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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024
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Voting year for local elections shifts to 2026 national issues,” Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Carini, who represents the Gov. Kathy Hochul recently town’s 5th councilmanic dissigned le gislation aligning trict, said. “Gov. Hochul disremany odd-year local elections garded countless local governwith statewide and legislative ments and organizations who elections that are held in even- urged her to veto. Their concer n is local elections and numbered years. issues can’t comHochul believes pete with state and the bill will expand national camaccess to voting, paigns. and make it easier “Issues such as for New Yorkers to p a rk u p g r a d e s, vote in local eleclocal infrastr uctions that directly t u r e, s a n i t a t i o n impact their lives pickup (and) local and the communibudgets will be ties they live in. muted,” Carini addThe change will ed. “Local elections begin in 2026. The for towns and counlaw will mean that ties are no longer.” elections for county According to the executive, county STEVE RhoADS gover nor’s office, le gislatures and State senator, the legislation will town board seats 5th district impact all elections will be held at the for which dates can same time as voting be changed through legislative for state and federal offices. The bill has been met with action. Changing election dates opposition from Long Island for certain offices, including Republicans, who say the shift judgeships and offices in any will take the focus away from city, must be done through a local candidates and drown out constitutional amendment. “Gov. Hochul also announced local issues. “Local elections and issues her support for a future amendwill be pushed aside and forced ment to the New York State down ballot by statewide and Continued on page 4
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
T
Daniel Offner/Herald
Michael Califano, a teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, embraced friends who gathered to protest his firing in front of the diocese of Rockville Centre. Church officials say Califano violated school policy by publicly posting a picture of himself kissing his boyfriend.
Community fights back after Maria Regina teacher is fired By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
Michael Califano, a third-grade teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, claims he was fired from his job after the Diocese of Rockville Centre was made aware of pictures on social media of him kissing his boyfriend. Califano says he met with the school’s pastor and a diocese representative last week informing him he had violated a handbook policy about adhering to Catholic values, and that his employment had been terminated after more than 18 months with the school.
Califano argues that while he is gay, he lives a Catholic lifestyle, and is an active participant in the church. While he and a number of parents who say they were aware of sexuality fought against the diocese’s choice to terminate, it’s believed Bishop John Barres upheld the decision. In response, several parents created a social media page demanding Califano return. His aunt, Karen Greenwood, also started an online petition calling on Barres and Pamela Sanders, superintendent of the diocesan schools, to reinstate him. As of Friday, more than 4,300 signatures Continued on page 7
he public deserves to have the opportunity to discuss local town and county issues.