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From left, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (3rd from left) and Legislator Manuel Esteban (center) at the forum. Photo courtesy of Leg. Bontempi's office
John Venza, one of the presenters, speaking to the audience. Photo from Leg. Bontempi’s office

The Northport Public Library recently collaborated with Suffolk. County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.), Suffolk County Legislator Manuel Esteban (R-16th L.D.) and Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta (R-13th L.D.) to facilitate a timely discussion on addiction, mental health and today’s youth.  One of the objectives of the event, entitled “Breaking the Stigma,” was to encourage more frequent and honest dialogues on the topics in both public and private circles.

“The issues of addiction and mental health are too important to ignore or tiptoe around,” said Bontempi.  “These serious issues warrant our full attention, and part of the process leading to that is recognizing that they are simply part of the human condition.  We need to address our issues, not be ashamed of them.

“The night’s presenters included John Venza and Gordon Gooding who spoke respectively about concerns surrounding addiction and the stressors associated with everyday life.  The presentations made it clear that there are no shortage of challenges out there, but there are also many treatment options and preventative tools.

“If you are a parent or caregiver of children, staying up-to-date on the growing body of knowledge and resources in this arena is so important,” added Bontempi.

For those interested in exploring resources regarding addiction and mental health, visit: https://www.scnylegislature.us/171/Stephanie-Bontempi and click on “Behavioral Health Directory.” 

 

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Town of Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro, left, and Councilman Neil Manzella at the intersection of Mooney Pond and Adirondack Drive in Selden. Photo courtesy Losquadro’s office

Town of Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R) and Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) recently announced the completion of a $1.6 million paving project in Selden.

The town resurfaced College Road, from Mooney Pond Road to Horseblock Road, and Mooney Pond Road, from North Ocean Avenue to College Road, during this initiative.

Before paving, crews worked on improving concrete, inspecting and installing new drains and repairing and replacing damaged concrete curbing, sidewalks and aprons. Crews also removed and replaced nearly 6,500 square feet of concrete aprons, almost 11,500 square feet of sidewalk and more than 3,100 linear feet of concrete curb for approximately $450,000. 

Crews replaced over 6,000 square feet of handicap ramps, bringing them into ADA compliance, for roughly $190,000.

“Mooney Pond is a very busy roadway that had greatly deteriorated,” Losquadro said. “Motorists and pedestrians can now enjoy safer sidewalks and roadways.”

Manzella added to this sentiment, noting the continued need for modernized roadway infrastructure.

“I want to thank the highway superintendent for making this project a priority in this year’s paving schedule,” the councilman said, adding, “Infrastructure projects are extremely important to our residents, especially on our highly traveled roadways. We, as a Town Board, should be directing our attention toward financing infrastructure projects such as this one to retain the quality of life for our residents.”

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METRO photo

Government exists to protect life, liberty and property. If we truly believe in these words, these protections must naturally extend to animals.

Municipalities within the TBR News Media coverage area are grappling with the complexities of maintaining their animal shelters. Though often overlooked, shelters fulfill a vital public need, offering a haven to stray and sometimes abused animals, providing medical treatment, limiting the number of stray animals on our streets and acting as a place where animals can be adopted. 

Without animal shelters, myriad strays would roam our streets. They would likely pose numerous public safety and health risks to the public and to themselves while putting considerable stress on budgets.

How we maintain our animal shelters is a reflection of our morality and the value we place on life itself. Our treatment of animals signals how we may treat our fellow man and the extent to which we value life. And both locally and nationally, we can do better.

We acknowledge this is a highly passionate, often controversial, issue among community members — the plight of unhoused animals tears at our heartstrings. 

Given the moral considerations at play, shelter volunteers are critical public servants. Their collective efforts keep our streets safe and unhoused animals sheltered.

A rift can form between the paid managers of municipal shelters — often selected by patronage or union status — and unpaid volunteers. We must endeavor to bridge this divide. 

