The Port Times Record - November 2, 2017

The Port

Times record port jefferson • belle terre • port jefferson station • terryville

Vol. 30, No. 49

November 2, 2017

$1.00

Local Election Info For our official endorsements, see page A22

Election Day guide Read up on local races before heading to the polls Nov. 7

A9

Tragedy on the harbor

STAC Member Artist Showcase returns

Also: Photo of the Week, Art exhibits on the North Shore, SBU Sports, review of ‘Cornelius & the Cowlick’

B1

Driver dies after plunging vehicle into water via marina ramp — story A3

SPACE RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBER ADDRESS

Photo by Dennis Whittam

The Voice of the People

RE-ELECT

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PAGE A2 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

Suffolk County launches drug abuse resource app

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A new mobile app will provide access to drug addiction services for those who need it.

Stay Alive L.I. — which provides information on how to recognize and prevent overdoses, where to get help with drug addiction services, the locations of hospitals and treatment centers, links to organizations and hotlines and information on training to administer Narcan — is currently available in Android format and will soon be available to Apple users.

“With a growing number of overdoses in Suffolk County we have been vigilant with instituting creative solutions for dealing with this,” Suffolk County Legislator and Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said.

“This app is just one weapon in the fight. Too many lives have been lost and as new, deadlier drugs infiltrate our communities, the number of deaths will continue to rise unless we have the resources to provide assistance. This app will put vital information for treatment and recovery into the hands of those suffering drug addiction as well as their family members and will hopefully result in more lives saved.”

According to the Public Health Emergency Preparedness division within the Suffolk County Department of Health, there was a total of 588 overdose reversals of which 152 received more than one dose of Narcan from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 of this year. Of the 588, 25 patients were reversed at least two times within that time period, representing a snapshot of the number of overdoses in the county.

“The app incorporates resources for enforcement, education and prevention in order

Image from Stay Alive L.I. app

Suffolk County’s app provides resources for individuals and families battling addiction.

to help mitigate drug use in our communities,” Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) said.

“It will be an invaluable resource.”

The app can be downloaded by visiting the Google Play store on Android phones and searching for the Stay Alive L.I. app.

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NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A3

Village

Motorist dies after driving into Port Jefferson Harbor via town boat ramp

By Alex Petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com

Photo by Dennis Whittam

A motorist died at st. Charles Hospital after being rescued from a submerged car in Port Jefferson Harbor oct. 30. alerted of the incident on their paging devices, according to a spokesperson from the PJFD chief’s office. The three jumped into the water, eventually breaking the window with a hammer and removing the seat belt to pull the victim from the car.

Two PJFD heavy rescue squad members in diving gear also arrived on the scene to assist in the rescue effort.

“We had a brief conversation that went, ‘Are we doing this? Yeah we’re doing it,’”

Holmes said during a phone interview.

He said the three firefighters were focused only on action and not on what might happen to them if they jumped in the water.

“We could have saved a life,” Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant said via email Monday night.

Garant announced during a board meeting June 5 the village had sent a letter to the New York State Department of

BOAT RAMP continued on page A8

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A man was pronounced dead at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson after he was pulled from a submerged vehicle in Port Jefferson Harbor just after 7 p.m.

Oct. 30, according to Suffolk County Police Department Assistant Commissioner Justin Meyers. Police have identified the man as William Whalen, 69, of Lake Grove.

“A 911 call came in at 7:10 p.m. after witnesses observed a car drive into the water at the Port Jefferson Marina boat launch located off of West Broadway Avenue and Barnum Avenue in Port Jefferson Village,” Meyers’ statement said. “Sixth Precinct officers Brian Christopher and Michael Cappelli responded and jumped into the water and extricated a male victim that was trapped in his vehicle which was completely submerged. Personnel from the Port Jefferson Village Fire Department and Setauket Fire Department also responded and also went into the water to help extricate the victim.”

The officers were being treated for hypothermia in the aftermath of the incident.

Members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department — Lieutenant Geoffrey Markson, Ex-Captain David Okst and First Assistant Brennan Holmes — were on the eastern end of the marina parking lot working on the department’s fire boat when they were

Transportation and state Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) asking for the traffic signal at the intersection of Barnum Avenue and West Broadway to be changed from having a standard green light to a green left arrow and right arrow. The call was in response to an April 6 incident in which a man in his early 60s drove into the harbor via the same boat launch. Four good Samaritans rescued that driver and were later honored by the Port Jeff Village board in July. Garant said the DOT told her in a letter she received about five weeks ago they intended to comply with her request to change the light.

“I am thankful that the DOT was willing to entertain and adopt our suggestion, and when the light is changed, it may save a life,” Garant said Tuesday.

In December 2005 60-year-old Setauket resident Richard Levin drove into the water on the same ramp and onlookers had to pull his unconscious body from the fully submerged car. Levin died days later as a result of the incident.

According to documents obtained from Brookhaven in May, both Brookhaven Town and Port Jeff Village were sued by the wife and executrix of the estate of Richard Levin in 2007.

“As a result of the negligence of the defendants in failing to properly maintain

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PAGE A4 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

County

File photo

Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota, who did not plan to run for re-election, was indicted Oct. 25 and will retire prior to the completion of his fourth term in office.

DA charged by feds, plans to retire before term ends

By Alex PeTrOSki alex@tbrnewspapers.com

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Suffolk County residents and lawmakers have known since early 2017 there would be a new district attorney for the first time since 2001, but thanks to a federal indictment, the timeline for that to take place has moved up.

Thomas Spota (D), the sitting Suffolk County district attorney, was charged by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York Oct. 25 with four counts relating to his involvement in the obstruction of a federal civil rights investigation. Christopher McPartland, the chief of investigations and chief of the government corruption bureau of the DA’s office, was also indicted.

Spota released a statement Oct. 26 announcing his intentions to step down “at the earliest opportunity after the resolution of normal administrative matters relating to my retirement.” Emily Constant, the chief assistant district attorney, will serve as the interim district attorney until the winner of the 2017 campaign for the seat is sworn in next January.

The four charges were conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and obstruct an official proceeding; witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding; obstruction of justice; and accessory after the fact to the deprivation of civil rights. The initial civil rights violation investigation was examining the actions of former Suffolk County Police Commissioner James Burke, who was charged in December 2015 after assaulting and thus violating the civil rights of a Smithtown man who had been arrested for breaking into Burke’s police department issued vehicle. He was also charged with conspiracy to obstruct the investigation. Burke was sentenced to 46 months in prison almost exactly one year ago.

“Prosecutors swear oaths to pursue justice and enforce the law,” acting U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde said in a statement following the indictment. “Instead of upholding their oaths, these defendants allegedly abused the power of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, attempted to cover up the assault of an in-custody defendant, and attempted to thwart a federal grand jury investigation.

Abuses of power by law enforcement authori-

ties cannot and will not be tolerated. There are serious consequences to such actions.”

Since allegations against Burke came to light and he pleaded guilty in February 2016, Spota’s resignation has long been discussed by members of both political parties.

“For refusing to cooperate and work with federal law enforcement to prosecute crime in this county, for refusing and blocking federal law enforcement who were working on the Gilgo Beach serial murder case, for allowing violent criminals to go free to protect political friends, for lying about Jim Burke and conspiring to conceal his past…” county Executive Steve Bellone (D) said in May 2016 on the steps of Spota’s Hauppauge office, “Tom Spota, you must resign from this office so that we can begin the process of reforming this place governmentally and politically in a way that we can ensure this doesn’t happen again. If you fail to do so, I will call on the governor to exercise his authority under the constitution to remove you from this office.”

Bellone renewed his call Oct. 25, before Spota’s announcement the next day.

“The person holding the awesome power to decide whether people go to jail or not cannot effectively serve under federal indictment for corruption,” Bellone said in a statement.

The indictment detailed some of the specifics of Spota’s and McPartland’s actions that led to the charges.

“Between December 2012 and the present, defendants Spota and McPartland, together with others including Burke and other members of the SCPD, had numerous meetings and telephone conversations discussing the assault of John Doe, John Doe’s allegations against Burke and the federal investigation,” it reads. “During those meetings and telephone conversations, defendants Spota and McPartland, and Burke and other members of the SCPD, agreed to conceal Burke’s role in the assault and to obstruct and attempt to obstruct the federal investigation in order to protect Burke.”

Bellone has been criticized by Republican legislators and others for his role in Burke’s promotion, and some have also called for his resignation during the last year.

Spota, 76, of Mount Sinai, and McPartland, 51, of Northport, were arraigned Oct. 25.

