LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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Senate Democrats Do In LaSalle’s Nomination → Jump to Story

Poll Results: Which Republican would you like to see run for Suffolk County Executive?

• Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter

6.5%

• County Comptroller John Kennedy

10.5%

Which Politician’s Lie Was The Biggest?

• Suffolk County Legislator/Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey

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2.5%

• Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine

8.5%

• Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta

34.5%

• Former U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin

37.5%

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Election Results • Meet the Team

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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Meet the Team

Brookhaven Town Clerk Election Results

Hank Russell EDITOR

[email protected] 516-983-3890 @hank_russell Hank Russell is a veteran journalist and a public relations professional. With more than 30 years of experience, he has written for numerous newspapers, magazines and e-newsletters. His background also entails copy editing and proofreading.

Kevin LaValle (R,C) 6,396 (56.42%) Lisa DiSanto (D) 4,940 (43.58%) 100% (302 of 302) of election districts reported SOURCE: SUFFOLK COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

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Prior to joining Long Island Life & Politics, Mr. Russell worked as a public relations professional and previously as a Political Reporter for Suffolk Life. He was responsible for covering board meetings at the Towns of Smithtown, Riverhead and Southampton, writing about pertinent issues that impacted these communities and reporting on local crimes. He started his career with Anton Media newspaper chain as a sports editor for The Long-Islander, The Syosset-Jericho Tribune, The Oyster Bay Enterprise-Pilot and The Roslyn News. In 1991, he was named Newspaperman of the Year by the Suffolk County Wrestling Coaches Association. In addition, Mr. Russell has written for a number of trade publications, including Music & Sound Retailer, Club Systems International, Ink Maker Magazine, Advanced Imaging, and Security Dealer. He was also a freelance writer for FORE!, Long Island Entertainment and HMP Communications and was poetry editor for The North Atlantic Review. Mr. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University.

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Opinions and Editorials: Common Sense Corner

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

Whoopi Goldberg’s Remarks on Jews Were Incorrect, But Not Antisemitic For the second time, actress, comedian, and host of The View, Whoopi Goldberg, was called out for suggesting that the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews was not “racially” motivated.

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Meet the Man Behind Common Sense Corner

The politically correct thought police jumped all over Goldberg, claiming her statement was antisemitic. → Jump to Story

The Left’s Lying Efforts to Scare Us on Covid and Climate Is All about Maximizing Their Power If we started listing all the lies that have been perpetrated by the radical left and their allies in the media over issues such as the Covid pandemic and climate change, we would soon run dry of ink. What’s essential to understand is that these lies are designed to terrify the public into ceding power to the government that they otherwise would never otherwise allow. → Jump to Story

Say “No” to Days off from School for Mental Health Issues The proposal to allow K-12 students to take several days a year off for mental health days is a well-intended, but foolish, policy proposal. https://www.yahoo.com/now/students-yorkcould-mental-health-194900931.html

Steve Levy

CO-PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL Steve Levy is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County Executive, as a NYS Assemblyman, and host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.” www.SteveLevy.info @SteveLevyNY [email protected]

You can’t argue with the need to highlight the mental health challenges that our young people are facing. Technology and social media have placed great pressures on our students. → Jump to Story

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LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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Former County Executive

STEVE LEVY

is part of the law firm voted “Best on Long Island” by the LI Press

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For years, I had the privilege of representing you in government. Now, I’m pleased to be able to serve you for your legal needs. Steve Levy

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Opinions & Editorials

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Which Politician’s Lie Was The Biggest? By Long Island Life & Politics

The media frenzy revolving around Congressman George Santos has many calling for his resignation. As the North Shore Leader warned in their pre-election opinion piece, Santos indeed seems to be a fake and a fabulist. https ://www.theleaderonline.com/single -post/ endorsement-robert-zimmerman-for-us-congress-ny3 Some of his fabrications involve the colleges he attended, the companies for which he worked, whether or not he is Jewish, the properties he owns and, perhaps, his finances. But Santos is hardly the first pol who has provided some whoppers in misleading the public. Here are some of the most noteworthy ones over the past few decades. We’d like to know which you think is the biggest, most impactful lie of the era. Or perhaps you have a suggestion of your own.

Iran use U.S. banks to convert $5.7 billion in Iranian assets after promising Congress that Iran would not get access to the U.S. financial system — and then lied to Congress about what it had done. Obama’s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Benghazi attack was a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Muslim film: “We’ve seen rage and violence directed at American embassies over an awful Internet video that we had nothing to do with.” Yet, documents proved that the Department knew it was a planned attack. Donald Trump: “Alabama will NOT see any impacts from #Dorian (hurricane). We repeat, no impacts from Hurricane #Dorian will be felt across Alabama. The system will remain too far east. #alwx” Trump: The tax plan under consideration in Congress “was the largest tax cut in the history of the United States.” Treasury Department data revealed it would rank eighth.

President George H.W. Bush: “Read my lips, no new taxes.” President Bill Clinton: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman... Ms. Lewinsky.” George W. Bush, Oct. 2002: Iraq has a “massive stockpile” of biological weapons. Barack Obama, 2013: “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it,” Obama ally Jonathan Gruber on lying to the public about Obamacare’s costs: “If you had a law which said that healthy people are going to pay in—you made explicit that healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it would not have passed, okay. Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical for the thing to pass...” The Obama administration regarding the Iran nuclear deal: The Obama administration secretly tried to help

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Trump: “I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field. I’m like, wait a minute. I made a speech. I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people.” Official estimates claimed a crowd of about 500,000. Trump: “Just stay calm. It will go away.” Later, the journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Trump had told him at the same time the president was publicly downplaying the virus’ severity; he knew it was more dangerous than the flu and “deadly.” Trump: “I wasn’t a fan of Iraq. I didn’t want to go into Iraq.” Trump: “A reporter for Time magazine — and I have been on their cover 14 or 15 times. I think we have the all-time record in the history of Time magazine.” (Trump was on the cover eleven times and Nixon appeared 55 times.) Continued on page 6 Submit an Article | Send a Message | View Polls

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Opinions and Editorials

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Which Politician’s Lie Was The Biggest? Continued from page 5

Trump: “We got 306 because people came out and voted like they’ve never seen before so that’s the way it goes. I guess it was the biggest Electoral College win since Ronald Reagan.” (George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all won bigger margins in the Electoral College.) Joe Biden: ”I hope you won’t hold it against me but I was a hardened coal miner.” Biden made this false claim to a coal mining group. Biden: “I graduated at the top half of my class in law school.” He was 76th out of 85. Biden: “I graduated with three degrees.” Biden: “I was the outstanding student in the political science department.”

Biden: “To see people treated like they did, horses barely running over, people being strapped — it’s outrageous. I promise these people will pay.” He falsely claimed border agents whipped migrants. Biden: “When I was 17 years old, I participated in a sit-in to desegregate restaurants in movie houses... I organized a civil rights boycott because they wouldn’t serve black kids” One of the football players Biden says he was defending debunked Biden’s story and said Biden was not even aware of the event until after it occurred. Biden: ”[It’s] where I have been at [the green zone in Iraq] seven times and shot at.” This never happened.

Biden: “I got started out of an HBCU, Delaware State.” He did not attend the college.

