Zeldin Holds Rally Against Proposition One
By Matt Meduri
In less than two weeks, New Yorkers will decide on two ballot propositions. The first one, colloquially referred to as “Proposition One,” would add antidiscrimination language to the State Constitution. Many Democrats tout it as a need to protect abortion rights in New York, while many Republicans consider it a “Trojan horse.”
The text will appear as such on the ballot in front of voters: “Adds antidiscrimination provisions to State Constitution. Covers ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. Also covers reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
A vote in favor of the proposition would add these protections to the State Constitution. A vote against would leave these provisions out.
The abstract of the bill, available on the New York State Board of Elections’ website, says that the current protections in the Constitution cover race, color, creed, and religion. The proposal would add “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
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Federal Case in Bull Run Property Dismissed
By Matt Meduri
For months, concerned St. James residents have descended upon Town board meeting after board meeting to voice their opposition to a developer’s plan to build an assisted living facility on the historic Bull Run Farm property.
The facility was staunchly opposed by residents who believe that the historic property should be preserved, that such a development would be an unsightly addition to the community, and the road density would not be able to handle the traffic and ancillary services associated with assisted living.
The lawsuit was brought against the Town by Mills Pond Group, LLC, who sought to challenge Smithtown’s zoning process for the proposed facility. The plaintiffs cited the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, and the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution, alleging that the Town discriminated against future residents.
The suit was brought when the Town updated the Master Plan to remove a special exemption provision for such facilities. The zoning language was updated to specifically include medical and health services, such as assisted living facilities. The plaintiffs alleged that the change, which was pursuant to massive public input, boxed out the developer for that specific project.
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Smithtown Town Hall (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Lee Zeldin speaks against Proposition One (Credit - Matt Meduri)
2 Messenger Papers
Spacious
Kerry J. Maher Lic. Manager & Director
Kenneth Maher, Jr. Lic. Director
Smithtown Matters
Proposition 2: Suffolk’s Future is in Your Hands
By County Executive Ed Romaine
On Election Day, voters will be casting their votes for President, U.S. Senate, Congress and state legislators. In Suffolk County, voters also have a once in a generation chance to safeguard the future of Suffolk County’s surface and groundwater in Proposition 2.
The proposition allows Suffolk County to begin the arduous process of bringing our wastewater infrastructure into the Twenty-First Century. Whether it is sewering our downtowns or supporting our neighbors installing I/A systems to combat nitrogen pollution, the successful passage of Proposition 2 gives us the tools we need to succeed.
Passage of Prop 2 establishes Suffolk’s eligibility for state and federal funding. Recouping as many tax dollars as possible from New York State is important to operate Suffolk County.
Proposition 2 also continues the highly successful Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program (SCDWPP). The SCDWPP is responsible for preserving thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land, stabilizing sewer rates and supporting clean water efforts.
We do not have to look far to see the need for improved wastewater infrastructure. Harmful algal blooms, brown tides, rust tides, mahogany tides, and hypoxia fill our summer headlines and are the cause of many beach closures each season.
We know, though, that through sewers, smart
zoning and open space preservation the damage is reversible. The obstacles we face are steep, but they are not insurmountable.
Building sewage infrastructure creates jobs and helps our small businesses and downtowns to flourish. The advancement of our downtowns creates permanent jobs in our communities and expands housing stock options for young people looking to start off and older folks looking to downsize. Our legacy fishing industry and emerging aquaculture industry will be able to expand employment and production as the environment improves.
It is not an understatement to say that passage of Proposition 2 is the most important measure voters have had on the ballot in generations, and its passage ensures our environment will grow stronger and protect the way of life that is a cornerstone of Suffolk County. This is not a political issue. It affects every present—and future—resident of Suffolk County and beyond.
Remember to vote on November 5 or take advantage of early voting. For more information on voting, please visit: https://suffolkcountyny. gov/Departments/BOE
Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has served as Suffolk County Executive since 2024. He has previously served as Suffolk County Clerk, a Suffolk County Legislator, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor.
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.
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 it is important to address some of the following misconceptions about this project:
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.
Townline Rail is an environmentally preferred alternative to trucking materials off Long Island. It will
and
Proposed Townline Rail Terminal
The best option for the future
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
By Matt Meduri
Nick LaLota won a three-way primary and would go on to defeat then-Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) by over ten points in 2022 to succeed Long Island’s favorite son Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley). Now, LaLota is gearing up for a second term. LaLota is being challenged by former CNN anchor John Avlon (D-Gramercy Park), whose NYC residency questions were exclusively reported by The Messenger in April. After numerous attempts at contact, Mr. Avlon did not return our request for an interview.
Congressman LaLota sat down with The Messenger for an interview for this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for Congress?
A: My passion for service is somewhere in my blood. My father was a police officer and both of my grandfathers were NYPD officers. My stepfather served in the Navy and my brother served twenty years in the Marines with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. He was a Marine sniper who earned a Bronze Star for valor. I graduated from St. Anthony’s High School, and later, the U.S. Naval Academy, where I served three overseas deployments. I came home and got involved in state and local government. I worked as an aide to the State Senate and Congress on Veterans’ affairs. I served for seven years as a Suffolk County Board of Elections Commissioner, from 2015 to 2021. I was also Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Legislature for one year (2022).
Q: What are some of your accomplishments for NY-01, New York, and the nation overall?
A: For the district, I’ve secured almost $150 million of federal money for Long Island, including $1.4 million for flooding and water quality issues in Smithtown and $1.5 million for the Port Jefferson Harbor. We’re looking forward to doing even more. The Long Island Sound Reauthorization Act secured $40 million for both water quality and economic development and to improve the Long Island Sound’s ecology and our fishing industry. We passed other bills on the small business committee to make it easier for small businesses to apply for grants and regulations. My “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities” Act aims to reverse some of New York City’s sanctuary policies.
Something I’ve continued from Congressman Zeldin’s tenure is working to preserve Plum Island. Preserving Plum Island has been a decades-long bipartisan endeavor to ensure it is free from development in perpetuity. It’s fortunate that it’s something that has a lot of bipartisan and bicameral initiative. There are many community groups carrying that ball. A lot of folks want to ensure Plum Island remains undeveloped and beautiful for future generations to enjoy.
Q: What is your top priority if re-elected?
A: SALT, SALT, and SALT. That is my biggest objective. We’re fortunate to have gotten commitments from Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R, MO-08), former President Donald Trump (R-FL), and many of my colleagues who want to provide Long Islanders tax relief. I give credit to Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) for being solid allies and steadfast in their commitment to a higher cap. We’re not going to stop there. Border security is also a top priority. We need to fight these sanctuary city policies. The free healthcare hotels being given to migrants is simply unsustainable and unaffordable. Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has spent $5 billion on the Boroughs with this problem. She’s tried taking money from infrastructure and schools and raising taxes. From a federal perspective, I want the Senate to take up my “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities” act in the next Congress to give New York the financial incentive to stop the nonsense.
President Trump and I have both endorsed each other and I think that he is the right person to put America back on the right track, certainly with respect to our border and economy.
Q: What would you consider to be the defining issue of this election?
A: Telling the truth. In order to fix problems, you need to understand and admit what they are. Biden broke our border, I’m the only candidate in this race who can admit that. The rampant spending in Washington has fueled inflation; I’m the only candidate in this race who can admit that. The weakness of the Biden Administration has internationally catalyzed the situations in and around Ukraine and Israel. With respect to where we live, I’m the only one who can tell the truth about where I live. My opponent perpetuates the lie about abortion being federally banned. It’s simply not on anyone’s agenda and I don’t support such a plan. My opponent supports men playing in girls sports and raising middle class
Congressman Nick LaLota
Candidate: Nick LaLota
Residence: Amityville
First Elected: 2022
Prior Elected Office:
Trustee Village of Amityville from 2013-2019 Office Sought: New York’s Second First District
Party Lines: Republican, Conservative Committees:
Small Business (Chair of Contracting & Infrastructure Subcommittee; Economic Growth, Tax, & Capital Access Subcmte.); Armed Services (Cyber, IT, & Innovation Subcmte; Tactical Air & Land Forces Subcmte.); Homeland Security (Emergency Management & Technology Subcmte.; Transportation & Maritime Security Subcmte.)
Endorsements: Suffolk PBA, Suffolk Corrections Officers, Suffolk Deputy Sheriffs, Suffolk Superior Officers, Suffolk Detective Investigators, Police Conference of NY, IAFF Local 854, NSBCTC, NASRCC Local 290, TWU Local 252, Suffolk AME, IUOE Local 138, Plumbers Local 200, NFIB, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Republican Jewish Coalition
taxes. He says “in” Long Island, not “on” Long Island. It’s bizarre how disconnected he is and yet, he wants to lie to us when he’s not here.
Q: You’re consistently ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress. Some people in the district feel you’re not conservative enough. How would you defend your record?
A: I’m a common sense conservative who likes to get things done. My ideology is one of smaller government, personal responsibility, strong on national defense, and lower taxes. If you want to get a bill passed, you need to be able to compromise a little bit and I recognize that. I’ve been reaching across the aisle to ensure I can enact common sense legislation.
Q: What is your defense of concerns about your residency in NY-01?