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A5

STATE

Civic hosts debate on constitutional proposal

By Donna newman

Photo by Jonathan Kornreich

anthony Figliola and al Benninghoff participated in a debate about the constitutional convention at a recent Three Village Civic association meeting. wide delegates will be elected in November 2018, according to the State Board of Elections website, www.elections.ny.gov.

“The delegates will convene at the Capitol in April 2019,” according to the website.

“Amendments adopted by a majority of the delegates will be submitted to the voters for approval or rejection in a statewide referendum to be held at least six weeks after the Convention adjourns. The delegates will determine whether to submit proposed amendments as separate questions.

Any amendments that the voters approve will go into effect on the January 1 following their approval.”

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CON CON continued on page A19

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Anthony Figliola, vice president of Empire Government Strategies of Uniondale, a governmental consulting firm representing a variety of clients seeking liaisons in Albany, New York City or local municipalities, recommended a No vote.

Figliola’s primary argument is that a constitutional convention is an extremely expensive and risky way to affect change, especially when the document itself provides an alternative.

“The referendum process has been more successful as compared to Con Con,” he said. “There have been 600 amendments

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As amended in 1846, the New York State Constitution includes a mandatory requirement that every 20 years state voters be offered the opportunity via a ballot proposal to convene a constitutional convention — called “Con Con” by those familiar with state politics — to review and revise the existing document. If a majority votes Yes, delegates are elected to serve at a convention held in Albany.

A recent meeting of the Three Village Civic Association was devoted to informing the public about the proposal to be presented to New York State voters on Election Day with the debate titled “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?”

Two guest speakers were invited to present opposing views of Proposal 1, the first of three proposals that will appear on the reverse side of the ballot listing the candidates for office Nov. 7. The civic association’s Vice President George Hoffman moderated the debate at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library in Setauket.

The ballot question was last posed in 1997, when a majority of those voting said No. The last Con Con was held in 1967 and the voters later rejected all of the proposed changes. If a majority votes Yes this time around, three delegates from each state senatorial district and 15 at-large state-

passed by the voters in our history. This year there will be a question on the ballot as to whether pensions should be taken away from any state legislator convicted of a felony. In 2013 there were six constitutional amendments proposed. Five of them were approved. The good government groups are coming from a good place. They are [working] to enact change and they are trying to move the legislature and get the public at large involved in the process.”

Figliola also spoke about the last Con Con, in 1967, calling it “an utter failure.”

“Of the delegates elected 80 percent were politically connected,” he said. “And 45 percent were either sitting [or retired] elected officials ... collecting — or in the pension system. This allowed them to take two salaries, as there is no prohibition against it in the constitution. In addition to doubling their income, pension credits accrued by doing this raised their pension payouts.”

In the end, all of the proposed amendments to the constitution were submitted for voter approval in one package — which the voters rejected.

Al Benninghoff is a campaign manager for the Committee for a Constitutional Convention and also with New York People’s Convention. A longtime political strategist and reform advocate, he recommended a Yes vote.

PAGE A6 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

The Port Times Record Weekly

004

Two hospitalized, one arrested after party in PJ Village home

10/01/17

808

$49.00

52

L. Dunaief 631–751–7744

185 Rt. 25A, PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

by Alex petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com

Same Leah S. Dunaief, 185 Rt. 25A, PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

Suffolk County Police arrested a man for hosting a party in Port Jefferson after two 20-year-olds required medical attention for excessive alcohol consumption Oct. 29, according to police.

Patrol officers from the 6th Precinct responded to a complaint of a loud party at a home on High Street at about 1:40 a.m.

Alex Petroski, 185 Rt. 25A, PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 Desirée Keegan, 185 Rt. 25A, PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

Village Life & Times Publishing Corp. 185 Rt. 25A, PO Box 707, Leah S. Dunaief Setauket, NY 11733

Police Blotter

None

Incidents and arrests Oct. 26–30 Fight night round 1

✔

The Port Times Record

A 20-year-old man from Setauket was involved in a dispute with two men while at Setauket Elementary School Oct. 7 at about 8:30 p.m., according to police. The Setauket man punched each of the other men in the face, sending one to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of injuries, police said. He was arrested Oct. 30 in Port Jefferson Station and charged with two counts of third-degree assault.

Sept. 28, 2017

Weekly 9000 20 4322 4483

9818 26 4105 5512

8825

9643

Fight night round 2 8825 175 9000 98%

Leisure (6 papers)

At about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 29, a 21-year-old man from Wading River was involved in an altercation with another man while on Arden Place in Port Jefferson, according to police. The Wading River man punched the victim in the face multiple times with a closed fist, picked up the victim, threw him into a concrete wall and then to the ground, police said. He was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.

9643 175 9818 98.7

Sept. 21, 2017

Fight night round 3

Weekly Includes electronic copies

48321 21 8025 40100

52564 26 12355 40008

48146

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On Oct. 7 at about 11 p.m., while at Taco Bell on Route 25 in Selden, a 23-year-old man from Centereach recklessly swung a screwdriver, striking a victim in the chest and causing a cut, according to police.

He was arrested Oct. 30 in Selden and charged with assault.

Fight night round 4

✔

There were approximately 100 people in attendance, many of whom were underage, police said.

Police arrested and charged the host, Robert Egan, 22, of Bay Shore, with violating the Social Host Law. He was transported to the 6th Precinct where he was released on bail. Egan is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Jan. 9, 2018. Attorney information for Egan was not immediately available.

52389 175 52564 98%

3200 8260 8260 98%

3207 12830 12830 98%

10/19/17 10/10/17

Prescription required ©PTR155495

48146 175 48321 98%

At about 6 p.m. Oct. 18, near the intersection of Hemlock Street and Magnolia Drive in Selden, a 43-year-old man from Selden punched another man in the face with a closed fist, according to police.

He was arrested Oct. 26 in Selden and charged with third-degree assault.

A 20-year-old man from Coram was seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked outside of Independence Plaza on Middle Country Road in Selden while in possession of Xanax without a valid prescription at about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 26, according to police. He was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Unlicensed driver

On Oct. 28 at about 4:30 p.m., a 43-yearold man from Bayside was driving a 1996 Volvo on North Country Road in Stony Brook without a valid driver’s license, according to police. He was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Scratching the surface

Someone keyed a 2016 Land Rover while it was parked on Wilson Street in Port Jefferson Station Oct. 29 at about 3 p.m., according to police.

Restaurant robbery

At Country House restaurant on North Country Road in Stony Brook Oct. 28 at about 12:30 a.m., an employee of the restaurant was closing out bar receipts when two unknown men entered the establishment, one carrying a blunt object that might have been a pipe, and demanded cash, according to police. The men fled the scene with cash, and no injuries were reported, police said.

Sharpest tool in the shed

Someone used a sharp object to scratch the rear bumper and then remove the front bumper of a 2006 Honda parked outside of Stop & Shop on Route 25A in Setauket Oct. 24 at about 2:30 p.m., according to police. A police report regarding the incident was filed Oct. 28.

Home art

The side of an abandoned home on Broadway in Port Jefferson Station was spray painted with graffiti Oct. 27 at about 8 p.m., according to police.

Benched

A bench was stolen from a satellite office of John T. Mather Memorial Hospital on Medical Drive in Port Jefferson Station at about 5 p.m. Oct. 25, according to police.

— Compiled by Alex petroski

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A7

NorthBrookhaven C H A M B E R

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North Brookhaven Chamber Members After much discussion and consideration, the Board of Directors and Officers have decided to dissolve the North Brookhaven Chamber.

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If you are interested in starting a chamber in your town, please inquire as the North Brookhaven Chamber may be able to assist you with start up.

For questions and concerns we encourage you to attend the October and/or November meetings.

--

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PAGE A8 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

Village

Trick-or-treaters take to Port Jeff Village on Halloween

Photos by Alex Petroski

Spooky ghouls, horror movie characters, superheroes and more took to the neighborhood streets of Port Jefferson Oct. 31, going door to door in search of delicious sweets from the locals. Port Jeff Village was decorated with skeletons jack-o’-lanterns to commemorate Halloween 2017.

Boat Ramp Continued from page A3 the intersection of Route 25A and Barnum Avenue, in failing to properly safeguard against motorists driving onto said Port Jefferson ramp into the water, in failing to properly illuminate said area, in failing to provide fencing and warning lights — as a result of the aforementioned Richard Levin died,” the lawsuit read in part. “[The] town failed to submit any evidence that it main-

tained its property in a reasonably safe condition by providing adequate fencing, lighting or warning of the dangerous condition on its property.”

