riverhead Town Councilmembers Kenneth Rothwell (R-Wading River), Denis Merrifield (R-Wading River), Robert Kern (R-Riverhead), and Joann Waski (R-Jamesport).
Continued from front cover
Trotta Rails Against Tanzi Property in Kings Park, DRI Matters Scarcely
The $22 million private investment is seen by some as a key to revitalizing the business district of the hamlet to promote food traffic and spur other local economic activity.
The proposal is currently awaiting a decision by the Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), an autonomous entity separate from the Town Council.
Trotta, however, disagrees with the scope and location of the proposed luxury rentals, spoke heavily against it at Monday’s meeting, and fielded questions from a packed room of attendees regarding the proposal. The meeting was initially intended to gauge questions and garner public opinion on the Downtown Master Plan for the hamlet.
On August 13, the Town Board voted unanimously to accept the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Kings Park Downtown Revitalization Master Plan. The consideration period ends on Friday, September 6. Residents who feel specific environmental issues were not substantially addressed in the FEIS may submit written questions to dew@smithtownny.gov or dbarnes@ smithtownny.gov. Residents looking for additional information regarding the States DRI grant can visit kingsparkdri.com.
Some suggestions for the grant usage were discussed, including burying electric lines on Main Street, adding turning lanes at certain junctions, improving traffic signals, and increasing downtown tourism. These suggestions have already been submitted to the DRI committee during their public input phases.
The DRI plan recommends three sub-districts in the Kings Park Business District consisting of the Downtown Core, Downtown Transition, and Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The Tanzi property is spawning the most controversy, being in the third category.
“I think the reason we’re here is because everyone read that they wanted to put 50 apartments on a third of an acre,” Trotta told the room. “If you think that’s too many apartments on a third of an acre, I’m going to ask all of you to email the Town Board to tell them it’s too much.”
Trotta also criticized the Town for not sending a representative to the meeting. Emails of correspondence between the Town and Legislator Trotta obtained by The Messenger show that the Town could not send a representative due to scheduling constraints between the response to Hurricane Ernesto and the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The Town also notified Trotta in the emails that the Town cannot send a taxpayer-funded employee to an event not sponsored by the Town after hours unless that employee were to volunteer.
Trotta confirmed receipt of the email and said that he has been “aware” of the “number of presentations and public meetings that have been held with respect to the various Kings Park reimagining efforts.” Trotta also said that he would encourage residents to contact the Town regarding the Tanzi proposal.
The Town replied that since the meeting was held regarding a proposal currently with the BZA, the Town would not be able to offer comments without incurring ethical violations. A spokesperson for the Town said that comments collected from the meeting would be entered into the public record if and when the Town Board hears the Site Plan Application for the Tanzi property.
Trotta compared the project to Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D)widely-panned plan from last year that sought to wrest local zoning control from municipalities to meet statewide affordable housing demands, in which fifteen units per acre were deemed as “too much.”
Trotta also said that after a recent tour of Huntington, he said that “95%” of the hamlet is two-story buildings. He added that three-story buildings are generally undesirable because they “block the sun” when pedestrians pass beneath them from the sidewalk.
Discussed
Trotta also contended that there is “no criteria” outlined for apartments in the Kings Park Business District, referencing comparable metrics for other parts of Smithtown, such as thirty-four apartments on four acres in Fairfield off of Indian Head Road.
Trotta also said that a three-story apartment building with units on the ground floor would have “headlights shining” into the residences, along with noise from neighboring businesses on the other side of the building.
“Never doubt that a small number of people can change the world because throughout history, it’s the only thing that has ever changed [anything],” said Trotta, adding that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease” and recommending that residents opposed to the project “get loud” and protest the proposal.
“When you start putting fifty apartments on that site, you’re asking for a disaster,” said Trotta. He also conceded that while he is “not an expert” on traffic flow and management, he referenced a recent study that found Main Street is “so narrow, it’s dangerous.”
Trotta also said that if one should be interested in three-story developments, they should “go to Queens, Bay Shore, or Babylon.”
“I don’t want to live like that; this is Smithtown. We want to revitalize what we have, fix it up, and put some apartments in, not a ton of them,” said Trotta.
One resident said that while commuting from Queens on Route 25A, he witnessed the development throughout Queens, Nassau County, and Huntington, adding that “this is the one opportunity you can’t mess up, because everybody else is exploited already.”
Trotta and residents also bemoaned inconsistent facade coloring of buildings on Main Street, adding that consistency codes do exist, but that they’re not enforced.
The topic then turned to burying electrical lines on Main Street, a suggestion for which many residents have voiced support, citing safety hazards and general blight. Trotta said that the Town cited $10 million per mile for line burial. He contended that from Indian Head Road to Pulaski Road is just about a quarter-mile.
Utility poles are owned and maintained by PSE&G, while the lines attached to the poles are owned and maintained by the carriers. A spokesperson for the Town confirmed to The Messenger that the Town had recently received rough estimates from PSE&G upwards of $16 million per mile, however the Town is meeting with PSE&G to get an accurate assessment next week. A solution for utility poles and wire clutter is a major priority for the Town and is actively being pursued to present the community.
“I think this $10 million [DRI grant] is the biggest ripoff since the colonists bought Manhattan for $26,” said a resident, referencing the relatively low price for which settlers purchased the land that now houses New York City from the Native Americans. “I have a lot of evidence that this is the worst plan that is going to bury Kings Park.”
“Absolutely,” agreed Trotta. “If we stay vigilant, it will not bury Kings Park.”
One resident, who is also a commercial property owner in the area, said that another issue is “underground” apartments, which are constructed behind, above, and below commercial properties.
“You may not need fifty apartments, but those people are going to have to go somewhere,” said the resident. “They’re going to leach out into the streets and that’s a large community.”
One resident inquired about the parking plan for the development, to which Trotta said, “the plan is so out there.” He compared the parking plan to the Town’s plan for remediating some of the parking at the Kings Park branch of the Smithtown Library as park space, which he praised as a “great idea.”
“Ironically, they want to build all the heavy buildings on Meadow Road, a two-lane road,” said Trotta, referencing the parking inquiries around the proposed Tanzi apartment buildings. The Kings Park Downtown Master Plan also identifies the T.J. Maxx building as an opportunity site for a change of zoning should interest in redevelopment arise. However, the Supervisor has remarked that this was not viable for something the Town would consider adopting during his tenure.
Trotta also warned of a possible precedent being set should the Town ultimately approve the Tanzi development, stating that other developers will seek the same approval on grounds established by the Tanzi property.
“You can’t let it happen once,” said Trotta. “The good thing is, the plan is a plan. However, if there’s a [development] lawsuit that comes by, you’re going to have to build another fifty units from a separate proposal.”
Trotta also warned of a population swell that could burden the school districts and other municipal resources.
“The DRI committee admitted that in a one-square-block area, they’re estimating the population to increase by four hundred people, that’s not counting the proposed [Tanzi] apartment complex,” said Trotta. “Four hundred people in one square block is the definition of high-density housing.”