We remind paid staff and unpaid volunteers that they are on the same team, united by a common cause. Hurling accusations or disparaging the opposite party will do little to advance animal welfare or the public good.

It is also incumbent upon local officials to be more transparent and accountable in their oversight of municipal shelters. These officials are elected to serve the public, and the public deserves answers to these pressing matters. 

If our municipal shelters are underfinanced or understaffed, then elected officials must explain what they are doing to remediate these challenges. And if the elected officials choose not to be accountable, then the public should vote them out of office. We appreciate the few incumbent or prospective officials who offered their perspectives on this matter.

Finally, citizens have a stake in this as well. To relieve the pressures on our local animal shelters, we must strive to increase shelter adoption rates. 

We will not vilify those who purchase a pet from a breeder. However, we ask prospective pet owners to start their search at their local municipal shelter.

Adopting from a shelter won’t just give a needy animal a home. It will lower the financial and operational strain on shelter resources and staff, lower euthanasia rates and save lives.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” It is time for residents and officials alike to heed these words. 

By doing our part to help our municipal shelters, we can contribute to the greatness of our community and nation. To be a just and humane society, we must begin by assessing how we treat animals.

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The Brookhaven Animal Shelter. Photo from Facebook
By Aidan Johnson

Tensions came to a head between the Town of Brookhaven and animal shelter volunteers over the town-operated Horseblock Road animal shelter during the Town Board’s Thursday, July 20, meeting.

Dozens of volunteers and animal rights advocates spoke at the meeting to express concerns over alleged mismanagement at the shelter, with one volunteer describing the conditions inside the shelter as “deplorable.” 

One such speaker, Lillian Lennon, president of RSVP Inc. Animal Welfare & Rescue and former member of the Brookhaven advisory committee of the animal shelter, elaborated on her comments during an interview.

While Lennon is not a volunteer at the shelter, she thinks the volunteers are being penalized.

“We feel that we’re not really being paid attention to, that we’re being kind of dismissed,” she said. 

Lennon added that she also believed past animal shelter directors had been set up for failure. 

“Something’s not right with the powers that be that are not giving these directors the tools that are needed to be successful,” she said. 

In a statement, town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) considered the volunteer accounts presented during the board meeting as “very troubling for two reasons.”

“The most immediate was that I was concerned for the welfare of the animals,” he said. “After that, I realized that the conditions had obviously been existing for some time, and it was disturbing that I hadn’t heard about it.”

Kornreich indicated that senior town officials being unaware of the problems “indicates there were issues in the chain of command,” adding, “We have replaced personnel at multiple key points, and I’m confident now that we’ll be able to address these issues.”

After the public comment portion of the Town Board meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Moran, who is currently co-managing the shelter, spoke on the reform efforts, including reallocating already existing funds for upkeep.

Moran also said that some resources, such as vermin-proof bins, were available but hadn’t been used.

Moran claimed that “a sky is falling mentality” needed to be taken out of the shelter, citing the reaction to the flooding that took place at the animal shelter on July 16.

Lillian Clayman, the Democratic candidate for town supervisor, found the claims made by the volunteers to be concerning.

“It’s clear that when a shelter is unsanitary, it causes conditions that would lead to illness of the animals that should be cared for,” she said.

Clayman also found the response from the interim director to the claims made by the volunteers unacceptable. Her opponent for town supervisor, Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Manorville), did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite the sensitivity of the issue, Kornreich reinforced that the well-being of the animals at the shelter was paramount.

“At the shelter, we care for animals that obviously can’t advocate for themselves,” the councilmember said, adding, “We have a higher moral obligation to ensure the conditions they live in are as good as they can be.”

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Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Alese, left, with Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker. Photo courtesy Anker’s office

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) presented a proclamation to Sgt. Jessica Alese, the 6th Legislative District’s nominee for Women Veterans Appreciation Day on Wednesday, July 26.

