Town of Huntington council members voted 4-1 to eliminate discretionary legislative staff appointments. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington website.
By Peter Sloniewsky
The Town of Huntington Town Board met Feb. 11 to discuss a variety of resolutions and matters, highlighted by an allegedly last-minute resolution to dismiss each individual legislator’s staffers.
In a 4-1 decision, the members of the board adopted a resolution which eliminated each of its members’ two discretionary legislative staff appointments in favor of a unified call center. This resolution was passed with the understanding that the affected staffers would be able to reapply for positions in the call center or for other civil service positions.
Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci
Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci (R) was the lone no vote. In the meeting, Lupinacci argued that she had been left in the dark on the details of the resolution prior to the meeting and “elected officials having legislative staff that are appointed of their choosing is commonplace.” She claimed that she was the only council member with “no knowledge” that the staffers were fired and she was not consulted prior to the resolution.
Lupinacci continued to describe the vote as “a grotesque display of an attempt to crush my ability to do my job,” before motioning that it be tabled and concluding that she could not “support a resolution that would be firing my staff.” No other council members spoke on the resolution before it was passed.
Additionally, the Town Board dedicated time to appoint and reappoint a number of civil servants. These included a member of the Board of Assessment Review, which responds to claims of misvalued property for taxation, members of the town’s Conservation Board, a director of the Public Safety Department and a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
The board also passed resolutions to develop public spaces. They passed a resolution requesting the New York State Legislature to discontinue the use of parklands to build a Huntington African American Museum. They also moved to dedicate some town property to build a Cold Spring Hills park.
Lastly, the board settled some ongoing litigation and authorized applications for program and grant funding from a variety of governmental and nongovernmental sources.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
Protesters outside of Congressman Nick Lalota’s (R-NY01) office on Presidents Day. Photo by William Stieglitz.
By William Stieglitz
On Monday, Feb. 17, Long Islanders took to the sidewalks outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s (R-NY01) Hauppauge office to demand he hold an in-person town hall during the current congressional break. American and rainbow flags flew among rows of signs demanding communication with constituents as well as resistance against the administration, all while people called out “Where’s Nick LaLota?” and “Nick LaLota, Do your job!” The turnout was larger than expected, with over 300 registered and, according to what several attendees said they heard from police, many more protesters spanning from Route 347 to Town Line Road, totaling an estimated thousand overall.
The calls for a public town hall stemmed from LaLota not having held one through his entire time in office. This was a particularly sore spot for protesters, as none of the Republican congressmen of Long Island’s Congressional Districts 1 and 2 have held one since 2017—opting instead for “telephone town halls” where only questions chosen by the Congressman’s team can be heard. “LaLota has decided for whatever reason that it’s better for him politically to support vocally what [Trump and Musk] are doing to attack our institutions rather than actually fighting for the people of this district,” said attendee Nancy Goroff, co-founder of Long Island Strong Schools Alliance. “And he dares to dismiss all his constituents calling his office and contacting him by email as unimportant, rather than actually paying attention to what he owes to his district.”
The “Unscripted: LaLota, Listen to the People!” rally—organized by Indivisible in conjunction with eight local grassroots—was named in reference to LaLota’s comments in the Washington Post earlier this month. He described constituent calls to his office as “people reading off scripts… demonizing Musk, demonizing DOGE, which I think is unfortunate.” The response did not sit well with protesters. “Constituents don’t appreciate being mocked,” said Emily Kaufman, a co-organizer for the rally. “Our concerns are real and that’s why we’re here: to demand that he listen to us.”
Chief among the concerns were federal cuts to Long Island healthcare and education. Hundreds signed onto a petition demanding LaLota work to unfreeze funds to the Northport VA, Brookhaven and Cold Spring Harbor labs and other Long Island institutions.
“He is very proud of announcing grants that, for example, faculty at Stony Brook have earned,” Goroff said, “and yet now that those grants are in jeopardy, he is saying nothing against it at all.”
Organizers spoke heavily on the topic of cuts, with Kaufman emphasizing, “715 thousand people in this district are on Medicaid, and if we cut that we have pregnant women who are going to face a loss of care.”