Judge Joseph Farneti of the New York State Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in January 2011 because the “acts or omissions of defendants were not the proximate cause of the alleged accident.”

The April incident stirred up memories more than a decade old for one former village resident.

“People are dying here and it’s a simple

fix,” Christopher Kelsch, one of the people who witnessed Levin’s death 12 years ago and tried to help, said shortly after seeing news of the April incident. “Somebody needs to shine a serious spotlight because Dr. Levin died at that location.”

Following the April incident, a Brookhaven Town spokesperson said in a statement there are clear signs and traffic measures in place to warn residents of the ramp’s location.

“The Port Jefferson boat ramp has existed at its current location for generations,” the spokesperson said. “A number of mea-

sures are in place including a multitude of ‘Do Not Enter’ signs, road arrows and other traffic control measures to clearly indicate that this is not an entrance.”

A Brookhaven Town spokesperson directed questions to the police department Monday night. Garant called on the town to take action in April, as the marina is town-owned property.

A spokesperson for LaValle said the state senator was meeting with representatives from the DOT Nov. 1 to discuss the incident and troublesome intersection.

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A9

Local Election Info For our official endorsements, see page A22

PAGE A10 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

Town Incumbent, 25-year-old first-time candidate seek office in town’s 1st district

By Alex Petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com The race to represent Town of Brookhaven’s 1st District features a two-term incumbent Democrat against a “progressive Republican” in his first campaign seeking political office.

Entering the 2017 election, Brookhaven’s lone Democratic voice on the board is attorney and 1st District Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station). The town’s wing of the Republican Party endorsed her challenger, 25-year-old town employee and Port Jefferson Station resident James Canale, though he insists he is not beholden to party politics, with this being his first run for office.

“I think it’s only a letter next to the name — I will not and do not toe the party line,” Canale said during a discussion at the Times Beacon Record News Media office with Cartright and the editorial staff in October. “I think that it is time that we have an outside candidate come into the party to try to shake things up a little bit.

I consider myself a grassroots, bipartisan, progressive Republican.”

Cartright, who was first elected in 2013, said her primary objective as an elected official has always been to bridge the gap between government and community.

“Accountability, transparency and integrity have always been my platform,” she said. “I have been the one bucking the system — the only Democrat on the town board — making

Photos by kevin redding

Councilwoman Valerie Cartright and challenger James Canale discussed issues pertaining to Brookhaven’s 1st Council District at times Beacon record News Media setauket office. sure that when the community’s voices come to the table during town board meetings and say ‘things are not transparent enough, things are not the way that they should be, why didn’t I know about this?’ I’m the one making sure that my colleagues are listening, not only hearing, but listening and acting in response to what the community is saying.”

Both candidates acknowledged drug addiction, especially to heroin and other opiates, as one of the major issues facing the district and town as a whole. Cartright reiterated the motif of her campaign platform in discussing the issue. She said resources exist within the

VOTE

town and county to help those afflicted by addiction, but there is often a breakdown in communication between the government and the community, so not all addicts are aware of their options.

“I’ve been working with the Long Island Prevention Resource Center looking to become what’s called a drug free community,” she said. Her plan is to continue a process, which she began in January, of bringing together representatives from the police department, schools, clergy members and various other community groups to share resources and ideas. “We’re trying to create a collabora-

tion, a task force of people to come together to talk about what type of resources are there for drug prevention.”

Canale pointed to the town’s “complicated” zoning codes as a major deterrent in allowing people, especially millennials, the opportunity to establish roots and begin a life in the town, and cited it as an issue he plans to focus on if elected.

“There’s just not enough affordable housing here,” he said. “One of the reasons I got involved in politics in the first place is because I see millennials and young adults graduating from college saddled with student debt either forced to move back home with their parents and work minimum wage jobs to barely make ends meet, or, we see this all the time, folks are moving off Long Island in droves.”

Cartright pointed to her revitalization and visioning plan for the Port Jeff Station and Terryville areas, an initiative that has been ongoing since her first term, as a driver toward alleviating that same issue. She also agreed with Canale that the town needs more affordable housing.

The candidates stood on common ground on the topic of preserving the environment and water quality in Brookhaven.

Cartright and the town joined a lawsuit by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in August against the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to oppose ongoing dumping of dredged spoils in the Long Island Sound, and Canale said he was in full support of the decision.

ED FLOOD

5th Legislative District

LEADERSHIP TO MOVE



SUFFOLK COUNTY FORWARD

Fight to rein in wasteful government spending Promote policies to grow the economy Push back against the rising costs of PSEG Combat the heroin/opioid epidemic plaguing Suffolk County

Pass balanced budgets without relying on

VOTE FLOOD NOVEMBER 7, 2017

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF ED FLOOD

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY WWW.VOTEEDWARDFLOOD.COM

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excessive fees, surcharges and backdoor taxes

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A11

Ed Romaine... getting the job done.

Proposed a zero-percent increase in Town, Part-Town, and Highway General Budgets for 2018.

Cut overtime by more than 11 percent.

Awarded a $50,000 grant for Municipal Consolidation, Efficiency and Shared Services.

Consolidating Town government and reducing costs by eliminating 12 special districts.

Working with Villages for shared services for garbage, recycling, lifeguards, salt/sand saving hundreds of thousands of taxpayers dollars.

ROMAINE FOR SUPERVISOR

ED ROMAINE

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BROOKHAVEN SUPERVISOR

VOTE ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Paid for by Romaine for Supervisor

PAGE A12 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

County

Sini, Perini battle for Spota’s vacated position District attorney hopefuls spar over campaign ads, résumés and strategies for gangs, drugs and corruption

By Alex Petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com In life, timing is everything.

Thanks to the indictment of current Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota (D) Oct. 25 for his alleged involvement in the cover-up of former Suffolk Police Commissioner James Burke’s civil rights violation — a charge the ex-police chief pleaded guilty to in 2016 — the highprofile race to be the next DA in Suffolk just got a brighter spotlight.

The next DA — be it Burke’s replacement in the police department, Democrat Tim Sini, or Huntington resident and criminal lawyer with more than 40 years of experience, Republican Ray Perini — will be tasked with restoring public faith in a position now synonymous with corruption. The two candidates have publicly traded barbs during the campaign, and that didn’t stop during their individual interviews at TBR News Media’s Setauket office in October.

Perini said a key distinction in this race is he is not a politician. His first attempt at political office came four years ago when Perini decided to challenge Spota because he said he was concerned the incumbent would be cross endorsed by both Republicans and Democrats.

“You’ve lost your moral ability to lead an office,” Perini said of Spota, after his announcement that he would be stepping down before the end of the year. “He had to step down for the good of the office.”

The challenger began his career as a lawyer in the 1970s in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, and he spent time working on both narcotics cases and homicides while in Brooklyn. In 1976, he moved to Suffolk County to head its narcotics bureau, where he tried one or two major cases each year, he said.

“There’s nothing I haven’t done as a criminal prosecutor, and I’m very proud,” he said.

“I believe I have had a very successful career.”

Perini said he believes his background suits him perfectly to be the next Suffolk DA. “It’s what I’ve trained my whole life to do,” Perini said. He added his experiences have prepared him to tackle two of the county’s biggest problems: drug addiction and gang infiltration. “I was successful because I actually worked on a daily basis with the [U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration] task force and you can’t do that kind of work without working with the FBI and the DEA.” Sini also got his foot in the door as a lawyer to the west. He was the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York working as a federal prosecutor under

‘I have a proven track record of leadership in difficult situations.’

— Tim Sini

Photos above by kevin redding; file photo below

ray Perini and tim sini are campaigning to replace current suffolk County District Attorney thomas spota, below, on election Day 2017.

Preet Bharara, where he said he specialized in violent crime cases.

“I loved my job — I loved bringing justice to victims or family members of victims,” he said.

The Babylon resident said he always wanted to make his way back to Suffolk. He eventually returned to serve as the deputy county executive under County Executive Steve Bellone (D), specializing in public safety initiatives. As the successor to Burke, he said he has experience taking over a department in turmoil.

“I have a proven track record of leadership in difficult situations,” Sini said. “I — Ray Perini walked into the police department during a scandal and if I’m elected DA I’ll be walking into the district attorney’s office amidst a scandal.”

He explained why he thinks he’s a fit for the position.

“This is, in my opinion, the most important position in Suffolk County,” Sini said of the DA. “The level of responsibility that the district attorney has is enormous. I’m running for district attorney to restore integrity to the leadership of the district attorney’s office, which is sorely needed.”