“It was an honor today to recognize Sgt. Alese,” Anker said. “Throughout her service, she has demonstrated bravery, leadership and loyalty to her country and her soldiers. Thank you, Sgt. Alese, for your invaluable service, and thank you to our women veterans everywhere.”

Alese joined the Army National Guard in 2009 and is now a Sgt. 1st class. She toured Iraq, was stationed in Guantanamo Bay and took part in Operation Shared Accord to train with the South African National Defense Force. 

Since 2020, she has worked in the Drug Demand Outreach Program to reduce drug abuse and addiction rates among youth and veterans across Long Island. Alese also spends her time mentoring, training and supporting her fellow soldiers. 

For more information, contact Anker’s office at 631-854-1600. 

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U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota. Photo from LaLota’s website

Freshman U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY1) held the third telephone town hall event of his tenure Wednesday, July 26. 

During this event, he addressed the exorbitant utility costs shouldered by Suffolk County residents, opined on rising opioid overdose deaths in the county and around the nation, and condemned the federal government’s handling of immigration.

Utility rates

County residents, on average, pay $226 per month on electricity, 28% higher than the national average, according to EnergySage. Pressed by one caller about how he would help lower energy bills for 1st District residents, LaLota proposed an “all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

“There’s battery, there’s wind, there’s solar,” he said. “I think that we should explore it all, and we should take advantage of everything that is on the table.”

He tied energy development to national security. By promoting homegrown energy sources, LaLota maintained that utility costs would begin to decrease along with American dependence on foreign energy.

“I think that increasing American energy independence will not only increase the supply of energy, it will bring the prices down,” he said. “A correlated benefit of that is we have to buy less oil from Russia, from Venezuela and from the Middle East.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers petroleum “a significant source of emissions of methane” while “drilling for oil may disturb land and marine ecosystems.” Despite these environmental risks, LaLota expressed support for expanding domestic drilling.

“Forty-something billion barrels of proven oil reserves are underneath our feet,” he said. “We can get those resources out of the ground safely. It will help bring energy prices down, both at the pump and what it costs to heat your home.”

SALT deductions

The congressman said he and members of a bipartisan caucus are working to repeal the $10,000 cap on state and local tax, or SALT, deductions created under the 2017 Trump-era Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“We used to be able to, as New Yorkers, deduct an unlimited amount from our federal taxes that we paid into our state and local taxes,” LaLota said. “Right now, it’s capped at $10,000.”

LaLota said he had prepared legislation to increase the maximum federal SALT deduction to $60,000 for individuals and $120,000 for families. He pledged to oppose any tax package proposed by the Republican majority in the U.S. House which does not include “a reasonable accommodation” on SALT.

“I’m going to say ‘No SALT, no deal for real,’” he added. “I’m in it until the end.”

Immigration

LaLota denounced President Joe Biden’s (D) handling of the U.S.-Mexico border and New York City’s “sanctuary city” designation.

He said he supported two recently passed resolutions barring public schools and colleges from housing migrants, legislation that comes on the heels of a proposal to house asylum seekers at Stony Brook University. [See story, “With Hochul’s asylum plans uncertain, policymakers weigh in as county issues emergency order,” June 1, TBR News Media website.]

“I don’t think that we ought to be mixing unvetted migrants with our school-aged children,” LaLota said.

He also suggested that migrants receive disproportionate government assistance to other vulnerable groups. 

“Right now, the homeless shelters in New York have more migrants in them than they have American citizens,” the congressman said. “Veterans, the mentally ill, drug addicts, they’re not getting the government resources they need because they’re being diverted to folks who are not in this country legally or are manipulating the asylum process.”

He added, “I think that needs to change.”

The congressman proposed reinstituting Title 42, a pandemic-era immigration policy allowing swift expulsion of asylum seekers over public health concerns.

“I support increasing funding for [U.S.] Customs and Border Protection, building more physical barriers, investing in technology and vehicles, and hiring more asylum judges,” he said, adding, “But what’s absent is we need leadership from the executive branch.”

