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Suffolk County Government

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Pictured with Legislator Rob Trotta (right) are Rick and Carolyn Caruso of St. James who donated many coats, hats, scarves and blankets.

For several years, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta has been working with Smithtown based SMM Advertising and the Retired Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP) to conduct a winter coat drive to benefit the residents of Suffolk County who are in need of warm winter clothing.

Sue Harrison donated numerous hand knitted hats for the winter outerwear drive.

“The response was phenomenal. We received numerous donations from so many residents, as well as the Kings Park High School, Fort Salonga Elementary School, St. Catherine’s of Siena, and the Utility Workers Union of America,” said Legislator Trotta. “A special thank you to Paul who wants to remain anonymous who gave us 25 brand new coats. In addition, for the second year in a row, Sue Harrison knitted hats for the children and adults,” added Trotta.

Maryflorence Brennan, Executive Director of RSVP said, “The Friends of the Retired and Senior Volunteer program is overwhelmed by the response of our RSVP volunteers and our community members to take this opportunity to care for our community. The number of blankets and coats that they provided was incredible and so often the donation came with a willingness to continue to help. We are grateful to be working with Legislator Trotta and SMM Advertising.”

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Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone speaks during a press event. Photo from Bellone’s Flickr page

As the new year progresses, the Suffolk County government is facing a plethora of changes, with the biggest arguably being the transition of county executive from Steve Bellone (D) to Ed Romaine (R).

Romaine, who served as the Town of Brookhaven supervisor for over 10 years after winning a special election in 2012, won the race for county executive over Dave Calone (D) with 57% of the vote. The former town supervisor was sworn into office on New Year’s Day, marking the first time a Republican will serve as Suffolk County executive in 20 years.

Steve Bellone served as county Executive from 2012 to 2023. Due to being term limited, Bellone could not seek reelection this year. [See “Bellone signs bill to strengthen term limits in Suffolk County,” TBR News Media website, July 14, 2022.]

During his farewell speech Dec. 21, Bellone thanked members of his staff and administration and recounted various achievements, including the handling of superstorms, confronting corruption in the county’s law enforcement and more.

“When we came into office, we faced the greatest financial crisis in history, more than $500 million accumulated deficit,” Bellone said during his speech. “And after years of making the difficult but necessary choices, we will leave office with this county in the best financial condition in its history, with more than $1 billion in reserves,” he said, thanking the budget office.

Bellone discussed his administration’s handling of Suffolk County’s water quality crisis, saying, “With an amazing water quality team, we created innovative programs, brought stakeholders together and developed an advanced blueprint for solving the water quality crisis over the next generation,” while giving special thanks to Deputy Suffolk County Executive Peter Scully and Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning Commissioner Sarah Lansdale. 

Bellone was not immune from criticism on both sides of the aisle. Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chairman and Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer was critical of Bellone throughout his tenure as executive.

“As the curtain falls on Bellone’s 12-year term, Suffolk County is left grappling with the consequences of a legacy marked by broken promises, ineffective leadership and a failure to address critical issues facing Suffolk County,” Schaffer said in a statement.

“The time for accountability and a reevaluation of priorities in Suffolk County’s leadership is long overdue,” he added. Additionally, Schaffer is hopeful that Romaine will meet the county’s priorities and needs “based on his past experience and accomplishments.”

Not everyone shared Schaffer’s sentiments. Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai), who on Dec. 31 completed her final term as the county’s legislator for District 6, reflected on Bellone’s time as executive, saying that working with Bellone had “been incredibly productive for the residents here in Suffolk County.”

One major issue on which Anker praised Bellone’s leadership was the opioid crisis. Suffolk was the first county in New York to sue opioid manufacturers and distributors, which resulted in settlements that will have the county receiving around $200 million over two decades to help address the ongoing crisis.

“That was Steve’s leadership in providing direction and in a positive way trying to get through this incredibly challenging time of this addiction epidemic,” Anker said.

Bellone has yet to announce any future plans in his political career.

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By Gavin Scarlatos

After 12 years of service, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) is stepping down due to term limits. Anker entered office in 2012 with an objective to improve the lives of Suffolk County residents. Throughout her tenure, she tackled a wide range of issues, focusing on public safety, infrastructure, protecting the environment and community well-being. 

Suffolk County 6th District Legislator Sarah Anker with her children Josh, Erica and Rachel with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Photo courtesy Office of Leg. Sarah Anker

Anker represented the 6th Legislative District spanning over much of the northeast portion of the Town of Brookhaven, including the hamlets of Miller Place, Sound Beach, Shoreham, Rocky Point and parts of Mount Sinai, Ridge, Middle Island, Coram and Wading River. Her work within her district exemplifies how she prided herself on providing a voice for her constituents to be heard. 

“I hope that folks appreciate not so much what I’ve been able to accomplish, but what they have been able to accomplish working with me and working with my colleagues,” Anker said. 

Throughout her career in public service Anker has tackled issues from environmental preservation to fighting the opioid epidemic, all the while looking to decrease government spending and placing emphasis on the overall quality of life for Suffolk County residents. 

“Many of my legislative initiatives have focused on public safety, from addressing our dangerous roads to going after drug dealers who have contributed to the opioid epidemic,” Anker said. 

One of her most notable achievements in tackling public safety concerns was developing the North Shore Rail Trail, providing pedestrians and bicyclists a safer outlet where they can avoid traffic while also giving the community a place to connect to the environment. 

“I spearheaded the North Shore Rail Trail, a 10-mile recreation path from Mount Sinai to Wading River, that provides a safer alternative for walking, jogging, running and biking,” she said. “The path links the communities together and provides economic support for local businesses.” 

Much of Anker’s work centered around the quality of life for her district’s residents and throughout her career she has proved to be a proponent for improving road safety.