Both were critical of the other’s assertions

‘There’s nothing I haven’t done as a criminal prosecutor, and I’m very proud.’

that their background has prepared them to serve as district attorney.

Sini pointed out Perini’s resignation from the narcotics bureau amid allegations of illegal wiretapping. A New York State Commission of Investigation report named Perini more than 100 times, according to Sini. The police commissioner has also been vocal about annual parties his opponent chartered for local district attorneys and judges, which Sini saw as a sign of impropriety.

Perini attributed the issues to two narcotics officers within his 12-person department who “went bad,” and said he investigated when allegations arose, eventually forcing the pair to resign, making no attempt at a cover-up. He defended his decision to host the boat parties as standard operating practice amongst defense attorneys, judges and prosecutors who work together closely.

“People have this image of a yacht and call girls — it wasn’t that,” he said. “We don’t do X-rated parties. I never thought it would be this kind of issue. Would I do it again? Of course not.”

Perini, in turn, swung back at Sini for claims the police commissioner’s campaign ads made about some of his accomplishments while working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, saying they were inflated.

“I believe what he’s been doing has been to raise his profile,” Perini said. He referenced Newsday’s endorsement of Sini, which referred to him as “a low-level and

undistinguished” prosecutor.

Perini also criticized Sini for telling the Suffolk County Legislature he did not intend to run for DA when being confirmed as the police commissioner. Sini said at the time he didn’t intend to run for DA, but things changed.

The candidates did find some common ground on dealing with gang issues and drug addiction. The pair said they see prevention as the most effective method to deal with addiction, and both suggested plans to reach kids earlier before the problems spiral out of control. Each also preached interdepartmental cooperation and intelligence sharing as the primary solution to dealing with gang-related violence, especially by MS-13.

Perini suggested the county should utilize the existing “kingpin” statute, which sets sentences from 20 years minimum to life for dealers making at least $75,000 during a six-month span.

“Quite frankly, I think that has to be used more aggressively with less plea bargaining to get the word on the street that, ‘If you do this in Suffolk County, you’re going to pay dearly for it,’” he said.

Sini stressed the importance of reaching Suffolk County immigrants, who are recruited by gang members upon instruction from crew higher-ups in home countries, with programs and social service resources — prior to recruitment — as a means to stomp out gang activity.

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A13

county

Lawyer challenges Hahn for county legislator seat in 5th district

By Rita J. Egan rita@tbrnewsapers.com

Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (DSetauket) is seeking re-election for her fourth term Nov. 7. Challenging her is Republican Edward Flood of South Setauket. A lawyer with offices in Smithtown and Port Jefferson, he is the chief of staff for state Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue).

Hahn and Flood sat down at the Times Beacon Record News Media office in October to discuss their stances on various issues, with the county’s growing debt and poor credit rating serving as a backdrop.

Hahn, chairwoman of the Environment, Planning & Agriculture Committee, said she has worked on a water quality program that helps homeowners obtain grants up to $11,000 to replace their outdated septic systems or cesspools with advanced wastewater technologies, which are designed to significantly reduce nitrogen pollution. Hahn said older septic systems create nitrogen issues in local waterways since they don’t remove the chemical and can leave between 55 and 80 parts of nitrogen per million — drinking water is acceptable at 10 parts per million.

“It degrades our resilience — coastal resiliency — by degrading our marshlands, the nitrogen in the water actually hurts the grasses that grow and protect us and as an island that’s important,” Hahn said.

She said the county secured grants for

$6 million over three years for which homeowners can apply.

“I’m fully supportive of that project; it’s just that we have to find ways to pay for it ourselves,” Flood said.

He pointed out the county borrowed $30 million against the sewer stabilization fund and will have to start paying the money back. He said the county needs to work with other levels of government, especially federal, to come up with more money for projects in the future.

Both candidates discussed providing more affordable housing options. Hahn said she is in favor of increasing the percentage of inexpensive options available, which is now 15 to 20 percent, and working with developers to ensure that buildings include more one-bedroom and studio apartments.

Flood said he supports programs where first-time homeowners receive assistance with down payments. He also suggested mandate relief to bring property taxes down by having every organization that receives tax benefits go through their budgets and find state mandates that may not be regionally appropriate.

Flood said to stimulate the county’s economy new businesses need to be attracted to the area. He is supportive of the group Long Island Needs a Drag Strip building a strip in Suffolk County. He said it is estimated it could bring in $40 million in tax revenues due to concessions, ticket sales and businesses that open around tracks such as high-end motor

Photos by Desiree Keegan

County legislator candidates Edward Flood and incumbent Kara Hahn vehicle parts stores and hotels.

Hahn said she believes a convention center near MacArthur airport, Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood or Kings Park would be a boon to the economy because it would bring in off-season visitors.

Flood said the high cost of living and poor economic outlook is his top concern as he has watched friends leave the island for better opportunities. He said the county needs to stem the tide on taxes.

“We need to come to the table and we need to put a more appropriate budget out there and work to solve some of these crises,” Flood said.

The legislator-hopeful pointed to Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy’s (R) au-

diting receipts, which led him to discover overpayments to one emergency homeless shelter.

“We have a lot of money that we waste, and not just the way we grant and the way we give out grants, and we’re finding [this] out as we audit,” he said.

Hahn said she feels the county legislators have been responsible budget managers.

“We faced a $500 million deficit when I took office, and we have cut that down significantly by making very difficult cuts to staffs, combining departments,” Hahn said. “We have done fiscally responsible things to get a handle on it, and when you have a budget of $3 billion and have a structural imbalance over three years of a $150 million, give or take, it’s reasonable,” Hahn said

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PAGE A14 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

Town Brookhaven supervisor seeks fourth term against Stony Brook attorney

By Alex Petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com The race to oversee Suffolk County’s largest township pits a pair of candidates with long résumés against each other.

Ed Romaine (R) has been Town of Brookhaven supervisor since a special election in 2012, though his career in public service can be measured in decades. He worked for the town in the 1980s as the commissioner of housing and community development and director of economic development, in addition to two separate terms on the Suffolk County Legislature. His Election Day challenger for

supervisor is Democrat Jack Harrington, a practicing Stony Brook attorney and officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve who spent time after law school interning in President Barack Obama’s White House counsel’s office. He also studied counter-terrorism and intelligence in Washington, D.C. Harrington, a father of a 3-year-old, who is expecting his second child with wife Sarah, is a graduate of Miller Place High School. This is his first time running for public office. He shed light on his decision to challenge Romaine during a debate at TBR News Media’s Setauket office last month.

“I think [Brookhaven] has a remarkable amount to offer both in terms of the locality and the environment — the beaches and the beauty — and also the intellectual assets,” he said, adding he hopes to have the opportunity to make it easier for young people to establish roots in Brookhaven by utilizing the town’s assets, like Brookhaven National Lab and Stony Brook University, to create goodpaying, middle-class jobs with upward mobility. He said it is the town’s responsibility to create that environment.

Romaine, who has long preached his goal of creating a better Brookhaven for the future, lauded accomplishments by the town since he took office in creating a sound financial environment for businesses and residents to flourish. The town has a AAA bond rating and is growing its reserves while maintaining a balanced budget and, for the most part, holding the line on taxes.

JUDGE MARTORANA

“We’re not perfect, but we are poised for great economic development,” Romaine said, citing the work of the town’s Industrial Development Agency, which has created or retained 7,000 jobs and $600 million worth of investment over the last three years, according to Romaine.

Harrington commended Romaine for his role in establishing the town’s stable financial footing, but offered a rebuttal.

“Unfortunately, a AAA bond rating does not get a 23-year-old college graduate a job, and that’s really something I think we can be doing better at,” he said.

Harrington said if elected, a way he would aim to promote economic development would be to simplify the town’s zoning and permit processes in the hopes of increasing efficiency for those looking to start a business in the town.

“All of the municipalities have very lengthy, convoluted processes with respect to getting through those functions,” he said.

Harrington was also critical of the town’s code enforcement practices, which often result in fines for homeowners looking to do renovations. He commended Romaine for his efforts to stop the practices of “slum lords,” or others who try to subvert building codes to increase profits, but said he wanted to see changes in enforcement to protect homeowners with good intentions.

Romaine defended his reputation as one of the most willing local politicians to reach across party lines, as is evident through his

Photos by rita egan

Attorney Jack Harrington, left, is challenging incumbent supervisor ed romaine, above.

environmental protection initiatives and his recurring endorsements from Sierra Club Long Island.

“I will, as long as I am supervisor, be color blind to party and instead work with individuals,” he said.

