Home Times of Smithtown

Editorial: The importance of protests

by TBR Staff - March 24, 2025

0 548

Speaker Noemi Sanchez from Rural & Migrant Ministry — A recent rally in Hauppauge. Photo by William Stieglitz

Almost every week this past month, crowds of people have congregated at street corners, politician’s buildings or on the side of highways. The sound of synchronized chants overlay the ambient whir of traffic and pithy signs face the street. Some of the rallies consist of hordes of people, with numbers nearing a thousand; others are smaller, with maybe a few dozen. We’ve covered these rallies, both small and large, in towns across our coverage area. This week, there were two rallies in Smithtown and one in Northport.

Protests can be divisive and political. They are arguments, meant to persuade. Protests have been used throughout history, and have created change of both national and local scales. We learn about them in school as representations of the public feeling.

Some, like the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in which Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, have been the catalyst for action that changes the trajectory of our nation. They hold weight and signify unrest, and most of the time, ignite controversy. Most people have opinions that flare up, either in agreement or disagreement, in witnessing a protest.

This type of mobilization is a privilege. An organized display of protest is an essential facet of our freedom of speech, and the ability to voice dissent without fear of political retaliation or punishment is what forms a healthy democracy.

The protesters at these rallies are driven by care for their community and country. Furthermore, they encourage consideration for opposing or uncommon viewpoints. Projecting an opinion to the hundreds or thousands of passers-by promotes discourse. When multitudes of people protest, our elected officials gain a better sense of their constituents’ needs and concerns. It might help them lead. Further, it shows that people are paying attention–that what happens matters to them. Some may look upon the increased number of protests in our area as an annoyance. Others may be supportive. But the foundational concern behind these constitutionally-protected displays is care for the community.

Suffolk County D.A.: Three men indicted for murder of Central Islip man

by Press Release - March 24, 2025

0 1716

Ray Tierney photo (1) — Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Brayan Heredia Escobar, 19, of Guatemala, Jhon Lopez Campos, 18, of El Salvador, and Julio Beltran, 39, of El Salvador, were indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, for their alleged roles in the killing of 39-year-old Salvadoran national Candido Guadalupe Saravia Martinez.

“This alleged murder was brutal,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will not tolerate such violence in Suffolk County. Violence such as is alleged here, affects us all, and we remain dedicated to holding these offenders responsible for their actions.”

According to the investigation, on February 18, 2025, Suffolk County Police discovered the body of Saravia Martinez inside a tent on the side of Suffolk Avenue, just east of Carleton Avenue in Central Islip. Saravia Martinez was found with a rope tied around his neck, under which ligature marks were visible and police observed that he appeared to have blunt force trauma to his face, and a stab wound to his neck. Each of the defendants, as well as the victim, are believed to have been living undomiciled in Central Islip.

Inside the tent, police recovered a machete, and a knife covered in blood, lying on top of the decedent’s neck. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that the victim died of a combination of blunt force trauma, strangulation, and a stab wound to the neck that lacerated his carotid artery.

Video surveillance was obtained from several businesses on Suffolk Avenue, including a laundromat located directly across the street from where Saravia Martinez’s body was found. The extensive surveillance allegedly depicts the three defendants, running from the tent after the murder and entering the laundromat.

On March 18, 2025 Heredia Escobar was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Escobar remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on March 27, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Pete Mayer, Esq.

On March 19, 2025 Lopez Campos was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Lopez remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on April 23, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Give, Esq.

On March 24, 2025 Beltran was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Lopez remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on April 10, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michelle Chiuchiolo of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Matthew Sagistano of the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad.

Hauppauge High School presents unforgettable ‘Mamma Mia!’

by Press Release - March 23, 2025

0 588

1 of 4

Hauppauge High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Department presented their production of “Mamma Mia!” from March 14-15, bringing ABBA’s timeless classics to the stage.