Biden: “Jill and I have mourned police officers in this Capitol rotunda, not once but twice, in the wake of Jan. 6.” No police officers were killed as a result of the riot.

Biden: “I had the great honor of being arrested with our UN ambassador on the streets on Soweto trying to get to see [Nelson] Mandela.” When he was caught in the lie, he said: “I guess I wasn’t arrested.”

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-California): He falsely claimed that he himself was in personal possession of a “smoking gun” proving Trump’s collusion with Russians.

Biden: “I used to be a tractor-trailer driver.” Actually, as a senator, he once rode along with the truck driver from Delaware to Ohio.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren D-Massachusetts): The Washington Post disclosed that, on her Texas bar registration card, Warren had written “American Indian” when asked to identify her race. It apparently helped to secure her a teaching position at Harvard University.

Biden: “That’s why I and so many damn other people l grew up with have cancer.” He blamed the oil industry for cancer he doesn’t have. Biden administration: “The border is secure.” Biden administration: “There was a 0% rise in inflation.” This was the comparison of June to July 2022. But that is an inaccurate measurement of inflation. You have to compare July 2022 to July 2021, which showed an inflation rate exceeding 8%.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut): “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.” He was never deployed to Vietnam.

Biden: “We are not coming into a recession.” Even though GDP growth was negative for two continuous quarters, which is the classic, traditional definition of a recession, President Biden changed the definition so that this would no longer be considered the measuring threshold, and he could claim there was no recession. Biden: “They can be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year.” Even though the president vowed to destroy the fossil fuel industry and canceled pipelines and drilling on federal lands. We’d love to hear from you!

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Opinions and Editorials

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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The Good and Bad of the Orthodox Jewish Bloc Voting Republican By Long Island Life & Politics

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin worked extremely hard, courting the Orthodox Jewish vote in New York. He was successful. https://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/politics/2022/11/11/ orthodox-community-shows-its-strength-by-topplingdemocrats The community is known to often vote as a bloc to increase its political clout. While the Jewish demographic has traditionally voted overwhelmingly Democrat, the more conservative orthodox community has taken a more independent stand.

While private religious schools have been an institution in American life, and have provided a wonderful service to their students, they have, nevertheless, been required to teach the basics listed within the curriculum approved by the New York State Regents. Many leaders in the Orthodox community have balked at following this requirement. The Republican Party should welcome the shift of the Jewish vote toward their column, but should not in the process trade away the need for all religious schools to teach the requirements set forth in the state curriculum.

We have often believed that Jewish and Asian communities in particular would more likely vote Republican, were it not for the now-expired theory of the left being more tolerant. Both communities have a large share of their population operating businesses, which do better via less regulation. And both are also excelling in academics, but have been seeing many within their communities denied access to some learning institutions, as diversity and equity programs have favored those scoring lower on exams. But the Orthodox community centers its support primarily on one issue: the freedom to teach as they wish in their religious schools.

Now, They Want to Ban Your Gas Stove By Long Island Life & Politics

They’ve backed off because of a groundswell of public opposition, but the climate change zealots who control the Biden administration were seriously considering banning all of us from buying a gas stove in the future.

They just can’t help themselves from trying to impose their will on every facet of our lives. Do they think that solar or wind power is going to provide the juice necessary for our stoves? Don’t they realize that it takes the burning of fossil fuels to generate the electricity that they are claiming will be a substitute for fossil fuels? There are sensible ways to deal with the climate change problem. This is not one of them. It sounds crazy, but we shouldn’t be surprised that when we elect crazy people, we get crazy policies. And if the so-called moderates that we elect will not stand up to the crazies, then it’s time to think of a new path forward.

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Opinions and Editorials

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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D.C. Suburb Considering Allowing Illegals and 16-Year-Olds to Vote By Long Island Life & Politics

Washington, D.C. suburb is considering legislation unanimously passed by a subcommittee that would not only allow illegal aliens to vote, but would also allow anyone 16 years of age to cast ballots.

Let’s be real. This is being done for one reason: those who will get the franchise are likely to vote overwhelmingly Democratic. A political party’s short-term interests should not override the welfare of the nation as a whole.

https://dcist.com/story/23/01/09/md-voting-age-16/ Is this being promoted as some kind of enlightened policy, or is it just a vote-seeking power grab by Democrats? There was logic in changing the voting age to 18 in 1971 with the 26th Amendment — the argument being that those individuals can be drafted to fight in a war. But, at 16, young people are considered not yet mature enough to live on their own or enter into contracts.

Progressives’ “Good Faith Eviction” Bill Would Eviscerate Landlords’ Control of Their Properties By Long Island Life & Politics

The concept of a “good faith eviction” has been gaining traction in New York State and other progressive enclaves over the last several years. It passed in the city of Albany before being tied up in a court action, and is being promoted statewide by various leftists in the state Legislature. If it becomes the law of the land, landlords would be prevented from raising rents beyond 5% a year, but more dramatically, they would be prohibited from ever evicting a tenant, unless a judge determined that there was a “good cause” to do so. A basic tenet of property rights in our American system has been that the property owner can control who comes and goes on that property. Certainly, a landlord should not be able to void a written lease in midstream without good cause, but it seems unconstitutional and simply un-American to tell a landlord that he or she must rent to a specific individual once that lease expires. There are many reasons a landlord may wish to retain control over whom he or she rents to. Some tenants are destructive or are engaging in prostitution, drug

abuse, or violent activities within the unit. Some may just be downright nasty and disrespectful to the owner. Presently, the landlord has leverage over the tenant to act in a courteous manner to the owner and other tenants. Once a tenant knows he or she has an automatic right to extend the lease, there may be very little incentive to abide by the landlord’s wishes. Technically, the landlord can remove the tenant, even with the good faith clause, if the tenant violates terms of the lease (such as disturbance to neighbors), but it is often very difficult to prove, not to mention the fact it could take years to enforce at an enormous cost. The leverage landowners have to keep their building operating smoothly is the threat of not renewing the lease. It’s one thing to place a limit on rent increases after a lease has expired. It’s a whole different thing to say the landlord can’t get rid of a bad tenant after the lease expires. If we want to encourage people to place their properties up for rent to increase the stock of affordable housing, we can’t scare them into thinking they’ll be stuck with the “tenant from hell” into perpetuity.

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WE FIX MESSY QUICKBOOKS

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Guest Editorials 10

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

Restoring Contract Oversight Is a Great First Step, But More Should Be Done By Will Barclay Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul approved a long-overdue measure to restore the comptroller’s office with oversight of state contracts. This is great news and is an important first step in restoring New York’s proper checks and balances. As such, lawmakers and good-government groups across the state applauded the decision to, again, permit this additional protection of taxpayer funds. However, many questions and concerns remain, including why it took so long to right this wrong and how we can ensure such a lapse in protection does not happen again. The balance of power and responsibility between the branches of government and their respective components is an important part of what makes any healthy government work well. During the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, it was prudent to give the executive’s office the needed authority to respond quickly to a rapidly evolving emergency. When that emergency was over, though, it took far too long to fully restore that balance of power.

the COVID-19 pandemic, what happened after the outbreak was no longer a public health emergency and what options the body has to prevent similar abuses of power from taking place in the future. To that end, the Assembly Republican Conference made countless calls for legislative action and wrote to state leadership to address the issue. Unfortunately, Democrat state leaders sat silent, seemingly content to look the other way rather than address head-on the governor’s willingness to take advantage of the relaxed procurement process.

