The Long Island Daily

The Long Island Daily, formerly Long Island Morning Edition, with host Michael Mackey provides regional news stories and special features that speak to the body politic, the pulse of our planet, and the marketplace of life.

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  The Long Island Daily

  East Hampton residents near a battery storage plant concerned they may have ingested toxic water

  Aug 19, 202610 min

  Ahead of its gunfire detection system coming online in Suffolk County, Flock Safety executives won't say if they'll agree to come to a legislative meeting to address concerns about the firm's privacy and data-sharing policies. Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that Flock Safety, which operates a nationwide network of license plate reader cameras, is under scrutiny over the use of data collected, privacy issues and the potential for abuse. Proponents say the technology provides law enforcement a critical tool to use in certain investigations. The request, prompted by Legis. Greg Doroski (D-Mattituck), comes weeks before Flock is set to roll out its gunfire detection technology across the county thanks to a $3.7 million deal with Suffolk police that's being finalized. It also comes amid reported vandalism of the company's cameras on the north fork. Doroski requested the company answer a series of questions by Aug. 27 that include whether federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can access or have accessed data collected by cameras based in Suffolk. Doroski said yesterday that he has not yet gotten a response to the July 24 letter he sent requesting a company representative attend the Public Safety Committee meeting on Sept. 3. The letter says "numerous constituents" across the county have raised concerns about the cameras, which are used by the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and local municipal departments. "Suffolk County residents deserve to know who is watching them and where our data goes," Doroski wrote. Doroski has also requested a summary for the prior 12 months of "all instances in which data collected by Suffolk County-based Flock cameras was accessed by agencies outside Suffolk County." Last week, Flock announced changes to its policies to further protect privacy and add security and transparency safeguards. One change cut the default data retention time from 30 days to seven, which the company says adds "a careful balance between safety and privacy." The company is also offering a new filtering capability that would allow an agency to restrict what other departments can determine from searching data collected by the cameras, such as for stolen vehicles or missing persons. The company has maintained that its customers own their data and can decide how it is shared. Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, a Republican, told NEWSDAY recently that he’s "comfortable" with how the police department handles data collected from the license plate readers. "That data is used to save lives," he said. "It’s used to catch the bad guys." He said he’s "always open to counterargument" about the technology and will wait for guidance from the legislature if lawmakers decide to go in a different direction. *** Investigators from the Suffolk County district attorney’s office arrested an El Salvadoran man who has been convicted of felony DWI four times, most recently this month after being arrested in Flanders last year. The Suffolk D.A. then turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to be deported a second time. As reported on 27east.com, District Attorney Raymond Tierney had decried the fact that a Suffolk County Criminal Court judge had released Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez, 36, without bail to await his October sentencing after he was convicted by a jury on August 7 of his fourth felony DWI charge. WIth Aguilar-Alvarez facing an almost certain long sentence, Tierney had said that he was seen as a highly likely flight risk and asked for him to be held in custody until his sentencing. On Monday, however, investigators from Tierney’s office tracked down Aguilar-Alvarez in Riverhead and witnessed him driving a car, which he is prohibited from doing due to his numerous DWI convictions. The investigators arrested him for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree, a misdemeanor, and brought him to the district attorney’s office in Riverside for processing. While he was being processed, the DA’s office notified ICE, which sent officers to detain Aguilar-Alvarez when he left the DA’s office. “It is self-evident that given his history of multiple felony convictions, Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez is a clear and present danger to any Suffolk County citizen traveling on our roads,” Tierney said in a statement released by his office yesterday. “He is a repeat felony drunk driver who does not belong behind the wheel. Less than two weeks after his fourth felony DWI conviction, and despite explicit instructions not to drive, the defendant once again got behind the wheel of a vehicle. I want to thank my detective investigators for apprehending the defendant. I extend my gratitude to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their swift action in taking this individual into custody and working with my office to help protect Suffolk County residents.” The DA’s office said that it would file a writ with ICE requesting that Aguilar-Alvarez be brought back to Suffolk County for his sentencing in October. *** The State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) will offer its S.A.F.E. (Strength, Awareness, Function, Education) Falls Prevention Program, a free eight-week workshop designed to help older adults improve balance and strength, reduce their risk of falls and maintain independence in their daily activities. Held at Stony Brook University’s Southampton Campus, the program provides older adults on the East End with practical skills, education and resources to help them stay active, confident and independent. The eight-week session begins next Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Throughout the program, participants will: Build strength and improve balance through exercises designed to support mobility and stability Identify and manage fall risks at home and during everyday activities Learn strategies for staying active and independent while reducing their risk of falls Connect with community resources that support physical activity, social connection and overall well-being This year’s program will meet for two hours each week, with the eight-week session running from August 25 through October 16. Classes will be held on August 25; September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; and October 6 and 16. For more information visit stonybrook.edu Or to register, please contact Sarah Cohen, (631) 644-6667 or register at bit.ly/SBSHfallsfree *** East Hampton residents who live around a battery storage plant suspected of causing a toxic plume after a 2023 fire are asking the state to provide health screening amid worries they may have ingested impacted water for years. But the New York State Department of Health in responses to Newsday, said it doesn’t believe such biomonitoring “would be useful.” It instead is offering to take residents' questions and concerns directly via email or phone. Residents concerned about the impacts of the water said that's not enough. "It's unconscionable, that's what I think," said Charlie Esposito, who lives across the street from the battery site and is one of the residents who pressed East Hampton Town to demand health testing. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that in a letter sent to state and county agencies on Thursday following an occasionally heated public meeting last week, East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez wrote that residents who consume water from private and public wells are “concerned they have been ingesting” water laden with forever chemicals for “over three years…Residents have specifically requested biomonitoring, PFAS blood testing to establish a baseline for future tests, and a formal epidemiologic study.” State Health Department spokeswoman Erin Clary said that while the agency “remains committed to working with local officials to ensure residents have safe and healthy” drinking water, it didn't believe biomonitoring would be useful. “Fortunately, Suffolk County Water Authority took swift and appropriate actions to minimize use of the affected well field for drinking water after PFPrA was detected, reducing the potential harm to the water supply,” the state Health Department said in its statement, referring to a toxic forever chemical. Residents can email the state at BTSA@health.ny.gov, or call 518-402-7800. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine on Friday said, "I absolutely support" health testing by the state for residents who may be impacted. He said the county is planning a forum for East Hampton residents on Sept. 23 to discuss all its findings, which he said are publicly available. He encouraged anyone in East Hampton to call the county at 631-852-5810 for a free test of their water. *** The Town of Riverhead issued a stop-work order last week to the developer of the Summerwind Farms subdivision on Peconic Bay Boulevard, after clearing and site-preparation work took place without permits. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the stop-work order, dated Aug. 11 and posted at the project site, indicates violations of Riverhead Town Code sections 217-10 and 217-11. A handwritten notation on the order, signed by Riverhead Building Inspector Robert Muller, states: “Subdivision does not have final approval. No land clearing permit.” That finding tracks a condition imposed by the Planning Board when it granted preliminary plat approval for the Summerwind Farms major...