 “Road safety has always been one of my top priorities,” Anker said. “The number one complaint in my office throughout the years has been potholes, not surprisingly. With both NYS Route 25 and NYS Route 25A going through my district, I continued to advocate to all levels of government to fix and repair our dangerous roads.” 

In her mission to enhance local roads and address traffic incidents, Anker worked with authorities to increase the number of patrolling traffic safety officials and to implement and improve existing traffic signage.

Legislator Sarah Anker alongside Neighborhood Watch committee. Photo courtesy Office of Legislator Sarah Anker

“I’ve been successful with adding additional lights and signage including a red light at Ridge Road, increasing the number of crossing guards near schools and producing the School Traffic Zone Safety Report to identify problem traffic areas,” she added.

Before serving in the Legislature, Anker had been energy director for the Town of Brookhaven, where she developed solar programs and promoted clean energy and green homes technologies. She had also served on the Mount Sinai school board, raising three children in the district.  Anker took it upon herself to find solutions to the problems afflicting her community, utilizing the care and problem-solving skills that come with being a working mother. 

“I became involved in the political space — this is going back to the 1980s — because I noticed that there were some water quality issues,” Anker said. “I became aware of environmental issues within the area and while raising my three children, I was concerned about their exposure to environmental contaminants.” 

After Anker’s grandmother lost her battle to breast cancer, the granddaughter founded the not-for-profit Community Health and Environment Coalition and led the organization to raise awareness about how our environment directly impacts our health. 

After years of being a community leader and getting results, Anker decided to run for Suffolk County legislator in 2011 with the goal in mind to better help people and lead important initiatives. As a legislator, Anker often prioritized people over politics. 

“It’s something to be proud of — Heritage Park [in Mount Sinai], the North Shore Rail Trail, traffic improvement and public safety,” she said. “Makes me think of all the neighborhood watches that we created in Rocky Point, Miller Place and Sound Beach. And the acquisition of open space, the cleaning up of the water, the farmland preservation. We did a lot.” 

Looking ahead while out of office, Anker hopes to continue helping people and working with the community to resolve problems. She has taken a position at the Board of Elections where she will use the skills she acquired running successful campaigns to ensure a fair and just voting process. 

Anker will also be completing projects outside the realm of politics. She plans to follow up her previous award-winning publications with her third children’s book, this one, focused around overcoming adversity and appreciating the environment. 

Though Anker’s years of public service as a legislator have come to an end, she has left an indelible mark on the community and plans to continue finding solutions to the issues affecting those around her by bringing people together. 

After 12 years of serving the community as county legislator, Anker advocates for more residents to get involved in their local government. 

“When you help people, you really feel the good that you’re doing,” Anker said. “This type of feeling just passes on to the next person and hopefully it continues. If everybody could do this, the world would be a much better place.”

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Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine and family at his inauguration ceremony at Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School on Jan. 1. Photos courtesy Ed Romaine’s Office

After 12 years, Suffolk County will see a new face in the executive seat, Ed Romaine, a Republican, the first for his party in two decades. He replaces term-limited Steve Bellone (D).

Romaine was sworn in Jan. 1 at Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School, joined by family and fellow county officials. As well as state officials, also in attendance was U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who proclaimed the day as “great” for Suffolk County.

Before the podium stood the new county executive as he delivered a speech detailing his thoughts on the upcoming term. 

“As I take this job, I know there will be more problems than solutions, more to be done than what has been done, more quest than conquest,” Romaine said. “Each [new] generation stands on the shoulders of those who have come before us, as I do. So our path must be based on the experiences of past administrations, while being willing to find our own path and reinvent county government.” 

Prior to assuming his new post, Romaine stood as the Town of Brookhaven supervisor since 2012, where he advocated for environmental and quality of life issues while maintaining a focus on strengthening Brookhaven’s finances, a focal point to be continued in his new role. Romaine served as a Suffolk County legislator from 1986-89, before becoming county clerk from 1990 through 2005. 

“One of my top priorities will be strengthening county finances and making our budget structurally balanced,” Romaine said. 

In his inaugural speech, Romaine spoke to key issues at the forefront of his campaign. Placing special emphasis on cybersecurity, improving child protective services, cleaning off surface and groundwaters, securing funding for sewage and alternative denitrification systems, and preserving open space and farmland to prevent overdevelopment.

“This administration will be rooted in the values and traditions of hard work, personal initiative and accountability so we can build a future that is safe and more affordable, and provides hope and opportunity to our citizens,” Romaine said. “As we cast new eyes on old problems, I will seek to reorganize our county government to consolidate services wherever we can to improve efficiency, and to make this government far more cost effective than it has been.”

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Suffolk County officials present a check to the staff at the Long Island Game Farm on December 15. Photo by Lori and Steve Biegler
Chela Novak and Steve Bellone at the check presentation. Photo by Lori and Steve Biegler

The Long Island Game Farm in Manorville was awarded a $568,000 grant from Suffolk County in December as part of the JumpSMART Small Business Downtown Investment Program, which provides funding to support downtown growth and to help local businesses and institutions to remain economically competitive. 

“I am sincerely grateful for the generous support from Suffolk County and JumpSMART program awarded to the Long Island Game Farm,” shares Melinda Novak, president of the game farm. “This grant will enable us to renovate our amphitheater and develop a universal access trail, which has been a long-time dream for us to be able to share with all members of our community. This expansion coincides with the efforts of our new nonprofit arm, the Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability, as it develops programs in the cultural, educational, and wellness categories. Knowing Suffolk County believes in us gives us great hope for our future aspirations as the Long Island Game Farm continues to grow.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Legislator James Mazzarella, Legislator Nick Caracappa, and Legislator minority leader Jason Richberg visited the game farm on December 15 to present the check to Novak, Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability Tricia Snyder, game farm staff, and even two of the resident goats. Many of those in attendance agreed that the game farm is an iconic piece of Long Island’s history, dating back to 1970, and have fond memories of visiting in their childhood. For more information, visit longislandgamefarm.com or call 631-878-6644. 