“Mamma Mia!” follows Sophie, a young woman living on an idyllic Greek island who is about to marry her fiancé. She’s determined to have her father walk her down the aisle, but there’s one big problem: she doesn’t know who he is. Sophie embarks on a mission to uncover his identity, inviting three men from her mother’s past to her wedding, each of whom could potentially be her father. As the mystery unfolds, Sophie and her mother, Donna, learn valuable lessons about love, family and the journey to self-discovery.

“The cast, crew and creative team poured their hearts into this production, dedicating countless hours to perfecting every song, dance and scene,” said Theater Director Jordan Hue. “Their passion, commitment and teamwork truly brought ‘Mamma Mia!’ to life in a way that was both joyful and unforgettable.”

James Cress Florist blooms in Smithtown and Port Jefferson Station

by TBR Staff - March 23, 2025

0 1461

13_Florist_1349 (1) — James Cress Florist owners Linda and George Karatzas. Photo courtesy of Nick Karatzas

By Joshua Kim

Go down Main Street in Smithtown and you might be able to spot it tucked away in a row of stores just off Hauppauge Road: James Cress Florist. Founded in 1903 in Manhattan, the flower store expanded to Smithtown around 1961 and has been a fixture of the community ever since.

James Cress Florist owner George Karatzas. Photo from Nick Karatzas

George Karatzas started selling flowers when he went to high school here on the North Shore, and he’s been selling flowers through various flower shops ever since. Most recently, he had been running Commack Florist for the past 20 years with his wife Linda. Then, in 2021, at almost 60 years old, they received a deal that caught their eye.

In December 2021, James Cress was owned by Family Flowers, a large flower company operating out of Alpharetta, Georgia, and, according to the Karatzas family, in decline, from both a profit and a customer trust perspective. Family Flowers, which was acquainted with the Karatzas family, reached out and offered to sell the two James Cress locations in Smithtown and Port Jefferson Station to the Karatzas. “[We] wanted to at least allow the brand to survive,” said Nick Karatzas.

Once they bought the store, their children, Stefan, Dawn and Nick, also helped out at the store, with Stefan and Nick helping grow the business online and Dawn running the wedding section of the business. They helped out despite having full-time jobs, with Stefan as a marine technician, Dawn as a teacher in Rockville Center and Nick as a credit underwriter.

They set to work revitalizing the store with diligence, never getting to celebrate holidays because holidays are the busy seasons for flower shops. But it paid off – these days, they process around 300 orders a day, and George can take over 100 calls a day from customers. Sales are up over seven times from what they were this time last year. Also, the James Cress building in Smithtown is a few doors down from its original location, with a wedding location behind to boot. And the business itself looks a little different too. When the Karatzas took over the business, around half of the James Cress customers were not on Long Island; now, the number is closer to 90% Moreover, James Cress now boasts over 200,000 registered people on its website.

But at the core of their business remains customer service: “I know that this order might be a little quirky, but I’m paying attention to it. I’ll make sure it gets delivered on time exactly how you want,” said Nick to describe the mindset of his father George. “Like he really cares about the customer at the end of the day and doing the right thing. And customers notice that.”

“The product that we actually offer is a way to celebrate and connect with people in a way that words can’t say.”

Visit James Cress’ website to learn more or place an order.

Catching a leprechaun at Mt. Pleasant Elementary

by Press Release - March 22, 2025

0 666

1 of 9

Sneaky leprechauns visited Mt. Pleasant Elementary School kindergartners in Smithtown on St. Patrick’s Day. Students found a trail of gold dust, a bit of a mess and shiny gold coins along with a special message. Unfortunately, students found their leprechaun traps empty as they were unable to catch one. Better luck next year.

Letters to the Editor: March 20, 2025

by TBR Staff - March 20, 2025

0 582

letters_page-scaled-1-700x467-1-1 — File photo by Raymond Janis

Reconfiguration is the right decision for 3V schools

This letter is meant to address all the Monday morning quarterbacks that are suddenly coming out of the woodwork to voice their complaints regarding the district reconfiguration. The timing of this mini defection is ironic since the reconfiguration is going to happen and the time for speaking up was before the official BOE vote. Hindsight critics can now take a seat. This change has been in the making for decades and remaining “unique” is not an option.