The candidates agreed on ways to improve water quality and address environmental issues in the town, as well as the town’s responsibility in responding to heroin and opioid addiction. Both preached an approach that included prevention and education for young people.

Re-elect Judge Vincent Martorana for 6th District Court 6TH DISTRICT COURT JUDGE REPUBLICAN - CONSERVATIVE - INDEPENDENCE - REFORM ELECTION DAY - NOVEMBER 7, 2017 POLLS OPEN 6AM - 9PM

Judge Martoranaʼs Experience: • District Court Judge for Six years.

• Found qualified by Suffolk County Bar Association.

• More than 40 years legal experience. A legal career of helping people.

• Former member of the Suffolk County Bi-Partisan Reapportionment Committee.

• Former Uniformed Court Officer.

• Appointed mediator to handle attorney/client disputes for the Appellate Division.

• Has the experience and knowledge to render decisions fairly and expeditiously.

• A long standing member of the Brookhaven Community.

• A husband, proud father and grandfather. Truly someone we can be proud of.

Paid For By Friends to Re-Elect Vincent J Martorana

THIS ELECTION DAY ON NOVEMBER 7TH Re-elect Judge Vincent Martorana Sixth District Court

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Endorsed By:

• Suffolk County Correction Officers • New York State Court Officers Association • Suffolk County PBA • Court Officers Benevolent Assoc of Nassau County • Suffolk County Court Employees Association • Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs PBA • CSEA Suffolk Judiciary Local 330 • New York State Park Police PBA • Suffolk County Superior Officers Association

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A15

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PAGE A16 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

Town

Lawyer and incumbent race for head highway job

By Alex Petroski alex@tbrnewspapers.com The Brookhaven Town highway superintendent is responsible for overseeing more than 3,300 lane miles of town roads, making it one of the largest highway departments in New York State.

Dan Losquadro (R), the incumbent superintendent since 2013, will seek a third term on Election Day Nov. 7. To remain in the position he’ll have to defeat Democrat Anthony Portesy, a 31-year-old first-time political candidate and private attorney by trade. The candidates weighed in on the job and issues pertaining to it during a debate at TBR News Media’s Setauket office last month.

“I got involved in this race primarily because I would like to update the way the highway department handles the inventory of how the roads are reconstructed,” Portesy said. The candidate detailed what he called a “worst to first” initiative he’d like to implement to create a true priority list of town road resurfacing projects, and said he would plan on making the list publicly available on the town’s website through an interactive map, so residents could check on when repairs to their road might be coming. He said the town’s “hunt and peck” method of selecting roads for repaving doesn’t work. Losquadro said there are many factors that go into selecting roads for repaving, and that can be disturbed by a particularly harsh winter or

other unforeseen factors.

Losquadro was a Suffolk County legislator for seven years prior to becoming highway superintendent. He said he identifies more with his current position than his stint on the legislature because he has a background in construction and enjoys getting his hands dirty.

“I feel that everything I did before this led me to this position,” he said. “I love the fact that I can actually get things done in this job and not just appropriate funds for something.”

Losquadro said upon taking office initially he knew he needed a long range plan and couldn’t come in and immediately improve the department’s functions. He said like many businesses, he established three-, five- and 10year plans for accomplishing his goals, most of which have to do with modernizing the systems used by the department. He said he is ahead of schedule compared to the schedule he laid out nearly five years ago.

“The single biggest change has been taking the department from analogue to digital,” he said. “We have a department that was literally paper based and caused tremendous problems.”

He also lauded the department’s implementation of a fully electronic work order system as one of his proudest accomplishments so far in office. He also said he is now able to get in touch with all of the town’s snow removal vendors with “the touch of a button,” a process that he said used to take hours in the past.

Photos by kevin redding

Dan losquadro and Anthony Portesy will face off on election Day for the Brookhaven highway superintendent job.

The challenger said he has knocked on thousands of doors in the hopes of lending a voice to community members seeking change from the highway department.

“Whoever wins has 491,000 bosses,” Portesy said. “It’s very important that we’re listening to the concerns of everybody. It’s impossible to get back to everybody every single day, but I think there has to be some better communication, and that’s not me talking, that’s the people I’ve spoken to.”

He also pointed to more public availability for town contracts as a way to increase the department’s transparency and ultimately

improve the relationship between the department and the community. Losquadro said town contracts are already available to the public, though a formal Freedom of Information Act request must be submitted.

Both indicated this is a relatively important time for the department, as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has set aside $100 million per year over the next four years in additional funding for local repaving projects in the state, and it will be incumbent upon the highway superintendent to do what they can to ascertain more of those funds than are currently slated for Long Island.

As Councilman, JAMES CANALE will...  Crack down on illegal student off campus rooming houses  Support Supervisor Romaine’s proposal to clean up    

Setauket Harbor Increase town enforcement staff to prosecute quality of life code violators Implement the master plan for Downtown Port Jefferson Station Oppose the dumping of dredged spoils from Connecticut into the Long Island Sound Support Supervisor Romaine’s call for a plan to deal with traffic from Stony Brook University

Endorsed by Supervisor Ed Romaine



ELECTION DAY - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF JAMES CANALE III

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

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A17

town

Newcomer Morris challenges Lent for clerk seat

By Rita J. Egan Rita@tBRnEwspapERs.com

photos from candidates

incumbent Donna Lent and challenger cindy morris are running for Brookhaven town clerk nov. 7. those who may come in for a handicapped parking sticker instead of them needing to mail a form or come down in person. She said she would look for ways to increase services while keeping costs down.

“Every service needs to be thought of in how it affects the constituents who use it,” Morris said.

Lent said she has brought more efficiency to the office. Among her accomplishments she lists the management of an archives scanning project for the majority of town departments and the implementation of a moving forward process for the digitization of records. She has created an online death certificate ordering process for funeral directors, and in the future, she hopes to implement an online process for residents to obtain and renew dog licenses.

She said most services are available online except for obtaining a marriage or hunting and fishing license.

Lent said the scanning of records and offering of online processes have streamlined many requests.

“Any time you can save time in govern-

ment, you’re saving money,” Lent said.

Morris said she would like to create more transparency in government by holding town board meetings later in the evening instead of 5 p.m. so those who com-

to see more women involved in the process.”

RE-ELECT

Councilwoman Valerie M. Cartright for Town Council First District

Fighting For Us

Councilwoman Valerie M. Cartright is fighting to make town government more accountable, accessible, and transparent.  Works with Civic groups, local legislators and SCPD to keep our communities safe  Sponsored & passed housing code amendments to combat illegal rentals  Successfully advocated for improvements to our local parks and Port Jefferson Marina  Brought Free Summer Concert Series and student Film Festival to Port Jefferson Station  Sponsored and passed legislation to preserve Open Space  Sponsored and passed legislation to secure grants in support of the rehabilitation of our waterways  Advocates for community driven Smart Growth Planning to keep our youth and young professionals in Brookhaven  Works diligently to develop Land Use Plans in Port Jefferson Station and Setauket/Stony Brook

www.vcartright.com

RE-ELECT VALERIE M. CARTRIGHT Help Valerie to Continue to Fight for You

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During two separate phone interviews, Brookhaven Town Clerk incumbent Donna Lent (I) and Democrat challenger Cindy Morris spoke of efficiency and transparency.

Morris said before last year’s presidential race, which awakened her politically, she didn’t vote in local elections. It’s what motivated her to run for a position in town government.

“We cannot do anything on a national level if we’re not doing it on a local level,” Morris said.

The candidate said she has been a consultant for nearly a decade, working with organizations. She looks at them strategically to help build more sustainable plans to serve their end users in the best way possible while sticking to a budget. It’s something she said needs to be brought to town government by finding creative and smart plans. Morris’ goals are to save taxpayers money while creating a town clerk’s office that is more efficient, and a local government that is transparent.

Lent, who is running for her second term, managed a lawyer’s office before beginning public service in 2001, when she became former state Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington’s chief of staff. When Eddington became Brookhaven Town Clerk, Lent joined her as deputy town clerk.

Lent said some of the responsibilities of the clerk’s office include serving as the Freedom of Information Law appeals officer; recording births, marriages and deaths; attending town board meetings to record the minutes; and being the custodian of town records, which include the management of both active and inactive records. Lent said she is hands-on in an office where 200 or more people can come with requests in one day.

“It’s helpful to build a repertoire with constituents so that they feel that they’ve been heard, that you’re about to assist them in taking care of problems,” Lent said.

Morris said she believes things can run more efficiently at the office, and if elected, she plans to analyze what the peak times are at the office and see where hours can be extended or if weekend hours can be offered. She also suggests offering additional services such as a curbside program for

mute to and from work can attend them.