One resident added that since the DRI grant is taxpayerfunded, along with County funds going into the Kings Park sewer project, “it’ll be double-taxed and overpopulated.”
“Five years from now, you’ll all be crying when the school districts are oversaturated and have to expand their buildings,” said the resident. “What’s the biggest part of your property tax? The school districts.”
Another resident decried the Town’s recently-updated Master Plan, which had not been updated in over fifty years. The Master Plan serves as a blueprint for the Town’s path forward in terms of development, retention, and economic sustainability in the long term.
“Did anybody here vote for the Master Plan? No. The Master Plan has eliminated our vote,” said the resident. “Hence the railyard. Nobody got a vote on that. They just put it in.”
The proposed rail yard received federal approvals from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on August 14 to build and operate the new rail line, pending mitigation efforts for environmental concerns. The proposal must first seek a lengthy application process and environmental review through the township prior to breaking ground.
There is currently no application before the Town of Smithtown.
On the other hand, the Master Plan had been put out before the community for eight years before the public portion was closed earlier this year. By default, the Master Plan is not voted on by the community.
Trotta closed the meeting by conceding that developers want to make money, which is not something he fundamentally disagrees with.
“They deserve to make money,” said Trotta. “We have to make sure that they don’t kill us by doing it.”
Present also at the meeting were Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) and Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset).
Although the Monday evening meeting was mostly devoid of discussion specific to the Kings Park Downtown Master Plan the public consideration period for environmental issues closes next Friday, September 6th. Members of the public who wish to learn more or submit questions pertaining to the $10 Million state grant (separate from the Master Plan) can visit www.kingsparkdri.com or attend the community workshop meeting to be held Thursday, September 12, at 6:00p.m. at the RJO Intermediate Center’s cafeteria at 99 Old Dock Road.
CONTINUING TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO SUFFOLK COUNTY.
For the second consecutive year, Long Island Community Hospital has been listed as a High Performing Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. We have also received top ratings in treating the following five conditions:
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
•Heart attack
•Heart failure
•Kidney failure
•Pneumonia
This accolade showcases our expertise as we prepare to merge with NYU Langone next year. We are proud to be part of this community and dedicated to providing the highest quality care for you and your families.
Learn more about what makes us a High Performing Hospital
By Matt Meduri
Unveiling Our U.S. House Forecast
Two weeks ago, we released our initial forecast for the U.S. Senate, with an in-depth look at the top races. This week, we’re doing the same for our U.S. House forecast.
The U.S. House consists of 435 congressional districts across all fifty states. The representatives elected to these seats make up the lower chamber of Congress. The districts are redrawn every ten years pursuant to the results of the U.S. Census. Redistricting is done to reflect population shifts within each district and state, to constitute demographic makeups of each district as required by constitutional law, and to remove or add districts from states to reflect population shifts.
In 2022, Texas gained two seats, hitting forty electoral votes for the first time in history. Florida, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, and Montana each gained one seat, while California, New York, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio each lost one seat. California lost a congressional seat for the first time in history.
Redraws can happen mid-decade. New York was no stranger to such an event, as the remedial map put in place of an unconstitutional gerrymander drawn by legislative Democrats was tossed out. The legislature redrew the lines with only nominal effects on the districts’ partisan leans and geography. North Carolina Republicans also drew an aggressive gerrymander that prompted three incumbent Democrats to not seek re-election.
Louisiana and Alabama had their maps sued for disproportionately representing black voters. Separate court rulings required each state legislature to add another black-majority district to their respective states.
All 435 House seats are up for re-election every two years, giving either party a significant chance to capitalize on down-ballot coattails from presidential candidates and to possibly use a national environment to their advantage in midterm years. In recent history, the non-incumbent White House party tends to make gains in the House in the first midterm of said president, often enough to flip the majority outright. That’s what in 2022, although Republican strength was overstated by nearly all pundits and outlets.
218 seats constitutes a majority for any party who should capture the magic number. Our forecast currently puts Republicans at a slight advantage, albeit one that is not insurmountable. We think the GOP is at least somewhat favored in 217 districts to the Democrats’ 200. We rate 18 seats as toss ups.
What makes rating House races more difficult than presidential, Senate, or gubernatorial races is the usual dearth of polling afforded to these districts. Many polls tend to be campaign or partisan-sponsored polls, which may or may not give unclear information as to where the political winds are blowing in these seats. Prognosticating these elections comes down to tracking projected top-of-the-ticket energy on a state-by-state basis, intimate knowledge of issues in the districts and the voting bases that dictate these elections, and understanding the incumbents and their line-item wins and losses for their districts.
Safe: These seats are highly unlikely to be contested and the incumbent party has heavy odds to win these seats.
Likely: One party has several distinct advantages, but the race has potential to become
engaged to see a thinner-than-usual margin.
Leans: One party has a certain set of advantages, but the race is certainly considered competitive. Upsets are not out of the question here.
Tilts: One party has a slight enough advantage that cannot be overlooked in the analysis of the horse race. These seats are certain to remain competitive until Election Day.
Toss Up: No party has a distinct advantage. These races are likely to rely on top-of-the-ticket energy.
Our forecast sees 153 seats as safe for the Democrats at 178 as safe for the GOP. Democrats rated as “Likely” favorites in 19 seats; 19 as well for the GOP. In the “Leans” column, Democrats have 19, the GOP has 14. Seats that tilt in either party’s direction: nine for the Democrats and six for the GOP.
The important facet to note about this year’s House map is that there are no notable underdogs as of now. The good Democratic year of 2018 highlighted many vulnerable Republicans who were easily targeted and defeated that year. 2020 was a more neutral environment, as presidential years tend to be, and 2022 was more neutral than the GOP would have preferred. Suffice it to say, 2020 didn’t have notable underdogs, allowing a moderate net gain for the GOP that year. 2022 had a few underdogs, but there were still outside chances that many Democrats could have held on, and many unexpectedly did. This year is shaping up similarly to the previous two cycles and our current forecast reflects that expectation.
The Pickups
Currently, The Messenger forecasts four pickups for the Democrats and five for the GOP. Five of these seats are collectively represented by aforementioned mid-decade redistricting that effectively kneecaps the incumbent party’s chances of retaining them.
In NC-06, the Greensboro-based seat looked somewhat likely to re-elect Kathy Manning (D). Now, the seat has such a strong right-leaning profile that Manning declined to seek re-election and Democrats did not put forth a nominee. The
GOP picks up one seat by default.
The suburban Raleigh-based NC-13 went from a pure swing state to one with a slight GOP lean. The district carefully circumvents Raleigh proper and its associated blue-leaning suburbs, such as Wake Forest and Chapel Hill. Freshman Wiley Nickel (D) stunned with a slight win in 2022, but has decided not to seek re-election. The GOP is likely to pick this seat up, although the odds of an upset are present.
NC-14 was a solidly-blue Charlotte-Gastonia seat that went to Jeff Jackson (D) in 2022. Jackson has declined to seek re-election, instead seeking the open Attorney General seat. The seat still has Gastonia, but extends westward to grab parts of rural North Carolina. Republicans have a slight advantage in picking this one up.