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  The Long Island Daily

  Suffolk County finalizes five-year multi-million dollar deal with Flock

  Aug 18, 202610 min

  Old traffic tickets and other violations — including those issued decades ago and out of state — are haunting some New Yorkers’ ability to renew their driver’s licenses. The ghosts are in the form of unpaid tickets apparently dug up by a recent computer system upgrade by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Matthew Chayes reports in NEWSDAY that it’s a reckoning for New York drivers that began elsewhere in recent years to drivers in other states, including Massachusetts, Illinois and New Jersey, when those jurisdictions got new systems that were able to tap into old records, including those from out of state. “The new drive system that we have in New York State DMV is bringing in information from other states,” the county clerk of Syracuse-area Madison County, Michael Keville, posted on a Facebook video to warn motorists. Keville, who like some other upstate county clerks acts as an agent for the DMV, recalled having a resident come in to get a replacement license, only to be denied by the computer system because of what Keville later learned was an outstanding ticket from 1989. DMV spokesman Walter McClure said the system is the National Driver Register, run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency also runs the Problem Driver Pointer System. All states participate, and the registry also includes those with revoked licenses. “Any outstanding violation from out of state must be handled by an individual with that state before we can proceed with a renewal,” McClure told NEWSDAY. AAA Northeast spokesman Robert Sinclair Jr. said the upgrade happened earlier this year, part of a points-system upgrade, “making certain tickets have higher points.” Sinclair said the computer system gets fed information from across the nation. So what happened, say, in Vegas, is less likely to stay in Vegas. “Pay your tickets,” Sinclair said. “If you get a ticket, you better take care of it. You know, there’s no escape. And folks get these violations, they have to be attended to.” “There are reciprocal agreements with New York State,” he said. “With the update of the computer system, they’re able to go back,” he said. A driver can complete form NDR-1 for more information. *** Suffolk County quietly finalized a five-year, nearly $4 million deal for new gunshot detectors with controversial surveillance network Flock Safety — and AI-powered cameras could be next . Brandon Cruz reports in THE NY POST that Flock Safety’s technology will replace the ShotSpotter system, which Suffolk County has used for more than a decade to detect gunshots and notify first responders. The new devices from Flock Safety — the same company behind the AI-powered license plate readers that can track a car’s every move based on dents, bumper stickers and roof racks — are expected to be fully installed, covering 23.5 square miles in Suffolk, by Sept. 6, the officials said. The switch from ShotSpotter will save the county about $800,000 per-year, according to Jed Painter, general counsel of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, who led the contract negotiations. The contract does not include any AI-powered Flock cameras, which critics have called a “Big Brother”-style surveillance system for local governments and have raised Fourth Amendment concerns nationwide But that may change in the near future, according to Painter. “We did not negotiate anything with Automated License Plate Readers or cameras… yet,” said Painter. Painter said he finds Flock’s tech “appealing,” and was adamant that more of the company’s devices and additional gunshot detectors could be on their way to the county. This includes not only floating the idea of installing the controversial cameras around the county, but also potentially upgrading to Flock’s “Raven” system. The “Raven” system can not only detect gunshots, but also listens for and reports car crashes, and even loud community disruptions, according to Painter. The county doesn’t currently operate any of the cameras itself — but multiple towns, villages, and even private housing communities around Long Island have formed their own contracts with Flock Safety to install the eyes in the sky. The new contract will allow law enforcement to cross-reference any potential gunshot detection in Suffolk County with any local municipality’s or private community’s own Flock cameras to track vehicles that were in the area when a shot is detected. The deal was quietly approved back in April with a 3-0 vote from Suffolk County’s RFP {Request for Proposal} Waiver Committee, with the gunshot detectors beginning to be installed earlier this month. *** A Riverhead woman was arrested Sunday morning after