Another one of her suggestions is to use Facebook Live for meetings.

“It takes what’s being done and brings it to a new level, and it brings it to a new level by using technology that has become for many people simple technology,” she said.

Lent pointed out how town hall meetings are already livestreamed on the town’s website, and she said she wouldn’t want the council people to become distracted by comments on Facebook.

“If you can get onto Facebook, you can get on the town’s system to watch it,” Lent said.

Morris said she doesn’t suggest the legislators look at their phones during meetings; however, she said aides can monitor the messages and alert the council person if anything is urgent, or suggested comments be read after the meeting.

“The intention is to hold a light to what it is happening in our town council meetings,” Morris said. “That’s the goal.”

As a newcomer, Morris said she has been studying the proposed budget for 2018 and has been attending civic meetings throughout the town because she realizes needs differ from area to area.

Lent said she knows many women have been encouraged to become more involved in politics, and she believes Morris is one of them.

“I say good for her,” Lent said. “I’d love

VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF VALERIE M. CARTRIGHT

PAGE A18 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

county

Photo above from the Facebook page of Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; photos below by Kevin Redding

Below, Republican Larry Zacarese and Democrat Errol toulon are vying for the Suffolk County sheriff position, which includes overseeing the jail facility in yaphank, above.

Sheriff candidates discuss experiences, solutions

By Rita J. Egan rita@tbrnewspapers.com Both candidates for Suffolk County sheriff will bring more than two decades of public service experience to the position if elected. The race does not feature an incumbent, as current Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco announced in May he wouldn’t seek re-election after 12 years in the position. On Oct. 13, Republican candidate for sheriff Larry Zacarese and Democrat Errol Toulon visited the TBR News Media office to discuss their experiences and how they would handle the position if elected.

Zacarese, assistant chief of police and director of the office of emergency management at Stony Brook University since 2009, who is also an attorney, has been a New York City police officer and is currently a volunteer paramedic.

Toulon began serving as a correctional officer at Rikers Island in 1982 and retired as a captain in 2004. For two years he was assistant deputy county executive for public safety in Suffolk and in 2014 he was named deputy commissioner of operations for the New York City Department of Corrections.

Toulon said he feels from day one he would be able to manage the sheriff’s office effectively and will attempt to save taxpayers’ dollars through technology training and equipment.

“I’ve been able to learn a lot on various levels inside of a correctional agency, and while that’s not the entire makeup of the sheriff’s department, it is a good portion of it,” Toulon said.

Zacarese said he believes his experience would be an asset, especially with a need for capital planning, budgeting and managing grants in today’s tough economic climate, he said.

“My role as an emergency manager at Stony Brook is really broad based,” Zacarese said. ”Not only am I involved in the day-to-day operations, planning, mitigation and response and recovery, but I oversee an office that

handles all the electronic physical security, design, installation and maintenance for the entire campus, which is over 250 buildings.”

Both cited combating gang activities on Long Island as a priority for the next sheriff.

Toulon said his team at Rikers would gather intelligence from inside the jail as far as calls, visits and social media interactions before incarceration and then would work with law enforcement agencies to gather and disseminate the information.

His team’s work brought down 37 members of the Bloods gang, he said. He said using a database to collect intelligence gathered and sharing it with other agencies is vital in rounding up gang members, and he said he thought his experiences could translate seamlessly to the Suffolk position.

Zacarese is also familiar with combating gang problems. A case he worked on while at a precinct in Jackson Heights involved the investigation of narcotics trafficking by members of the Latin Kings. He said the county lost critical ground in the fight against gangs when the FBI removed two

Suffolk County police detectives assigned to the bureau’s joint Long Island Gang Task Force by James Burke, former police department chief, who was found guilty of beating up a suspect and trying to cover it up.

“I have already had conversations and meetings with Homeland Security investigations, with people on the U.S. Marshals’ task force and making sure we have enough people on those task forces,” Zacarese said.

Toulon agreed with Zacarese that in addition to disseminating information, manpower is important.

“Task forces are very important, and keeping our members on these task forces is extremely important,” Toulon said.

The candidates touched on the subject of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both said while the sheriff’s office doesn’t get involved with immigration issues, it’s important to cooperate with the federal agency. Zacarese said many illegal immigrants are held in jails due to being violent predicate felons and people who return to the country illegally

after being deported. The two also agreed it’s important for law enforcement agencies to increase communication with immigrant communities to ensure law abiding citizens do not fear deportation from ICE agents, which makes building cases against gang members more difficult.

Both candidates said they want to work on getting more help for those with substance abuse problems while incarcerated, which may decrease the chances of being arrested again.

“There are people who are leaving the correctional facility without so much as a business card for a social worker or any outreach programs [now],” Zacarese said.

Toulon said while substance abusers are seen by a medical staff to be treated, he agreed when prisoners leave the jail, they need assistance with finding housing and jobs.

“What I propose is creating a resource map so in each particular town we would know where those particular resources are for an individual so when we give them a card or give them the information they would be able to connect and have someone in the sheriff’s they can call and be that conduit,” Toulon said.

Both agreed that combating the drug problem, especially opioid overdoses, needs to be a priority in the county. Better tracking of overdoses; where they are happening, how they’re happening and deaths due to overdoses to identify where people need help, were areas each candidate brought up as meaningful first steps.

Zacarese said he believes in enforcing the laws on the books and “strict enforcement for the suppliers, help for the people who are there in the middle and giving them long-term treatment options.”

Toulon pointed out that increasing monitoring of physicians who dispense pain management is also needed and fostering communication with communities “to actually acknowledge the problem that our family and friends are having so that we can get the correct treatment for them.”

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A19

Sample ballot

Check TBR Newspapers and www.tbrnewsmedia.com, follow @TBRNewspapers on Twitter, and search #TBRVotes next week for full election results from all North Shore races.

PAGE A20 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

commuNity NewS Port Jeff Brewing Company

John T. Mather Memorial Hospital

Photo from Naomi Solo

Park donation

The Port Jeff Brewing Company and Greater Long Island Running Club presented a check to Port Jefferson Village Mayoral Assistant Barbara Sakovich. The $5,000 will go toward the renovations of Rocket-

ship Park. Pictured above are Kelley Heck of the park’s restoration committee, Sakovich, Linda O’Harviano of the Long Island Running Club, Port Jeff Brewing Company owner Mike Philbrick, and Naomi Solo of the Port Jefferson Conservancy.

Suffolk County

Photo from Mather Hospital

Hospital award

John T. Mather Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary received the Hospital of the Year Award, Large Hospital Category, from the Hospital Association of New York State, for demonstrating “outstanding achievement and service within its health care facility and community.”

The award was presented Oct. 26 in Albany at HANYS’ 51st annual meeting.

HANYS established the Auxiliary of the Year Award to recognize numerous ways that auxiliaries help strengthen New York State’s health care system.

Since its founding in 1949, the Mather Auxiliary has raised more than $6 million through its fundraising activities, including the Thrift Shop, Gift Shop, lobby sales and events such as the annual Thrift Shop Fashion Show. The award noted the Auxiliary’s $210,000 donation to support the needs of the hospital’s Environmental, Engineering, and Nutritional Services departments, and

its participation in the hospital’s Paint Port Pink breast cancer awareness community outreach, which this year had more than 100 community partners including local businesses, schools, the library and the theater. The auxiliary distributes literature about breast health and pink lights to the local businesses along the main streets in Port Jefferson to display in October. This year, the auxiliary also staffed an advocacy table encouraging employees, volunteers and visitors to email their legislators about the harm that proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would cause for their community, including losing health care coverage. The auxiliary is a self-governing membership organization that is directly accountable to the hospital administration. Auxiliary members may or may not be service volunteers at Mather.

The primary purpose of the auxiliary is fundraising.

School NewS Port Jefferson School District Photos from Hahn’s office

Running for a cause

On Oct. 29, more than 1,700 runners representing 22 states, four countries and Suffolk County Legislature, sprinted to Patchogue to take part in the third annual Catholic Health Services’ Suffolk County Marathon. Fifth District Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), who had been part of a Suffolk County Legislature relay team during a previous marathon, this year ran the full 26.2-mile course that began and ended in Patchogue village and traversed several of Suffolk’s South Shore downtowns.

“Despite the weather, today was an incredibly bright day as I not only achieved my personal goal of completing every step of this marathon, but did so knowing that my participation will help Suffolk County’s veteran population,” Hahn said.