How about joining the 21st century and accepting that our kids DESERVE this change? The kids being affected by it are excited and more than capable of adapting. The parents, being swayed by the ineffectual attempts of a former district employee, are the ones whining about the revision that is in fact going to happen. This is not sudden, it has been researched and planned for, and the district has done its due diligence regarding transparency with the community. I am certainly not always in agreement with Superintendent Kevin Scanlon or this Board of Education, in fact I have plenty of bones to pick with them, but on this I know they got it right.

The sudden desire to combine a start time change with the reconfiguration is a whole other matter, but this has now joined the ranks of the top three things Three Village parents can gripe about. I stand by my argument that this half-hour change is utterly useless and a complete waste of more than a million dollars. If parents have enough time to write letters to the board about a reconfiguration that is already set to happen then they have more than enough time to monitor their children’s sleep habits. And it matters not how old they are, take the phones and other devices away and they will fall asleep from sheer boredom.

Let’s focus on the amazing opportunities that will come from this move and stop following the “lead” of a disgruntled former employee whose quarrel holds no water. The cost (from transportation alone) and lack of difference that will result from the start time change should be the debate every taxpayer has with themselves come budget time. As an alumnus, parent and lifelong community member I can’t wait to see how the mighty 3V thrives in a middle school model. Dissenters, let it go already.

Stefanie Werner

East Setauket

BESS still under discussion

George Altemose’s March 13 letter in TBR News Media [“BESS systems still in dispute”] about the proposed battery energy storage systems facility asks a valid question about how much power is needed to “power a home.” Unfortunately, in his analysis of what would be needed he ends with an unjustified conclusion. The average power used over the course of a day by most homes is about 1,000 watts, a value used by BESS proponents (my use is less). For an unstated reason Altemose says the average power use must be more like 5,000 watts, a factor of 5 larger. This changes the picture dramatically. It is true that use during the day and at night can differ significantly, but the 5,000 watts for an average use is high for all but the largest or power inefficient houses.

Peter Bond

Stony Brook

LaLota and Suozzi hold town halls

I attended Nick LaLota’s (R-NY1) tele-town hall on March 5 [LaLota and Suozzi hold town halls, TBR News Media, March 13].

The one-hour event started a bit late. LaLota spoke for the first 10 minutes, answering accusations that questions were only accepted from supporters, and that they were not representative of his constituent’s concerns. He said that was not true.

He then took about six questions from people who asked legitimate constituent concerns. But he did not actually answer them. His replies consisted of rambling talking points — not substance. And because callers were cut off after asking their question, there was no “give and take.”

I waited in the queue to ask: “Rep. LaLota, do you approve of the President’s alliance with Vladimir Putin? Yes or no?” But I did not get the chance to ask. I’m sure there were a great many people who did not get to pose questions.

The final 10 minutes were devoted to the congressman thanking us for participating in the town hall and his gratitude for being given the opportunity to represent us in the House of Representatives.

He did use polling opportunities to assess our views on a few topics. Press 1 to agree or 2 to disagree. I believe those polls were worthless. The only viewpoint LaLota will support is that of President Trump.

Donna Newman

Stony Brook

LaLota town hall disappoints

I appreciate that your March 13 edition reported on Congressman Nick LaLota’s (R-NY1) recent “Town Hall.” I was on the call for that telephone event. Unfortunately, it could hardly be characterized as “a town hall.” The call lasted for sixty minutes. There was time for only a very few questions to be asked of the congressman. He spent about one quarter of the time, at the start and conclusion of the call, simply telling us what a good job he felt he was doing. His answers were extremely lengthy and repetitive. They rarely addressed the key elements of the questions. They never allowed for a follow-up question.

The “polling” that LaLota conducted was your standard, misleading “push poll.” Slightly paraphrasing: “Press 1, if you think we should try to reduce government waste. Press 2, if you think it is okay for the government to waste taxpayer dollars.”