A: My living seven miles outside the border hasn’t prevented my ability to represent the district. I’ve had more bills passed than 95% of the House has and I’ve secured $150 million in grant funding for the eight towns I represent. I have attended countless public events, held hundreds of events, and had over 600 constituent meetings in Washington. I am undeterred in my commitment to where I have served for the last ten years, two in Congress, seven as Elections Commissioner, and one for the Legislature. I have represented 100% of this district and I will continue to do so.
Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?
A: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Teddy Roosevelt
It’s inspirational to me and provides a good perspective. This quote hangs on my wall in my Washington office.
Q: How do you like to connect with your community?
A: I love to grab a slice of pizza in all different parts of the district. We’re always trying new pizza places. It’s an opportunity to enjoy good food and good conversation with locals in all eight different towns.
The Messenger thanks Congressman LaLota for his time for this interview.
About the First District
NY-01 contains the entire townships of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold. It contains most of Huntington, all parts except Cold Spring Harbor, Halesite, Huntington hamlet, Huntington Bay, Huntington Station, and Lloyd Harbor. Within the Town of Brookhaven, NY-01 contains Stony Brook, Setauket, Old Field, Strongs Neck, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Mount Sinai, Terryville, Lake Grove, Lake Ronkonkoma, Farmingville, Selden, Centereach, Coram, Gordon Heights, Middle Island, Ridge, Miller Place, Sound Beach, Rocky Point, Shoreham, East Shoreham, Manorville, Calverton, Moriches, Center Moriches, East Moriches, and parts of Eastport, Yaphank, Holtsville, and Ronkonkoma.
The Sarah Anker Investigation is the Real ‘October Surprise’
Two weeks ago, The Messenger reported of an investigation into former Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mt. Sinai), who is now running for the First Senate District against two-term Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk). The investigation was started in response to claims from Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), Anker’s successor, and his staff that the Sixth District office was nearly empty, with no physical or digital records of constituent cases and ongoing projects. Lennon claims he was put at a significant disadvantage as a freshman legislator, essentially having to start from scratch to pick up the tab from where Anker left off.
The investigation was unanimously approved by the County Legislature, with Lennon recusing himself, as well as Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), who serves as Chair of the Government Operations, Personnel, and Information Technology Committee, the body set to investigate the claims.
Interestingly, not a single other outlet seems to have this on their radar. Whether the claims are true or not, it’s still a significant development into a former local elected official, whose tenure is not far behind in the rearview mirror, and whose political future could be much nearer than anticipated.
In fact, Newsday actually made a pretty egregious typo in one of their latest issues. Their Monday, October 22, paper has a full-page article discussing matching public funds for campaigns. Essentially, your tax dollars go to fund political campaigns if candidates meet certain qualifications, regardless of whether you support them or not, but that’s a topic for a different editorial.
The Newsday article discussed the $375,000 Anker received in matching funds, to Palumbo’s near-$100,000. The typo we found was that Newsday listed Anker as “State Sen.,” as if she is currently the incumbent. We all make mistakes, and mistakes are inevitable in newsprint, but that’s a pretty glaring error, and one that only stands out more given that Newsday and company’s columnists are remaining oddly tacit about the investigation.
Again, allegations are allegations, but this is a major development in every sense of the word. Moreover, we were in frequent contact with Anker’s Senate campaign to set up a time for her to screen with The Messenger. Contact was made over a period of weeks, but scheduling conflicts on both our and her end did not make the interview a reality. However, contact went eerily silent after we apparently broke the story.
Couple this with the disbarment case of Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station). Our discussions with Flood’s attorney on the matter, Steve Losquadro, have presented these bullet points: a clerical error was in need of rectification on Flood’s part. Documents were delivered via courier service - requiring an in-person reception and/or signature - to an address where Flood is not regularly present anymore given his Albany obligations. However, the notice of his disbarment came right to his front door, giving him no opportunity to correct the error and costing him his legal license.
Losquadro remains confident that Flood will have his law license reinstated, but he stipulates that there’s no reason for the judicial review board to do so until after the election, whether Flood wins or loses his seat.
Of course, the media in Suffolk County had a field day with this. At face value, yes, that’s also a significant development, especially in the county’s most competitive seat next month. But there are some crucial components that have been omitted, and we think that this is an attempt to wrest that seat from Republican hands in a time when Democrats are aware of the increasingly competitive nature of New York. Suffolk is considered the “tip of the spear” for almost any statewide campaign, and areas like Three Village, which Flood represents, are now becoming much more competitive than they were a decade ago. Losing their hold on these valuable precincts means a much lower floor than the one to which Democrats are typically accustomed.
Moreover, Newsday’s endorsement of Flood’s opponent, which is their prerogative entirely, was noticeably lacking in Flood’s comments. When Flood screened with us, he was very specific and was able to rattle off what he’s been doing for his district and the state. We find it hard to believe he didn’t deliver the same pitch to Newsday. They must not have felt inclined to write it up. Our interview with Flood is on our website and can be viewed in copies of the October 10 edition of the Brookhaven Messenger
Both Flood and Anker have their rights to maintain their innocence and the investigating parties have their rights to fact-find as well, especially as these are perhaps the top-two races in Suffolk this year.
But it seems odd that most outlets piled relentlessly on Flood and didn’t even give him a chance at the endorsement table, while simultaneously remaining silent on a bipartisan investigation into Anker.
What is the Plan for the Landfill?
We recognize that simply shuttering a massive landfill site is no easy task, and we also understand that the debris and waste doesn’t disappear if we simply want it to be gone.
However, the plans to close the Brookhaven landfill have been pushed to 2027, but the facility will cease accepting ash at the end of this year.
That leaves the Town with an unenviable problem: what to do with the waste, how to get rid of it efficiently, how to mitigate health concerns from the landfill, and how to plug the massive hole left behind in the budget.
One solution being presented is the potential railyard in Kings Park. It recently cleared its federal review for a 5,000-foot rail extension, but it’s still a long way off from being approved, and an even longer way from being constructed and operational, should it be approved.
The alternative that’s commonly quoted is trucking the waste off Long Island. It’s not a bad alternative, but would be costlier and pose significant quality-of-life issues on our already-congested roadways. There’s also a good argument for health concerns, as idling trucks are feared to worsen air quality.
It’s not the current Town government’s fault that a decent chunk of Brookhaven’s budget was dependent on the landfill, but it is incumbent upon them to continue working on solutions. The green energy solutions are a good start, but it doesn’t make up for the $21 million being lost from declining landfill revenues. If anything, this should serve as a model for municipalities to not rely so heavily on a revenue stream that has been in end-of-life stages for years.
Being a municipality situated on Long Island makes it imperative that
money is made on our garbage, ideally hand-overfist. The concept is there, but the infrastructure is not. And if the Kings Park rail yard ends up not being approved, which would be of great relief to many Smithtown residents, it’s back to the drawing board, and possibly a longer lifespan for the landfill if other solutions do not emerge.
At the very least, operations at the landfill are winding down, something Town officials have long fought for. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that health and environmental impacts can begin being curbed if the use of the site is halted as intended.
The other silver lining is that Brookhaven is not alone. Eight other towns plan to pierce their tax caps, all but Smithtown and Huntington. All cite unfunded state mandates and a harsh economic climate at-large as the main culprits, but Brookhaven’s problem is much more localized with the landfill. Had the landfill not been a de facto dirty bomb from previous administrations - starting with the State DEC nearly forty years ago - this impact could have been avoided.
We can at least understand the Town’s desire to not cut services, even if it does mean a tax hike when the last elections were run almost entirely on affordability and quality of life. While the Town is caught between a rock and a hard place by virtue of the past, it’s still resulting in a tax hike in the first year of the new administration, something that’s unlikely to win brownie points with residents.
We’re refraining from calling too harsh shots here, given we haven’t had the opportunity to sit down with members of the Board to discuss the budget. It’s certainly a developing story that we intend to track religiously.
By Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick
Vote ‘No’ on Prop One
In a few short weeks, New Yorkers will head to the polls, and they will have more to consider than the list of candidates seeking public office. Also appearing on the ballot this year is “Proposal 1,” a measure that purports to protect individuals from discrimination, when, in reality, it forces our most cherished institutions to accept controversial views on subjects like gender ideology and gender identity.
I have deep concerns regarding Proposal 1. The proposal, which would amend the New York State Constitution, inserts new language presented in vague and unclear terms, leaving the text open to an overly broad interpretation. Its liberal supporters have framed Proposal 1 as an “equal rights amendment.” It’s more accurate to describe the measure as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
For generations, New York’s Constitution has prevented discrimination based on “race, creed, color or religion.” But the new proposal inexplicably adds “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
If passed, Prop 1 would create fundamental issues related to parental rights and gender identity, and it would potentially threaten the security and fairness of our state’s electoral process. The state constitution already provides substantial and clear protections for the rights of all New Yorkers, but if passed, this proposal could threaten those very protections.
The proposal is intentionally misleading. It was initially painted as a way to “protect” abortion;
however, the word “abortion” does not even appear in the text, and the prop covers myriad issues unrelated to reproductive health. Further, New York already has some of the nation’s most liberal abortion protections. Since 1970, New Yorkers have had access to legal abortion, and that access is not under any threat. In fact, just short of California, New York has the second-highest rate of abortion in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Additionally, the proposal also threatens parental rights by allowing minors to make critical health decisions without their parent’s knowledge. For example, Prop 1 would create new constitutional “rights” and grant minors the right to transgender and other types of medical interventions—all without parental notification/consent. Children should not be making such life-altering decisions, especially without their parents. I’m disheartened to know New York has become a state that would even think to allow parents to be removed from such critical decisions.