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Photo from Albany Drugged Driving Rally

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney continued his two-day rally in Albany today calling on lawmakers, with the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York (DAASNY), to pass a bill that would close the loopholes in the drugged driving law that make it unworkable. Current law does not allow an individual to be arrested and prosecuted for operating a vehicle while obviously impaired by any substance that is not listed in Section 3306 of the Public Health Law. Senate Bill S.3135 and Assembly Bill A.174, also known as the “Deadly Driving Bill,” closes the loopholes.

“There is noone on our roads, driver, motorcyclist,bicyclistor pedestrian, whois immune from becoming a victim of a drugged driving crash. Closing this loophole is important because we must doeverything we can to stop the horrendous loss of lives on our roadways. Impaired is impaired. Dangerous is dangerous, no matter whether it is alcohol or drugs,” said District Attorney Tierney. The type of alcohol ingested by the driver does not matter for an alcohol DWI and the same should be true for drugs and other substances. We have to use common sense to keep New York families safe.”

“The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York has consistently advocated for legislation to close loopholes in New York State’s drugged driving laws that preventthe prosecution of all impaired drivers to the fullest extent of the law. The passage of the Deadly Driving Bill (S.3135/A.174) would eliminate the often-impossible requirement of specifically identifying the drug that is impairing a drugged driver,” said District Attorneys Association of the State of New York President, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn. “We are committed to making sure New York State’s roadways are safe and that impaired drivers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but to do so requires necessary modifications to our current laws. The legislation will also aid in the prosecution of these offenders by expanding the probable cause for evidential blood draws and protect the safety of our roadways by automatically suspending driver’s licenses for individuals charged with impaired driving.”

“Public safety isn’t just about responding when tragedy strikes; it’s also about prevention. Albany County has seen far too many fatal traffic crashes in recent years that were completely avoidable,” said Albany County District Attorney David Soares. “The Deadly Driving Bill would allow this office to engage in prevention by streamlining the process for prosecuting drugged driving cases. As amateur chemists escalate their efforts to poison our community, we in law enforcement must also escalate our efforts to stop them, which requires leaders to provide us with the laws and tools to do our jobs.”

“Drugged driving is not a mistake. It’s a selfish and dangerous act. It doesn’t matter whether the drugs are on a list or not. It only matters that they make the driver dangerous. The party may end but the consequences of drugged driving can last a lifetime,” said Onondaga District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick. “Please join me in supporting this life saving piece of legislation sponsored by Assembly Transportation Chair Bill Magnarelli and Senator John Mannion.”

“The Deadly Driving Bill is common sense legislation, and I am proud to support such a proposal that values public safety,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley. “Illegal drugs and narcotics are always evolving, and this legislation ensures that law enforcement and the courts can stay on top of all impairing substances without awaiting time-consuming updates to the New York Public Health Law. Those who drive impaired choose to consume mind-altering substances before driving their vehicle, putting countless lives at risk. We must be able to hold these deadly drivers accountable, and when appropriate, help connect them with services if they are struggling with substance abuse disorder of any kind.”

“Drunk, drugged, and distracted driving are at epidemic levels today. As cops and prosecutors, we need all the tools we can get to make successful prosecutions against dangerous drivers,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Under New York State law, arresting someone for driving under the influence of drugs is difficult. I thank District Attorney Tierney and his team for crafting a bill that will fix this loophole once and for all. We ask our legislators in Albany to pass this bill. It will save lives and will make our roadways safer for pedestrians, bikers and motorists.”

“New York State’s recreational marijuana program and the explosion of illegal cannabis sales in our convenience stores and smoke shops has made one thing crystal clear: our roads have more drivers impaired by the use of drugs than ever before,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon. “Yet our laws are woefully inadequate in addressing the danger that these drivers pose to fellow motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. I am proud to lend full support to this legislation which would expand law enforcement’s ability to hold impaired and intoxicated drivers responsible for endangering themselves, their passengers, and all around them after they made the terrible, irresponsible, and dangerous decision to get behind the wheel after using substances. We also need more Drug Recognition Experts to carry out field sobriety examinations. Road safety must be a priority in Albany this session, and we look forward to working with the Sponsors to pass this legislation and to fight for funding for more DRE training across the state.”

“New York’s outdated approach to impaired driving handcuffs law enforcement, puts innocent people at risk and leaves those who might be struggling with a drug problem unchecked and untreated,” said Family and Children’s Association, President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds. “If we’ve learned anything during the current opioid crisis, its that public safety is enhanced when law enforcement and addiction treatment providers work together. Arrests often precipitate treatment entry, potentially putting those struggling with addiction on the road to recovery and leaving our communities safer and healthier. Drugs have evolved rapidly in recent years and New York’s laws should absolutely follow suit.”

“Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) support the critical efforts to reform New York’s drugged driving laws, especially broadening the scope of drugged driving to include all impairing substances rather than those just on the predefined New York Public Health 3306 list,” said National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) Director & Responsibility.org Senior Vice President of Traffic Safety Darrin Grondel. “This legislation eliminates a dangerous loophole where some impaired drivers can’t be arrested or held accountable. Statistics show that fatal and serious injury crashes involving drugged and/or drunk drivers have increased significantly in New York, and these statistics are glaring red flags that something is not working, and action is needed to improve existing law regarding impaired and drugged driving.”