police said she drove at high speed toward the Polish Festival, maneuvered around police vehicles and traffic-control devices blocking the roadway and struck a marked police vehicle. Blanca Jimenez-Tapia, 34, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and multiple state Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, Riverhead Town Police said. Jimenez-Tapia was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Police said she was released on an appearance ticket for a future court date. No pedestrians or festivalgoers were injured, but police said an officer was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, treated and released. Polish Town Civic Association president Tomasz Andzejewski told NEWSDAY that he was assured by police the festival was not targeted. He also expressed gratitude for the quick action by officers to stop the driver and avert a potential tragedy. "It was just an unfortunate accident that happened near the fair," Andzejewski said. "But, thanks to Riverhead’s finest everybody was safe, secure and that was no major damage or injuries. It could have ended up really, really bad … We’re very, very grateful for that and what our police officers do.” Riverhead Town Police ask anyone with information regarding the incident to call them at 631-727-4500. *** An army of politically connected lobbying, consulting, legal and construction firms are pushing a plan to build a sprawling $3.26 billion power-line project from Long Island to Westchester. The list of those working within the realm of influence on the Propel NY Energy project include a politically connected Long Island law firm whose partner advises the Hochul administration and an influential Albany law firm. No one's accusing the developers or the state of any improprieties, but opponents say the air of inevitability of a project whose primary purpose has changed lends credence to the notion that higher forces are at work pulling for it. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that Propel, being developed by the New York Power Authority and utility consortium New York Transco, this summer awarded pre-construction contracts for a project that will bring a series of high-voltage power lines and substations from western Suffolk and across Nassau to Queens, the Bronx and Westchester. Transco is owned by subsidiaries of investor-owned utilities including National Grid and Con Edison. NYPA and Transco are filing construction plans in preparation for a late 2026 start of construction, even before the project has received two critical federal permits and a final certificate from the state. While Hochul has called Propel a “critical infrastructure” project, North Shore residents who oppose its convergence point through their Long Island community have complained about potential health, economic and environmental concerns over the five-year construction period. The project, initially developed in response to a need to transmit upwards of 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind from offshore Long Island to the upstate region, has since morphed into a “power agnostic” line that proponents say will help energy reliability and address future power constraints facing the downstate region. When Propel NY Energy was first awarded in 2023, offshore wind was touted to replace aging natural gas-powered plants to become the baseload power source for Long Island and, with the proper extension, much of the state. Long Island alone was expected to see up to 2,400 megawatts of wind coming its way, and proponents cheered the project on. Lobbying by Transco hasn’t slowed even as the project prepares to launch construction. In the first six months of 2026, New York Transco has spent $327,498 to pay six separate lobbying firms to advocate for Propel, among other lobbying initiatives, according to state records. Among those lobbied this year: six staffers at the state Department of Public Service, the governor’s office, the Nassau County executive’s office and the mayor of Roslyn, according to the records. *** The Town of Southold’s draft update of its Community Preservation Fund Project Plan will soon be sent out for review to other stakeholders, but it does not yet include a component long wished for by lawmakers in Greenport — a plan to guide funding for water quality improvement projects. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Community Preservation Fund — which began as a land preservation program in each of the five East End towns in 1999, received approval from voters in 2016 to expand to include water quality projects. But Southold Town has not yet created a Project Plan for water quality projects — which is necessary before it can spend the money — and has not updated its overall Project Plan since 2016, despite the fact that state law requires town project plans to be...