And when it comes to school sports, the proposal would put our students’ safety and wellbeing in jeopardy as well. The proposal’s inclusion of inordinate protections for “gender identity” and “gender expression” would result in biological males competing in female sports. This would unfairly and unjustly put female athletes in the position of competing against biological men who have a physical advantage over them.
Alarmingly, the proposition would also allow for biological men and women to have shared locker rooms and bathrooms, completely disregarding
Letter to the Editor
the safety and comfort of other students. This would be a massive step backward from the hard-fought protections given by Title IX to girls in academics and athletics.
Lastly, this specific ballot proposition is troubling because its vague language could allow illegal migrants the right to vote, which raises questions about the security and fairness of the electoral process. This protection undermines the rights of American citizens and dilutes our voice in determining our own government. Democracy is the foundation of our country, one of the characteristics that sets our country apart from the rest of the world. It should be protected, upheld and free from foreign influence.
Ballot Proposal 1 is designed to appear helpful but ultimately is dangerous to our citizens and our state. If passed, it could alter the future of New York forever, and I urge everyone to vote no. Changes to our state’s constitution should not be taken lightly, nor should they be made to advance a misguided, liberal agenda.
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) has represented the Eighth District in the New York State Assembly 2013, redrawn from the Seventh District, which he had represented since 2003. The Eighth District includes the entire Town of Smithtown, the Village of Islandia, and the Islip portion of Hauppauge. The Eighth District office is located at 285 Middle Country Road, Suite 202, in Smithtown, and can be reached at 631-724-2929.
Dear Editor,
After years of delays, Suffolk County voters will finally be able to make their voices heard on a key challenge facing our region — restoring water quality. As Long Islanders, we treasure our pure drinking water, beaches, harbors and bays. If approved this November, Prop 2 will ensure that our ground and surface water resources are uncontaminated and useful for all present and future generations.
Currently, nitrogen pollution from untreated sewage is degrading both Suffolk’s groundwater and recreational waterways. The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act is a critical step towards reversing this trend and achieving a sustainable future and would enable investment into tested and proven clean water technologies to replace our outdated septic systems.
Don’t forget to write, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at: editor@messengerpapers.com
This measure will also bring expanded sewer services to many of the most densely developed parts of our county, help secure additional federal and state funding, create thousands of good local jobs, revitalize business districts, and boost property values. Most importantly, if confirmed this referendum will protect the health and wellbeing of every Suffolk County resident.
This year, we have the power to protect our water and our future. We urge all Suffolk County residents to vote YES on Prop 2 this November 5th.
Sincerely,
The Suffolk County Legislature Democratic Caucus:
Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon)
Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park)
Legislator Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station)
Legislator Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood)
Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket)
Legislator Ann Welker (D-Southampton)
Correction - Smithtown Messenger
The October 17 edition of the Smithtown Messenger featured a candidate spotlight of Craig Herskowitz (D-Northport), who is running for the Second Senate District against incumbent Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James). His name was spelled incorrectly - as “Hershkowitz” - and his endorsements were not included.
Herskowitz shared the following endorsements: The Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cover), former Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington), Citizen Action of New York, the League of Human Voters of New York, and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.
Continued from front cover
Zeldin Holds Rally Against Proposition One
The justification for the bill, also available at the State Board of Elections’ website, says that the word “sex” is “inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
Former Congressman and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) held a rally last Thursday at the Long Island Baptist Church in Holtsville to protest Proposition One. He was joined by a slate of elected officials and community members who are concerned about the bill’s overarching language and potential litigation that could be sparked by its passage.
“It’s been fascinating to watch as Democrats try to brand out of Albany Proposal 1 as a so-called ‘Equal Rights Amendment.’ Nowhere in the proposal will you see the term ‘Equal Rights Amendment,’” said Zeldin. “They say it is a proposal to enshrine abortion rights in the state of New York, and yet when you read the ballot proposal, there are all sorts of other changes to the New York State Constitution that have nothing at all to do with abortion.”
Zeldin added that he agrees with New Yorkers concerned about biological males participating in female sports and that many parents in the state do not believe that males should have access to female bathrooms and locker rooms.
“There has been a push in New York to allow non-citizens to vote. If Proposition One is passed, it will be used by Democrats to try to advance this push for noncitizens to be able to have sanctuary state protections in Albany and to allow them to vote,” said Zeldin.
Zeldin encouraged all voters to read the full text of Proposition One before heading to polls next month. He also added that Republicans were not the only ones present with him, but Democrats and “people in between” as well.
“This is a Trojan Horse of the most epic kind,” said Bobbie Anne Cox (pictured right), a constitutional law attorney who has been traveling across the state to campaign against Proposition One. “Boys will have a constitutional right to access female spaces like locker rooms, bathrooms, dormitories, prisons, and so on. It’s going to open the door for those immigrants that are here, legally or illegally, to claim the right to have the same access and rights as New York citizens. Those things could be taxpayer-funded benefits, but it can also include the sacred right to vote.”
Cox added that parents have a “constitutional right” to raise their children and that if the initiative is approved, she believes that the “overly broad language” will lead to protected classes being “pit against one another.”
“You’re going to have lawsuits across the state over who is more protected,” said Cox, referring to existing provisions in state and federal code.
Credit: Matt Meduri
“The language is not going to protect our rights. What it’s going to do is hamper and weaken our rights. This is a huge power grab by the government,” said Cox.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) said he remembers equal rights amendments of the 1960s and 1970s, but remarks at how much the fight has “changed” since then.
“When did we all of a sudden get okay with the idea of genetic males being able to compete in female sports?” asked DeStefano.
“I have colleagues who have young daughters who are terrified that this is going to become a reality.”
Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) emphasized the “specifically vague” language of the bill.
“It will foment lawsuits and conflict between parties. It is the government intervening in every aspect of our everyday lives,” said Fitzpatrick. “This is what the radical left intends to do, and they’re acting this out. They’re looking to pass this because they want to disrupt the family dynamic.”
Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson), a father of five, said he’s already seeing how his five-year-old son is already faster and stronger than his two older sisters.
“This will only be amplified when they get older. This ‘equal rights amendment’ is nothing but equal,” said Flood. “This puts all women athletes at a competitive disadvantage. It takes away the scholarship opportunities, it will take away the ability to make teams, and it will take away a young girl’s morale and their confidence, no matter how hard they try, they can never be as physically dominant as someone of the opposite sex. This is just biology.”
Flood also dismissed claims of the initiative’s protection of abortion rights.
“Two years ago, New York City passed a law that gave the right to vote to non-citizens, here legally or illegally. That was challenged and it was reversed. However, the Mayor of New York City is appealing the decision. If Proposition One passes, that door is going to open and that could become a reality,” said Cox.
Cox shared an anecdote of a Westchester County school district that implemented a “speech code,” which required students to call other students and staff by their “preferred pronouns.”
“Whose right is going to trump the other person’s right?” asked Cox. “The language is much too broad.”
Cox added that last year, the State Department of Education issued a guidance that says if a student is “transitioning their gender,” or at least interested in doing so, the school administration is “not allowed to tell the parents” of their child’s newfound identity.
Cox also warned of already vague language being presented to the voter in the form of two sentences that would likely seem acceptable to most voters.
“If this passes, it would allow the government to discriminate against you if they’re doing so in the name of correcting past discrimination or preventing future discrimination,” said Cox, adding that as a “lifelong Democrat,” she opposes Proposition One as a constitutional law attorney.
“We have some of the strongest abortion laws in the country; they’re not going anywhere,” said Flood. “This is also a deflect on their [the Democrats’] part. Since 2018, they’ve taken a supermajority in both chambers and they have a Democratic Governor. They’ve made New York State go in a downwards spiral. This is their last effort to try and salvage some of these races and keep the majority by creating an issue.”
Candidate for Assembly Joe Cardinale (R-Amityville) added that “years of training” are “out the window” for rising female athletes in USA Boxing, which now allows biological men to fight against them.
Suffolk County Legislators Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) and Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) stated their opposition to the bill and its “lack of transparency.”
Community advocates stated that children are not able to make “educated and informed” decisions about their bodies in many regards, and that many treatments for gender transitions are irreversible, such genital mutilation, puberty blockers, and hormone treatments.
Zeldin said that if Proposition One passes, it might be in conflict with the U.S. Constitution. The term “national origin” could, according to him, be interpreted as anyone who is simply “not an American.” Zeldin also shared his lack of faith in the State Court of Appeals, saying that the Court will “support decisions” where “merit seems to be pushed aside.”
“Democrats know that their agenda does not pass in a legislature. The only way to get their agenda passed is in the courts,” said Fitzpatrick, primarily of the vague language of the bill. “I’m sure lawsuits are being worked on right now.”
“When Riley Gaines’ rights come into conflict with Lia Thomas’ rights, which right is superior?” asked Zeldin. Gaines is a former competitive swimmer who tied for fifth in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship in 2022 against Lia Thomas, who became the first openly transgender woman champion in the NCAA women’s division after winning the 500-yard freestyle.