Opioid epidemic

The most recent data from the New York State Department of Health indicate overdose deaths and those involving synthetic opioids had “significantly worsened” in Suffolk County between 2019 and 2020 — deaths in 2020 totaling 363, up 88 from the previous year.

Fentanyl “is coming in at ports of entry, it’s coming in between ports of entry,” the congressman said, advocating for beefier border security measures to reduce opioid deaths.

LaLota said the House-passed Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act would sanction Chinese companies “who are putting this poison into our system and killing our young folks,” adding, “We should exercise all other options on this.”

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Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, fourth from right, and Deputy County Executive Peter Scully, sixth from right, present a $2,500 check to the Lightning Warrior Youth Triathlon Team at West Meadow Beach. Photo courtesy of Leg. Hahn’s office

Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), Deputy County Executive Peter Scully and Terry Gilberti, BusPatrol America program manager, recently presented a check for $2,500 to coaches Noah Lam and Celeste Rice and the Lightning Warrior Youth Triathlon Team at West Meadow Beach.

The grant was made possible through the county’s School Bus Safety Program.

In return for the grant funds, the team will help educate residents about the program through school bus safety posters and a banner on their playing fields and messages on the team’s website and through emails.

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Photo courtesy Kathianne Snaden
By Kathianne Snaden

Dear Friends and Neighbors of Port Jefferson,

As I’m writing to you today, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of purpose and determination, the kind that comes from years of being not just a public servant, but a fellow resident, a neighbor and a friend. 

Since I chose to move to Port Jeff almost 20 years ago, this beautiful community has been our shared home. I began my journey of getting involved with a simple, heartfelt desire — to make a positive difference right here, in our own backyard.

From being a trustee and then your deputy mayor, I’ve had the privilege of serving us all, sharing in our joys, our challenges and our victories. It’s been a labor of love, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of the milestones we’ve achieved together.

One of the greatest benefits I have experienced as a public servant is the opportunity to collaborate with numerous individuals and groups within the village. Working together, these efforts resulted in achievements that directly benefit our residents; here’s some of what we’ve accomplished together:

• Built solid connections with our school district because we all believe in providing the best for our children.

• Taken a stand for safety, putting in place new village code to curb dangerous bicycle riding, because every single one of us deserves to feel safe in our neighborhood.

• Successfully lowered the crime rate in our village as reported by SCPD.

• Made strides in convenience, with the new parking lot on Barnum Avenue — the first in 40 years, making our community even more accessible.

• Embraced the future with the launch of Passport — Port Jefferson’s first resident ride share service, because we’ve always been about community and supporting each other.

• Kept our local businesses thriving, collaborating on the Ice Festival during the off-season, because we understand the importance of supporting local merchants.

• Held onto our roots, working with the Architectural Review Committee to ensure new constructions preserve the historic charm of our village, because we all love the unique character of the place we call home.

• Added pocket parks, planting beds, addressed graffiti and littering and added holiday decorations all in an effort to make and keep our village beautiful.

• And most importantly, we’ve stayed responsive, resolving community issues promptly, often within 24 hours, because your concerns are my concerns, too.

Every step of the way, my aim has been to make our beloved Port Jefferson Village even more of a safe, beautiful place that we all are proud to call home.

The recent election didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, and it’s been a humbling and enlightening experience. It’s made me reflect and realize that I could have done a better job of communicating my intentions and plans. But let’s remember, this isn’t an end — it’s a new chapter. 

For those of you who supported me, I can’t thank you enough and for those that didn’t feel they could support me in this election, I thank you as well for providing me with your perspective. Please know that I remain committed to being an advocate for everyone and standing up for our community.

We will continue to learn from our shared experiences, sticking together and serving our community with renewed commitment. 

It’s often said that when one door closes another door opens. With this hopeful message, I’m looking forward to the future and the many different opportunities it will bring for us all.