In AL-02, the district went from a solidlyRepublican lean to an intensely Democratic one. Barry Moore (R) was drawn out and survived a primary in AL-01, leaving AL-02 with no incumbent. The district runs east-west throughout the state, taking in Montgomery on its way to Mobile. Polling shows a close race, but Democrats are likely to flip this one.
A more dire story for Republicans resides in LA-04. After carefully avoiding Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the district now spans across the state from Shreveport to the capital. This district is an even tougher hold for Republicans, virtually guaranteeing Democrats another pickup. Litigation over the district’s odd shape now alleges further gerrymandering than what the old map perpetrated. This map is likely to remain in place for the 2024 elections.
For districts not redrawn mid-decade, Republicans are slight favorites to pick up OH-13 and PA-08, while Democrats have a “Tilt” advantage in AZ-01 and NY-22.
Perhaps no district better represents the national shift of blue-collar, working-class voters to the right during the Trump Era. What was once solidly Democratic, union-labor territory is now ground-zero for any Republican campaign geared towards the working-class. Trump carried Ohio by eight points in 2016 and unexpectedly repeated that margin in 2020, despite polls showing a razor-
GOP Has Slight Edge, Tight Race Remains
Continued from previous page
thin contest. Northwestern Ohio appears to be firmly rejecting the modern Democratic message, making OH-13 a prime pickup opportunity for the GOP (see Midwest map above)
Although the district has a slight Republican lean, moderate voters went with Emilia Sykes (D) in 2022. The district includes Akron and parts of Canton, two blueish cities with suburbs racing to the right. We expect Trump to clear a historic ten-point margin in Ohio this year, essentially ending the Buckeye State’s century-long run as a quintessential, “must-win” swing state. Despite Sykes’ ability to counter the national and local environments in 2022, Trump’s coattails might be too long for her to overcome. We believe this race is one of the best GOP pickup opportunities of the House cycle based on partisan lean and expected presidential overperformance.
PA-08 is another seat that, much like OH-13, is home to a traditionally Democratic, working-class base that has also felt displaced in the modern Democratic discourse. The district encompasses blue Scranton and the coal mining town of Wilkes Barre, just south of Scranton. Red-leaning on paper, Matt Cartwright (D) rode the national environment to a win in 2018 and defied the national odds to secure a third term in 2022. This time, Pennsylvania appears to be the Rust Belt state in which Trump is polling ahead of Harris. If a Trump victory pans
out in Pennsylvania, Cartwright doesn’t have much room for error. It’s highly likely that the Keystone State will be decided by a thin margin, likely less than 2% for either party. That leaves enough room for Cartwright to get crossover support from split tickets. However, PA-08 remains one of the top targets for the GOP this cycle. There is a realistic chance that Cartwright lives to tell the tale, but if Democrats continue to hemorrhage working-class voters, that margin for error might be erased come Election Day.
On the other hand, Democrats’ best pickup opportunities reside in opposite ends of the country: AZ-01 and NY-22.
AZ-01 is held by David Schweikert (R), who won a thinner-than-expected re-election in 2022. While not a firebrand conservative, the district might be outpacing Schweikert’s more conservative positions as it grows to include a more moderate, swingy voting base. AZ-01 constitutes northern suburban Phoenix, including Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley. Phoenix is already one of the fastest-growing parts of the country, leaving the Arizona GOP grappling with how to handle messaging to an ever-changing populace (see Southwest map below) Given Schweikert’s razor-thin win in 2022 in a moderately “good” Republican year, a neutral environment in which Arizona is guaranteed to be at the forefront probably implies he’s already underwater. He’s certainly a battle-tested opponent, and could outperform his 2022 showing, but if that’s the case, we don’t think it will be by much. Trump has maintained thin leads in the Copper State since the Biden-Harris ticket switch, but Arizona will remain healthily competitive until Election Day. Any extra growth Phoenix-metro has is likely to lean blue, which might be enough to drag Schweikert under.
Finally, in NY-22, freshman Brandon Williams (R) might not be the most favored for re-election. He represents a
notoriously iconoclastic part of Upstate New York, which includes Syracuse and Utica. The mid-decade redraw from the Democratic state legislature made his district slightly more blue-leaning, which is ultimately what makes us think he’s currently unfavored, albeit slightly, for re-election.
What made this district a white whale for Democrats for years was the ever-moderate John Katko (R). After the 2018 Democratic flip of the House, Katko was one of just two Republicans nationwide - the other being Will Hurd in TX-23, who briefly ran for president last year - to represent seats that were won by Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016. Katko built a moderate record and dispatched a well-funded opponent by a considerable margin in 2020. Katko hung it up in 2022, leaving an open seat that was narrowly carried by Williams and the red wave experienced in New York (see Northeast map below)
Now, in a more neutral environment, albeit one in which New York overall could swing right, Williams doesn’t have the years of moderate positions that Katko did to insulate himself from even the most brutal political headwinds. This isn’t to say Williams is down for the count, but he has extraordinarily tough shoes of a gifted overperformer to fill. To his benefit, he hasn’t represented his district farther to the right than what most constituents there would recommend, but if Democrats had to pick a top target, AZ-01 and NY-22 are likely their top choices.
Until the Next Update
For now, Republicans are moderately favored in the current House horse race but neither party is currently forecasted as hitting that magic number of 218. Republicans are currently favored to experience a net gain of one seat, by flipping five while losing four.
In our next update of the House landscape, we’ll dive into the toss up seats and discuss how these eighteen seats - for now - are likely to determine balance of power in the lower chamber.
By Matt Meduri
The Necessary Standard for American Education
The Full Ginsburg
Although not a topic associated with traditional civics, the concept of the Full Ginsburg has captivated national media since its accidental creation. The phenomenon usually coincides with American politics and government.
What is the Full Ginsburg?
In short, the term refers to a person who appears on all five American major Sunday morning talk shows on the same day. The shows consist of This Week on ABC, Fox News Sunday on Fox, Face the Nation on CBS, Meet the Press on NBC, and State of the Union on CNN. State of the Union replaced Late Edition, also on CNN, in 2009. For the sake of qualification for a Full Ginsburg, the same show applies.
The term is named for William H. Ginsburg, Monica Lewsinky’s lawyer who rose to prominence during the sexual conduct scandal between her and then-President Bill Clinton (D-AR). Ginsburg appeared on all five Sunday morning talk shows on February 1, 1998, thus creating an American media phenomenon that has only been completed on thirty-seven other occasions, with four individuals completing two, and just one completing three.
Long Island’s Association with the Full Ginsburg
Long Island, namely Suffolk County, has a unique relationship to the Full Ginsburg. Former Congressman Rick Lazio (R-Amityville) (pictured right) was elected to represent NY-02 in 1992. He served in that position until 2001. Prior to his stint in Washington, Lazio represented the Eleventh District in the Suffolk County Legislature for just two years. He was succeeded immediately by now-Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip). The seat is now held by Deputy Presiding Officer Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters).