The question I had hoped to have asked was, “Will you please speak out against the indiscriminate, excessive cuts in government services that are hurting millions of Americans including thousands of your constituents; and will you speak out against the fact that so many of these cuts were done in a manner that was illegal and, in some cases, clearly unconstitutional?”

Robert Marcus

Setauket, New York

Community alert!

Greetings Port Jefferson Station/Terryville residents, as well as our friends and neighbors from nearby areas.

As many know, in September of 2024, the Town of Brookhaven approved the zoning change sought by Staller Associates for a 260- to 280-unit multifamily apartment complex redevelopment plan for Jefferson Plaza. This is where the existing local Post Office is located presently. This was a controversial proposal that will increase density to levels never seen locally before. As approved, this project will transform the face of our community. Our local civic association worked long and hard to try to voice our concerns regarding this intensive use to address the many impacts, both positive and potentially negative.

One concern was as this development moves forward it enhances a sense of place for our hamlet and creates a positive environment reflecting the character of community. One method for accomplishing this goal is thoughtful design and the use of good architecture. Will it be warm and welcoming or cold and imposing? In this instance, the choice can be ours.

In coordination with our Councilman, Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) and Brookhaven town, our civic association is sponsoring a community forum regarding this redevelopment plan at our monthly meeting. I urge all my neighbors and concerned citizens to join us on Tuesday March 25, at 7 p.m. at the Comsewogue Library. Representatives of Staller Associates will present various architectural designs to solicit input and comments from residents. This Visual Preference Survey process will enable us to shape and guide the face and feel of our neighborhood as this mega-project proceeds and impacts our area. Please join us and participate in our shared future.

Ira Costell, President

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Associatio

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

Long Islanders rally in Hauppauge for immigrant protections

by William Stieglitz - March 20, 2025

0 1645

1 of 6

By William Stieglitz

Close to 50 people rallied in front of the New York State Office Building in Hauppauge on March 13 to urge legislative support for the New York for All Act, a proposed bill that would prohibit specific state corporations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Versions of the bill have been introduced in the state senate and assembly since 2020, though each died in committee before it could make it to the floor for debate. The current iterations, S.2235 and A.3506, were introduced in January of this year with 28 and 57 co-sponsors, respectively.

Irma Solis, the Suffolk regional office director at the New York Civil Liberties Union and an organizer for the event, described the bill as crucial for protecting Suffolk families, particularly during the Trump administration. “All New Yorkers deserve to feel safe and protected,” she said, “not torn apart by a racist regime intent on demonizing the very communities that define the fabric of New York.”

The rally had 11 speakers, consisting of organizational activists, religious leaders and community members who advocated for the bill through personal stories. “Day by day, I see how community members, my neighbors, my friends and even myself are terrified to go to work, pick up our children from school and even go to church,” said Clara, a member of Make the Road New York. “We feel persecuted and fear that one day we may leave our homes and never return.” Her speech was one of several delivered in both English and Spanish.

Others spoke of fear felt for their own spouses or children. “Imagine waking up on a Monday morning, . . . in the safest town that you have ever known, to find that your information has been publicly outed as potential undocumented immigrants with your location and your details to boot,” said community member Jessica. “What do you do? Do you send your kids to school that day?”

These fears were elaborated on by Sister Janet Kinney from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, who described immigrant community members as unable to reach out to police or emergency services without risking contact with ICE. “No one should be afraid to walk out their doors, to go to their workplaces, go to a hospital, their child’s school, fearful that they may be picked up, questioned and deported,” she said. “My Catholic faith, and in fact all faith traditions, extol the permanent recognition of the dignity of all human persons, every human being, no exception.”

Rabbi Ari Naveh from Bend the Arc also spoke on a sense of religious duty. “In our text, the Torah, the obligation to care for the widow, the orphan and the stranger who dwells among us is repeated more than any other commandment in the text,” he said. “We have an obligation as a Jewish community to stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters … New York for All is that obligation.”