Cox added that the language of “age” is highly subjective, which she says could be interpreted in ways to allow school districts to teach “comprehensive sexual education” to children as young as five, or allow minors to make their own medical decisions without parental consent.
Proposition One has been one of the most controversial issues of this election. Suffolk voters will be faced with the decision on the backs of their ballots on November 5.
This Week Today
National, State and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri
National
A crucial USA Today poll released on Monday tracks the presidential candidates’ support among key demographics.
The survey finds Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) with 45% of the vote to former President Donald Trump’s (R-FL) 44%, a closer race than the one that was tracked in August which showed Harris with a five-point lead48%-43%.
The poll was conducted by landline and cellphone through October 14 and 18 and surveyed 1,000 likely voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.1%.
By a margin of 57%-37%, voters believe that Harris has not done enough to clearly explain her policies if she were elected. Nearly onequarter of her supporters believe they want to hear more specific plans.
However, Trump’s supporters are somewhat more confident in his marketing. 49% said he had done enough to explain his policies, while 48% believe he hasn’t. Just 15% of his supporters want to learn more about his platform if he were to return to Washington for a second nonconsecutive term.
More shockingly, the poll found a dramatic backslide in Harris support among minority voters.
In August, Harris had consolidated Latino support by a margin of 53%-37%, still relatively underwhelming for how Democrats have fared nationally in recent elections.
The USA Today poll finds Trump leading Harris among Latino voters by eleven points: 49%38%.
Among black voters, Harris (pictured right) fares better, but has still experienced an erosion in support. The August survey found Harris leading among black voters by 76%-12%. Her margin slipped to 72%-17%. While at face value only a marginal shift, Trump is garnering support from black voters at levels not seen since the 1970s.
among these voting blocs towards Donald Trump could deliver him the election.
The poll also found Trump leading among male voters by 53%-37%, while Harris leads by a nearidentical margin among female voters, 53%-36%.
In other campaign news, President Trump made perhaps his most infamous campaign stop yet: McDonald’s.
Harris leads Trump by nineteen points in the presidential race, an increase from her thirteen-point margin last month. She leads him by 58%-39%. Voters contend that Harris would handle abortion (64%31%) and democracy (58%-38%) better than Trump. New Yorkers also feel that Harris would handle the economy (52%-46%) and immigration (50%-46%) better than Trump.
The former president stopped at the Golden Arches in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a key suburban county of Philadelphia that serves as one of the state’s premier battlegrounds. His intention: to work at McDonald’s longer than Kamala Harris. Trump says that his brief stint serving fries to drive-through customers came from a fabrication from Harris, where she claims she worked at the fast food chain when she was younger, despite the lack of corroboration.
USA Today notes that the margins of error in the subsamples for the two demographics is +/- nine points, meaning there is less confidence in their particular study of these groups than there is for their survey at large. This means that there is a potential shift of eighteen points in either direction. While other polls show Harris with decent Latino and black support, Trump has been courting these voters specifically, and much polling has shown strongerthan-usual support for the Republican nominee among these demographics than that to which the party is usually accustomed.
For context, Joe Biden (D-DE) took 92% of black voters and 59% of Latino voters. Even a slight shift
Trump exchanged his suit jacket for an apron and interacted with customers at the drive-through window. (pictured above)
The move is regarded as one of Trump’s ability to connect with middleclass Americans, as well as to put himself amongst the rank-and-file to contrast Harris’ alleged dishonesty on the subject.
“Some in the press called Trump’s McDonald’s photo-op bizarre. This is how you lose credibility. That was a home run photo-op. He looked like a real person there, connecting with the average American. If you can’t see that, you’re totally blind,” wrote Cenk Uygur on X, formerly known as Twitter. Uygur serves as one of the founding members and hosts of the Young Turks, a political online talk show consisting of highly progressive viewpoints and advocacy.
State
The Siena College released their latest poll conducted from October 13 to 17, among 872 likely voters. The margin of error is +/- 4.2%.
Harris has 88% of Democratic support, while Trump has 87% of Republican support.
The poll also finds that voters view Harris favorably - 54%-43% - while they view Trump unfavorably - 38%-60%.
Mike Sapraicone (R-Floral Park) trails Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) by twenty-six points57%-31%.
The College also finds voters support Proposition One by an overwhelming margin of 69%-22%. Republicans oppose it 50%36%, while 89% of Democrats and 62% of Independents support the constitutional amendment.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) also remains unfavorable and with a negative job approval. The College tracks her favorability at 36%51%, up slightly from last month, and her job approval at 41%-51%, also up slightly from last month.
The poll also finds that a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all view her unfavorably.
Meanwhile, 51% of voters find that the state is headed in the wrong direction, down slightly from 55% who held that position in September.
President Biden’s job approval is now 50%-49%, up from 47%-53% last month.
Local
A Siena College poll, sponsored by Newsday, finds that Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) leads challenger John Avlon (D-Gramercy Park) by three points - 47%-44%, leading Trump by just one point in NY-01.
This is a contrast from two recent polls. A Fabrizio, Lee, and Associates poll from late September gave LaLota an eight-point lead over Avlon, while a Cygnal poll from earlier this month found LaLota leading by nine points.
In local news, County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has announced the launch of a website to update residents on the study of County Route (CR) 39 in Tuckahoe to alleviate traffic in a major East End artery.
The County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has launched the page to keep residents informed as Romaine intends to fulfill a core component of his campaign platform of remediating roads and improving the quality of life through traffic studies.
“Making information readily available to residents is the surest way to alleviate concerns around ongoing studies and potential projects,” said Romaine. “It is important the community is aware of the work the DPW is doing to improve this important roadway.”
The study is hoping to develop, evaluate, and identify long-term solutions and improvements to reduce traffic congestion, minimize local detours, and improve overall safety. Residents can submit their comments and suggestions to cr39study@ suffolkcountyny.gov
Credit:
Donald
Trump campaign
Smithtown Matters
Continued from front cover Thursday, October 24,
Federal Case in Bull Run Property Dismissed
The case was dismissed due to a lack of standing, a reliance on “fictitious plaintiffs,” and a failure to meet legal ripeness requirements.
Fictitious Plaintiffs
The complainant named a nonexistent entity, called “XYC, Inc.,” as the operator of the proposed assisted living facility, despite it being a placeholder. The list of plaintiffs also included eighty-six hypothetical complainants, such as “John” and “Jane Does,” to represent a future community of residents of a facility that does not exist. The court found that these hypothetical complainants made their claims inadmissible.
Standing of Real Plaintiffs
Apart from the eighty-six hypothetical plaintiffs, six real plaintiffs were identified. However, their claims were deemed inadmissible since they were based solely on the plaintiffs’ intentions to reside in a facility that has not yet been built. The court also found that these claims, along with other issues, such as permitting, could prevent the facility from ever being built.
“The real, living plaintiffs named in the complaint fare only slightly better than their fictional counterparts. The six identified individuals do have the advantage of being actual people, but their reasons for being here mirror that of Does No. 9-97,” said the Judge in his ruling. “Those individuals are intended future residents of the Whisper Mills Assisted Living at St James facility proposed to be located on Mills Pond Road.”
Lack of Ripeness and Standing
The suit was also dismissed due to its lack of ripeness for adjudication, in that the Mills Pond Group did not exhaust all administrative remedies. Furthermore, the court found that a federal court has no standing to impose jurisdiction of a local zoning matter, one that would be in the purview of the Town’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
“This case drew unnecessary public scrutiny, including unfounded criticism of our Town Attorney, Matt Jakubowski, from the leadership of a local civic group. While I hope to see a public apology for the negative analysis, at the very least the Town administration is confident that the civic community and people of St James share in our enthusiasm and acknowledgment for this victory led by Mr. Jakubowski,” said a Town spokesperson. “Sensationalized local media coverage, without fact-checking or including legitimate research, misleads the public and promotes government overreach. It’s a reminder that we all must approach contentious applications with care and respect for both the law and our neighbors.”
The Mills Pond Group was also found to have initially proposed a condominium development but diverted their cause to an assisted living facility to bypass local zoning laws. When the special exemption for such facilities was removed from the Town code, the group filed the lawsuit. The court also found that the group did not take “essential steps,” such as applying for a zoning variance, which it believes undermines their claims of discrimination.
“It can’t be that Mills Pond historically ‘develops Assisted Living residences’ as a regular course of business on behalf of an entity that doesn’t yet exist. Furthermore, a sworn document submitted by plaintiffs on this motion makes clear that Mills Pond has no special affinity for creating assisted living facilities; rather, Mills Pond had an initial plan to build ‘condominium-type residences’ on the parcel but shifted to its current iteration to avoid zoning hurdles,” said the Judge. “After eliminating the silliness what remains of this case is this: plaintiff Mills Pond is a closely held development company that’s attempting to construct an assisted living facility on property zoned for residential use.”
“Never let the facts get in the way of a good story,” the Judge read in his opening statement, a quote misattributed to Mark Twain. “And that’s not all. The complaint provides for another eighty-six invented plaintiffs that are nothing more than wishful thinking: “Joe Doe’ and ‘Jane Doe Nos. 9 – 97.”