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  The Long Island Daily

  Public opposition to year-round beach parking permit in Southampton prevents passage of proposal

  Aug 17, 202610 min

  Some Long Islanders believe this could be the worst tick season ever but experts say it's not easy to judge. The dominance of the lone star tick, an aggressive biter, on Long Island may be a factor, along with ticks that survived the winter under a bed of snow and the emergence of some rare tick-borne diseases in local residents. Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that experts keep track of the kind of ticks on Long Island and the bacteria or viruses they carry that can cause disease, but not the overall population. Asked if this has been the worst year ever for ticks on Long Island, Suffolk County's chief entomologist wouldn't bite. "Tick populations fluctuate year to year and are dependent on many factors including weather, hosts and breeding success," Scott Campbell, head of the Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory for the Suffolk Health department, told Newsday. Campbell and his colleagues collect ticks at several locations in Suffolk County by dragging a flannel cloth across the grass. Ticks cling to the cloth and are later brought to a lab. This tick surveillance in Suffolk and Nassau counties is focused on finding out which species are here and determining if they carry bacteria or viruses that can cause illness in people. It is not trying to figure out how many ticks are on Long Island in a given year. The NYS Health Department publishes density data on infected blacklegged ticks, which carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease and other illnesses, collected at various locations. The data for Long Island varies over the past 13 years. Using the density data and previous tick infection rates, the state also assigns a "tick risk score" from 0-5 for each region every year. Long Island currently has a score of 3.31 — the highest in New York. *** Brief chants of “Vote! Vote! Vote!” broke out at Southampton Village Hall this past Thursday night before the Village Board decided to take a vote immediately after the public hearing was closed, in a break from the usual practice. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that those chanting, who were in attendance to speak against a proposed local law regarding village beach parking stickers, got what they wanted. The board unanimously voted against adopting a local law that would have implemented a year-round parking permit to park at Southampton Village beach access roads. The current system, in which passes are effective from May 15 through September 15 and no permits are required in the offseason, will remain in place. Mayor Bill Manger declared at the start of the public hearing that the idea to implement a year-round pass would be scrapped due to the high volume of opposition to the proposal expressed in the written correspondence the board received ahead of the public hearing. He explained that the proposal was made in response to vehicles driven by contractors and other workers using beach parking during the summer and offseason, often leaving few to no spots for village residents and those from outside the village to park at beaches. “The idea was, how can we prevent the lots from being completely filled up with contractor vehicles?” he said. “Obviously, in retrospect now, I understand that trying to have a year-round permit was not the answer.” Southampton Town Trustee Sara Topping, joined by Trustee Joe McLoughlin and Trustee President Jimmy Mack, encouraged the board to have further discussions about permit parking but wait until the offseason to do so. “New parking regulations on the village letter roads will create additional questions and requests for our staff at a time when they are already managing peak seasonal operations,” she said. “Waiting would allow time for a smoother transition and continued collaboration between the village and the trustees and the public.” *** Marders in Bridgehampton will host a Birds of Prey program featuring rescued birds from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center this coming Saturday afternoon, August 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. The family-friendly event will give visitors an opportunity to see the birds up close while learning about their behaviors, habitats and adaptations, as well as their role in the local ecosystem. Representatives from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center will introduce the birds and discuss the organization’s work rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife on the East End. This coming Saturday's Birds of Prey event at Marders in Bridgehampton begins at 1 p.m. And is open to people of all ages...highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife and preserving natural habitats. For additional information, contact Marders, 631-537-3700. *** A new lawsuit is asking a State Supreme Court judge to invalidate another part of Riverhead’s cannabis zoning code, less than two weeks after an appeals court ruled the Town of Riverhead’s 1,000-foot setback from schools is preempted by state law. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the new lawsuit, filed Aug. 5 by 1086 OCR LLC, Brian Stark Enterprises LLC and Brian Stark, directly challenges a Riverhead Town Code provision requiring at least 2,500 feet between cannabis retail dispensaries. State regulations generally require 1,000 feet between retail dispensaries in municipalities the size of Riverhead. The same plaintiffs successfully challenged the town’s school setback in litigation decided last year by NYS Supreme Court Justice Paul Hensley and affirmed July 29 by the Appellate Division, Second Department. Their attorney, Martha Reichert of the Riverhead law firm Twomey Latham, is again arguing that state cannabis law preempts a local restriction that interferes with rights granted under New York’s cannabis licensing system. The new case centers on competing state-approved dispensary locations at 1086 Old Country Road and 840 Old Country Road. The two sites are about 1,845 feet apart, according to a map filed with the lawsuit. Brian Stark Enterprises holds a state adult-use retail dispensary license for the 1086 Old Country Road location. Large Leaf 618 LLC has state approval for a dispensary at 840 Old Country Road. The lawsuit names the Town of Riverhead, the Town Board, the town Planning Department and several town officials as defendants. It also names as defendants Large Leaf 618 LLC, Keshav 840 LLC, Peter Moutafis, Moutafis Motors Ltd., the state Office of Cannabis Management and the Cannabis Control Board. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the 2,500-foot spacing requirement is preempted to the extent it interferes with state-approved cannabis locations and the state’s dispensary proximity rules. It also seeks an order requiring Riverhead to process the applications for 1086 Old Country Road and make a final, reviewable determination. The Town of Riverhead and the other defendants have not yet answered the allegations. The case is pending in NYS Supreme Court in Suffolk County. *** Fifteen people face charges and seven cars were impounded after an early-morning street takeover in Medford this weekend, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. By monitoring social media, the police department’s Street Takeover Task Force learned of a planned takeover Friday night and tracked the participants to Woodside Avenue and Sawgrass Drive shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday. The cars were "driving recklessly, performing stunts in the roadway, and doing donuts and burnouts," according to a police department news release. Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that the 15 people arrested were from a range of Long Island communities, as well Manhattan and Queens. They were charged with participation in an unlawful speed contest and spectating at an unlawful speed contest. Traffic tickets also were issued. Illegal racing meetups sometimes involve dozens or even hundreds of cars and other vehicles, blocking roads and creating a hazard for other drivers. Suffolk police created the Street Takeover Task Force in November 2024, after a street race resulted in a crash. The county legislature also passed a law the following month allowing participants and spectators to be charged. Since then, the task force has made more than 100 arrests and impounded more than 150 vehicles. The task force interrupted several takeovers earlier this summer. The 15 people arrested Saturday were released on appearance tickets in First District Court in Central Islip at later dates. *** The Cutchogue Civic Association holds its annual Summer Social tomorrow at 6 p.m. at McCall Vineyards. All are Welcome Light Bites Will Be Provided Wine and beverages available for purchase Tuesday evening’s event is free. The Cutchogue Civic Association is a not-for-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to inform and educate residents about issues of community interest or concern. The association provides a neutral forum that promotes discussion, collaboration and the expression of diverse ideas. You are invited to join them tomorrow at 6 p.m. at McCall Vineyards, 22600 Main Road, Cutchogue, New York 11935 Further info available online here . *** The State of New York is way behind when it comes to screening infants and toddlers, often a crucial first step in determining if they have a disability or developmental delay. Only four states — Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Nevada — do worse. Sarah Carr reports in THE NY TIMES that in New York, about 28 percent of parents of young children report having filled out a...