(Photo: Office of NYS Assemblyman Will Barclay) NYS Assemblyman Will Barclay

In the wake of the emergency, New York State was forced to endure many high-profile scandals, including a pay-to-play scheme involving $637 million worth of COVID-19 test kits purchased at nearly twice the market value from one of the governor’s biggest campaign donors. If normal protocols had been in place, particularly contract review and oversight by the comptroller’s office, this example of blatant corruption and abuse of taxpayer money might have been avoided altogether.

There are many instances when it is clear immediate emergency actions are needed to effectively address a crisis. However, it is critical that normal fiscal processes are restored as quickly as possible once that threat has been eliminated. Good governance is a collective effort, and it requires multiple entities working together. Too much power in too few hands is toxic.

It’s important that the comptroller’s office will again review state contracts; after all, they represent the proper allocation of millions of dollars of taxpayer money. This is a great step in the right direction, but there is no doubt more should be done. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to find ways to ensure New York’s government works fairly and with the best interests in mind for those who live here. Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is the NYS Assembly Minority Leader.

Going forward, lawmakers need to investigate what happened during

County Executive Owes Residents Action, Not Rhetoric, In New Year By Kevan M. Abrahams, Siela A. Bynoe, Carrié Solages, Debra Mulé, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Arnold W. Drucker and Joshua A. Lafazan As we embark upon 2023, Nassau County taxpayers should take stock of what County Executive Bruce Blakeman has — and has not — achieved during his first year in office. While he made many promises on the campaign trail and during his first year in office, he has unfortunately followed through on very few. For months, the county executive told Nassau County voters that, if elected, he would cut property taxes by over $128 million and “would pay for that tax cut by returning Nassau County’s entire budget surplus to residents.” He did neither; instead, in his first budget, he gave himself a 12 percent raise to the tune of $24,000. Additionally, the county executive has failed to follow through on his promises to “fix” what he called a “broken” assessment system. While candidate Bruce Blakeman vowed to hire “qualified professionals to run the Assessment Department and create a new and fair system,” one of his first acts as county executive was to pass the buck to Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips to audit the assessment department. As county residents continue to wait for the findings of the comptroller’s largely unnecessary and politically driven audit —

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findings that were supposed to have been published last September — major errors have occurred on school and general tax bills that will cost millions of taxpayer dollars to fix. Where is the urgency for preventing more of these costly assessment-related mistakes? Rather than make good on his promise to “hire qualified professionals to run the Assessment Department,” the county executive’s budget has no signs of the necessary resources to invest in a full revaluation that would set us back on a course to fairness and accuracy. He has continued to use acting assessors and administrators for the last 12 months. To make matters worse, his administration has allowed the term of the acting assessor — who must be approved by the legislature every six months — to once again lapse as Nassau’s tax rolls remain frozen. All of this has further destabilized the assessment system, to the benefit of politically connected real property tax certiorari firms that have donated $526,875 to Republican campaigns — not the taxpayers who elected him to office. And while the county executive’s bombastic rhetoric on issues Continued on page 11 Submit an Article | Send a Message | View Polls

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Guest Editorials 11

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

County Executive Owes Residents Action, Not Rhetoric, In New Year Continued from page 10 of crime have indeed garnered attention, his administration has done little to enhance public safety. It is in direct contrast with the administration of former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, during which crime decreased by more than 10 percent and the county was consistently named one of the safest places in America of its size. Since County Executive Blakeman took office last January, major crimes have increased by over 34 percent. To help reverse that trend, this caucus proposed a budget amendment that would have enhanced community policing by funding the hiring of an additional 110 police officers. The county executive and his Republican colleagues in the Legislature refused to support this commonsense, sustainable proposal. All of this is indicative of an administration that lacks a coherent vision for the future and insulates itself from the public. At a time when Nassau County has a projected surplus of $120 million and $385 million in American Rescue Plan federal funds at its disposal, the risk of missed opportunities is great. The Minority Caucus’ pleas to create an advisory council to guide the use of American Rescue Plan funds, which are governed by stringent federal guidelines and must be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by 2026, have been ignored. What is even more worrisome is that the county’s surplus is being misused to give jobs and money to political allies and promote partisan campaigns in violation of local, state, and federal laws. What can the county’s taxpayers and business leaders do then to get this county executive’s attention and spur his administration to act? As a starting point, we suggest this list of New Year’s resolutions: • Cut taxes by $128 million and give the county’s surplus back to the taxpayers • Appoint a permanent assessor and support a full reassessment • Abide by Executive Order 1-2018, which prohibits political leaders from simultaneously serving in certain county government roles • Stop using county-funded free concerts to promote partisan

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political candidates • Support our proposals to: • Extend the gasoline sales tax cut to March 1, 2023 and give residents the maximum allowable relief • Establish an American Rescue Plan advisory council to allow the community to guide the allocation and spending of a historic $385 million in federal funding • Implement a clothing and footwear tax sales holiday to support local families and businesses • Expand the NCPD by 110 officers and create a dedicated hate crimes division to improve public safety • Create the position of Deputy Commissioner of Cybersecurity and hire a dedicated team to protect our county from cyber threats • Supply fentanyl testing strips to individuals to prevent overdoses • Deliver drug deactivation pouches for the safe disposal of prescription medication • Protect food allergy sufferers by creating a restaurant Epi-Pen pilot program • Mandate the disclosure of income statements by utility companies • Require gun store owners to lock up firearms at night to protect our children from gun violence — the leading cause for children’s deaths In this new year, our residents deserve accountability and meaningful action, not empty rhetoric. At a time when trust in our institutions is so fragile, it is more important than ever to hold officials accountable when they fail to fulfill their promise — and it starts right here in Nassau County. Mr. Abrahams is the Nassau County Legislature’s Minority Caucus Leader. Ms. Bynoe, Mr. Solages, Ms. Mulé, Ms. DeRiggi-Whitton, Mr. Drucker and Mr. Lafazan are members of the Legislature’s Minority Caucus.

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Woke Alert

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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WOKE ALERT By Steve Levy

More Proof of Critical Race Theory Being Taught in Schools Parents in many parts of the country have been speaking out against the injection of Critical Race Theory into the curriculum in our K-12 schools. Many on the left have been quick to try to debunk this accusation, claiming that Critical Race Theory is only taught at the college level. They conveniently re-defined the term “Critical Race Theory” so they can say the subject matter is not being taught to our younger kids.

proves how pervasive this poisonous ideology is in schools around the nation. Millions of dollars have been snuck into COVID and other massive spending bills to fund not-for-profits to promote the nebulous concepts of “social justice” and “diversity and equity.” While some of the programs are worthy, many are disguised attempts to normalize CRT in our classrooms.