“We were, of course, pleased with the court’s decision, though we fully expected Judge Gary Brown to reach this outcome. He followed the law to the letter, as we anticipated from such a respected Federal Judge. The Town of Smithtown and the Town Board must operate strictly within land use regulations and municipal codes,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “Personal opinions—whether from elected officials or the public—do not guide these decisions. Our Building, Environmental, Land Use, and Legal department experts follow a rigorous process to advise the Town Board, and we are proud to stand by their recommendations. We entrust these professionals with critical responsibilities, and their guidance ensures that we govern properly and fairly. Furthermore, public litigation is expensive—these recent legal victories (two in the last week) cost over $110,000 in taxpayer funds. That money could have gone toward preserving open space, matching funds with the county to preserve Trinity AME Church, upgrading athletic fields, or adding stormwater mitigation. There is a real cost to defending Article 78 proceedings, and that cost unfortunately is felt on the taxpayers.”
The court granted the Town’s motion to dismiss the case and denied Mills Pond’s request for a preliminary injunction, which is a temporary court order that prevents a party in a legal case from taking a specific action or continuing an action until a final judgment.
The Town asserts that the decision “underscores the importance of factual accuracy and proper administrative procedures in legal challenges,” and that it “echoes the Town of Smithtown’s commitment to upholding the law, ensuring sound governance, and responsibility managing land use decisions.”
12 Candidate Spotlight
By Matt Meduri
Steven Basileo
Candidate: Steven Basileo
Residence: St. James
Prior Elected Office: None
Office Sought: New York’s Eighth Assembly District Party Lines: Democratic, Working Families
Endorsements: Sierra Club, Vote Common Good, NYSUT, AFL-CIO, CSEA
Steven Basileo, 24, is making his first run for public office against twelve-term incumbent Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) Steven Basileo sat down with The Messenger for an interview for this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Assembly?
A: I have a Master’s in public policy from Stony Brook. I have worked as a labor organizer at SEIU’s communication center. It’s an autonomous body that helps other unions at SEIU with its needs. I was in the National Education Association (NEA) Division. I was most often sent to Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. I would call teachers, school staff, everyone from lunch ladies to janitors to education paraprofessionals for kids with special needs. I would call them to ask if they would like to be involved in their unions. We would offer help in getting better pay and benefits. We called thousands of teachers and we’d get a good chunk of them to sign on. Even in Arkansas, despite what you would consider a generally hostile state for that sort of organized labor, we were able to acquire substantial pay and benefit raises well above baseline from previous years.
In New York, we have very high rates of union participation. They didn’t
Q: What would you consider to be the “defining issue” of this election?
A: The defining issue is going to be the juxtaposition between Fitzpatrick and myself. He’s been there a long time, but that combined with the fact that he hasn’t really had an active challenger in a long time, has gotten him in a mindset that I believe is complacent. If you look, he’s not maintaining a campaign infrastructure at this time. He has no social media presence, his constituent services are pretty infamous throughout the district as it’s hard to not only reach him but even if you get through to his staff, you usually don’t hear back. He hasn’t posted a press release since September 2021. I don’t believe that’s the right way to govern. I think as an elected official serving your constituency, you should keep them appraised fairly regularly of what you’re doing and how you’re helping them. And this is something that Fitzpatrick has sort of gotten away from.
Q: The Siena College regularly tracks New Yorkers’ opinions on the direction of the state. Just last month, the College tracked a majority of voters who feel the state is on the wrong track - 51%39%. With this in mind, what’s your pitch to voters that sending you back to the majority will be productive for your constituents? What case would you make for increased Democratic leadership in Albany, despite an extended period of the majority of New Yorkers feeling the state is on the wrong track?
A: Fitzpatrick is sort of a backbencher; he’s one of the most conservative members downstate. He proposes a change to the Triborough Amendment that would get rid of the aspect that when a labor contract lapses, the provisions
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
By Matt Meduri
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick is running for his twelfth term in Albany. He is being challenged by first-time candidate Steven Basileo (D-St. James).
Assemblyman Fitzpatrick sat down with The Messenger for an interview for this candidate spotlight.
Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Assembly?
A: I have over twenty years in financial services, five years with New York Life, sixteen years as a registered representative. I was also with Morgan Stanley. I managed millions of dollars in client assets and did pension work. This is where my passion for pension reform comes from; I know how the system works. I had my own business when I ran for Smithtown Council back in the late 1980s. My time on the Council under Supervisor Pat Vecchio allowed me to learn the value of being parsimonious with tax dollars. I’ve served twenty-two years in the Assembly, with about a dozen years on the Ways and Means Committee.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments for AD-08 and New York overall?
Candidate Spotlight
A: I brought back $50,000 for the Smithtown Food Pantry, $100,000 for the VFW Hall in Kings Park - a big community magnet - and funds for the Village of the Branch’s shopping plaza on Route 111. We’ve gotten funding for park improvements, our libraries, the Kings Park School District, and $50,000 for Angela’s House, who help our technologically dependent children who are in severe health situations. I have many friends in Ireland and we’ve helped bring companies here to the Hauppauge Industrial Park and helped them find financing through Wall Street. I also work closely with the Catholic Conference and I carried legislation to oppose stem cell cloning, which allows the creation of embryos where many of them are cast off to die.
My constituent service is top-shelf; one of my aides is actually a Democrat. During COVID, we were on the phone for ten hours a day. We helped some businesses become categorized as “essential” during the pandemic.
Q: What is your top priority if re-elected?
A: I have the Governor’s ear on rebranding the SUNY system to become the University of New York (UNY) system. SUNY once had a stigma for being nobody’s first college choice; that has obviously changed. Stony Brook, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Geneseo are probably our standout institutions. We have great state universities, but we’re not a national brand. The four campuses do their own marketing and outreach. If we’re going to compete for the best students, not just in New York State, and even internationally, we need to build a better brand. “UNC” and “UCA” are well-known brands, but “SUNY Stony Brook” doesn’t have that cachet. We’re in a culture where brands matter, and if you’re an unknown brand, you’re at a disadvantage in the marketplace. Any college can fill seats, but if we want the best kids, we need a better brand. The State University of New Jersey is in the Big Ten Athletic Conference, and the prominent local attraction is the New York skyline. We leverage the New York brand for tourism, why not leverage it for higher education? I’ve gotten a lot of bipartisan support for this project.
From a sports standpoint, we can make reinvestments where necessary in stadiums or mass transit, and the small businesses will profit from the crowds coming here to watch big college sports matches.
We build marijuana dispensaries and casinos and we think that’s economic growth. Imagine if we had UNY at Stony Brook with a major athletic program in one of the major conferences. It manages Brookhaven National Lab, it’s near the second-largest industrial park in the country in Hauppauge, and we have the railroads. If people stay for entertainment, they could go to Port Jefferson or Patchogue after the game. We could attract great talent and economic growth with this rebranding.
The only way something of this scale is going to work is if the Governor takes the lead. Every year, I introduce a tweak to the Triborough Amendment. I’m okay with everything in the amendment, except one provision: when a contract expires. Currently, when a contract expires, all provisions of a contract remain in full effect until a new agreement is ratified. My legislation would put new hires, except police and fire, into a defined contribution platform. It would also impose a 2% hard cap on binding arbitration. Finally, when a contract expires, you suspend - not eliminate - the automatic escalators of step increases until a new agreement is ratified. It would bring both management and labor to the table to get a deal as quickly as possible.
Q: What would you consider to be the “defining issue” of this election?
A: Improving our state’s economy. Our tax burden is so high and the federal government has created this inflationary environment. Companies don’t cause inflation; printing money at the federal level does. It’s critical to elect Donald Trump (RFL) as president so that New York’s economy will benefit. We could use attractive tax packages to bring business Upstate and on Long Island. We used to have manufacturing in New York; Swingline Staples, Domino Sugar, and Selmer Pianos used to be made
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick
Michael Fitzpatrick St. James 2002
Prior Elected Office: Smithtown Council, Seventh Assembly District (redistricted) Office Sought: New York’s Eighth Assembly District Republican, Conservative
Ranking Member on Housing; Agriculture; Banks; Higher Education; Ways and Means Endorsements: LICA, Long Island Gasoline Retailers Associations, building trades, police
in Queens. There’s no future for so many of these people in these communities anymore.
Housing is also another problem. If putting a high-end retailer in a downtown area would generate activity, we would have done that already. Amazon has changed everything. We need hospitality, entertainment, and professional services. Some retail is good to support new people living in the community. We need some development because the vacant storefronts are a tax burden on the residents. We’ve decided we don’t want high density; that’s why people move from the city to Long Island. But because we’ve distorted our economics, our tax burden is so high with so many people working in government and collecting pensions and benefits. In order to improve the economics, we have to do it with density. Smithtown has three locations - where our railroad stations are - and the Town and community have to figure out what the acceptable level of density is.
We have to be careful about converting vacant strip malls into housing. We might have an abundance of retail now, but what happens ten or twenty years from now? Taking commercial property off the tax roll and converting it to housing could mess up the future distribution of the tax burden. It’s not a terrible idea, but we have to be careful to not take too much commercial property off the tax rolls. It’s very easy to upzone property but it’s very difficult and controversial to downzone property.
An equally important issue is bail reform. All the Assembly Democrats have to do is not come to the table. We can try to pry some things loose, but we can’t overturn it because the radical left is in control of both houses.