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  The Long Island Daily

  "Supermodel Cafe" in East Quogue receives stop-work order

  Aug 14, 202610 min

  Qualified New Yorkers can expect to receive a utility rebate check for up to $200 in the mail starting in September ahead of the November elections. Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the one-time $1 billion tax rebate program — known as the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate program — was included in the state’s $277 billion budget for 2026-27, which was approved in May along with changes to how utility rates are set to help lower costs for consumers as state lawmakers look to make New York more affordable. "The bills are just getting higher and higher, and it is so discouraging for our families," Gov. Kathy Hochul said on May 7, when she announced a "general agreement" on the budget. "That's why we're sending one-time $1 billion out there in energy rebate checks to New Yorkers with this budget that'll help, at least in some way, offset the rising cost of keeping the lights on and the heat running in the wintertime." The rebate checks, which are expected to help 8.2 million taxpayers, are based on residents’ 2024 returns and are expected to be mailed between September and December, according to the governor's office. Qualified married joint filers or surviving spouse filers with incomes up to $150,000 will receive a $200 check under the program, while those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive $150. Single filers earning up to $150,000 will receive a $100 check. The rebate comes as energy costs rise for a variety of reasons, among them the U.S. war with Iran, supply chain disruptions, the expense of replacing aging infrastructure and increased demand. Checks will start being mailed out ahead of November, when the governor’s seat and all 213 seats in the State Legislature are up for election. Public policy experts say it’s common for lawmakers in Albany to send out checks in an election year. "For families that are struggling to pay their bills, getting a little infusion of cash I'm sure is welcome," said Blair Horner, senior policy adviser with the New York Public Interest Research Group. "Politically of course, elected officials like to shower voters with gifts before an election cycle and that's why legislative sessions tend to be filled with goodies no matter what the financial situation is of the state in an election year." And it could politically benefit incumbent lawmakers regardless of party, Horner told Newsday. "It really is an incumbency protection move more than anything depending on when they get it. Obviously it doesn't have the same political benefit if it comes out in December." *** The settlement approved by the Southampton Town Board with Discovery Land Company over The Hills development in East Quogue last month was reviewed this week as the board weighed giving legislative approval to two key components of the settlement. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that residents who had at times bitterly disagreed with one another for years came to Town Hall this past Tuesday night to say that in many cases they still do not agree but accept that the Town of Southampton and their hamlet must mend the rift and take what positives they can out of the settlement. With construction of The Hills project well underway — the golf course and about 22 of the 110 homes are completed, and another 25 are under construction — residents said that their focus should now be turned to ensuring that as much as possible of the $11.5 million Discovery will pay Southampton Town as part of the settlement is directed to the betterment of East Quogue. “Finally, with this settlement we see a light at the end of a tunnel,” Cathy Zembetti, the chairwoman of the East Quogue Citizens Advisory Committee said. “No settlement is perfect, but I think this is a step in the right direction and proves The Hills is willing to work with the community.” The Town Board on Tuesday held public hearings on two local laws that would officially bring an end to the town’s review of The Hills project. One approves the golf course and development by granting the property a special zoning designation that allows for the operation of a commercial golf course — giving Discovery the ability to sell 177 more memberships to the golf club, beyond those held by owners of the 118 residences within the development. The other component abandons the northerly portion of Spinney Road, which cuts through The Hills property and the golf course itself, in exchange for a public easement in perpetuity that will allow town residents to pass through the development to access hiking and biking trails to the north. In exchange, Discovery will purchase a narrow strip of town-owned land that cuts through the property for $10 million, and will give the town an additional $1.5 million in cash as a “public benefit,” and