“Cannabis, opioids, even some over the counter medications can negatively impact the way people drive, which affects the safety of all road users,” said National Safety Council Vice President of Government Affairs Jane Terry. “Impairment, regardless of the type of substance, causes a decline in visual function, mental judgment and motor skills. The National Safety Council fully supports this bill to help make roads safer and save lives in the state of New York.”

“As the backbone of New York’s efforts to reduce the incidence of impaired driving, STOP-DWI’s 58 local coordinators have had a front-row seat to the lack of accountability for drivers who are impaired by substances not included on the Public Health Law list. As New York State works to reduce impaired crashes, we must ensure justice for victims of these crashes isn’t hindered by public policy barriers,” said NYS STOP-DWI Coordinators’ Association Chair Lindsay Tomidy. “While STOP-DWI has advocated for legislative reform for over a decade, we’ve observed an alarming rise in fatalities caused by impaired drivers statewide. For every one of these fatalities, our coordinators are working first hand with more innocent victims who are not given reasonable answers on the lack of justice for their loved ones who were taken by an irresponsible choice made. This coalition represents a collective voice for New York to join the rest of the nation in holding impaired drivers liable for their deadly decisions to ingest impairing substances and share the roads with millions of innocent and defenseless New Yorkers.”

“Drugged driving is a growing and complex problem. We are a movement of caring individuals with a shared purpose to end the devastation of drunk and drugged driving, which is both a violent crime and a health and safety issue that affects every community,” said MADD Regional Executive Director NY|NJ|PA Paige Carbone. “New York’s laws do not work well to stop drugged drivers before they crash leaving deadly drivers free to endanger everyone. MADD supports the Deadly Driving Bill, and our vision is to create a nation without drunk and drugged driving.”

“Far too many people are being seriously injured or killed by drivers impaired by drugs. Indeed, according to recent state data from 2022, 37% of fatal crashes in New York State are drug related,” said AAA New York State Legislative Committee Chairman,John Corlett. “AAA strongly encourages legislators to pass legislation closing the glaring loopholes in the state’s drug impaired driving laws during this legislative session. AAA also commends both Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney and Nassau County District Attorney for their leadership on this issue.”

“Under the current law, defense lawyers exploit a loophole in the criminal system from which they benefit financially and leaves their clients unaccountable for their actions,” said Remove Intoxicated Drivers President William Aiken. “The drugged driving bill S.3135/A.174 is needed to include all drugs that can impair one’s ability to driver. The passage of this bill will result in safer roads for everyone.”

“To be blunt, impaired is impaired and dead is dead. Under the current law, ‘the list,’ and all the other procedural impediments, make it far too difficult for law enforcement to protect New Yorkers from drugged drivers,” said DEDICATEDD President Marge Lee. “If the drug is not on the list or cannot be named, the law actually makes protection impossible. When we, the victims, identify our dead there is no list. We have no options. We personally know the definition of dead. We need the expanded definition of drugs and the legal definition of impaired. DEDICATEDD is begging our legislators to pass the Deadly Driving Bill.”

“Pass this legislation and stop tying the hands of law enforcement by requiring them to identify the specific drug used by perpetrators before an arrest can be made,” said NY Coalition for Transportation Safety Director Cynthia Brown. “Close the loophole that allows drugged drivers to walk free and continue to be a threat to all other roadway users.”

“The landscape of drugs and drugged driving is a kaleidoscope of factors that is ever changing. Currently, there are an overwhelming number of drugs including over the counter, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs that may cause impairment and a public safety risk when taken while driving,” said Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals (ATSIP) CEO Tara Casanova Powell. “For this reason, several states have revised their language to ‘under the influence of alcohol or any drug or any combination thereof.’ Furthermore, only four States remaining that restrict drug-impaired driving statutes to a limited set of drugs: Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, and Massachusetts. As the Secretariat and responsible party on record with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) for the Manual on Classification of Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents and advocate for research-based, data driven legislation to support public safety, ATSIP strongly supports the Deadly Driving Bill (S.3135/A.174).”

District Attorney Tierney collaborated with Senate Sponsor, John Mannion and Assembly Transportation Committee Chair, Bill Magnarelli to close the loopholes and add the best, scientifically supported tools available to make New York’s drugged driving law a model for the rest of the country.

District Attorney Tierney was joined by impaired driving victims’ families, community members, district attorneys, lawmakers, traffic safety advocates, criminal justice professionals, and members of the Coalition to Protect New Yorkers from Drugged Driving to promote the passage of the bill.

Drugged drivers threaten the lives of random and innocent roadway users of every age, gender, ethnicity, and economic status every day throughout New York State. Data collection is notoriously problematic in this area, but the trend is significant. All roadway fatalities in New York have increased, including impaired driving fatalities. But the rate of increase in drug-involved fatalities has outpaced drinking driver fatalities in the last five years. Drug-involved fatalities have increased 33% from 200 in 2018 to 266 in 2022. The raw number is also higher than alcohol and represents 23% of the total number of roadway fatalities in the state.

It is a public safety and public health issue. Under the current law, an obviously impaired driver cannot be arrested and prosecuted without naming the drug ingested as one on the Public Health Law 3306 list even though drivers also use many substances that are not on the list to get high. Those substances range from inhaling things like “Dust-Off” computer cleaner, to Xylazine (also known as “tranq”) to newly created synthetic drugs to drugs that finally made it to the list and were then altered by brilliant, but unscrupulous, chemists like fentanyl analogs.