In Somers High School in Lincolndale, NY, 10th grade English students were given lessons on excerpts from a book, Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. The book is described on Amazon as one that “encourages people who hold white privilege to examine their (often unconscious) racist thoughts and behaviors.” https:// www.theexaminernews.com/anti-racism-lesson-usingcontroversial-book-sparks-raucous-debate-in-somersschools Many in the media have sought to paint parents objecting to this nonsense as being racist conspiracy theorists who are exaggerating, or even fabricating, the notion that these teachings are infiltrating our schools. But the concerned parents’ fears are borne out by the findings of Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute. A perusal of his website

University Wokesters Ban Word “Field” for Being Racist Just when we thought we heard it all from the woke lunatics, we find out that one of the nation’s largest universities, the University of Southern California, is banning the word “field” because it has racial connotations. https:// www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11622411/Wokeleaders-USC-ban-word-field-racist.html We are not making this up. A word that has existed for over 1,000 years in the English vocabulary is now being banned because, at one point, slaves worked out in the fields. The letter from the university’s Department of Social Work stated in part: This change supports anti-racist social work practice by replacing language that would be considered anti-Black or

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anti-immigrant in favor of inclusive language. Language can be powerful, and phrases such as “going into the field” or “field work” may have connotations for descendants of slavery and immigrant workers that are not benign, They also lived in houses. Should we ban that word? They used tools? Should that be banned? This is lunacy to a new degree. The scary part is that it is now becoming mainstream. This kind of stupidity is frightening, especially from those thought to be our nation’s brightest. We waste our time on this nonsense ... and China laughs. It is important that we all resist and refuse to change the meaning of our words simply because some crazy leftist demands it. Orwell noted that they want to get you to change your words so they can change what you think. And then, they can tell you what to do.

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Woke Alert & Media Bias

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

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WOKE ALERT By Steve Levy

Administrators Withhold Academic Awards So Other Students Are Not Offended https://nypost.com/2022/12/23/top-school-principal-hidesacademic-awards-in-name-of-equity/ Parents were especially suspicious of the school’s motives, given that Fairfax County Public Schools signed a contract this fall with a contractor who preaches an “equity” strategy of “equal outcomes for every student,” urging school district officials to “have the courage and the willingness to be purposefully unequal when it comes to opportunities and access.”

Two administrators at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax, Virginia withheld announcing the winners of the National Merit academic awards, leading many parents to suspect it was deliberate in order to avoid offending those who did not win.

The district’s claim that the withholding of the awards was accidental is called into question by the fact that the same failure to notify students occurred in several other schools as well. This disgraceful action inhibited the ability of the winners to tell of their academic success on their résumés while seeking admission to colleges. Those responsible should at the very least be liable for civil damages to the students.

THE LATEST IN MEDIA BIAS By Steve Levy

Headline Touts Biggest Decrease in Deficit Ever, But Fails to Mention It’s the Largest Deficit Ever Pre-COVID After the numbers came out for the federal deficit late last year, CNBC put up a headline stating: “US budget deficit cut in half for biggest decrease ever amid Covid spending declines.” https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/21/us-budgetdeficit-cut-in-half-for-biggest-decrease-everamid-covid-spending-declines.html While it’s true that the deficit went down from the prior record year, and they did note that there was an impact from Covid, the writers omitted

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from their headline the fact that the deficit was still hovering at an enormous $1.4 trillion level, higher than at any level prior to the pandemic. Hardly news to brag about. It would be like a new governor coming into office and raising your taxes by $2,000 his first year and then cutting them by $1,000 shortly thereafter. You didn’t save $1,000; you spent $1,000.

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LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

15

Schumer, County Executives Discuss the State of the Region at LIA Event By Hank Russell

The Long Island Association (LIA) opened the new year with its annual State of the Region event, which took place at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on January 6. This year, federal and local elected officials discussed such topics as federal funding for Long Island, infrastructure, the environment, economic development and crime. The guest speaker, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, explained how he was able to secure $2 billion in Covid-related funding for local governments on Long Island. “Our then-governor [Andrew Cuomo] wanted all of the money to go to the state,” Schumer said. “I heard it from the local [elected] officials, ‘We’ll never see [the money]’ and I heard it from the Republicans.” So, Schumer negotiated with the governor to ensure that half of the funding went to the state and the other half to the municipalities. “That’s helped [the local governments] in a difficult time.”

“We got a ton of money,” he said. “My job was to get that passed. My second job is to work with the bureaucracies and make sure New York gets as much money as they can.” He added that the infrastructure programs will provide “tens of thousands of jobs.” “There’s a lot to do in transportation and there’s a lot of money to do it,” Schumer said. “Over the next two years, my job is to make sure that money in the coffers … comes to Long Island.”

His second priority is to protect the region’s environment. “We have the most beautiful environments, not only in the country but in the world,” he said. “That’s why people come to live here. We have to ensure our environment. We have to ensure clean air and our clean water and safe drinking water. The nitrogen goes into our waterways and chokes our marine life, causing toxic algae bloom, which makes it harder for shellfishing, swimhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8gBQX7QhVA ming and boating.”

The money from the Paycheck Protection Program not only helped businesses stay open, Schumer said, but it also helped hospitals, nonprofit organizations provide much-needed services and religious groups “because they needed help as well.” Schumer announced that, last year, for the first time since he was Senate Majority Leader, New York State was not a “donor state,” meaning it received more money from Washington, D.C. than it gave; he said that was never the case in the past. “There are two reasons why New York gets the money back: sometimes, I fight for national programs that benefit New York. Transit is a typical example. It’s a national issue, but New York gets one-third. The second thing I try to do is make sure the [federal funding] formula benefits New York.” At the end of each term, Schumer said, he looks at what more needs to be done for Long Island. He gave his top three priorities, the first being improving the transportation infrastructure; that includes fixing the highways and bridges, capital rail transit projects, and the creation of bike lanes and hiking trails.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who also spoke at the event, echoed Schumer’s sentiments. “Water quality is one of the defining issues of our time,” he said. “Will we do what is necessary now to reverse the decades of decline that we have seen in our water quality due to nitrogen that we have been systematically depositing into our lakes, our rivers, our streams and our bays? We have a moral imperative to our kids and our grandkids to fix this problem.” Bellone noted that both parties in the county Legislature came together to provide solutions to protect the county’s waterways. Both parties have demonstrated their willingness to invest public dollars to protect water quality and to make the case these are the kinds of investments that ought to be made.” Among the solutions, Schumer said, include expanding and remediating the sewage system in Suffolk County, protecting the Long Island Sound and replacing the leaking lead pipes in Nassau County. “We’re making sure our water stays clean and all of this provides good jobs,” Schumer said.