give the town title to a 32-acre parcel of undeveloped land it owns on Montauk Highway. The giant resort development company will also improve and maintain several miles of town trails along Spinney Road and surrounding town lands to the east of The Hills property in perpetuity and create a new parking area for those accessing the trails. The settlement will dispense with three separate pending lawsuits, two brought by Discovery against the Town of Southampton, in 2020 and 2025. Board members, who unanimously approved the settlement proposal last month, were clearly set on the approval of the two related legislative changes. *** Earlier this week U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota, announced that he’d secured $158,000 in federal grant funding for the Quogue Village Police Department for vehicle acquisitions through the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. “We are grateful to Congressman LaLota for his hard work and for securing this funding for the Quogue Police Department and the community we serve,” Quogue Village Police Chief Chris Isola said. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the money has been earmarked to cover the purchase of two new, fully equipped hybrid patrol cars. Chief Isola explained that while the hybrid vehicles are more expensive, they represent a 30-percent savings in fuel, and also work better and more seamlessly with all the electronic equipment inside the cars. Marked patrol cars typically remain on the road for between two and three years, Isola said, before the department has to replace them. Once they’re taken out of service as marked patrol cars, they remain with the force and are used as unmarked vehicles. The department typically gets about a decade out of each car. The Quogue Village Police chief said he doesn’t have a specific timeline on when the new vehicles will arrive, because it depends on when the manufacturer is able to deliver them, but he said residents can rest assured that they’re coming, and he’s glad it’s federal money well spent that residents will actually see. *** Hours after its launch yesterday, Supermodel Café by Bethenny Frankel was issued a stop-work order by the Town of Southampton. Melissa Azofeifa reports in NEWSDAY that the stop-work order posted on the window at 481 Montauk Hwy. in East Quogue has three boxes checked off, which state that the operator has failed to comply with the provisions of New York State Building Code, failed to comply with the provisions of Southampton Town Zoning Ordinance chapter 330, and that a dangerous and unsafe condition exists. The notice was signed by Southampton Town's Department of Land Management and the Building and Zoning Division’s Senior Building Inspector Michael Chih. In an e-mailed statement to NEWSDAY, a representative for Bethenny Frankel wrote, “Today’s Supermodel Café launch drew an extraordinary turnout, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the community. The café received a yellow notice labeled ‘Warning Stop Work Order’ following concerns surrounding the unusually high volume of launch-day attendees…The team is working cooperatively with local officials and taking the appropriate steps to address those concerns. The notice does not require the café to close, and there is no anticipated disruption to business. The café will operate during its regular daily hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.” Southampton Town Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy said, "We’re also going to be issuing some violations and/or summonses from the Fire Marshal's office as well for sidewalk obstructions and unpermitted signage too,” adding that "notices were already given and they failed to take corrective action.” Murphy confirmed the notices were given before the opening of the cafe in East Quogue. Hundreds of fans lined up early Thursday morning outside the eatery, building excitement for the opening, some traveling all the way from Nassau County. Frankel said it took one month from concept to execution of the cafe, named after a play on one of her popular Instagram video series in which she taste tests "supermodel snacks," or simple-to-make, low-calorie dishes. *** Trump is coming back to Long Island. Alex Mitchell reports in THE NY POST that President Donald J. Trump will join Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman today on a tour of Nassau County’s “state of the art” police facility to “pay tribute” to the area’s first responders. Trump also plans to release 2025 FBI stats that will show the largest ever year-to-year drop in violent crime while in Nassau County, the Daily Caller reported. The POTUS will be joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, who grew up in Garden City, newly sworn-in Attorney General Todd Blanche, in addition to Blakeman, according to the outlet.“I am grateful that President Trump is coming to Nassau County,” Blakeman, who is currently county...