The loophole also means that a driver using a drug on the Public Health Law list can avoid prosecution by refusing an identifying test, not disclosing what they are using, avoid responsibility, not get the substance abuse treatment that is already in the law and sidestep drugged driving license repercussions. There is no intervention to help the driver avoid a repetition of the dangerous driving event and no deterrence to protect the public.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), New York was one of only 5 states that use a list for drugged driving as of 2022. In January of 2023 NTSB sent letters to the Governors of these states, including New York, with Safety Recommendation H-22-044 supporting impaired driving charges for all drugs that impair driving (without reference to a list). On January 1, 2024, Oregon officially abandoned the requirement and updated their statutes to add driving under the influence of any impairing drugs to their impaired driving law. Now New York is one of only 4 states relying on an unworkable list. The proposed Deadly Driving Bill’s definition of “drug” in the Vehicle and Traffic Law to include any substance or combination of substances that impair, to any extent, physical or mental abilities meets the NTSB recommendation. The bill also defines impairment and intoxication for the first-time using language supported by the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

The bill does not expand law enforcement’s ability to make car stops nor does it create new crimes. It makes existing law workable. It does not roll back cannabis legalization. And it does not create a “per se” drugged driving charge that would be based only on the driver having a specific amount of a drug in the driver’s bloodstream. Current scientific research does not support a “per se” statute because drugs work differently than alcohol in the body. Blood levels do not correlate to impairment the same way. Instead, the revised law would continue to require a showing of “actual impairment” using the best training and scientific tools available, not just the presence of a substance. But when impairment from any substance can be seen, the driver must be prohibited from driving.

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Photo from Suffolk D.A. Ray Tierney Facebook

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney  on Jan. 8 unveiled a bi- partisan legislative package introduced by Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) and Senators Dean Murray (R-Patchogue), Anthony Palumbo (R-Riverhead), and Steven D. Rhoads (R- Massapequa), that proposes to address the current drug overdose crisis by charging suppliers of drugs that cause fatalities with Manslaughter, adding Xylazine to the controlled substances list requiring a prescription, and allowing families who have lost loved ones to fatal overdoses to access crime victim funding. In addition, the package includes a bill that allows prosecutors the ability to ask for bail for those charged with the sale and possession with intent to sell dangerous amounts of fentanyl, nitazine, methamphetamine, LSD and other narcotics.

District Attorney Tierney and the Long Island legislators rallied in Albany along with Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and dozens of members of Suffolk County law enforcement, labor unions, community activists and constituents to promote the need for common sense changes to our drug laws in the face of an epidemic of deaths from opioid overdoses.

In 2022, Suffolk County reported more than 400 deaths caused by drug overdoses, with fentanyl being the driving force and common denominator. Nationwide, more than 110,000 lives were lost to fentanyl poisoning in the same year. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, nationwide, 7 out of every 10 pills sold on the streets are surreptitiously laced with fentanyl. The statistics illustrate a nationwide epidemic.

Members from the community who were present included Gene and Sue Murray who lost their daughter, Chelsey, to a fatal fentanyl overdose in Suffolk County in 2022 and for whom “Chelsey’s Law” (see below) is named.

“Opioid Overdose is the leading cause of death for young people aged 18-50. This is a crisis. While legislation will never be the sole solution, these common sense changes will save lives,” said District Attorney Tierney. “It is our moral and ethical duty, at the very least, to ask each of our elected officials to consider these bills. Work with us. More importantly, listen to and talk to these families. What New York is doing now is not working and young people are dying at alarming rates. I thank this bi-partisan group of legislators for taking action to deal with this crisis.”

“We have many different tools in our toolbox to combat fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, but one tool is missing: a specific statute that provides us with a clear path to charge dealers for deaths that occur when they sell, deliver, or administer their poison,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “Dealers must be held accountable, not only for selling dangerous illicit drugs, but for taking lives and ripping apart families. I am proud to join Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney in supporting this package of bills that will help us save lives and get justice for victims.”

“For far too long, the deadly scourge of fentanyl and opioid overdoses has ravaged our communities and cut countless lives short,” said Assemblyman Steve Stern. “This epidemic is one of the defining issues of our time, and policy makers have a moral obligation to act swiftly and prevent these senseless tragedies. That is why I’m so proud to partner with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, and my Long Island colleagues in the Senate, on a historic bi- partisan package of legislation that will have a real impact on the health and safety of our residents. We stand here today united in our support for commonsense measures that will hold drug dealers accountable for the true cost of their activities, significantly diminish the open availability of these dangerous drugs on our streets and give district attorneys the necessary tools to work up the criminal chain to the suppliers. We urge our colleagues in the Legislature, regardless of their party affiliation, to join us in passing these critically important initiatives, which will stem the rising tide of overdose deaths in our state and hopefully serve as a model for communities throughout our country that are dealing with these very same challenges.”

“I promised my constituents I would be a fighter for public safety – this package of bills makes public safety a priority and delivers on that promise. This package of bills aims to directly combat the dangerous fentanyl epidemic our state and our nation is facing and is necessary to save lives,” said Senator Steven Rhoads. “It provides law enforcement officials and District Attorneys with the legal tools they need to take drug dealers off the streets and prevent fentanyl from reaching our communities. As elected leaders of our communities, it is our duty and our responsibility to pass these bills and take action to save lives. The time to act is now.”

“The fentanyl epidemic has devastated families, stolen the promise and future of so many young New Yorkers and left communities struggling with how to combat this scourge. Chelsey’s Law will increase penalties for individuals who knew or had reasonable grounds to know that the narcotics they sold were laced with fentanyl,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo, Ranking Member of the Senate Codes and Judiciary Committees. “These individuals are not drug dealers, they are death dealers, and the punishment should match the severity of their crimes. I applaud District Attorney Ray Tierney and the Murray family for their advocacy and action in combating fentanyl and efforts to tackle this crisis head on to improve the health and safety of our communities.”