Q: What’s your pitch to voters to return you to the Assembly as a member of the minority?
A: We need more democracy, not Democrats, in Albany. We are a state that is slowly deteriorating from one-party rule. We need more Republicans to get the Governor’s attention. I happen to like Kathy Hochul very much; she’s not a radical. But because 75% of the vote in a Democratic primary comes from south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, the influence of the radical left dominates the two chambers. The moderates have been shut out. Things like bail reform and the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) are some reasons that Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) was not returned to office in 2022. Never force technology before it has matured. That is what the CLCPA is doing in terms of energy, and Comptroller DiNapoli’s (D-Great Neck Plaza) July report said that the state did not assess the challenges or risks adequately. We’re going to face blackouts and brownouts and a reduced standard of living. I’ve spoken with the fire chiefs in my district, and they can’t put out lithium battery fires yet. Never force technology before it has matured. “Ready, fire, aim,” is how the radical left likes to legislate in Albany. I have a lot of seniority and when you have seniority, you have relationships with people on both sides. You’re able to get things done because you have the friendships. I’ve been rated as the most conservative member of the legislature eight times, but I’m not a bomb-thrower or a yeller and screamer.
As long as New York is blue, we’re going to be singing the blues.
Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?
A: “Work as if everything depended on you, pray as if everything depended on God.” My grandmother said this and I’ve always remembered it.
Alternatively, “Words are the lawyer’s stock and trade.” - Abraham Lincoln
Q: How do you like to connect with your community?
A: I’ve lived in Smithtown for sixty-five years. I’ve traveled all around the country and the world, but there’s no place better than Smithtown and what we offer. Our quality of life is second-to-none. We have wonderful parks and beaches, we don’t have any blighted neighborhoods in Smithtown. We’re a community of high standards
I have four grandchildren: two live a mile away and two live in London. I love tennis, I’m a bit of a foodie, and I love to shop and dine locally.
The Messenger thanks Assemblyman Fitzpatrick for his time for this interview.
The Necessary Standard for American Education
Bail Reform in New York: Part II
By Matt Meduri
The bail reform laws passed by the New York State Legislature and thenGovernor Andrew Cuomo (D) in 2019 have been a continued source of controversy among community members, elected officials, and law enforcement personnel. While carried predominantly by Democrats, some have bucked their party to call for changes to the laws.
Since it’s such a hot-button issue in this year’s elections, we’ll dedicate a column to unpacking the issue, the pros and cons, and the list of charges Last week, we covered charges of the following categories: assault and related offenses; children offenses; prostitution; harming animals; firearms offenses; kidnapping; coercion; and related offenses; burglary and robbery; drug offenses; arson; criminal mischief and related offenses; larceny and theft; fraud; and forgery. This week, we’re publishing the second half.
Intent of Bail Reform
The intent of the change was to eliminate cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges. New York is one of the few states to abolish bail for many crimes without simultaneously giving judges the discretion to consider whether to hold a defendant if he/she poses a threat to public safety.
The other intent was to limit incarcerations and to lift penalties that might adversely impact the financially destitute, with the only alternative is sitting in jail until the court date. Proponents argue it balances out the criminal justice system since affluent offenders can post bail and remain relatively free until their court date. Proponents also argue that prolonged jail time or a hefty bail bond can impact employment and family life, leading to financial strain and even job loss. Opponents argue that the too many charges are now noneligible offenses for bail and that the law creates a “revolving door” system of crime. Opponents also heavily criticize the lack of judicial discretion, as other states who have implemented similar systems have retained this check and balance.
Below is just the first half of charges, separated by category, that are not bail-eligible under New York State law. The list was given to The Messenger by the office of Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James).
Editor’s Note: This list is exhaustive and we are publishing it since it is a hot-button issue with just weeks to go until the state elections.
False Written Statements
Falsifying Business Records (1st, 2nd degrees); Tampering with Public Records (1st, 2nd); Offering a False Instrument for Filing (1st, 2nd); Issuing a False Certificate (1st).
Bribery
Commercial Bribing (1st, 2nd); Commercial Bribe Received (1st, 2nd); Bribing a Labor Official; Bribe Received by a Labor Official; Sports Bribing; Sports Bribing Received; Tampering with a Sports Contest (1st, 2nd); Impairing the Integrity of a Pari-Mutuel Betting System (1st, 2nd); Rent Gouging (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Bribery (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Bribe Receiving (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Rewarding Official Misconduct (1st, 2nd); Receiving Reward for Official Misconduct (1st, 2nd); Giving Unlawful Gratuities; Receiving Unlawful Gratuities; Bribe Giving for Public Office; Bribe Receiving for Public Office; Impairing the Integrity of a Government Licensing Examination; Corrupt Use of Position or Authority (1st).
Obstructing Public Servants
Refusing to Aid a Peace or Police Officer; Concealment of a Human Corpse; Obstructing Governmental Administration (1st, 2nd); Obstructing Firefighting Operations; Obstructing EMS Services; Obstruction of Governmental Duties by Means of a Bomb; Destructive Device; Explosive; Defrauding the Government.
Contraband and Hindering Prosecution
Promoting Prison Contraband (1st, 2nd); Hindering Prosecution (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
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.
Court Proceedings
Misconduct by a Juror (1st, 2nd); Tampering with Physical Evidence; Compounding a Crime; Criminal Contempt of the Legislature; Criminal Contempt of a Temporary State Commission; Unlawful Grand Jury Disclosure; Unlawful Disclosure of an Indictment; Unlawful Disposition of Assets Subject to Forfeiture; Perjury (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Making an Apparently Sworn False Statement (1st, 2nd); Making a Punishable False Written Statement (1st).
Gambling
Promoting Gambling (1st, 2nd); Possession of Gambling Records (1st, 2nd); Possession of a Gambling Device; Gambling Fraud (1st, 2nd); Possession of Unlawful Gaming Property (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Use of Unlawful Gaming Property; Manipulation of Gaming Outcomes; Unlawful Manufacture; Sale; Distribution; Marking; Altering; Modification of Equipment and Devices Associated with Gaming.
Offenses against Public Order
Disseminating a False Registered Sex Offender Notice; Riot (1st, 2nd); Inciting a Riot; Unlawful Assembly; Criminal Anarchy; Disorderly Conduct; Disruption or Disturbance of a Religious Service; Funeral; Burial; Memorial Service; Harassment (1st, 2nd); Harassment against Rent Regulated Tenant (1st, 2nd); Aggravated Harassment (1st, 2nd); Loitering; Loitering (1st); Loitering for Purpose of Prostitution; Appearance in Public under Influence of Narcotics; Criminal Nuisance (1st, 2nd); Falsely Reporting an Incident (3rd); Unlawful Prevention of Public Access to Records; Criminal Interference with Health Services or Religious Worship (1st, 2nd); Aggravated Interference with Health Services (1st, 2nd); Directing a Laser at an Aircraft (1st, 2nd); Public Lewdness; Exposure of a Person; Promoting the Exposure of a Person; Public Lewdness (1st); Offensive Exhibition; Public Display of Offensive Sexual Material; Unlawful Dissemination or Publication of an Intimate Image.
Right of Privacy Offenses
Eavesdropping; Possession of Eavesdropping Devices; Failure to Report Wiretapping; Divulging an Eavesdropping Warrant; Tampering with Private Communications; Unlawfully Obtaining Communications Information; Failing to Report Criminal Communications; Unlawful Surveillance (1st, 2nd); Dissemination of an Unlawful Surveillance Image (1st, 2nd); Manufacture of Unauthorized Recordings (1st, 2nd); Manufacture or Sale of an Unauthorized Recording of a Performance (1st, 2nd); Advertisement or Sale of Unauthorized Recordings (1st, 2nd); Unlawful Operation of a Recording Device in a Motion Picture or Live Theater (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Failure to Disclose the Origin of a Recording (1st, 2nd).
Computer Offenses
Computer Trespass; Computer Tampering (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th); Unlawful Duplication of Computer Related Material (1st, 2nd); Criminal Possession of Computer Related Material; Operating an Unlawful Electronic Sweepstakes.
Marital Offenses
Unlawful Solemnizing a Marriage; Unlawfully Procuring a Marriage License; Unlawfully Issuing a Dissolution Decree; Bigamy; Adultery.
Public Safety Offenses
Unlawful Dealing with Fireworks; Unlawful Possessing or Selling Noxious Material; Creating a Hazard; Unlawfully Refusing to Yield a Party Line; Unlawful Wearing of a Body Vest; Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
Terrorism
Making a Terroristic Threat
By Matt Meduri
Smithtown Matters
Gyrodyne Lawsuit Dismissed
In addition to the Town’s victory in the lawsuit over Bull Run Farm, another case was dismissed in a separate lawsuit regarding the Gyrodyne property.
Two years ago, the Town approved the subdivision of the Gyrodyne site in St. James. The owner of the former defense contracting property sought to subdivide the seventy-five-acre site into eight lots for offices, a hotel, and an assisted living facility.
Like the Bull Run Farm proposal, where Mills Pond Group, LLC, sought to put an assisted living facility on a historic property, residents quickly voiced their opposition to the subdivisions. Concerns were similar, with traffic, overdevelopment, and community character preservation.