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News & By the Numbers

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Schumer, County Executives Discuss the State of the Region at LIA Event Continued from page 15

He also touted offshore wind projects on Long Island, where he predicted it will be “the capital” of wind power. “It’s going to create a good amount of jobs, create new companies that are building and installing [these wind turbines]. It’s going to be one of the greatest, new frontier jobs that will grow in the future.” His third priority was on high-tech healthcare. “[Long Island hospitals] are working on the most cutting-edge research in the world,” Schumer said. “Long Island is the perfect place to benefit from all kinds of things like this.” Bellone said he has worked with Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter on the Ronkonkoma Hub project. “Why are we focused on Ronkonkoma? That’s where the opportunity is,” Bellone said. He noted how this benefits both Brookhaven and Islip Towns due to its proximity to Islip MacArthur Airport and the Long Island Expressway. He also cited Ronkonkoma as a potential center of a commercial life sciences hub. “The research corridor of great innovation that would be the envy of any region in this nation” and “a longsought dream.” Bellone said Governor Kathy Hochul also supports the idea of Long Island being the leader in life sciences. “She believes in that future and that future. I share the governor’s optimism on Long Island. This is a transformative project for this region. We

cannot let this opportunity pass.” On the issue of crime, Bellone said Suffolk has been working hard to fight the opioid epidemic and the rise in crime. He thanked those “on the front line” for their dedication to protect the residents’ safety. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who delivered a prerecorded message, said he has hired 36 police officers and 50 prosecutors. “We have to be mindful that we still have issues,” Blakeman said. He cited cashless bail, the “Raise the Age” law and other crime measures from Albany that “make the state less safe.” Both Blakeman and Bellone also spoke about the improvement in the county’s finances. Last year, Blakeman signed off on a budget that had no tax increases; as a result, Nassau received an increase in the bond rating. Bellone said he “inherited a financial crisis, the greatest in the county’s history.” Since then, Suffolk has “one of the most secure finances in the history of the county,” which came about as a result of “a lot of hard work and tough decisions by my colleagues in the county.” Blakeman praised Bellone for his bipartisanship and their ability to work together to improve Long Island’s quality of life. “We’ve got a great partnership on Long Island and I look forward to working for another year with Steve and getting things done on a regular basis.”

BY THE NUMBERS 13 MONTHS

13 YEARS

How long it took in 1929 to build the Empire State Building.

How long it took in 2001 to rebuild the fallen One World Trade Center.

FACTS AND FIGURES — EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AT A GLANCE (FACTS & FIGURES | EMPIRE STATE BUILDING (ESBNYC.COM))

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17

Senate Democrats Do In LaSalle’s Nomination By Hank Russell

By a 10-9 margin, members of the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee voted against the nomination of Hector LaSalle to the state Court of Appeals’ chief judge. All 10 who voted “no” were Democrats. Two of the nine who voted in favor were Democrats; six Republicans and one Democrat voted for LaSalle’s nomination, but “without recommendation.”

(LaSalle is a supporter of both, said Governor Kathy Hochul, who nominated him). Hochul said the state Constitution requires a vote from the full state Senate on the nomination. “While this was a thorough hearing, it was not a fair one, because the outcome was predetermined,” Hochul said in a statement. “Several Senators stated how they were going to vote before the hearing even began — including those who were recently given seats on the newly expanded Judiciary Committee.”

State Senator Brad HoylmanSigal (D, WF-New York City), chair of the Senate Judicial Committee, posted on his Twitter account, “Today, I voted not to advance the nomination of Justice LaSalle to the NY Court of Appeals. We need a Chief Judge who will stand up for defendants, workers, immigrants & women. But first and foremost, we need someone to unify our highest court. This nominee isn’t that person.”

Long Island Life & Politics recently published an opinion piece on how many senators would not vote for LaSalle because his record does not (Photo: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) Hector fit their progressive agenda. LaSalle was nominated for chief justice of the New (See “NYS Progressives York State Court of Appeals by Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured), but her nominee was rejected Oppose Hochul’s Top Judge by the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Appointment Because He’s Too Tough on Crime,” Vol. 2 Issue According to his biography, 1, p. 11.) New York State Assembly Minority Leader Will LaSalle was appointed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo Barclay (R, C, I-Pulaski) reiterated the same thoughts. to the position of associate justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department in 2014 and again to the “Judge Hector LaSalle deserved a fair and objective Second Appellate Division’s presiding justice in 2021. He process rather than the political sideshow that played has maintained connections to Long Island during his out during the past several weeks,” Barclay said in a career. He was an associate attorney at Ruskin, Moscou statement. “Liberal senators summarily dismissed Judge Faltischek, P.C., a law firm headquartered in Uniondale, LaSalle’s candidacy based solely on political ideology from 1998 to 1999. Since 2009, he has served as a justice before they even gave him the courtesy of a hearing to the New York State Supreme Court, Tenth Judicial or interview. The very makeup of the Senate Judiciary District. Committee was arbitrarily changed, stacking the deck He also served in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office from 1993 to 1998 and again from 2002 to 2008; he served as a deputy bureau chief of the Special Investigations Bureau and head of the Anti-Gang Unit. He is also a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association. LaSalle was grilled for five hours by the committee on his decisions and his views on labor unions and abortion

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and rigging the process against Judge LaSalle despite his stellar reputation and distinguished career.” Barclay said the nomination of a chief judge to the highest court in the state is supposed to be “a historic and significant event. It’s unfortunate that Senate Democrats turned it into an embarrassing example of woke dysfunction.”

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Opinions and Editorials: Common Sense Corner

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Whoopi Goldberg’s Remarks on Jews Were Incorrect, But Not Antisemitic Continued from Page 3 We disagree with almost everything Goldberg espouses on The View. We find her perspective to be far-left, naïve and often intolerant of those she disagrees with. But we’re also fair in our analysis, and will seek to look at the context in which a statement is made, regardless of which side of the political aisle the speaker hails from. We often lament the fact that liberals claiming to be warriors against intolerance are the most intolerant of us all in failing to accept the perspectives of those with whom they disagree. It’s usually the left that is the first to censor or cancel. That’s why it’s important for those of us who support unhindered expression to defend all those on the entire political spectrum when free speech comes under attack. In our view, Goldberg was wrong in claiming that the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews was not racially motivated because, she claims, Judaism is not a race. Hitler and the Nazis believed that the Jews were indeed a race. In fact, their justification for wiping out the Jewish population was based on the ridiculous theory that this was an inferior race. Goldberg inaccurately looks at race as just being a matter of color

or outward appearance. To paraphrase her words: If you can walk down the street and not tell the nationality or religion of a person, then it is not racial. When she, as a Black woman, walks down the street and can be easily identified as Black, that is racial. In our view, she’s wrong because race is more involved with it than just outward appearance. It also has to do with culture and generations reproducing over the centuries. That being said, it is hard to call Goldberg antisemitic here because her intent was not to disparage the Jewish population. She was just making a thoughtful conclusion that religion is different from race because one can change one’s religion, but not one’s race. She’s incorrect in this case, as it pertains to the Jewish population, since they were indeed perceived as a race by their Nazi persecutors. Goldberg can be wrong, but that doesn’t mean there was ill will in her analysis. We have to defend the rights of those we disagree with to make their points, even if they are wrong. We can have an intelligent discussion, be respectful of a contrarian view and still seek to educate that person as to why they, in our opinion, are inaccurate. However, we don’t have to destroy their careers if the intent was not harmful in the first place.

Say “No” to Days off from School for Mental Health Issues Continued from Page 3 An argument that might’ve been just a short-lived tiff in the past can now escalate into viral bullying that can last for months or more. But the idea of allowing days off does not solve the problem. If counseling is needed to be conducted, do it with school counselors so that the youngster can continue their academic pursuits. There is already ample opportunity for a parent to keep their child out of school. These extra days are just sending out a signal that time away from school is to be encouraged. While we strongly support accessibility to mental health counseling, we also believe there is a place for some “tough love.” While there’s a potential that some critics may falsely label such a suggestion as being insensitive, we have to do what’s best for the child. We have become a society of victims that has fostered children and adults alike to think that all is helpless, and that they cannot get through struggles through perseverance and a greater sense of We’d love to hear from you!

personal responsibility. We often marvel at the so-called “Greatest Generation” that struggled through a Great Depression and several wars without complaining much and always moving forward. There were thousands of times they could have gone off the rails and said, “I just can’t handle it,” but they were taught to suck it up and understand that life isn’t always fair. Wallowing in self-pity can be extraordinarily destructive. And, of course, being a victim of bullying or experiencing social media pressures (which that generation did not have to go through) can be excruciating to a young person. We need to be supportive, but also to let these young people know that they are not victims if they don’t want to be. Toughening up and moving forward is an important part of life. While we need to make mental health services available, telling kids that they can take off whenever they want because they’re having a tough mental health day is the wrong message.