“This package of bills is necessary to save lives. We are losing far too many friends, neighbors and loved ones to this fentanyl epidemic,” said Senator Dean Murray. “It is imperative that we, as legislators, give our law enforcement officials and our District Attorneys, the legal tools necessary to take these poison pushing dealers off the streets and put them behind bars where they belong.”

“The fentanyl epidemic is wrecking lives and disrupting communities across our state. I am pleased to partner and consult with local law enforcement and district attorneys to develop real solutions to the crisis,” said Senator Rob Rolison. “Every day that we wait to appropriately punish those guilty of spreading this poison claims the life of another friend, family member, neighbor – even first responder. This potentially lifesaving fentanyl legislation needs the support of the state legislature and Albany leadership, immediately.”

Linda Ventura, founder, and executive director of Thomas’ Hope Foundation was present at the rally and press conference. Linda’s son died of a fatal overdose over a decade ago on Long Island, and Linda thereafter turned her grief into helping other families by offering education, support, relapse prevention services, daily afternoon wellness group activities, recovery coaching, peer support, and transportation for care, all free of charge. Linda has actively supported the passage of a Death by Dealer statute since 2021, when it was introduced by then – Assemblyman Kaminsky and Senator Palumbo. Linda speaks regularly at the Suffolk County Police Academy to officers trained in crisis response, who express utter frustration with the current statutory scheme. In speaking about the current proposal for Chelsey’s Law, Ventura said, “It is time that New York State appropriately penalize the people that are distributing this deadly poison, knowing it is lethal and is killing our loved ones, particularly our young adults.”

Gene and Sue Murray also participated in the rally and press conference. Gene and Sue lost their son over a decade ago to a fatal drug overdose. Tragically, another one of their children, daughter Chelsey, fought opioid use disorder. Chelsey attempted to recover by going to drug rehabilitation, only to be allegedly approached by her dealer after being released. Chelsey passed away due to fentanyl poisoning in August 2022. Gene and Sue Murray said, “We would like to express our support for a new proposed law, ‘Chelsey’s Law,’ named in honor of our beloved daughter. After her tragic overdose from fentanyl and the arrest of the drug dealer, we were shocked to learn that in New York State, Chelsey’s fentanyl dealer who caused her death could not be charged with anything beyond the sale of the drugs that killed her. We need a stronger law to hold those, who sell the poison that kills so many like our daughter Chelsey, accountable.”

“The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) stands in support with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney as we collectively work to make positive strides in 2024 combating the devastating impact that fentanyl continues to inflict on individuals and families in our communities. LICADD and DA Tierney agree that those willingly and knowingly contributing to the detriment and unprecedented poisoning of our community members must be held to account for their actions,” said LICADD Executive Director Steve Chassman. “An equal acknowledgement recognizes that the multitudes of our citizens afflicted with the disease of opioid use disorder deserve every possible chance to access quality treatment on demand. LICADD commends DA Tierney for his leadership and continued partnership in our mutual efforts to work tirelessly to end the scourge of loss that opioids and fentanyl continue to inflict on our families and in our communities.”

The four pieces of legislation that were drafted in consultation with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, are outlined as follows:

  1. A person commits the crime of manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter when he or she knows or has reasonable grounds to know that a controlled substance is likely to cause the death of another person and sells, administers, delivers, or causes the delivery of a controlled substance to another person and such substance causes, contributes to, or aids in the death of such other person.
  2. Formerly referred to as the “Death by Dealer” statute, this bill would be renamed “Chelsey’s Law,” in honor of Chelsey Murray, a 31-year-old Suffolk County resident who fatally overdosed in August 2022 from fentanyl poisoning that was traced back to her alleged supplier.

First Proposed Bill – “Chelsey’s Law” (Assembly Bill A08384 sponsored by Assemb. Stern – Senate Bill S07790 sponsored by Sen. Palumbo):

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3. Currently, a person who provides an illicit drug that results in the death of a user can typically be charged only with drug sale, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, a Class B non-violent felony.

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Under the current law, bail, victims’ compensation, sentencing guidelines, restitution, Clean Slate provisions and parole eligibility are all determined by the section of the law under which the defendant is charged and convicted. In New York State, drug sales are considered much more leniently than Manslaughter, such that typically no bail may be set, no victim’s compensation or restitution is allowed, and they receive a lesser sentence.

Second Proposed Bill – Designates Xylazine or “Tranq” as a Controlled Substance (Assembly Bill A08395 sponsored by Assemb. Stern – Senate Bill S07763 sponsored by Sen. Murray):

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  1. Adds Xylazine, commonly known as “Tranq,” to a depressant designated as a controlled substance, with the exception that it be administered and/or prescribed solely for cattle or other nonhuman species, as approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Right now, the sale and possession of Xylazine in New York is neither restricted, nor illegal in any way, so there is no way to prevent drug dealers from adding this potentially deadly substance to illicit street drugs.
  2. In recent years, there has been evidence of an alarming increase in illicit use of Xylazine, a large-animal tranquilizer by drug dealers and drug users on the streets. In 2023 in Suffolk County, the Medical Examiner has found xylazine to be present in the decedent’s toxicology reports in over 15% of fatal drug overdose cases completed thus far.
  3. The illicit use of the powder form of “Tranq” is frequently being added by drug dealers as a “cutting agent” to fentanyl, heroin, and other harmful street drugs. When mixed with these drugs, the effects are often deadly, because it has a severely high depressant effect on the human body’s central nervous system.
  4. “Tranq” can cause skin sores and users may develop necrosis, making resuscitation efforts more difficult, as well as producing a withdrawal syndrome that makes it more difficult for sufferers to recover or be abstinent.
  5. This bill was vetted by both agricultural and veterinary experts who advocated for the exception when the drug is being administered and/or prescribed by veterinarians for treating animals.