Lazio had defeated eighteen-year incumbent Thomas Downey (D), who had, interestingly, also preceded Lazio in the County Legislature from the same district. Lazio quickly built a reputation as one of the most powerful moderates in Congress, which, after his 1994 reelection, became controlled by Republicans under the gavels of Bob Michel (R, IL-18), Newt Gingrich (R, GA-06), and Dennis Hastert (R, IL-14).
Lazio served as Deputy Majority Whip, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chairman of the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
Lazio earned his Full Ginsburg and put Long Island in the national spotlight when he assumed the Republican nomination in the 2000 Senate election to succeed the legendary Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D). New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) had soared in popularity due to his revitalization of the Big Apple and appeared to be the favorite over then-First Lady Hillary Clinton (D) (pictured below), who was accused of carpetbagging to New York to run for the powerful seat. Giuliani’s personal life kneecapped his campaign, causing him to withdraw from the race in May. With just a five-month runway, Lazio was quickly thrust into the national spotlight. His debate conduct against Clinton earned him negative attention for his condescending attitude, causing him to lose the Senate race by twelve points, a relatively thin margin for a solidly-blue state. Lazio carried both Nassau and Suffolk counties, the last time a Republican would do so until Joe Pinion (R) in 2022.
Notable Full Ginsburg Performers
Former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney (R-WY) would be the next to complete a Full Ginsburg after the 2000 Republican National Convention, the election after which he would become Vice President. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) would complete the next feat in 2004 for his widely-revered presidential campaign, followed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina.
Hillary Clinton would then complete her first and only Full Ginsburg in 2007 in response to her 2008 presidential campaign.
The H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic would see three Full Ginsburgs in just one day: May 3, 2009. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS), and acting CDC Director Richard Besser would all complete the rounds on that day.
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
The Haiti earthquakes saw four Ginsburgs performed in one day: January 17, 2010, by former President Clinton, then-President George Bush (R-TX), and two other top national officials.
The Last Decade
The last decade saw some nowfamiliar names make their Sunday morning rounds in response to political roles. ThenHouse Speaker Paul Ryan (R, WI-01) discussed his new role as Speaker in 2015, while Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) discussed their presidential bids in February 2016. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) would complete a Full Ginsburg in September 2016 discussing his vice presidential bid.
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani would also complete the rounds in October 2016 on behalf of Donald Trump (R-NY).
Now-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) would complete a Full Ginsburg in 2020 in response to his captivating presidential bid, followed by a March 2020 Full Ginsburg with Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured above) in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The most recent Full Ginsburg was completed by John Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Advisor, discussing the 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel. This round was completed on April 14, 2024.
The Record-Holder
The record for the most Full Ginsburgs performed by one person is three, held by Senator Marco Rubio. His April 2013 appearances saw him discuss immigration reform, while his two February 2016 rounds saw him discuss his meteoric rise in the GOP nominating field for president. At the time, Rubio was seen as perhaps the most electable candidate out of the neartwenty Republicans looking to take on Hillary Clinton. Rubio suspended his campaign in March after losing his home state of Florida in a landslide to Donald Trump.
Two Ginsburgs
Four people have completed two Full Ginsburgs: Jack Lew, John Kerry (D-MA), Denis McDonough, and Mike Pompeo (R-KS).
Jack Lew served as White House Chief of Staff in 2013, when he discussed the 2012 federal budget, and as Treasury Secretary discussing the 2013 U.S. government shutdown.
Former Senator John Kerry discussed possible military aid to Syria in 2013 in his role as Secretary of State. He would complete the rounds again in 2014 discussing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a commercial passenger flight that was shot down over Ukraine by a Russian missile.
Denis McDonough completed his first Full Ginsburg in 2013 as White House Chief of Staff discussing military aid to Syria, and his second in 2015 as a follow-up to the 2015 State of the Union Address.
Finally, Mike Pompeo, as Secretary of State, completed a 2019 Full Ginsburg regarding President Trump canceling secret talks with the Taliban, and a 2020 round discussing Trump’s order to kill Qasem Soleimani, the highest military commander in Iran.
Variations
Some variations of the Full Ginsburg are sometimes considered by pundits. President Barack Obama (D-IL) appeared on five morning talk shows to promote health care reform, opting for Univision’s Al Punto Spanish program instead of Fox News Sunday.
The first person to appear on all six news shows - CNN’s The Situation Room, ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, Fox’s Special Report with Bret Baier, and PBS NewsHour - was Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) in 2013. He appeared on all shows in just one week.
The record-holder for a “variation” Full Ginsburg is, oddly enough, Senator Rubio (pictured above). On April 14, 2013, he became the first person to appear on seven Sunday talk shows on the same day. In addition to the five staple programs, Rubio also appeared on Univision’s Al Punto and Telemundo’s Enfoque, both of which are Spanish-language programs.
The Mattera Report: Moving Forward Together After the Storm
By Senator Mario Mattera
Last week, Suffolk County experienced a storm unlike any we have seen before, with over eleven inches of rain falling in just three hours. Our community was hit hard, with homes flooding and lives upended in a matter of hours. The devastation is undeniable, but so is our resilience. As we come together to rebuild and recover, it is important to recognize the efforts that are being made at all levels to support our residents.
I am grateful that Governor Hochul took the time to visit our region and assess the damage firsthand. However, while I appreciate the initial steps that have been taken, I am continuing to push to ensure that all Suffolk County residents receive the aid they need and deserve.
I have been working tirelessly, coordinating with Suffolk County officials and various state entities to expedite the recovery process. We are jointly committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. I have also spoken with Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray to gather more information and resources to address the challenges we face.
We are also looking into having New York State access the FEMA Individual Assistance program to get funding for our residents without income limits. I have been in contact with the Office of Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine to get this done as soon as possible.
I will continue to push for the support that our residents need, and I will not stop until every family affected by this storm has the help they require to rebuild their lives.
While the governor’s relief efforts have been tied to certain income thresholds, I remain hopeful that there will be more flexibility in the distribution of aid. This was our Superstorm Sandy and we must remember that disasters do not discriminate. I believe that assistance should be available to all who need it. We are collaborating with our partners at every level of government to address these concerns and to ensure that the recovery process is as inclusive and fair as possible.
This storm has shown us that our infrastructure needs improvement, and I am committed to
working on long-term solutions to better prepare our community for the future. But in the meantime, I am focused on the immediate needs of our residents.
I want to thank Governor Hochul for her visit and her efforts. While it is appreciated, there remains a great deal of work to be done. Together, we will continue to advocate for the resources and support our community needs, and we will keep pushing until every family affected by this storm has the help they need to rebuild and recover.
Suffolk County is strong and so are our residents. We will overcome this challenge and come out even stronger.
Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) has represented the Second District in the New York State Senate since 2021. The Second District contains the entire Townships of Huntington and Smithtown. Senator Mattera serves as Ranking Member on the Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee and on the Energy and Telecommunications Committee. He also serves on the committees on Cannabis; Civil Service and Pensions; Labor; and Transportation.
The Second District office is located at 180 East Main Street, Suite 210, in Smithtown and can be reached at 631-361-2154.