According to marathon organizers, all proceeds from the event are donated to county-based veteran assistance and service organizations. Since its inception in

Photo from Port Jefferson School District

United against bullying

2015, the Suffolk County Marathon and FreedomFest: Taste of Long Island Festival has raised more than $300,000 to support local veteran services.

Hahn is pictured above (top photo) with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D).

When students, peers and adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior, a strong message is sent that it is not acceptable. To share in that mission, Port Jefferson Middle School students wore orange to signify their stance on Unity Day Oct. 25.

Uniting against bullying was the theme of the day as all social studies classes viewed a presentation and

video, detailing the nationally recognized event that promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion.

According to seventh-grade teacher Monica Consalvo, one of the coordinators of the schoolwide campaign, a key factor to encouraging anti-bullying programs in schools is that it is effectively reduced by 50 percent.

Pictured above with Principal Robert Neidig and Consalvo are several seventhgrade students united against bullying.

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A21

sports Port Jefferson high school

Comsewogue High School

Photo from Comsewogue school district Photo from Port Jefferson school district

Tour for 54 honoree

Port Jefferson senior football player Max Okst was named one of Shoreham-Wading River football team’s Tour for 54 honorees. The recognition is given in honor of former football player Tom Cutinella, who died after a headon collision with another player on the field, to a student-athlete that has made a positive impact in the community.

Okst has worked in the theatre department since seventh grade, doing 20 shows for the high school. He is currently stage manager and lighting designer for his high school and technical director, stage manager and lighting designer for the middle school drama club.

He has also worked as an intern for his school’s information technology department for three years and has been a member of the varsity track team for the past four years, throwing shot put and discus.

Okst has accumulated nearly 1,300 community service hours.

Photo from Port Jefferson school district

Undefeated

The Port Jefferson junior varsity girls volleyball team finished the season undefeated at 11-0 in the league.

“Several of our JV players played or are beginning to play club volleyball, so the future is definitely looking bright for Port Jeff volleyball,” athletic director Danielle Turner said.

The Royals are coached by Colleen Bellois.

Racing successes

The Comsewogue boys cross-country team took home some medals at the fresh-

man/sophomore championship. Matt Krieg placed second overall.

The girls cross-country sophomore team also placed second at the meet.

Image from Suffolk County Board of Election

The voting for the constitutional convention will be on the back of the ballot.

Con Con Continued from page A18 Benninghoff’s case can be summed up in two words: It’s time.

The last time a Con Con question was proposed to voters in 1997, the New York City Bar Association called for a No vote and suggested: “Let’s give the legislature a chance to reform itself. We gave it 20 years and nothing has happened,” he said.

“Frankly, enough is enough,” Benninghoff said. “The legislature holds all the power. If the legislature doesn’t want to find it within itself to give us the opportunity to vote on an amendment to the constitution, then they can absolutely withhold it. And they have done that a lot.”

He went on to list things he believes should have already been addressed.

“There have been no ethics reforms; independent redistricting in name only, not in actuality; no term limits; and no campaign finance reform,” he said.

“There’s still a tremendous loophole with LLCs [limited liability companies].

If a person running for state legislative office wants to take campaign donations from an infinite number of LLCs created by one person, or one co pany, they can do so. That’s a campaign fi-

nance loophole big enough to drive a truck through. What it does is empower the political status quo. It takes all the power away from the people — and that is exactly what a New York State Const tutional Convention changes.”

In New York State history there have been nine constitutional conventions.

The longest gap between conventions has been since the last one in 1967. It’s been 50 years. The last one did not produce any changes, arguably because all the proposals were lumped together in a single vote.

As moderator of this informational session and the Q&A period that followed it, Hoffman remained clearly impartial.

But in supplying additional data after the event he said he formed an opinion.

“I take the question to hold a constitutional convention very seriously and I am leaning to supporting it,” Hoffman said.

“I see it as a solemn responsibility to periodically review our state constitution. I think it’s clear to most that many things need to change in Albany and a constitutional convention might be the only way to bring that change. I would seriously consider running for delegate if the constitutional convention is approved.”

For more information on the New York State Constitutional Convention, visit www.rockinst.org/nys_concon2017.

PAGE A22 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

ENDORSEMENTS

A fresh start for DA’s office It’s no secret that Suffolk County’s District Attorney office is in desperate need of a culture change. The allegations-turned charges against Thomas Spota (D), who held the position since 2001, have created public distrust in a position that requires it. The district attorney decides who gets charged with crimes, and a lack of confidence in the integrity of the person leading that position creates a tangled web of problems Suffolk County residents shouldn’t have to worry about.

To that end, Tim Sini (D) has dealt with a startlingly analogous situation as police commissioner, which ironically features many of the same players, and he’s handled it as well as anyone could have asked. Real progress is being made on the

gang front, and we think his experience in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, coupled with his time as police commissioner are more than enough to put to bed concerns from people like his challenger about his age and relative inexperience.

On Ray Perini (R), we were mostly satisfied with his defenses of two scandals from his past brought to light during this campaign. However, at a time like this, the mere hint of possible wrongdoing in the position of district attorney is enough to continue damaging public perception of a position in need of a fresh start.

With all that being said, we’re endorsing Sini for Suffolk County district attorney.

Hahn handles county business Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) has the experience to take care of business in the 5th Legislative District of Suffolk County, and we endorse her in her run for a fourth term as a county legislator.

Approachable and accessible, Hahn listens to the needs of her constituents.

The chairwoman of both the Environment, Planning & Agriculture Committee and Parks & Recreation Committee, she supports the county’s program to update septic systems, which will reduce nitrogen in our waters. In the past she has sponsored initiatives authorizing appraisal of lands under the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program.

She has been a steward for our local parks by tackling illegal dumping by increasing county penalties and creating programs for children to explore local public lands with her Parks Passport program.

We were impressed with her challenger Republican Edward Flood, and we hope he will continue to pursue a political career.

A lawyer who is the chief of staff for state Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), we believe Flood has the potential to serve in office, and as a supporter of the group Long Island Needs a Drag Strip, he has good ideas when it comes to bringing in more tax revenues while creating minimal disruption to residents.

Cartright to keep things in check Checks and balances in government are everything, on all levels. In the Town of Brookhaven, 1st District Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station) since 2013 has been the watchful eye over a board that entering this cycle features four Republicans and a Conservative, as well as a Republican supervisor. This is not to say we have any reason to distrust the members of the Brookhaven board, regardless of party, but we’d like to think that can be attributed to the existence of not only an exemplary crop of dedicated and honest public servants but also due to the presence of a dissenting political voice.

This is also not to assume the town incumbents will all be successful in their respective re-election bids in 2017. However, should the status quo remain on the Republican side, we are confident that Cartright can continue on as the embodiment of a two-party system.

Beyond her mere existence as a Democrat, Cartright has been a champion for causes aimed at improving the environ-

ment and water quality in the district and townwide. Since her first term, she has been dedicated to advancing a Port Jefferson Station/Terryville revitalization project that we’d like to see come to fruition and has played a major role in the visioning project for the Route 25A corridor.

Her opponent, Republican James Canale of Port Jefferson Station, is an enthusiastic, young politician with his head and heart both firmly in the right place. We hope his first run for political office is not his last.

We have a minor criticism of Cartright going forward, which we discussed with her personally. In seeking comment from the councilwoman on stories, which are oftentimes directly related to work she is doing, she and her staff are not always able to connect, sometimes too late for deadlines, and sometimes not at all. To be a successful leader, communication with constituents is key, and constituents read newspapers.

We strongly support Cartright in her bid to remain in charge of Brookhaven’s 1st District.

A new sheriff in the county With two new candidates boasting impressive work backgrounds running for Suffolk County sheriff, Republican Larry Zacarese and Democrat Errol Toulon, it was difficult deciding who to endorse.

After much deliberation Zacarese gets our endorsement.

We believe Zacarese has done his homework when it comes to the job as sheriff and his experience at Stony Brook University as assistant chief of police and director of the Office of Emergency Management will be an asset. His position there is a well-rounded one. He is involved in operations, planning, mitiga-

tion, response and recovery and working with the installation of and maintenance of the electronic security system for more than 250 buildings.

He has also met with those on task forces dealing with the gang problems on Long Island to ensure that they are well staffed and good relationships between federal and local agencies are intact.

We hope that Toulon will continue to pursue a career in politics. With a great deal of experience in law enforcement including at Rikers Island, we can see him serving the county in the future, perhaps in a role such as police commissioner.

Romaine an asset to town An undeniable by-product of the heated and often circus-like 2016 presidential election is a booming pool of highly qualified and energized people throwing their names in the ring to run for political office.

This phenomenon is perfectly embodied by the Town of Brookhaven supervisor race.