Third Proposed Bill – Award Crime Victim Assistance Funds to Include Victims of Overdoses (Assembly Bill A08397 sponsored by Assemb. Stern – Senate Bill S07805 sponsored by Sen. Murray):

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  1. This bill amends the Executive Law to include families of loved ones lost to a fatal overdose for financial compensation under the law.
  2. The New York State Office of Victims Services (OVS) administers a fund whereby victims of crimes that happen in New York State may be eligible to get reimbursed for certain crime-related, out-of-pocket expenses. Types of compensation OVS can provide include medical and counseling expenses; funeral and burial expenses; relocation, moving, and storage costs; lost earnings or loss of support.
  3. Eligibility for compensation from this fund depends on the type of crime that occurred. This legislation would expand eligibility to any fatal drug overdose resulting from a sale that is categorized as reckless or criminally negligent.

Fourth Proposed Bill – Relates to Bail for Certain Felony Offenses Involving the Manufacture, Sale, Distribution, or Possession with Intent to Sell Synthetic Opioids (Assembly Bill A08383 sponsored by Assemb. Stern – S07816 sponsored by Sen. Rhoads):

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  1. This bill amends the Criminal Procedure Law to allow prosecutors to seek bail for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, both A-II felonies. This change would give local district attorneys the ability to ask for bail for sale and possession of dangerous amounts of fentanyl, nitazine, methamphetamine, LSD and other deadly narcotics.
  2. Currently, New York State law only allows those charged with possessing and/or selling eight ounces of fentanyl to be held on bail. Those caught with less are arrested, arraigned, and released without bail until their next court date. Eight ounces of fentanyl is enough to kill 113,410 people. Bail reform is necessary to stop dealers from continually selling fentanyl after they have been released.

In addition, the ability to request bail can aid those suffering from addiction themselves when they are found in possession of fentanyl, as bail often acts as a catalyst to get defendants into drug court or treatment as an alternative to jail.

District Attorney Tierney wants this legislative package to ignite the conversation about solutions to the opioid overdose epidemic and urges all New Yorkers to demand change in our laws to save lives. The future of New York State and all New Yorkers depends upon it.

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Holbrook man indicted for selling fentanyl that led to fatal overdose

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 27, 2023 the indictment of Jaquan Casserly, 34, of Holbrook, who is accused of selling fentanyl to a female from Lake Grove that resulted in her fatal overdose.

“Sadly, this is yet another example of an alleged drug dealer pushing poison onto our streets without any regard for the inevitably destructive and deadly consequences of such sales,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office is steadfast in its mission to investigate every overdose in Suffolk County and hold drug dealers accountable for selling illegal and deadly substances, especially fentanyl.”

According to the investigation, on August 18, 2022, Suffolk County Police Department officers responded to a residence in Lake Grove for an apparent drug overdose. The victim was found unresponsive in the bathroom by her mother. The victim was administered Narcan, which works to reverse the effects of fentanyl, and she regained a pulse. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she ultimately passed away several days later as a result of the drug overdose.

On August 24, 2022, a cell phone belonging to the victim was turned over to police by her parents.

Using the phone, an undercover detective from the Suffolk County Police Department contacted Casserly and arranged for another sale of narcotics. Casserly, unaware of the victim’s condition, allegedly instructed the undercover detective to go to the same location where he sold fentanyl to the victim a week earlier. On August 25, 2022, while at the Holbrook Commons in Holbrook, Casserly allegedly sold the undercover detective a combination of heroin and fentanyl contained in a red glassine envelope.

On August 27, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Casserly’s Holbrook residence and recovered a combination of heroin and fentanyl, a digital scale used to weigh narcotics, red and black glassine/wax envelopes used to package narcotics, a pair of metal knuckles, and Casserly’s cell phone. The red envelopes were similar in appearance to the ones sold to the undercover detective two days prior. A search of Casserly’s phone allegedly showed that he made arrangements to meet the victim on August 17, 2022 at the Holbrook Commons offering to sell her a “fetty mix,” a street term used to describe a mix of fentanyl and heroin.

Casserly is charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor.

On January 27, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, County Court Judge, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski ordered Casserly held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond. Casserly is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq. His next court date is March 3, 2023.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Danielle Davis of the Narcotics Bureau.

 

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The Smithtown West Girls Soccer Team and their coaches are with Legislators Rob Trotta, Leslie Kennedy and County Clerk Vincent Puleo (rear, right).
Pictured with Legislators Leslie Kennedy (front, center) and Rob Trotta (rear, center) are the Smithtown West Boys Soccer Team, their coaches and athletic director Jason Lambert, (front, left).

Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Rob Trotta recognized the Smithtown West Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Teams at the December 20, 2023 meeting of the Legislature for winning the Long Island Class AA championship for their respective teams.

This was the first time in the school’s history that both the boys and girls soccer teams won the championship.

Legislators Kennedy and Trotta in commending the students noted that they demonstrated their athletic ability and outstanding team work while their coaches and athletic director have shown the importance of perseverance and commitment.

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Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (left) witnesses as Legislator Trotta signs the Official Record Book on Jan. 2, 2024. Photo from Leg. Trotta's office

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) was sworn in for his sixth term at the Suffolk County Legislature’s Organizational Meeting on January 2, 2024. Suffolk County District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca, a former county legislator from Smithtown, administered the Oath of Office to all 18 legislators. Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (left) witnesses as Legislator Trotta signs the Official Record Book.

Legislator Trotta represents the 13 th Legislative District, which includes Kings Park, San Remo, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue and parts of East Northport, Commack, Smithtown and St. James.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

On December 15,  Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced his “Evergreen Initiative” – a combined legislative and law enforcement agenda that aims to halt devastating pollution and dumping at the county’s parks, beaches, and forests.