Credit
Senator Mario Mattera
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Long Island Locavore
Watermelon – The Juicy Star of Summer
By Nancy Vallarella
Ah, Labor Day weekend—the final curtain call for summer! It’s the time when we honor the hard-working spirit of America by indulging in BBQs, beach days, and, of course, the ultimate summer fruit: watermelon. This juicy, vibrant fruit has been gracing summer tables for over 4,000 years, ever since it first made a splash along the banks of the Nile River. Back then, it was a lifesaver, quenching thirst under the blazing sun, and today, it still reigns supreme in recipes, beauty products, and summer fun.
Watermelons are like nature’s perfect hydration packs—92% water, refreshingly crisp, and sweet enough to make your taste buds dance. But they’re more than just water and unprocessed sugar; they’re loaded with vitamins (A, B6, C), minerals (potassium, magnesium, thiamin, phosphorus), an amino acid (L-citrulline), and a powerful antioxidant (Glutathione). So, every bite is a burst of flavor and nutrition.
With over 1,200 varieties, watermelons are as diverse as they are delicious. On Long Island, farmers stick to three fan favorites—red, yellow, and orange. The red variety is the sweetest, with a floral hint that makes it a classic. Yellow watermelons taste like honey kissed by the sun, while orange ones bring a tangy citrus twist to the party. These tasty treasures are ripe for picking for just another week, so grab them while you can at your local farmstand!
Now, let’s talk about seeds. Sure, seedless watermelons have taken over supermarket aisles, but who doesn’t miss the days of seed-spitting contests? Whether you were a backyard champion or just enjoyed the challenge, those seeds were part of the fun. Maybe it’s time to bring back the seeds and all the childhood memories that come with them.
Watermelons aren’t just for eating, though—they’re the life of the party! Ever seen a watermelon centerpiece? How about a watermelon keg? This fruit is a culinary chameleon, perfect for smoothies, grilling like a steak, or even making fruit pizza and fries. And for the no-waste warriors out there, don’t toss those rinds! Pickle them for a zesty condiment. Plus, the beauty aisle is bursting with watermelon-infused products—think face masks, lotions, and shampoos that leave you smelling as fresh as summer itself.
Ready to pick the perfect melon? Look for a creamy yellow field spot—that’s the sweet spot for ripeness. And remember, the heavier, the juicier!
As we say goodbye to summer and gear up for back-to-school, why not make some watermelon magic in the kitchen? Get the kids involved with watermelon fries and pizza or whip up a refreshing watermelon martini (or mocktail) to keep the adults hydrated. Cheers to the last days of summer—make them as sweet and juicy as a perfectly ripe watermelon!
FUN FACT: The largest watermelon ever grown weighed in at a whopping 350 pounds! Now that’s a big slice of summer!
Watermelon Fries with Dipping Sauce
Special Equipment: crinkle cutter
Ingredients:
1 half of watermelon cut lengthwise (you can cut the watermelon half in half for easier handling)
For the sauce –
1 cup Greek yogurt – use plain or a complimentary flavor. I recommend honey flavor and add lime zest for a nice contrast.
Directions:
Cut watermelon half or quarter into one-inch slices. Remove rinds and cut with crinkle cutter into fries working from one side of the slice to the other.
Place yogurt into a small serving dish. Plate and serve cold.
Watermelon Pizza
Ingredients:
1 slice (round disk) 1-inch-thick watermelon
½ - 1 cup Greek yogurt - use plain or a complimentary flavor. I recommend honey flavor and add lime zest for a nice contrast.
1 cup assorted sliced fruit – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, pineapple. Pick three of different colors.
Fresh mint for garnish.
Directions:
Cut watermelon disk into 8 slices. Dress each slice with yogurt and fresh sliced fruit of choice. Garnish with mint.
Both the Watermelon Fries and Pizza make a wonderful after school and classroom snack! Adults love them as a healthy dessert option.
Watermelon Martini - 2 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups cubed watermelon blended & pressed through strainer = 1 1/2 cups watermelon juice.
1/2 lime squeezed 4 shots of vodka
Optional: agave or simple syrup to taste
Directions:
Shake with ice. Strain and pour into a chilled martini glass or on the rock in a rocks glass. Garnish with mint.
Long Island Locavore was created by Nancy Vallarella. Managing farmer’s markets, creating recipes, and giving food demonstrations all contribute to bringing awareness to all things farmed, fished, foraged, and produced on Long Island! For more recipes, or to ask a question, DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or contact her via email – lilocavore495@gmail.com
Watermelon Shark
A delicious summer centerpiece with bite! Easily made with blueberries and an artistic hand.
Credit
Nancy
Vallarella
Long Island Life & Politics
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Report: Tourism Spending on Long Island Increased 12.7%
By Hank Russell
A report recently released by Tourism Economics found that, in 2023, visitors spent $7.463 billion on Long Island, an increase of 12.7% compared to the previous year. The amount was not only greater than last year’s figure of $6.619 billion, but also 2019’s figure of $6.31 billion, the year before the pandemic happened.
The report also showed that Long Island was one of four regions in the state with double-digit increases. Long Island was second to New York City (13.9%), but outperformed Greater Niagara (11.2%) and Finger Lakes (10.1%). It even did better than New York State, with a 12.0% increase.
In visitor spending by region, Long Island accounted for 8% of all statewide spending. New York City had the lion’s share with 61%, but Long Island had a greater percentage than Central New York at 6%, Finger Lake (5%), Niagara (4%), Capital-Saratoga and Catskills (3% each), Adirondacks (2%), Thousand Islands and Chautaqua-Allegheny (1% each).
Last year, the economic impact of tourism on Long Island was $7.463 billion in direct sales. Broken down by county, tourists spent $4.279 billion in Suffolk — a 15.6% increase year over year — and $3.184 billion in Nassau, which is 9.1% higher than in 2022. In reporting visitor spending by sector, 36% was on food and beverage, 20% was on lodging, 16% was on retail, 13% was on transportation, 8% was on recreation and 7% was on second homes.
Further, Long Island collected $899.94 million in tax revenue last year, with Suffolk and Nassau receiving $519.475 million and $380.465 million, respectively.
“Were it not for tourism-generated state and local taxes, the average household in the [Long Island] region would have to pay an additional $932 to maintain the same level of government revenue,” the report concluded. ~ Home for Funerals & Cremations ~ ~ In Honoring their Legacy ~ Deacon Kenneth J. Maher & Aelysche Marie Maher Serving All Surrounding Communities
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Published
Elon Musk Leads Parade of Tech Titans Boosting Trump as the True ‘Freedom Candidate’
By Betsy McCaughey | AMAC Outside Contributor
A shocking partisan switch is underway in the stratosphere of the tech titans: The industry known for its wokeness is betting big bucks on a Republican.
Last week former President Donald Trump gave a thumbs up to the notion of teaming up with billionaire innovator Elon Musk if he wins in November. Hours later, Musk posted a message on X: “I am willing to serve.”
Elon Musk for commerce secretary? Or perhaps for the newly created position of free speech czar?
Whether or not Musk actually joins a Trump administration — Trump himself said Sunday that the mogul is likely too busy to do so but could “consult” — his bold steps to back the Republican signal a turnaround.