The Article 78 petition was dismissed in its entirety. The court ruled that the Town Planning Board “properly assessed the environmental impacts associated with the subdivision and took all reasonable measures to mitigate potential adverse effects,” according to a spokesperson for the Town. The ruling finds that the Planning Board “took the hard look” required by law and that the property’s approval process met the necessary standard. The petition was denied with the
court’s determination that the arguments presented were either without merit or unnecessary for consideration.
The Town Attorney’s office regularly works in conjunction with the Town’s building and planning experts to ensure that administrative decisions are within the scope of the law. The Town emphasizes that legal decisions cannot be based on public opinion, as public support or opposition is not a benchmark for legal consideration.
“While many of us share the desire to preserve as much open space as possible within our community, it’s important to recognize that the Gyrodyne property is privately owned. However, the board members of Gyrodyne have long-standing ties to the area, and we trust they will engage with the community to strike a balance between their subdivision plans and the interests of the residents. We look forward to future discussions that can foster a collaborative path forward,” said the Town. “We remain committed to transparency and fairness in all land use matters and will continue to follow the legal framework that protects both property rights and the interests of our community.”
County News
The Suffolk County Marathon: A Salute to Those Who Served
By Ashley Pavlakis
Marathons are no easy task to tackle; months of training take place before the big race. For Long Island residents, their big moment was the Suffolk County Marathon which took place on October 19 and 20. The proceeds from the marathon go toward supporting the Veterans living in Suffolk County.
“This year’s event had more than 2,500 participants with runners from across America coming to Suffolk County to support our veterans,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “The more than $1 million dollars raised to date from the Catholic Health Suffolk County Marathon is distributed to local Veterans’ organizations through an application and vetting process led by our Veterans Service Agency and the Suffolk County Marathon Grant Committee.”
The 2024 edition of the Suffolk County Marathon saw two first-place winners with times below the three-hour mark. Jonathan Schloth won the men’s division and Cristin DelaneyGuille took the women’s division.
The Marathon was first established in 2015 with a 5k and 10k run. As of last year, they hit the $1 million mark. The runners lined up at the starting line in Babylon Village, made their way over Montauk highway and the Great South Bay before eventually turning around and completing the race in Gardiner County Park in West Bay Shore. At the finish line, runners were met with a Freedom Fest, where they could cool down and enjoy live music and vendors.
“Everything ran smoothly, the race was awesome. We handled everything with grace and ease. I know it wasn’t that easy, but they made it look easy with the final product of the race itself,” said Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Chair of the Veterans Committee. “We were very fortunate to have the weather that we had. The participation [I believe] exceeded the last two years as far as entries, which is great.”
“There’s a committee, which I also sit on, that accepts and reviews grant applications for the money that’s brought in by the marathon. The committee reviews these applications and makes a decision on who is to receive and how much, depending on the needs,” Caracappa told The Messenger. “One thing everybody should know is it’s not for capital improvements, it’s for how they improve their services to the Veterans who need them. Whether it be mental health, food, clothing, or whatever they may need, not the infrastructure.”
Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa and his team (pictured below) took part in the marathon as part of Team Legislature.
“Team Legislature, which I put together, is a relay team and we run the whole marathon. We run it in bits and pieces, each member of our legislature has a different piece of the course that they are responsible for running. It was just another great experience in our third year doing Team Legislature. We realize what we’re doing, our contribution is helping our Veterans, which was designed around this marathon,” said Caracappa.
Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee and a Marine Corps Veteran who has served for sixteen years, also took part in the 10k marathon and carried some extra weight as motivation for himself and those around him.
“Twenty-two Veterans a day take their own lives on average, so that’s why I wear that vest for that run. I’ve done it for other runs, and I’ve done other physical activities or challenges to help bring awareness to the epidemic of Veteran suicides that’s been going on for well over a decade now,” said Lennon. “I ran the 10k in boots and utes, a twenty-two-pound vest, and an American flag.”
Caracappa spoke about the positive feedback he’s received from agencies and Veterans who were on the receiving end of the support.
“I’m Chair of the Veterans Committee, so I get to work with these agencies and I know firsthand a lot of their needs. When we’re able to pitch in and help them meet those needs, they’re 100% appreciative and grateful for that, as are the veterans to receive those services. We get stories all the time from their loved ones, how it made a difference to them and how they were struggling, this made a difference for them and that’s the reward,” said Caracappa.
Caracappa addressed the participants before the race with some final words of motivation before they hit the ground running.
“Every stride you take is a stride we make in Suffolk County for assisting our Veterans and it’s much appreciated,” said Caracappa.
“Hopefully, I’ve motivated some folks to keep going, but it really is to demonstrate to our community that you might be in mental, physical, or spiritual pain, but we’re still there to support each other. Every pound for every life that’s taken each day on average is to bring awareness to that,” Lennon told The Messenger of the importance of bringing awareness to Veterans’ mental health issues.
Credit: Nick Caracappa
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Even Kamala Harris Can’t Explain Her Economic Plan
By Andrew Shirley | AMAC Contributor
Kamala Harris has finally started to unveil pieces of an economic agenda with just weeks to go until Election Day. But unfortunately for the vice president, she has proven incapable of explaining how any of her proposals would work – or how they would pass basic constitutional scrutiny.
Harris’s most recent policy proposal is a socalled “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” that, in addition to being shameless pandering, also appears to be blatantly illegal.
The agenda consists of five specific promises. The first is one million taxpayer-funded “fully forgivable” loans of up to $20,000 that will only be available to black men and women. The second is a vague promise for “education training” for only black men. Next is a promise to protect “cryptocurrency investments” for, again, only black men, followed by a “national health initiative” focused on illnesses that “disproportionately affect black men.” The final point in the proposal is a promise to “legalize recreational marijuana.”
The proposals have thus far been lambasted for their brazen illegality and unconstitutionality – along with the fact that they are overtly discriminatory against non-black men. Even if Harris were somehow able to pass these policies into law, they would likely quickly be struck down by the Supreme Court.
The assertion that Harris will protect cryptocurrency investments for only black men and provide taxpayer-funded “forgivable loans” to only black men is perverse and, absent of any specifics, appears nonsensical. If she intends to provide cryptocurrency subsidies for only black men, this would be profoundly unconstitutional. If she means to regulate the industry for the advantage of black men, this would be similarly illegal.
The unintended backlash against this agenda left many feeling that the policy was put together in a haphazard manner with no real thought behind it. Seeming to confirm this accusation, neither Harris nor anyone on her campaign has offered any explanation for how these policies would work.
But failing to defend the practicality of its policy agenda has become commonplace for a Harris campaign that has by and large failed to release any specifics for how they plan to implement their grand ambitions.
Perhaps the most infamous example of this was Harris’s rollout of a proposal to ban “price gouging,” which critics quickly pointed out was just a pitch for socialist price controls. The Harris campaign has largely abandoned the policy as even normally friendly media outlets slammed it as unrealistic, dangerous, and likely illegal.
Harris also floated a $25,000 “credit” for firsttime homebuyers, supposedly to make buying a home more affordable. Economists blasted the practicality of the plan, pointing out that it would only further increase the cost of housing. Again, neither Harris nor her campaign had a serious answer or provided any logical explanation for why they believe the housing credit would make housing more affordable.
But perhaps the clearest evidence that Harris doesn’t have a clue about how her economic agenda would actually work came during her appearance on 60 Minutes earlier this month. CBS’s Bill Whitaker noted that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Harris’s plan would add $3 trillion to the budget deficit over a decade, asking Harris how she proposes to pay for it.
“Ok, so the other economists that have reviewed my plan versus my opponent and determined that my economic plan would strengthen America’s economy. His would weaken it,” Harris said.
“But pardon me Madam Vice President,” Whitaker responded. “The question was, how are you going to pay for it?”
Whitaker’s response left Harris in a moment of stunned silence, as if that thought had never crossed her mind. She tried to recover by repeating a tired Democrat line about “making the rich pay their fair share,” but the damage was done. The clip went viral on social media and cable news as yet another example of Harris being unable to provide any rationale for her proposals.
While Harris defenders have alleged that Trump hasn’t provided any specifics about his economic plans either, the difference is that Trump has a record of success to point to.
Under Trump, the country saw record increases in real wages and job growth, along with low inflation and high business optimism. Even following the depths of the pandemic-induced economic dip, the country was seeing a
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sharp “v-shaped” recovery before that recovery stagnated under Biden and Harris. Trump’s basic pitch is, “I did it once – elect me, and I’ll do it again.”
Joe Biden himself has said there is “no daylight” between him and Harris, while Harris has repeatedly stated that there is “not a single thing” she would have done differently than Joe Biden. The Biden-Harris record is one of 20 percent cumulative inflation and economic stagnation, leaving voters no reason to be confident things would be any different if Harris were in charge.
With two weeks to go until Election Day, Harris now may not have enough time left to make the case to voters about how her plan could work – assuming there is a case to be made at all.
Andrew Shirley is a veteran speechwriter and AMAC Newsline columnist. His commentary can be found on X at @AA_Shirley.
& Pieces
October 24, 2024
WORD OF THE Week
Origin:
mid 18th century (denoting a proposal for approval): from Latin, gerund (‘referring’) or neuter gerundive (‘something to be brought back or referred’) of referre (see refer).