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Opinions and Editorials: Common Sense Corner

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

19

The Left’s Lying Efforts to Scare Us on Covid and Climate Is All about Maximizing Their Power Continued from Page 3

If you would’ve asked average Americans in 2019 if they would

But under the guise of protecting Grandma from contracting the

tolerate giving a governor the ability to shut down their churches

virus at the polling booth, we Americans allowed it to happen.

and synagogues, while banning folks from being with their dying parents, they would’ve told you: “Not in America.”

Take a look at the details of the $1.9 trillion COVID protection act passed in the early days of the Biden administration, as well as

If we had told you back then that schools were going to be

the $500 billion so-called Inflation Reduction Act (that actually

closed down, even though a new virus would pose less risk

increased inflation), and the 2022 omnibus bill costing $1.7 trillion,

to the children than the common flu, they would have been

and you will find billions of dollars funneled to the not-for-profit

incredulous.

cottage industries to promote social justice Critical Race Theory

But when the pandemic hit, big spenders in government heard

and gender-related programs, voter turnout programs, and the granting of billions more

just one sound:

to local governments to

Cha-ching.

dole out as they pleased. This type of irresponsible

Leftists saw this as a golden

opportunity

spending would not easily

to

pass muster in ordinary

have the federal govern-

times. But when people

ment redistribute trillions

are terrified into thinking

of dollars to state and

the world is going to end

local governments and

and immediate emergency

their political allies in the not-for-profit sector.

funding must be rushed

Under the guise of provid-

and our children, almost

through to save our planet

ing money to protect our

anything goes.

children and the general

Thus, it is important that

population, progressives in

Washington

we remain skeptical of

stuffed

“the sky is falling” scare

trillions of dollars of pro-

tactics used by these

grams that had little to

zealots.

nothing to do with the

Don’t

dismiss

their claims out of hand.

pandemic or protecting lives.

There may indeed be

If we had told you in 2019

in their statements, but

some

that we would look the

truth

don’t just accept their

other way as governors

pronouncements at face

and secretaries of state

value. Keep in mind that

violated the constitutional

there are major financial

requirement of seeking legislative

underlying

incentives

approval

before enacting sweeping changes to election law just months before an election — including the evisceration of verifying signatures and the mass mailing of ballots, even when they’re not requested — you would probably say that this is nothing less

for

these

groups to exaggerate, or even fabricate, because there is so much money on the line for them. Seek out both sides of the issue and base conclusions on facts, not emotions.

than an assault on democracy.

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Opinions and Editorials: Center for Cost Effective Government

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20

The Rich and Poor Versions of Climate Change Check out these two opposite takes on the issue of climate change. One is by former Secretary of State John Kerry, who speaks in messianic tones as to how he and other super-wealthy elites who gather each year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland will battle climate change. Kerry is virtue signaling to his fellow privileged ideologues how they alone have been called upon to save the planet. He calls upon the poor and middle class to change their behavior to avoid Armageddon. At the same time, he and the billionaires attending this conference will go on flying in their private jets and having cooks prepare their meals on gas stoves. Compare this pie-in-the-sky attitude to the brutal reality spoken brilliantly by Konstantin Kisin to Oxford students. Kisin echoes many of the writings in this column that have noted how a billion people have been lifted out of poverty worldwide in the last three decades due to industrialization. Poor people in the Third World worrying if their children will die of starvation or disease are not concerned about a 0.5% change in temperature over the next 100 years. Their only concern is getting an energy source they can afford to prevent immediate malnutrition, illness, or even death. As Kisin noted, England contributes 2% of the world’s carbon footprint. If England sank to the bottom of the sea, it would not make a dent in the climate due to China, India, Indonesia, and other growing economies that go on unabated.

Video by former Secretary of State John Kerry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubgmrEyGj6s

Video by Konstantin Kisin to Oxford Students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKIOSnKX96E

That is why the answer to climate change will be new technological innovations, not shutting down the world economy.

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Marc Alessi and Haran C. Rashes Speak about the Future of Wireless Technology on Long Island By Hank Russell

Marc Alessi, an attorney, lobbyist and serial startup tech entrepreneur, spoke about the future of wireless technology on Long Island during the LIMBA (Long Island Metro Business Action) meeting at the Candlelight Diner in Commack on January 13. He was joined by Haran C. Rashes, the associate general counsel for Extenet Systems, Inc., an owner and operator of distributed networks throughout the U.S.

Nikola Tesla, after whom the science center is named, predicted the prevalence of cell phones, Alessi said. Tesla told The Boston Globe in 1904 that “decades from now, a New York businessman will pull a device out of his coat pocket and call someone in the world wirelessly,” according to Alessi. He also said that Tesla was “very collaborative” when it came to sharing his technology, even with Gugliemo Marconi, who was best known for inventing the radio, but he utilized 17 of Nikola As an attorney and lobbyist, Tesla’s patents for his radio Mr. Alessi has provided transmission. In 1947, the U.S. outside counsel services Supreme Court ruled that to Extenet, the nation’s Tesla was the true inventor largest installer of small of radio. It is important to cell distributed wireless (Photo by Hank Russell) Marc Alessi (left) speaks to attendees about note that, while Marconi was infrastructure — the topic the future of wireless technology on Long Island at the LIMBA (Long only interested in one-way of the LIMBA presentation. Island Metro Business Action) meeting on January 13 in Commack as voice transmission, Tesla He also represents the Extenet’s associate general counsel, Taran C. Rashes (right) looks on. “was doing two-way voice Tesla Science Center, where transmission,” Alessi said. he serves as Executive Director. He noted that the TSC will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first cell phone call ever Tesla built a laboratory in Shoreham, with funding from JP made on April 3, 1973, by Marty Cooper at Motorola. Morgan. Alessi said they are looking to build a museum and science center on the property and has received money, LIMBA Chairman Ernie Fazio praised Alessi for his passion for thanks to “a world record-breaking crowdfund” and funding technology and his financial support of up-and-coming tech from major technology companies. “When people think of companies. “I know Marc doesn’t get behind anything that’s a Tesla, they think of electricity, alternating current … Basically, bag of steam,” he said. “He looks for things that are really going he brought alternating current to the forefront and basically to help the community.” powered our lives.” After focusing on electricity, “he became When Cooper suggested the company should start producing passionate about wireless communications. He knew it would personal portable cell phones, Alessi said, he was told that it transform our lives. He knew it would connect us.” was “technologically impossible. We now know that nothing is “It’s important for us to reflect on how important this is in our technologically impossible. It just takes us a long time to get lives,” Alessi said. “I’m a little trepidatious to pontificate on where there.” However, the company was able to build the product 6G and 7G [technology] goes, but that is a level of connectivity and technology within six months. that is going to power the universe/” He said that 6G and 7G Alessi also noted that Motorola, which “dominated wireless technology should be implemented “within 10 to 15 years.” technology from the 1950s to the 1970s,” also provided pagers Rashes gave a brief overview of the evolution of wireless to doctors to use and walkie-talkies that were first used by the technology. He said 1G technology, which was used in the Chicago Police Department. Both the doctors and the police first phone call, was analog-based and delivered voice data. officers said “they were never giving this up,” he said. Continued on page 24 Sponsors of Long Island Life & Politics.