Musk voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Yet last month he launched a proTrump super PAC, which he and several other tech moguls are funding — even though Trump would likely remove federal subsidies for electric vehicles, a major Musk industry if he wins a second term.
Investor and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban called the phenomenon of tech bosses boosting Trump “insane.”
Not really: While Democrats strove mightily last week to push “freedom” as the theme of their convention, tech leaders are betting that freedom of speech, freedom to innovate, and freedom from crushing government regulations and confiscatory taxes are more likely in a Trump reign than in a Kamala Harris administration.
Among those Silicon Valley heavyweights is Nicole Shanahan, who was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate.
“I would say that I trust the future of this country more under the leadership of Trump … than I do of the Harrises,” Shanahan said last week as Kennedy weighed his decision to back Trump in the race.
Harris’s economic plans, Shanahan warned — “particularly her flawed ideas about price caps on food” — echo “the very policies that caused the famine my family suffered through in Mao’s Communist China.”
The Republican National Committee’s platform, dictated largely by Trump himself, pledges lower taxes and deregulation and describes innovators as national treasures.
In contrast, the Democrats’ 2024 platform vilifies businesses as greedy profiteers who don’t pay “their fair share” and proposes hiking corporate taxes to 28% and raising taxes on capital gains.
Andreessen Horowitz, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, said in December that it would decide which presidential ticket to support based on one issue: “If a candidate supports an optimistic technologyenabled future, we are for them. If they want to choke off important technologies, we are against them.”
The firm called “bad government policies” the No. 1 threat to their industry.
Trump has expressed his enthusiasm for new technologies, even promising to “make America first in AI.”
By July, Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the investment firm’s principals, had changed sides and endorsed Trump, saying the Republican will reduce regulation and lower taxes.
When Trump chose running mate J.D. Vance, a venture capitalist with Silicon Valley experience, tech entrepreneurs applauded.
PayPal founder David Sacks is throwing his support to Trump and even spoke at the Republican National Convention. Palantir Technologies cofounder Joe Lonsdale and cryptocurrency kings Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are donating to Musk’s America PAC to back Trump.
Of course, tech is an industry like any other, concerned with what government can do to damage the business environment.
Expect more tech leaders to change sides if Harris and running mate Tim Walz roll out policy proposals as misguided as those we’ve seen so far, like price controls.
Big tech reacts to bad economic policies at every level, not just federal.
The same political metamorphosis bringing tech figures to Trump is also causing thousands of firms to
flee California’s high taxes and overbearing regulations, and relocate to Texas. They’re trading woke for business-friendly.
Austin, the state capital, has become a tech hub dubbed Silicon Hills. Musk recently moved his company SpaceX to Texas and announced that X’s headquarters will soon follow.
Yet Musk is more than a Silicon Valley titan — he is also a crusader for free speech.
Last month he stared down a European Union bureaucrat who objected that Musk’s uncensored two-hour conversation with Trump on X could result in “disinformation.”
“Take a big step back,” Musk responded via a cheeky meme, after blasting the bureaucrat for his “alarming disregard for freedom of expression,” as a letter from several free speech groups put it.
Musk recently closed X in Brazil rather than comply with
Overview - AMACThe Association of Mature American Citizens
The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels.
AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us
government censors there. X is suspended in Venezuela for refusing to take down posts challenging dictator Nicolas Maduro’s phony victory claims.
Ending government censorship is a top Republican priority. The Biden-Harris administration has used agencies from the FBI to the Department of Health and Human Services to pressure social media to do the administration’s bidding. The RNC platform pledges that federal interference will stop.
Musk wants “to promote the principles that made America great in the first place,” naming meritocracy and free speech among the core ideas his America PAC is pushing.
They’re not on Harris’ agenda — more reasons tech money is moving to Trump.
You don’t need AI to figure that out.
WORD OF THE Week CARTE BLANCHE
Origin: late 17th century: French, literally ‘blank paper’ (i.e. a blank sheet on which to write whatever one wishes, particularly one’s own terms for an agreement). Source: Oxford Languages
Synonyms: unrestraint, blank check, free hand
Antonyms: inhibition, restriction, repression
noun
Pronounced: kaart blanch
Definition: complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best
Example: “The landscaper was given carte blanche to transform the backyard.”
SUDOKU
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina makes 2nd and 3rd landfall as a category 3 hurricane, devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. Kills more than 1,836, causes over $115 billion in damage.
This Week in History
September 1, 1939: World War II starts when Germany invades Poland by attacking the Free City of Danzig. K I S D N A C
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
August 31, 1888: The body of Jack the Ripper’s first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, is found in Whitechapel in London’s East End.
September 2, 1969: The first automatic teller machine (ATM) in the United States is installed at Chemical Bank in Rockville Centre.
August 30, 1776 Continental Army evacuates Long Island and falls back to Manhattan.
September 3, 301 AD: San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world’s oldest republic still in existence, founded by Saint Marinus.
September 4, 1957: Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, calls out National Guard to prevent 9 black students from entering a Little Rock’s Central High School.
By PJ Balzer
How is Your Open Book Test Going?
I remember well the relief of walking into the classroom and seeing that friendly smirk on the professor’s face. Some of us studied intently all night, others didn’t study at all, but the ground was made completely level once we read those beautiful, comforting words, “Open Book Test,” written neatly on the chalk board.
For one reason or another, the professor chose to make this test an open book test. The answers were all available to each one of us and in a book placed directly in front of us. We just had a fair, yet also limited, amount of time to search them out. If we were willing to do so with some diligence, we could all pass the test.
I’ve had several different views of the Bible over the years. Initially, it was this huge and unconquerable book that collected dust on family members’ shelves. Next, it was sort of convenient to be used as a “lucky charm.” If I placed it under my bed or in the back seat of my car, it may hopefully keep any harm, accidents, or night terrors from happening. After that, it became a very holy, scary and judgmental book which I dare not open because of the way I was choosing to live my life. If I did, lightning may come down and strike me.
After the tragic passing of my middle brother to a heroin overdose back in 2009, I was in a very bad place mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I finally came to that blessed end of myself, my own answers, and manipulation. I needed help for my crushed heart and, thankfully, I finally knew it. I was so crushed; I was willing to try church and even open that scary book full of “thee’s” and “thou’s.” If lightning did happen to come down to punish me for opening it, I really didn’t care at this point in my life.
The pages of that blessed book began to wash over my heart like a cool rain on the most humid summer day. Day by day of searching the pages of the New Testament, I began to find answers in the heart, life, words, and actions of Jesus. How I was feeling after the tragedy I had experienced was already written within its pages. Jesus fully knew me, understood where I was, and was gentle with my contrite heart. He offered mercy and grace, more than I ever had imagined. I found redemption and healing, a new heart, and a clean slate, all within the pages of the book I had been avoiding my entire life.
Nearly fifteen years later, all of the answers are still there to be sought out. The way God views people, nations, human relations, money, marriage advice, sex, government, and even food. The way He desires us to treat neighbors, enemies, employees, people of other cultures and contrary religious beliefs. Most importantly, His plan of love and redemption for a sinful and fallen human race. It’s all within the pages of the Bible.