The rabbi also joined others in criticizing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) for being “more than willing to let our county police office collude with ICE.” This follows Blakeman last month deputizing 10 officers to act as immigration agents with the right to make arrests without a judicial warrant. While Blakeman presents the partnership with ICE as one that keeps Nassau safer, others, such as Nadia Molina from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said he was “taking advantage of a political movement to make a statement.”

At the same time, Molina and other speakers expressed disappointment in the inaction of Democrats who have promised support for immigrants. “What are they doing to protect our husbands, our fathers, our brothers, our sisters, our children, our friends, our co-workers? What are they doing? This is an emergency,” Molina said. This message especially resonated with the crowd, who followed with shouts of “Where are they?” With the exception of Assemblymember Chuck Lavine (D-Oyster Bay), no Long Island representative east of Queens co-sponsored the bill.

The rally was emceed by Robert Agyemang, vice president of advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition, and also included speakers from Rural & Migrant Ministry, Long Island Language Advocates Coalition and CARECEN (an immigration legal services provider on Long Island). The staff member from CARECEN led the group in a “Know your rights” session, reviewing legal rights for people who may come into contact with ICE. The importance of these sessions was emphasized by Angel Reyes, an organizer from Make the Road. “If we’re here, it’s because our community is resilient,” Reyes said. “The moment we lose is the moment we stop fighting.”

St. James residents filled with Irish spirit at annual St. Patrick’s Day parade

by Rita J. Egan - March 20, 2025

0 934

1 of 30

By Rita J. Egan

Lake Avenue in St. James was a wee bit crowded on Saturday, March 15. Despite an overcast sky, locals, many adorned with green shirts and accessories, came out in droves to watch the hamlet’s 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Hosted by the St. James Chamber of Commerce, the parade was led by Town of Smithtown Superintendent of Highways Robert Murphy, this year’s grand marshal. Elected officials, Scouts, dancers, bands and even some spooky creatures from Deepwell’s Haunted Mansion joined Murphy along the parade route.

Residents along Woodlawn Avenue could also enjoy the parade as participants lined up in and near the Smithtown High School East parking lot and marched up the street before turning onto Lake Avenue and heading toward the St. James train station.

D. None of the Above: Urging the EPA to keep scientists on board to help make informed decisions

by Daniel Dunaief - March 19, 2025

0 339

By Daniel Dunaief

One day decades from now, will the people involved with the Environmental Protection Agency look back at their legacy and feel pride and satisfaction? Sure, reducing waste is a good idea, cutting unnecessary costs is beneficial and effective and removing regulations that might cause inefficiencies without adding much benefit could be helpful.

But at what cost and what is lost along the way?

Take, for example, the New York Times piece earlier this week that suggested that the EPA is exploring the possibility of laying off 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists. The NYT cited Democrats on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology to describe this proposed plan.

The agency plans to get rid of 75 percent of the people who work in the Office of Research and Development. Does ignoring problems, removing the scientists who study them, and reducing the likelihood of tracking any threats to the environment and to human health make it better?

Lee Zeldin, former Republican congressmen from NY-1 and a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, is heading up the agency.

The proposal, which, fortunately, appears to be just that at this stage, reminds me of the time President Trump suggested that the only reason the United States has more cases of Covid than other nations was because we were testing for it.

So, the solution, implicit in that observation, is that if we don’t test for it, we won’t know how prevalent it is and we will look better compared with other nations.

No, look, I get it. On some level, more rigorous testing means we will find problems that might otherwise not require too much effort to solve. Some people who tested positive for Covid didn’t get that sick and didn’t require medical attention.

Knowing whether people contracted the virus, however, could be useful for everyone. You see, if a certain sub group of the country had the virus but didn’t get all that sick, scientists might be able to compare the blood, the backgrounds, or the pre-existing medical conditions to determine who is most or least at risk from various health threats.

The same holds true for the environment. Data is helpful and can and should help make informed decisions.

We don’t already know everything we need to know. As any scientist will tell you, the results they get can and often are exciting. What inspires them beyond their results is the next set of questions.