Synonyms: vote, election
REFERENDUM
Noun
Pronounced: reh·fr·en·dm
Definition: a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Example: “A referendum is on the ballot to fund wastewater solutions.”
Antonyms: mandate, executive order
Source: Oxford Languages
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History
October 24, 1929: “Black Thursday”, start of stock market crash of 1929, Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 12.8%
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
October 27, 1962: Black Saturday during the Cuban Missile Crisis: An American spy plane is shot down over Cuba and the navy drops warning depth charges on Soviet submarines
October 29, 2015: China announces the end of their one-child policy after 35 years
October 26, 2019:
October 30, 1973: The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey is completed, connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosporus for the first time C V A E M N O
October 28, 1904: St. Louis police try a new investigation method - fingerprints
October 25, 1971: United Nations votes to expel the Chinese Nationalist ruled Taiwan and admit the Communist People’s Republic of China
Raid by U.S. Special Forces kills ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria
Why the Suffolk PBA Backs
President Trump
By Louis Civello
Our country’s law enforcement faces an unprecedented crisis. Violent crime is up, our border is open, and police recruitment is at a historic low. This crisis was largely created by the left. They’ve spent the last few years demonizing our officers, attempting to defund us, and strip us of the very tools we need to protect the public. Electing Donald Trump (R-FL) will be a harsh rebuke of the anti-police movement, and it will mark a return to a safer America.
When it comes to police and public safety, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris (DCA) could not be further apart. Vice President Harris supports defunding the police. Asked about her position, she stated “for too long the status quo thinking was you get more safety by putting more cops on the street. Well, that’s wrong.” In contrast,
President Donald Trump pushed to fund police departments, signing the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Authorization Act in 2018. This Act funded a nationwide law enforcement program focused on the reduction of violent crime, which meant more cops on the streets to keep communities safe.
As President, Donald Trump restored the 1033 program providing law enforcement with access to lifesaving equipment such as bullet proof vests, long guns, and armored vehicles which are used by police nationwide to respond to mass casualty events like terrorist attacks and school shootings. Vice President Harris instead called for the “demilitarization of police” and cut the program, putting officer’s lives at risk and endangering the public.
Vice President Harris presided over the border crisis. Leaving the border virtually unsecured has allowed for the influx of violent criminals and allowed deadly fentanyl to flow into our communities. In 2022, Suffolk County saw over 400 deaths from these deadly drugs, many of which were young adults and children. President Trump oversaw one of the most secure borders in American history. While running for President, Trump’s life was even threatened by Mexican drug lord “el Chapo” because of his tough positions on the border and illegal drugs.
President Trump supports the death penalty for cop-killers. As a prosecutor, Harris refused to seek the death penalty for the thug that murdered San Francisco Police Officer Isacc Espinoza. This outraged many SFPD Officers. It’s an outrage we share, since New York has released forty-two cop-killers in the last seven years.
The Suffolk PBA is also a member of organized labor. President Trump has proposed to eliminate taxes on overtime. This would put thousands of dollars into the pockets of union workers across the country. Vice President Harris has no such proposal and has signaled she favors tax increases.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, as police officers, we take an oath to uphold the constitution. Chief among the constitutional rights is the first amendment. All other rights depend on Americans having freedom of speech. The Harris-Biden administration has laid siege to that right. They coerced social media companies to censor Americans in the name of “disinformation” (much of which later turned out to be true information). This was an egregious abuse of power and something that goes against the core of what it means to uphold the constitution.
Some of President Trump’s critics point to January 6 as evidence he does not support the police. They say his rhetoric is responsible for the riot that took place at our Nation’s Capitol. This argument is fundamentally flawed. If we held Vice President Harris to the same standard, she would be responsible for all the carnage caused by the BLM rioters, violent attacks on police and the two assassination attempts on President Trump.
At the end of the day, we must have one standard by which to judge. For the SCPBA that standard is examining what these candidates have done and what they intend to do. For the safety of our Nation’s police officers and all those we protect, President Trump is the right choice and the only Presidential nominee that backs the blue. Louis Civello serves as President of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
Civello (left) presenting Congressman Jim Jordan (right) the PBA’s endorsement of President Trump (Credit - Matt Meduri)
St. Joseph’s Girls Soccer Has the Offensive Spark
By Ashley Pavlakis
The Golden Eagles Girls Soccer Team of St. Joseph’s University is a member of the Skyline Conference in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Eagles have posted a winning record this season and still have two games left to play in the regular season.
The Golden Eagles are led by head coach Tom Williamson, who served as assistant coach for four years before earning the promotion. Williamson is familiar with Long Island having spent time coaching at Long Island University before joining the Eagles. Williamson is joined by assistant coaches Jaclyn O’Shaughnessy, Michelle Barclay, and volunteer Matthew Schindler.
Williamson’s extensive coaching experience has allowed him to shape his teams in a way that gives them the necessary tools to be successful on-andoff the field.
“My main focus has always been, and will continue to be, encouraging players to outwork the opposition, enjoy the ball, maintain possession, and try to control the tempo of the game in all situations,” Williamson told The Messenger.
Win/Loss records can be broken down into different categories. Statistics aren’t everything, but they’re certainly a good source of judgment for coaches who are planning how to take down their opponents. For the Golden Eagles, they play better at home. Their record at home is 6-1-1 while their record on the road is 3-30. The Eagles have capitalized on home-field advantage this season.
“This season has been marked by significant growth in many areas. Despite facing a more competitive conference than in previous years, with a strong finish we remain well-positioned to finish on a high note and meet the goals we set at the beginning of the year,” said Williamson.
The Eagles have outscored their opponents this season 32 to 10, fortunately for them, their offense is coming from everyone. The team has nine goal-scorers with double digit goals and a handful of players who are very close to reaching the same feat.
“For a team to achieve success, it’s essential to have multiple players capable of
scoring from anywhere on the field. Building a roster where any player can step in and make an impact has been crucial to our growth over the past few years,” said Williamson.
Universally, kids grow up playing youth soccer. At some point in their athletic journey, the athlete will decide if they want to focus their time on making it to the next level in their respective sport. St. Joseph’s is one of three colleges on Long Island to offer girls’ soccer as a collegiate program. Female soccer players now have the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to aim for after their collegiate careers are finished. At least seven female players with Long Island roots are representing the island when they take the field as professional soccer players.
“Every year, more and more Long Island girls are progressing to the highest levels of the game, thanks to the remarkable coaching at both youth and collegiate levels in the region. This is a trend that I see continuing for a long time,” Williamson remarked.
Point, Set, Match: Senior Night Success for Ward Melville Varsity Girls Volleyball
By Ashley Pavlakis
The Patriots of Ward Melville High School have a long-standing history of success in athletics, and the girls’ varsity volleyball team is no different. The Patriots celebrated their seven seniors last Tuesday night versus the Long Wood Lions in dominant fashion.
The girls’ varsity volleyball team is led by head coach Haley Blunt, a Patriot alum who excelled in volleyball, softball, and track during her time at Ward Melville. It’s a full circle moment for Blunt, as she’s in her ninth season as a coach for the Patriots. She has her team on a historic run, as they’re 16-0-0 with one game left to play in the regular season. The Patriots are four-time League Champions (regular season), securing the title with a win on Monday night.
Volleyball is played in sets; each set is determined by the first team to notch 25 points. The Patriots have dominated their opponents by taking the match in 3 sets, only needing a fourth set twice all season.
“We do have a very talented crew this year. Our league has a tendency to change year after year based on enrollment. In terms of who we’re going to
be up against it could vary based on the season. However, we don’t allow that to dictate how we are or are not going to prepare. Everyone we face is a threat to our record and what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Haley Blunt.
“The girls do a great job of taking practice seriously and playing how they plan to play in a game like they do at practice, which helps us prepare for all levels of competition. I found this season that the girls are very cohesive and always excited to compete on game day. They’ve done a really good job of getting the job done.”
Senior night is a tradition amongst high school and collegiate athletic teams to celebrate the seniors who put in four years of hard work and dedication to their team.
“Senior night is always emotional; it just means that you’re coming to the tail end of the regular season. We find that it’s a turning point in the season where it’s starting to hit our upperclassmen that the guaranteed matches are coming to a close. The transition into the postseason is always what we look forward to most, but it’s also additional pressure and can be a little sad and scary at the same time. It’s just an interesting feeling because we’re so excited for it but it reiterates how important it is to continue showing up and giving our best effort because you never know when you’re going to be playing your last match,” Blunt told The Messenger.
The seven seniors who were celebrated for their contributions to the Patriots, on and off the court, were Emma Bradshaw, Emily Shields, Alexa Gandolfo, Ava Saunders, Megan O’Donnell, Yilin Chen, and Katie Specht.
“I’m excited for them, I know that competing at the next level is not for everyone. It’s definitely a big commitment. I do encourage and support the girls who want to pursue, focus, and dial in on academics or other clubs or hobbies. They get my support no matter what, I think the college player in myself is always extra excited that some of these girls do go on to experience college volleyball because it’s incredible. These girls grow up with the sport being such a big part of their life, it’s a big transition to hop into the next level of volleyball, but also a big transition to not be playing anymore,” said Blunt.
Credit: Alan Schaeffer
Credit:
Jon Singh