Some have called it God’s love letter to humanity (His creation) and others have called it Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE). I would personally say that we each walked into the classroom of life with an extremely gracious and helpful professor. He’s sitting there with a Fatherly smirk on His face because all of the answers we each need are in the book He wrote and left open. Our only job is to diligently search out the answers during this test of life we are individually taking. The only difference with this test is that we never know when it may end, each student seems to suddenly leave the classroom at a time unbeknownst to us. So, how is your open book test going?
GET THE FACTS ON TOWNLINE RAIL
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved the Townline Rail application for a 5,000-foot rail line onto the CarlsonCorp property in Kings Park.
During a thorough Environmental Assessment, the STB addressed questions and concerns raised by residents. Unfortunately, misinformation continues to circulate in the community. You can read the STB’s full environmental findings by scanning the QR Code below.
HazMat Because the Town of Smithtown and the State DEC have jurisdiction over the transloading facility and will not permit hazardous materials to be transloaded at the facility, materials such as chlorine, petroleum products, or other hazardous chemicals will not be transloaded on or off of rail cars coming in and out of Townline Rail.
Hours of Operation Loading and unloading of material will take place under our permitted hours of operation Monday through Saturday with one train per day in and out; this will not be a 24/7 facility.
Truck Traffic Transportation of sand, gravel, and other materials to the industries along Old Northport Road by rail reduces truck traffic into the area from other locations. Shipping ash and construction debris off Long Island by rail significantly reduces truck traffic on our major highways.
Environment The STB’s analysis states that with mitigation measures that we have agreed to, there will be minimal to no adverse environmental impacts (EA at pg. iii) and “no impacts on groundwater.” (EA at pg. 50)
Zoning The Town of Smithtown updated Master Plan acknowledges the history of Old Northport Road as an industrial corridor which contributes to the local economy and states this area is not for residential development.
The best option for the future
Townline Rail must now apply to the New York State DEC and the Town of Smithtown for authorization to construct the transloading facility. With this next step, we believe
Proposed Townline Rail Terminal
By Matt Meduri
Town Partners with Head of the Harbor to Repair Mill Creek Road
The remnants of Hurricane Ernesto have caused monumental damage across the north shore of Suffolk County, including the collapse of the dam at Stump Pond and its subsequent drainage, the emptying of Mill Pond at the Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook, and car-engulfing mudslides in Rocky Point. Sound Beach saw the most rainfall, at ten inches in just three hours, while numerous businesses and homes saw flooding and some forms of destruction.
However, a dead-end street in the Village of Head of the Harbor is experiencing a crippling form of destruction: about one hundred twenty feet of Mill Creek Road was swept away with the collapse of Mill Pond, leaving the residents of just seven homes with vehicle access.
The Town of Smithtown is aiding the Village in the repair efforts, but a Thursday morning meeting at Village Hall between Village, Town, and State representatives shed light on one lynchpin of the solution.
The solution currently put forward is to create a temporary road across one homeowner’s property to connect the rest of the street to Harbor Road. Elected officials acknowledged that the plan would only work if the resident, Mr. Hubert Pool, consented to the plan.
Fortunately, Mr. Pool is willing to accommodate the work that could take longer than one year to enact the solution. The work is estimated to last for such a long period due not just to repaving, but debris removal, land grade reconciliation, and resetting Mr. Pool’s property as close to its original condition after the temporary access is no longer necessary.
Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) provided contact with U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D) office, whose personnel Mattera says have been “amazing” with the response efforts.
Next door at Avalon Park, the Ward Melville Heritage Association is consulting Hayduk Engineering to remediate the pond, a task that would have to be completed in tandem with the Mill Creek Road restoration to ensure structural integrity in the future.
Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) touted Hayduk Engineering’s expertise in land engineering, as the firm delivered the final product of Fort Salonga’s Callahans Beach that won multiple awards for its design.
Village and Town officials have consulted with the residents of Mill Creek Road regarding their services. The municipalities are working out school bus arrangements, garbage pickup, and have recommended residents put a hold on their mail to pick items up from the post office. The only aspect of services completely in the hands of the residents is fuel oil deliveries. Residents will have to consult with their carriers for smaller
trucks to deliver oil down the temporary road.
Other Head of the Harbor residents present at the meeting simply requested that the temporary road complement the grade of their driveways for ease of access.
Officials also agreed to requests from Mill Creek Road homeowners that nonresidents be penalized if they park their cars on the road, especially in light of “disaster tourists” descending on the area to witness and capture the damage.
One resident suggested an easement between properties for easier access, to which Head of the Harbor Mayor Michael Utevsky said that the Village “has the power,” but “does not want to use it.” Any agreements between private property usage would have to be worked out between the residents.
“The homeowner [Mr. Pool] has been so amenable to working with us, that we can keep that [easement suggestion] off the table,” said Mayor Utevsky. Village officials agreed that Mr. Pool has been “magnanimous” in his cooperation with the Village and his neighbors.
Councilman Tom Lohmann (R-Smithtown) and Town Highway Superintendent Robert Murphy (RSt. James) reassured Mr. Pool that his property will be “restored back to normal” after the construction is over.
“Thank you to everyone from the Town, the State, our neighborhood, and especially Mr. Pool for being so kind,” said Mayor Utevsky.
The Town is currently working under an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) with the Village to build the temporary road. Once the paperwork is signed, the Town Highway Department will build that road within a few days. Markouts for the road have already been completed.
The Head of the Harbor Highway Department is too small and requires a much larger fleet to handle a job of this nature, a Town spokesperson told The Messenger. The IMA is in place to assist the Village with the project.
“We will absolutely work in lockstep with the Village’s team so we’re all on the same page,” said the spokesperson. The entire construction of the road, trucks, and personnel will be provided by the Town Highway Department.
IMAs are commonly used between the Town and its three villages: Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, and Village of the Branch. The villages all make use of the Town’s Highway crews to pave roads and build drainages.
“It’s not free, but it’s significantly cheaper than if they hired a private company to do the work,” said a Town spokesperson. “A recent example is the transformation of an old section of Route 111 in Village of the Branch into an access path.”
Credit
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Senator Mario Mattera
Collapsed Mill Creek Road
LIU: A Hotspot for Women’s Hockey on Long Island
By Ashley Pavlakis
Long Island has been a home for men’s hockey since 1972 when the New York Islanders were born in the NHL. Women’s hockey found a home in 2019 when the Long Island University Sharks established the first Division I women’s ice hockey team on the island.
The Sharks are going into their sixth year as a program and member of the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA). Since they first hit the ice in 2019 as a team largely made up of twenty freshmen, they’ve won the regular season title twice and the postseason conference championship twice. Under the guidance of third-year head coach Kelly Nash, the Sharks are ready to hit the ice again this fall.
“We have a lot of tenure on our team with quite a few seniors, we have a lot of experience in players who have won the NEWHA championship and also part of the team that made it to the NCAA tournament. I definitely think that spark is there and probably even more so out of any of the other years,” said Nash.