The federal government may not want to support every type of research, but dismissing over a thousand scientists can and will lead to the kind of dangerous information gaps that could affect human health and the environment.

Scientists don’t generally live lives of extreme wealth and luxury, unless they invent or patent something that people decide they can’t live without or that becomes a necessity.

I have known scientists for decades. They often work long hours, are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and to contributing to their fields, and tend to live modest lives.

Back in the day when I covered Wall Street banks, I rubbed elbows with power brokers who thought nothing of spending lavishly on dinners, who sat a few rows from the on-deck circle at Yankee Stadium, and who had cars waiting for them day and night to bring them to and from their luxurious homes.

Scientists and educators, on the whole, don’t have the same professional financial options.

And yet they help advance society, protect us from infections, keep our water and air clean and gather the kind of information we shouldn’t ignore.

Before cutting over a thousand people in a drastic cost cutting initiative, the EPA and Zeldin should study the type of information these researchers produce.

We wouldn’t want to heat our houses by burning down the wood that supports our walls and ceilings. Scientists can help us figure out whether decisions by individuals or companies are doing just that, providing us with temporary warmth at great expense to the homes in which we live.

Information, after all, isn’t owned exclusively by one political party or another, the way a resort might be. As with other layoff decisions by the Trump administration, I hope they reconsider this one. If they do, the older versions of themselves and their grandchildren may one day appreciate it and benefit from the work these scientists do to protect the environment we share.

Between You and Me: Americans are the world’s best tippers. Why?

by Leah Dunaief - March 19, 2025

0 355

By Leah S. Dunaief

How do you feel about tipping these days? According to Fox News, some 90% of Americans feel tipping has gotten out of hand. Not only do tips seem to start at 18% rather than what used to be the standard 15%, they are also going up as restaurant prices go up since they are calculated on the amount of the check.

And Fox News is basing its information on a survey done by a company called WalletHub.

There are lots of other complaints, too, about tips. For instance, while tips used to be given to waiters, bartenders and hairdressers, the landscape has now changed. Tips are now expected at many checkout counters & other unlikely places.

“More and more establishments where you wouldn’t normally tip are asking for something extra, and people are even being asked to tip self-help machines with no human interaction,” according to WalletHub.

Why are tips even necessary?

Tipping originally was a way to express appreciation for a job well done, perhaps over and above what was expected. Now, it seems, it is a requirement on a restaurant check in the United States. Europeans leave only a couple of coins to express appreciation for good service.

Many years ago, when my dad was paying the bill for our meal in an eatery, he left a nickel as a tip. The waiter ran out onto the sidewalk after us, telling my dad how much his family depended on the tip money I remember my dad answering that the service had been abysmal. But he reached into his pocket, gave the man some money and explained that it was now charity and not a tip. It was a good distinction for me to learn. He also suggested the man work harder at his job to better feed his family.

Something that annoys a good friend with whom I occasionally eat is that the suggested tips at the bottom of the bill are based on food plus tax rather than on food alone. Certainly there is no extra effort expended for adding taxes. So she will determine her tip on the amount above the tax line.

Another friend with whom I enjoy a meal in a restaurant always tips 30% because she feels being a waiter or waitress is a hard job, and people who do it really need the money.

Tips were also given to waiters and waitresses when we all knew they earned something like $2.50 an hour. Now, with minimum wage at $16.50 between salary and tip, it’s a different story.

WalletHub also released the following statistics:

Automatic service charges should be banned, according to 83% of respondents.

One in four believe tips should be taxed, in contrast to the current administration’s offer to make tips tax free.

When presented with a tip suggestion screen at a counter, 3 in ten tip less.

Some 40% of those surveyed think tipping should be replaced with an employee rating system that then tells the employer how to pay staffers.

Americans pay an average of $500 a year on tips.

More than 75% feel that tips should be divided only among employees who interact directly with customers.

And finally, more than 50% of customers leave tips because of social pressure rather than as a result of good service.

A piece of advice offered by one respondent: If you are standing to place an order, as with checkout counters, no tip.

Prev 1...789...497 Next

Page 8 of 497