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Marc Alessi and Haran C. Rashes Speak about the Future of Wireless Technology on Long Island Continued from page 23

2G technology, which came about in the 1990s, allowed the transmission of text. In the 2000s, 3G technology came out, allowed the transmission of photos and text; on December 31, 2022, all carriers stopped using 3G. The next decade was 4G, which had all the qualities of 3G, but with the ability for users to browse the Internet, transmit video and even use Facetime. In the 2020s, 5G was finally introduced. “The two big things about 5G is the speed of data [transmission] and it has very low latency,” Rashes said.

none of them showing adverse health effects, “but people are still freaking out.” Among the misnomers Rashes heard about 5G transmission are that it is a new technology, it is unregulated, it relies on frequencies in the ionizing radiation band of electromagnetic frequencies, it causes changes in the weather, it increases lightning strikes and it causes COVID-19 and other illnesses. He said that the Federal Communications Commission has found small cells to be safe, provided they are properly placed.

According to Extenet, 5G has download speeds of “All 5G frequencies and 300 Megabits per second 5G equipment have to be (Mbps), while the range for approved by the FCC and 4G was between 12 and 36 comply with FCC-mandated (Photo by Hank Russell) Pictured (left to right): Attorney, lobbyist Mbps. While 5G will increase safety measures,” Rashes and serial startup tech entrepreneur Marc Alessi, Extenet Systems, capacity for data and voice Inc.’s Associate General Counsel Haran C. Rashes, Extenet Director of said. “They have done the Implementation Peter Gaglio and LIMBA Chairman Ernie Fazio. service, it requires more safety checks and we have access points — also known to comply and conduct a as nodes or cells — because of its smaller footprint and emits a study on every single thing we install to make sure it complies much lower power signal than a macro-site. with the commission’s standards.” Extenet places outdoor small wireless facilities (also known as “small cells”) onto numerous properties and structures throughout the U.S. The company makes sure that its employees follow local codes and guidelines, they use the public right-ofway appropriately, and meet with city planners and local elected officials to identify the best possible site locations. Further, the antenna can take up no more than three cubic feet of space and must be aesthetically pleasing within the communities where they are installed. Mr. Rashes said the biggest issue is the time because it takes 60 to 90 days to get approval of the small cell placements. Another issue is NIMBYism, in which the residents do not want the poles in their neighborhoods. The third issue is the “elephant in the room,” namely health and safety issues regarding cellular transmission. Mr. Alessi said 250 health studies have been done on the human body’s exposure to cellular transmission since the 1980s and the FDA conducted its own study in 2018,

“There should be communication from the ground up and educating the public and elected officials because on issues like this, there are folks out there that are bringing out disinformation and showing up at board meetings and screaming,” Alessi added. “Without this connectivity, we fall behind on Long Island. Five years from now, 10 years from now, people are not going to want to live in a community [without wireless connectivity].” While 5G is in “the early stages” on Long Island, Mr. Rashes pointed out other parts of the world are working on implementing next-generation cellular technology. “I don’t know where it’s going to go and where it’s going to hold,” Mr. Rashes said of 6G and 7G technology, “but we can all dream what functionality we will have then, and we hope that we’ll be around to have the capacity and bandwidth to support it.”

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Local Government

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

25

Local Government Town of Riverhead Closes on the Purchase of Former Peconic Bay Medical Entenmann Campus Property Will Serve As the New Town Hall

(Photo: Town of Riverhead) Supervisor Yvette Aguiar (second from right) and PBMC Foundation Executive Director and President Amy Loeb (second from left) exchange paperwork in connection with the Town’s purchase of PBMC’s Entenmann Campus on 2nd Street.

The Town of Riverhead recently closed on the purchase of 4-6 W. 2nd St and 214 Griffing Avenue (the former Peconic Bay Medical Entenmann campus) in downtown Riverhead. The location will serve as Riverhead’s new Town Hall. The acquisition complements the town’s revitalization efforts and provides the Peconic Bay Medical Center funds to expand women’s health and ambulatory services. “This Town purchase will allow for the much-needed expansion of Riverhead’s Police Department, the Town Justice Court, and enhance services to our community,” said Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar. “We thank the Peconic Bay Medical Foundation for working and partnering with us on this much needed effort in our community.” Aguiar added that the transition is expected to begin in three months, and a full transition will take place by the end of this year.

(Photo: Town of Riverhead) Standing: PBMC Chief Financial Officer Michael O’Donnell, PBMC Foundation Executive Director/President Amy Loeb, PBMC Foundation Chair Emilie Roy Corey, and Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

26

Time for a Tune-Up… for Your Financial Plan You bring your car in for maintenance with a qualified mechanic; shouldn’t you give the same importance to personal finances? Since my children were very young, I have instilled a quote from Ben Franklin in them: “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” This, of course, applies to financial plans. But financial plans cannot be static – our lives change all too frequently – so a financial check-up is necessary at a minimum on a yearly basis. A financial check-up measures your progress against your existing plan, and gives you and your financial advisor the opportunity to review progress toward your goals as well as changes that may impact your plan positively or negatively. How should your Financial Check-up Work? You should be meeting with your financial advisor annually or semi-annually, or when there is a significant change in your circumstances. During your meetings, your advisor can review your current plan and where you stand, collect new information from you, help you to prioritize your goals, make recommendations, examine resources and implement a plan or revise an existing plan. This sort of monitoring gives you an opportunity to step back and review goals, your time horizons your risk tolerance, and/ or confirm that your priorities remain the same. In most cases, you and your advisor can review short-term goals, examining what (if anything) may have changed. In some cases, your advisor can make changes to an investment portfolio in light of tactical or strategic asset allocation models. In other cases, they may suggest changes based on certain life events. For example, the birth of a child or grandchild may require a discussion about 529 plans. A divorce may require reviewing retirement plans, cash flow and expenses, and changing beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies and annuities.

Here are some questions you may wish to ask your advisor to ensure your check-up is productive and thorough: 1. Am I on course to reach my goals? Review or update your Financial Plan to see: • How much money you have saved for retirement and non- retirement accounts currently. • How long that money would last you in retirement, factoring in taxes, inflation, most likely higher medical expenses, and other projected expenses in retirement as well as sources of income, such as investment portfolios, part time work, pensions, annuities, rental income, etc. 2- Am I a candidate for an insurance coverage review? When was the last time you reviewed all your coverages? Are you under or over insured? Can you reduce/eliminate some coverages, or is their better coverage available at a lower cost? Is it time to consider other types of coverage- Long Term Care, Disability Insurance, etc.? 3- Are any changes necessary? Why or why not? You may discover that you want to stay the course because your strategy is working. Not changing anything is a decision in itself and may be the best option for you, depending on your circumstances. Perhaps the best decision could be to increase your contributions, or to invest more outside of retirement accounts. Are you currently investing in the most tax efficient way possible? Regardless, a check-up with your advisor can help you find answers and make choices that you understand as well as give you a feeling of comfort and confidence knowing that you are diligent and conscientious in protecting yourself and your assets.