Joined by County Executive-Elect Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Crime Stoppers President Patrick Fazio, Brookhaven Supervisor-Elect Dan Panico, and Winter Brothers owner Jim Winters, as well as leadership from the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pine Barrens Commission, the State Police, the Suffolk Park Rangers, District Attorney Tierney outlined a multi-point plan to turn the tide on environmental assault.

The Evergreen Initiative will:

1. Raise and sustain awareness of rewards available to citizens who report dumping and pollution under current Suffolk County Law, as well as posting reward signage;

2. Encourage more reporting of environmental crimes by increasing the rewards for tips to 33% of the fines collected by the District Attorney through the criminal justice process;

3. Increase the fine schedule for dumping/polluting on county land to $15,000 for individuals, with corporate fines reaching $25,000;

4. Encourage municipalities to mirror the county fine schedule, so that town and village parks are equally protected;

5. Invest an additional $10,000 into environmentally-friendly covert surveillance equipment and deploy the trip-alert system throughout county parklands;

6. Coordinate with Crime Stoppers and the Suffolk County Parks Watch reporting systems to facilitate easier reporting;

7. Seize and impound all vehicles that are utilized to dump or otherwise pollute public lands;

8. Ensure that fines and clean-up money are used locally in Suffolk County;

9. Putting offenders to work cleaning Suffolk parks and beaches as part of their sentences; and

10. Seek maximum financial penalties on all environmental cases. The combination of increasing fine schedules and reward percentage will mean that a Good Samaritan report of dumping can receive up to $8,250 from fines and up to $5,000 from Crime Stoppers.

District Attorney Tierney also emphasized that the statute of limitations on certain dumping crimes can reach back to 2018 and reports leading to convictions are always welcome and will be rewarded in accordance with the law. As part of the Evergeen Initiative, the increased rewards for reporting dumping and pollution will be posted on the public entrance of every county park.

“I am confident that these measures will make an impact,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office will continue to seek maximum financial penalties, which will translate to higher rewards for those who report polluters. All local municipal leaders are encouraged to adopt similar local legislation at the town and village level so that our incentives do not redirect the illegal dumping to your parks. We all must work together so that Suffolk’s natural beauty is universally protected.”

“Over the past year, Brookhaven has conducted more than 750 roadside cleanups and 32 other cleanups requiring heavy equipment for illegal dumping, which has included everything from residential waste to boats, campers and even floating docks. The new Evergreen Initiative will be an important tool in curbing illegal dumping and protecting our environment,” said County Executive-Elect Ed Romaine. “I want to thank District Attorney Tierney for his leadership on this issue to protect our open space, our groundwater and our residents from the impacts of illegal dumping.”

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in the patrol of the Central Pine Barrens region for the past three decades and we have seen numerous cases of illegal dumping. We’ve discovered garbage of all sorts, from paperwork and yard debris to larger items like furniture, mattresses and even boats,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.

“Illegal dumping is lazy, illegal and harmful to our environment and our island’s resources. Make no mistake, if you are dumping illegally in Suffolk County, especially in our pine barrens, we will find you and you will be held accountable.”

“D.A. Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative, supported by County Executive-elect Romaine, Sheriff Toulon, and other elected officials, provides a new dimension of deterrent to tackling illegal dumping in Suffolk County Parklands and the Pine Barrens Region,” said Chief of the Suffolk County Parks Rangers Steve Laton. “Suffolk County Park Rangers remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to thwart illegal dumping in Suffolk County.”

“As the owner of Long Island’s largest solid waste management and recycling firm, I would like to applaud District Attorney Ray Tierney for leading the fight against illegal dumping,” said Jimmy Winters, Owner of Winter Bros. “The actions announced by him today will help disincentivize the dumping of harmful materials in our ecosystem and hold criminal actors accountable.”

“Crime Stoppers takes all criminal activity seriously, particularly crimes against our environment,” said Crime Stoppers President Patrick Fazio. “Suffolk County residents can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS to report dumping or other pollution and receive up to $5,000 for their tips.”

“Illegal dumping is selfish and irresponsible and has a negative impact on our environment and our communities,” said New York State Police – Troop “L” Long Island – Troop Commander Major Stephen J. Udice. “The New York State Police will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutor partners to hold those accountable that choose to irresponsibly and illegally engage in the act of illegal dumping.” I

n addition to increasing fines, rewards, and signage, District Attorney Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative will allocate more than $10,000 worth of additional environmentally friendly covert surveillance equipment, such as cameras, drones, and license plate readers, to undisclosed park lands to catch those who pollute in the act.

Another component of District Attorney Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative will partner his office’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) Unit and Asset Forfeiture Bureau with local police departments to penalize those who are caught in the commission of an environmental crime by having their vehicles impounded and held until all fines are paid off – including the cost of clean-up. The fines collected will be kept locally and used to cover all costs of prosecution. In addition, offenders will be put to work cleaning Suffolk County beaches and trails, planting trees, sorting recycling, and contributing efforts to the county’s environmental organizations.

Through the Evergreen Initiative, an economy will be created that works for Suffolk County’s local ecosystem. 5 To report pollution, individuals may use any of the following (in an emergency or to report a crime in progress always dial 911)

 Suffolk County Parks Watch: [email protected] or 631-854-1423

 The Suffolk County Pine Barrens Complaint Line 877-BARRENS

 Crime Stoppers: 1-800-220-TIPS or www.p3tips.com or download app at P3Tips

 Suffolk County DA: suffolkcountyny.gov/da/contact-us (Report Pollution tab)

The District Attorney will track all reports that lead to convictions so that appropriate rewards are paid.

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