Incumbent Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) often begins speaking engagements with the line, “It’s a great day for Brookhaven.”

It is our belief that the day he took office in 2012 was a truly great day for Brookhaven.

His experience as a public servant and ability to create partnerships seamlessly with Democrats and Republicans alike make him an asset for our town. He’s willing to fight for what he feels is right for the people of the town. Period.

On the other hand, his challenger Jack Harrington, a Democrat and resident of Stony Brook, is a qualified, young candi-

date with obvious confidence and leadership skills. He too would be an asset to any community lucky enough to have him as a public servant. We hope this first attempt at political candidacy is just the beginning for him, and the Democratic party within the town and Suffolk County would be wise to keep tabs on him and keep him in mind in the future should he fall to Romaine Nov. 7. If candidates like Harrington continue to come forward and run for office, our local politics can only benefit.

Despite Harrington’s qualifications, he’s not quite Romaine. We proudly endorse Romaine to remain Brookhaven’s town supervisor for another term, and if he maintains his track record and values when it comes to protecting the environment and exemplary financial management, this probably won’t be the last time this publication stands behind him.

All roads lead to Losquadro The Town of Brookhaven highway superintendent has one of the largest responsibilities of any local elected official. It is the head of the department’s job to oversee literally thousands of miles of road, and incumbent Dan Losquadro (R) has done an excellent job of making that task more manageable during his first two terms.

He set out with the goal of streamlining and updating the highway department’s systems and mechanics to create greater efficiency in the way it deals with its upward of $100 million annual budget, and

he has done a masterful job at achieving that goal so far. We think the town would benefit from two more years of Losquadro to allow him more time to play out his fiveand 10-year plans, which he said he established shortly after taking office.

We commend his challenger, Democrat Anthony Portesy, for taking the leap into political candidacy, and his enthusiasm, drive and education make him an attractive candidate for other offices going forward.

This time around, go with Losquadro.

NOVEMBER 02, 2017 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A23

opinion A tale of a coveted trophy

W

hat would a victory be without a trophy? We faced that awful question this week.

In the championship game, my daughter’s volleyball team battled their opponent and their nerves to win that coveted trophy, to claim the top honors in their division, and to cap off a successful and rewarding season that involved floor burns, mishits, turned ankles and all manner

By Daniel Dunaief of emotional challenges as they went toe-to-toe with teams in gyms filled with exuberant fans.

Nothing went right in the beginning of the match. They gave away point after point, until the unflappable

D. None of the above

coach, whose only sign of anxiety was a few extra gulps of water, called timeout and told the team to relax and play their game.

They were down 12-2 in a 25-point game. Maybe, my wife and I thought, they’d make the first game respectable, get their bearings and then win the second and third games. The benefit of a best-of-three-game set is that they didn’t have to win the first game.

And then a funny thing happened on the way to a potential lopsided loss.

They pulled themselves together and they made important shots that landed just inside the line. Momentum, which is such an intangible, shifted quickly, forcing the other coach to call a hasty timeout.

Ultimately, they won that first set, 2523. The second set was closer throughout, but they also won that one, 25-20, leading to a euphoric celebration. They took turns holding a trophy, which had a volleyball figurine and a plaque.

The coach handed the trophy to my

daughter, who was the captain. She cradled it like it was an infant, passing it gently to her teammates who posed for their own pictures with the team’s prize. She got to take the trophy home for the weekend. I drove her friend and her to a diner for some celebratory curly fries and raced home to relatives who were eating a wider variety of food.

After the meal, I offered to take Uncle Jordan, who had come out from the city, back to the train. My wife graciously suggested he sit in the front seat. As soon as he sat down, he asked, “Hey, what’s that?”

Yup, he sat on the trophy, wounding our daughter’s “baby.” When I turned on the light in the car, I saw that the figurine was still intact, but the plaque dangled at an angle.

Jordan laughed. Our son was in hysterics. My wife, who was in the back seat, laughed nervously, while I considered going into panic mode, wondering if I should call the factory in Singapore to ask it to ship another

trophy overnight.

We thought about gluing the pieces back together, but that would be like bringing a messy art project to school. Maybe we could take it out of the car and run over it 20 times, and then say we lost it. No, destroying it wasn’t the answer.

“Take it to Home Depot,” Jordan suggested.

What if they couldn’t fix it? What would we tell our daughter?

When she got to our house that night, I did everything I could to keep her from asking about, or looking for, the coveted trophy.

The next morning, we raced to Home Depot, where a couple of goodhumored men at the tool rental section got to work. Fortunately, they repaired it. When we returned, we shared the story with our daughter who laughed, too, even as she compared the pictures of the trophy from the night before to the rescued object in her hand. Somehow, like her team, the trophy endured.

This is the year for critically important local elections

T

he issue of the newspaper that you now hold in your hands or are reading on an electronic device is an annual superstar. Only once in each year do we publish a comprehensive preelection section that speaks to the upcoming races. We invite the opponents together to our offices for each local race and pepper them with questions until we feel we have a good handle on them. This section is the distillation of many hours of interviews with the candidates and follow-up research, putting together the information that we are privileged

By Leah S. Dunaief to learn. Then we share that information with you.

We go even further. After careful consideration, sometimes over a period of many days, we will come to a conclusion as to whom to vote for and tell you what we think and why. These are our endorsements and may be found on

Between you and me

the editorial pages in the back of the paper. We also include a sample ballot so you can walk into your polling place and know the layout on which you will mark your choices.

We are the only community newspapers that span three towns in Suffolk: Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington. So as you can imagine, there are a good number of races in which we need to be involved. In two of these towns, there will be a new day for there are open seats at the top of the ticket for the first time in more than a score of years. In Huntington, longtime Supervisor Frank Petrone decided not to run again, and so Edwards is giving up her seat on the town board, as she and state Assemblyman Lupinacci compete to lead the town. Candidates for the two town board seats are incumbent Cuthbertson and challengers Smyth, Leonick and Rogan. Berland, too, is leaving her seat on the board and trying for a Suffolk County legislative seat, running against Gavilla. Kennedy is challenged

by Hyms for her seat in the legislature.

Smithtown Township has the same open top position since Vecchio lost the Republican primary and will not be running for supervisor for the first time in 40 years. Instead the residents will

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have Holst, Wehrheim or Slevin as their new leader. The voters will also choose two board members among Fortunato, Doyle, McCarthy, Nowick, Lohmann and Stoddard.

Brookhaven, in contrast, has no open seats but plenty of competition. Incumbent Romaine is facing a challenge from Harrington for supervisor. In our coverage district, incumbent Councilwoman Cartright is running against challenger Canale, and incumbent Bonner is being opposed by Goodman. For the county Legislature in our Brookhaven area, we have incumbent Anker versus Pollakusky and incumbent Hahn challenged by Flood. Also in play is the Brookhaven Town superintendent of highways position, as incumbent Dan Losquadro is challenged by Portesy.

Two of the most closely watched contests in Suffolk County are for district attorney and sheriff. Both of those positions are open seats. Police Commissioner Sini is running against Perini for DA and Stony Brook University Deputy Police Chief Zacarese is opposed by Toulon in the race for sheriff.

On top of our usual duties at TBR News Media, we interviewed them all. It was exhausting but exhilarating, as we learned more than we already

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Desirée Keegan EDITOR Alex Petroski

LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton SPORTS EDITOR Desirée Keegan ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Mandracchia DIR. OF MEDIA PRODUCTIONS Michael Tessler

knew from the incumbents and a great deal about the challengers. We heard about the issues that are on the minds of the North Shore community. The electorate is concerned about the escalating opioid epidemic that is killing hundreds, particularly of our younger people. Residents also continue to be frustrated about high property taxes, public safety — especially as it relates to the insidious growth of gangs, the traffic in Smithtown, the homeless in Brookhaven and the brain drain that is the result of not enough high-paying jobs and affordable housing.

We also tell you our opinion of a constitutional convention. We oppose it, fearing a Pandora’s box containing many evils.

We are always impressed that residents will come forward to run for public office. Campaigns are a lot of work, and being a public servant has its tribulations. This year, more than most others, we are further impressed by the high quality of candidates. We urge you to do one of the two things you are allowed only if you are an American citizen. Please be sure to VOTE. P.S. The other is to serve on a jury.

ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Beth Heller Mason INTERNET STRATEGY DIRECTOR Rob Alfano CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR Ellen Segal

BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross CREDIT MANAGER Diane Wattecamps CIRCULATION MANAGER Courtney Biondo

PAGE A24 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • NOVEMBER 02, 2017

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