Joseph Fusaro Financial Advisor Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 401 Broadhollow Road Suite 401 Melville, NY 11747 [email protected] Toll Free: (800) 446-7300 ext. 4842 Direct: (516) 391-4842 www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-fusaro

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Suffolk News

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

27

Four Indicted for Murder for Botched 2021 Robbery That Resulted in Death of Dix Hills Man Four women — two women and two male teenagers — have each been indicted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office for murder in the second degree after taking part in an attempted robbery that resulted in the death of a Dix Hills resident. According to the investigation, Jillian Kolsch, Jahshawn Strickland, Jonray Perez and Kayla Alvarenga were joined by another individual to commit a robbery while purchasing marijuana. The alleged plan was for Strickland and another individual to set up a dealer by pretending to buy marijuana from him, and for Alvarenga and Perez to then rob the dealer of the drugs and his money. Alvarenga and Perez, both armed, approached the garage at the house while Kolsch waited in the car as the getaway driver. When they found the garage door to be locked, they told the occupants to open the garage door and threatened them with violence if they failed to do so. One of the defendants allegedly fired a shot that went through the garage door and killed Louis Lombardo, 28, of Dix Hills, a friend of the dealer. Kolsch, 20, of Smithtown, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A felony, two counts of robbery in the first degree, a Class B felony; and one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. She was arraigned on January 12.

Alvarenga, 20, of Deer Park, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A felony; two counts of robbery in the first degree, a Class B felony; two counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony; and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. She was arraigned on January 6, and remanded without bail. Strickland, 17, of Bay Shore, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A felony; two counts of robbery in the first degree, a Class B felony; and two counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. He was arraigned on January 9, and remanded without bail. Perez, 17, of Babylon, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A felony, two counts of robbery in the first degree, a Class B felony, one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony; and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. He was arraigned on January 9, and remanded without bail. “These defendants allegedly conspired to commit a violent armed robbery, and needlessly took the life of an occupant in the home in the process,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Now, they will have to answer for this senseless killing.”

Man Arrested in Holbrook for Killing Dog, Threatening Owner Together with the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County SPCA arrested a 44-year-old Holbrook man for fatally injuring a dog and threatening the dog’s owner last month. An animal hospital reported a suspicious death of a dog to the Suffolk County SPCA on December 20.

located on Dolphin Lane, causing the injuries that resulted in the dog’s death, and for allegedly threatening the dog’s owner, who also lived at the house. Walker was charged with Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, Animal Cruelty, Criminal Mischief, Aggravated Harassment 2nd Degree, and Coercion 3rd Degree.

Following an investigation (Photo Courtesy of SCPD) Jager, the dog that died after being allegedly kicked by Scott Walker. by SCSPCA detectives that He was held overnight at included a forensic necropsy, the Sixth Precinct and was Scott A. Walker was arrested at Valero, located at 1080 Main scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central St., Holbrook on January 11 at 8:54 p.m. It was determined Islip on January 12. that Walker had allegedly kicked the dog at his residence, We’d love to hear from you!

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Nassau News

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

28

Ra Introduces Praise Our Police Program to Local School Districts

(Photo: Office of NYS Assemblyman Ed Ra) NYS Assemblyman Ed Ra (right) is pictured with Cornwell Avenue School students and their principal, Ms. Deanna Sinito (left).

In honor of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) introduced his Praise Our Police (POP) program to local school districts in the 19th Assembly District. This program provided students with an opportunity to express their gratitude and appreciation to law enforcement officers. Students created banners, posters and handmade cards that were delivered to law enforcement agencies, including Nassau County police precincts, Metropolitan Transit Authority Police, New York State Troopers, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Nassau County sheriffs and correction officers and New York State court officers.

The following schools participated in Ra’s 2023 POP program: • Cornwell Avenue School, West Hempstead • George Washington School, West Hempstead • Polk Street School, Franklin Square • John Street School, Franklin Square • Washington Street School, Franklin Square • New Hyde Park Road School, New Hyde Park • Manor Oaks School, New Hyde Park • Hampton Street School, Mineola

“It’s great to see our local school districts proudly supporting our wonderful men and women in uniform. With all that our police officers go through on a daily basis, it’s heartwarming to see our children showing support for those who protect us and keep us safe,” said Ra. We’d love to hear from you!

• Jackson Avenue School, Mineola • Meadow Drive School, Mineola • Mineola Middle School, Mineola • Mineola High School, Mineola • Willets Road School, East Williston • Rushmore Avenue School, Carle Place • Cherry Lane School, Carle Place • WT Clark Middle School, East Meadow • East Meadow High School, East Meadow

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Real Estate News

LILifePolitics.com | Volume 2 | Issue 2

29

Real Estate News With Higher Mortgage Rates Here to Stay, Long Island Real Estate Investor Says an Interest-Only Mortgage Can Pay off for Homebuyers and Investors Concerned about Higher Mortgage Payments By Long Island Life & Politics

Although mortgage rates have stayed below 7% for the past few months, some prospective homebuyers are still staying away from making that purchase as rates are starting to creep up again. On January 5, 2023, Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate is at 6.48%, up from 6.42% the previous week. It was the second straight week of increases after six weeks of declines.

For those who are looking to buy a home in this turbulent economic climate, Levi Kushnir, the president of Stable Holdings Inc., a real estate firm based in Valley Stream, recommends that prospective homeowners consider taking out an interest-only mortgage loan. “Your payments will initially be lower than if you took out a traditional mortgage,” he says. “This can enable you to ease your way into your home, albeit at a higher rate.” In an interest-only mortgage, the borrower spends a predetermined period of time paying the interest only, then spends the rest of the term paying off the principal and the interest. If they wish, they can pay off the balance in one lump sum. Another advantage, Mr. Kushnir says, is that the payments on the interest are completely tax-deductible, but that is We’d love to hear from you!

only applicable to the primary residence. Interest-only mortgages are ideal, not only for homeowners, but for real estate investors as well. “Investors who use interest-only mortgages when buying properties can use the money they save on the monthly payments to make repairs and buy more houses to build up their portfolios,” Mr. Kushnir says. Mr. Kushnir can speak from experience, as he has used interest-only mortgages to buy several of his own investment properties. The experienced real estate investor, who has been in the business since he was 18 years old, got his start in the mortgage lending business and later bought his first house at the age of 19. Since then, he has raised and invested tens of millions of dollars in real estate properties. While paying only the interest for the first few years sounds attractive, he says there are a few drawbacks with this niche mortgage. “First, you won’t be building any equity in your home as you pay,” Mr. Kushnir says. “Second, once the interest-only period is complete, the payments increase substantially as you now have the absent years of principal ballooned into the remaining years in addition to the interest you have to pay. That would be a bad time to find out that you don’t have the money to make the higher payments.”

Levi Kushnir President Stable Holdings Inc.

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