Super senior Carrigan Umpherville is back on the ice for the Sharks after sitting out last season due to injury. A healthy Umpherville brings a boost of offense and leadership to the seasoned group of Sharks.
“It’s a major positive, us coaches have been talking
about it quite a bit this summer. We’re very excited for her [Umpherville] to return to the ice with us and I know she’s excited as well. She put in so much work last year, all season long, to make sure she got back to being 100% healthy, both physically and mentally,” said Nash.
The Sharks hosted their annual girls’ summer camp last week at their home rink, the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. The summer camp was run by the LIU coaching staff and four current players. Jeannie Wallner, a Long Island native from Kings Park, was on the ice with the girls who ranged from ages 10 to 16.
“It was awesome…We had so much fun. I think before camp started, we had just under thirty girls [registered]. Next year we would love to get to
forty or so, that would just be an awesome turnout. We always have our players come back and work it, which I think is really fun,” said Nash.
Wallner, a forward entering her senior year, played prep hockey at Millbrook School in Poughkeepsie. The Sharks entered the collegiate hockey scene two years prior to her high school graduation, providing Wallner an opportunity to play college hockey close to home. Wallner is the second female hockey player from Long Island to wear the LIU crest, with Massapequa native Grace Dima donning it first as a member of the inaugural 2019 team. The two-time team scoring leader is closing in on her 100th career point as a Shark.
“She [Wallner] is so naturally talented. She obviously puts in the work on top of all of that, I think that’s what kind of creates the success she’s had. She’s very humble, she’s a locker room kid, and everyone loves her. She’s been so solid for LIU women’s ice hockey, we love that she’s our local Long Islander,” said Nash.
Long Island’s Own Gearing Up for the NHL Draft
By Ashley Pavlakis
The National Hockey League (NHL) draft is a dream for any young man growing up playing hockey. Long Island has the opportunity to showcase one of their own in the 2025 draft. James Hagens (pictured), a native of Hauppauge, is a highly touted prospect who is projected to go first overall in the draft.
“He’s a fun kid to coach because he just loves the game, and that’s a big piece to it. He enjoys being on the ice and enjoys coming to the rink every day,” said Nick Fohr, the head coach for the u17 United States National Development Team Program.
“He’s a kid who’s out there trying to get better all the time, he’s engaged in the process. For James, he was a joy for me to coach because I always knew what I was going to get out of him.”
The 5’10” centerman played youth hockey for the Long Island Royals before eventually going the prep school route at Mount St. Charles Academy. Hagens is seen as a prolific scorer with a versatile style of play. In 2023, Hagens committed to Boston College and will suit up for the Eagles as a freshman this upcoming season. Hagens’ older brother Michael is also a member of the Eagles, the two will become the nineteenth pair of brothers to play for the same collegiate team.
The Boston College Eagles is a storied program, with 25 players going in the first round of the NHL draft. 13 players went on to win a Stanley Cup in the
NHL after wearing the BC crest, 7 were lucky enough to lift the coveted 34lb trophy twice in their careers.
“It’s a holistic picture, we have our part in it here with the national team development program. It’s such a big thing that the game has grown so much in the United States, especially in those areas down south,” said Fohr. “The volunteers and the youth hockey coaches have done a good job at developing kids, teaching them the game, and to love the game. It’s really expanded our player pool and given us more players that have an opportunity to make it to that top level eventually.”
The United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), based in Michigan, is a program dedicated to focusing on the development of skills and experience. Hagens spent time in both their u17 and u18 programs. The program had led to 396 players getting drafted as well as five going first overall. Hagens has the chance to become the 6th player from the program to go first overall when the draft takes place in June.
“He will be a high pick in the NHL draft and whoever gets him is going to be happy that they have him. They’re going to be excited because they’re going to get a really well-rounded two-way hockey player with high-end offensive abilities. Those are fun guys to coach and they’re big pieces to teams’ successes,” said Fohr.
Nesconset Holds Annual Street Fair
By Diane Caudullo
Many communities have street fairs; they have them every year. Many businesses, vendors, and elected officials try to make as many as they can and sometimes have to pick and choose which ones to get to. The Messenger is one of those businesses. We participate because it is literally our own communities just as much as it is the communities we cover.
The Nesconset Street Festival held on August 25 was our eighth street fair this summer. We very often see many of the same people, with some changing faces but in similar roles, such as the organizers of each event. In Nesconset we saw Rachel Morreale (pictured below center), the president of their local chamber of commerce and Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), past President of Chamber, and their hired event coordinator Jennifer Dickson of Arcadia Productions. They put together a great event which ran very smoothly, so huge shout out to them! It is significant work to pull off a successful street fair. Nesconset also enjoys the benefit of the beautiful gazebo and park. It takes the traditional, linear, hot pavement street fair to a whole shady-picnic-like new level.
Similarly at every event - we see so many familiar faces, from our officers of the Suffolk County Police Department, the elected officials, the vendors, and even the attendees. They all come every year like clockwork. One can say that the fair seems almost canned, just a repeat of the year before, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Every year has its own great, electric energy in the air while still having a sense of familiarity and community. People will attend looking for that same vendor or food truck they enjoyed the year before. Some go for what they know and some try something new every year.
One thing in particular really stood out to me this year as our booth was stationed across from Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), along with her husband John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), who is our County Comptroller. I watched for quite some time how they interact with, well, pretty much everyone. John and Leslie, who are some of the hardest working electeds we have ever seen, were there at the festival, all day, but not really representing themselves so much as they were there with the New York Blood Center. They always ensure the bloodmobile is at the street fairs, but moreso, they actively - and I cannot emphasize how actively - they passionately encouraged every person to take a few minutes to donate blood if they can.
And they were successful in getting many to donate: twenty-four pints, and 2,000 pints to date since they started about two decades ago.
Across the street to our left was Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James). You could see he just knew everyone, talked with everyone and not just an exchange of pleasantries. No one was a stranger to him. He really knew them and the issues important to them. He had many visibly significant and lengthy conversations with people, and you can see that Mario was enjoying every minute of it.
As a newspaper, we cover Senator Mattera and the Kennedys a lot so of course we have a relationship with them but that does not diminish the obvious connection they have to the community they represent and the respect they have earned. They are everything you want to see in your local elected officials.
Overall we love street fairs, the food is great, the atmosphere is fun, and some beautiful dogs are on the parade, but it all really comes down to the people. We always leave the day with a new set of friends who by chance got assigned the spaces next to us. Rob and Tammy Ball of New York Life were awesome neighbors and I know we will see them again. We truly appreciated the people who will come to tell us they love our paper. One gentleman I met last year at this same fair with his wife and two kids stopped by our booth again this year with his wife and three kids. We saw people who we learned got a clean bill of health since we saw them last year. We learned about another couple we have seen at the last few street fairs that their beloved dog of seventeen years passed away and our hearts broke for them. We shared in the excitement of the small children getting ready for their upcoming new school year. These are things that connect us. These are the things that never get old.
We even handed out a few newspapers.
Senator Mario Mattera, County Clerk Vinny Puleo, SC Comptroller John Kennedy, Candidate for Judge Paul Damato, and Legislator Leslie Kennedy.