Thank you for being such an integral part of this journey. I’m excited to see where it takes us next.

With warmth and appreciation,

Kathianne Snaden

The writer served as Village of Port Jefferson trustee from 2019-23, including one term as deputy mayor, 2021-23.

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Scott Martella. File photo

Join Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for a blood drive in honor of Scott Martella on Thursday, Aug. 3  at both the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, and the Suffolk County Fire Academy, 103 East Ave. in Yaphank from 9:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. 

Martella, who was the Communications Director for Suffolk County, was killed in a three-car crash on the Long Island Expressway in Manorville in 2016 at the age of 29. 

“Scott Martella was one of the most dedicated public servants that I have had the pleasure to work with. He touched the lives of countless individuals and this year’s blood drive will help honor his passion for giving back and his commitment to serving others,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone.

To schedule an appointment, call 888-933-2566.

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METRO photo

By Nancy Marr

Our local governments have long supported child care programs, but the high cost of child care and the low incomes of many of the parents who rely on it have made it unsustainable. There is a growing plea for a universal child care system, where every child has access to high quality care.

Ideas about child care have changed dramatically through the years. For many years, women were expected to stay at home and care for their children. By the nineteenth century, many women found they had to work outside their homes to support their families. In 1935, Jane Addams at Hull House, seeing the pressure on widows and other low-income mothers to find outside work, advocated for widows’ and mothers’ pensions to make it possible for single mothers to care for their children at home, but many mothers still had to look for work.

President John F. Kennedy, speaking  to the Intercity Child Care Conference in 1963, said he believed that “we must take further steps to encourage day care programs that will protect our children and provide them with a basis for a full life in later years. Day care programs can not only help women who decide to work outside the home but also serve as a developmental boon to children and help advance social and racial integration.”

Because of its current structure, the American child care system has been divided along class lines, making it difficult for parents to unite and lobby for improved services for all children. The New York State Conference on Child Care Availability, in its report in 2021, described its goal of a universal child care system fully funded to provide care and learning skills for all children. Kathy Hochul, when she was Lieutenant Governor, said to the Conference, “The conversation on child care is changing. No longer is it seen as a woman’s responsibility. It is an essential service for families and their employers.”

Today there is recognition that affordable and high-quality child care is not only vital for working families, it is also essential to the state’s economy; it needs sustained investment to make it a public good that serves all families.

Providing child care is expensive: the average cost of care in Suffolk is $13,000-$18,000 per year depending on the age of the child, with infant and toddler care being the most expensive. Government subsidies for low-income families are insufficient. Fewer than 10% of eligible parents are currently receiving subsidies in New York State. Staff salaries, typically $15/hour in Suffolk, are inadequate for workforce retention, causing high turnover and difficulty filling positions with qualified candidates.  

According to Mary Cain, Executive Director for Stony Brook Child Care Services, Inc., “Hiring qualified early childhood teaching staff has always been very challenging especially after the pandemic. Now although New York State is investing in and supporting families in need of child care, SBCC has had to reduce enrollment, creating a longer wait time for families needing to enroll their children. In addition, we have had to reduce our operating hours, which also limits families’ access to much needed child care.

Jennifer Rojas, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, stated: “Child care is so important for working families, yet the child care system is in a crisis, making it harder to recruit and retain staff. Without a significant change in how we as a state and county support the child care system, it will continue to get harder for Suffolk County families to find appropriate child care. We need sustainable and meaningful investments that will make child care affordable for all families and ensure that the child care workforce is appropriately compensated and supported.” 

Read more in the New York State Special Task Force report “Supporting Families, Employers & New York’s Future: An Action Plan for a Strong and Equitable Child Care System” at https://ocfs.ny.gov/reports/childcare/Child-Care-Availability-Task-Force-Report.pdf  

Contact your NYS Senator and Assemblyman to thank them for their support for funding but let them know that more is needed to restore full staffing and deliver quality care.  

Nancy Marr is Vice-President of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860.

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