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  LaLota and Romaine discuss new air traffic control tower being financed from federal government

  Aug 13, 202610 min

  U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gathered with local officials at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton yesterday to discuss the construction of a new air traffic control tower that is being financed, in part, by funds from the federal government. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the new tower will be 146 feet tall, slightly more than double the height of the existing tower, which stands at 70 feet. The new tower will also be closer to the runway than the current tower. Romaine noted that the existing tower, which has stood since the 1940s, no longer meets Federal Aviation Administration safety requirements, which was one of the main motivating factors in the push for a new tower. “The one thing that you want when you run an airport is safety first, always,” Romaine said. “So we’ll be building a new tower right over there, and that tower will be 146 feet tall and eight stories. It will provide greater visibility and it will make sure that the tower can control aircraft on this airport and prevent any unnecessary accidents from happening.” Romaine also noted that during the U.S. Open golf tournament that was held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, nearly 2,000 flights came into Gabreski Airport as a result of the tournament, a sign of the increased air traffic the airport has seen in recent years. Replacing the tower will cost $20.3 million, $12.5 million of which is coming from the federal government. Getting federal funding has been in the works for years and got a key boost after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed in 2021, a law that Lee Zeldin, the representative from New York’s 1st congressional district at the time, voted against. LaLota said that securing the funding for the new tower was part of his goal for Long Island residents to “spend less towards Washington and get more from Washington.” Construction is expected to be completed within a year, according to EW Howell Construction Group Executive Chairman Howie Rowland. *** The Southampton Village Board will host a public hearing on a law that would amend a section of the village code regarding permit parking for Southampton Village beaches at its meeting this evening at 6 p.m. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the proposed local law would require parking permits to be posted on vehicles at all times throughout the entire year. Currently, permits are only required from May 15 through September 15. The new permit changes would not impact Coopers Beach, as the law states that it would not apply “unless the parking guard booth at said facility is staffed by an attendant.” The Eastern Long Island chapter of the Surfrider Foundation sent a written statement to the Village Board that was shared with The Southampton Press to express its opposition to the proposal. “These changes, while simple at face value, represent a major departure from what has been tradition, what other local municipalities continue to maintain, and a further restriction of the public’s right to beach access,” the organization wrote. “For these reasons, we hope that in the least the Southampton Village Trustees will consider delaying this proposal until further presentations, hearings, and public comment can be heard, and the public can fully understand and express their opinions on these changes.” A public hearing regarding beach permits will be held this evening at 6 p.m.in Southampton Village Hall. *** This coming Sunday, August 16th at 6 p.m. in Shelter Island Presbyterian Church the Shelter Island Friends of Music present THE WESTERLIES in concert. The Westerlies are a genre-defying brass quartet from Seattle, now based in New York. With two trumpets and two trombones, the group blends classical chamber precision with the freedom of improvisation and the warmth of folk traditions. Their performances are celebrated for creative storytelling, innovative collaborations, and a distinctly American sound. Sunday’s concert is free of charge with donations accepted at the door. It starts at 6 p.m. in Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. Further info available on line at sifriendsofmusic.or g. *** New York State’s generous health plan for working-class people was hit hard by federal funding cuts. More than 400,000 people are now looking for new coverage or living without it statewide. Emma G. Fitzsimmons reports in THE NY TIMES that New York’s Essential Plan, an unusual state program that is almost entirely federally subsidized, was a lifeline for people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but struggle to pay for private insurance. Established in 2015 under the Affordable Care Act, the plan also became popular with immigrants ineligible for Medicaid, and drove down the number of people in New York without health insurance to below 5 percent. Now, health experts are worried that number will rise and that more people will lose access to care. And many New Yorkers are now paying more for insurance at a time when families are already struggling to afford housing and groceries. The plan had become a spigot of billions of federal health care dollars, more than were routed to other states. When President Donald Trump’s domestic policy law was approved last year, it restricted which noncitizens were eligible, reducing the flow of funding. The state then limited eligibility. The earnings threshold for a family of four used to be $82,500; now it is $66,000. Health officials and community groups are rushing to help people find new insurance. Nearly 450,000 people lost coverage on July 1, and about 242,000 have since joined new plans, state officials said. New Yorkers have until the end of August to sign up for coverage through the state’s marketplace. Elisabeth Benjamin, a vice president at the Community Service Society, an antipoverty nonprofit that helps people access health care, said that many of those who lost coverage were freelancers and hourly workers. “Our call volume has doubled,” she said. “People are confused and upset. They’re going without insurance.” The deep cuts to the Essential Plan come as congressional Republicans have reduced federal subsidies for people on A.C.A. plans, and enrollment has dropped. More New Yorkers are expected to lose their insurance in January when new Medicaid rules, including work requirements, take effect. State officials have warned that more than one million people in New York could lose Medicaid coverage in the coming years. Bill Hammond, a health care policy analyst at the Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank, said the Essential Plan was unsustainable under the previous rules. Those losing coverage have incomes between 200 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level, or between $31,900 and $39,900 for a single adult. “I think it’s reasonable to ask people in that range to pay more,” he said. Some state lawmakers had called on Governor Kathy Hochul to provide state funding to prevent people from losing coverage, but it was not included in the state budget deal earlier this year. Keeping those 450,000 people on the plan could have cost more than $2 billion annually, experts said. *** Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski will hold his annual State of the Town address this evening at 7 p.m. at Peconic Landing in Greenport. Topics he’s expecting to highlight in the speech include short-term rentals, the town’s new cell tower code, water conservation, affordable housing, public safety, land preservation, communications and last year’s cyberattack. The public is welcome to attend. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the public is also invited to some free local musical events through the next couple days. This evening, the Town of Southampton’s Good Ground Park concert series in Hampton Bays continues at 7 p.m. with Sweet Ride Long Island - an up-beat cover band of experienced musicians who play a mix of Rock & Roll, Country, Blues and more! Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Park, the Greenport Band performs for free as it regularly does on summer Friday evenings. And this coming Saturday, historic Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead will rock on and on when it hosts Hallockville Hootenanny, a full day, free music festival featuring performances by five talented Long Island bands. From noon to 7 p.m. the picturesque grounds surrounding the farm’s Naugles Barn will come alive with music, local food trucks and vendors, and family-friendly fun. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and celebrate summer on the North Fork at this historic 28-acre preserved family farm homestead. Hallockville Museum Farm is located at 6038 Sound Avenue in Riverhead. *** The Greater Westhampton Historical Museum is celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial with a new exhibition highlighting Westhampton Beach’s role in American history and the community’s patriotic traditions. The exhibition, “Liberty’s Legacy: Westhampton Beach’s 250-Year Salute,” invites visitors to explore American history through local artifacts, historical displays and imagery commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary. Among the highlights are displays tracing the evolution of iconic American symbols, including Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty, alongside photographs and memorabilia documenting Independence Day celebrations and other patriotic events in Westhampton Beach and surrounding communities over the past century. The exhibition is on view at the Greater Westhampton Historical Museum, 101 Mill Road, Westhampton Beach. Admission is...

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