Co-organizer Deborah Roberts also spoke on cuts to the Department of Education. “Education is the engine of economy, the engine of our democracy. What we would be losing would be funding for disadvantaged children, disabled children … People don’t realize this, but the Department of Education is a center for data collection, comprehensive data collection, about all of the programs throughout the United States. So we have programs impacted, disability rights, civil rights and policies in schools, equity in education, all these things would no longer exist, would no longer be funded.”
The protest lasted for over an hour, with frequent honks of support from drivers and most attendees staying past the scheduled end time. “It shows that we, at the end of the day, all want the same things,” said Suffolk Progressives founder Shoshana Hershkowitz, who emceed the event. “We want safe communities, we want to make sure our schools are funded, our hospitals are funded, and we care about this being a place everyone can live and thrive.”
Speaking to the energy driving the attendees, Kaufman said “We don’t want to be in the streets; it’s freezing out right now, but we are here because we have to be. If Nick LaLota’s not gonna show up for us, then we’re gonna come bring our message to him.”
When reached for comment on the protest, LaLota’s office was unavailable.
The rally was cosponsored by the 50501 Movement, a group designed for resistance against current administration with the motto “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement,” and coincided with the organization’s Presidents Day protests across the nation. Local cosponsors for the Hauppauge rally included Assemble Long Island, East End Action Network, Long Island Advocates, Long Island Network for Change, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Progressive East End Reformers, Show Up Long Island, and Suffolk Progressives.
'Voices and Votes' will be on view at the Long Island Museum through April 6. Photo from LIM
Special Exhibition Opening February 20 in Advance of Women’s History Month
The Long Island Museum (LIM), 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook has announced the arrival of “A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy,” a humanities discussion series that includes the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and LIM’s response exhibition Building the Ballot Box: Long Island’s Democratic History opening on February 20, in advance of Women’s History Month. These engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs will examine nearly 250 years of history, exploring the ongoing pursuit to form “a more perfect union.”
The only Smithsonian Affiliate Institution in the Nassau-Suffolk region, LIM collects, preserves, interprets, and celebrates Long Island’s richly diverse past and its storied role in our nation’s history.
“The Long Island Museum is honored to be involved in this statewide conversation about democracy,” said Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff. “In our response exhibition and planned programs, we will especially explore how political participation throughout our region has expanded and been a shifting, challenging, and inspirational terrain over time.”
‘Building the Ballot Box’ will be on view at the Long Island Museum through May 18. Photo from LIM
Building the Ballot Box, on view through May 18, will examine the role this region played in history from the Women’s suffrage movement, Civil Rights, and other movements in political history. This exhibition will include key artifacts like the Suffrage Wagon that was across New York State in public events to advocate for women’s suffrage in 1917. Other objects highlight regional trailblazers such as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black US Congresswoman, and Geraldine Ferraro, the first female candidate nominated for Vice President by a major political party.
Voices and Votes, on view through April 6, is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, and includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is the statewide organizer for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s Museum on Main Street program bringing Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to twelve museums across New York State. The Long Island Museum is the seventh institution in the state to participate in “A New Agora for New York” and host the Voices and Votes exhibition.
“Long Island is full of inspiring stories of civic engagement and significant ‘firsts’ in America’s 250 years of democratic history,” said MANY Agora Project Fellow Ren Lee. “We are thrilled to work with the Long Island Museum as they use Voices and Votes as a launching point to engage with their community through these exhibitions and a truly fantastic lineup of programs.”
The Voices and Votes exhibition will be on view in the Cowles Gallery of LIM’s History Museum. Building the Ballot Box will be on view directly adjacent to Voices and Votes, in the History Museum’s Main Gallery. These exhibitions will be accompanied by a series of programs including a drop-in day for Girl Scouts on Friday February 21 andan American Experiments Game Night on Feb. 27.
For a full description of the exhibitions and all programs, visit the Long Island Museum’s website longislandmuseum.org
PJ Country Club prior to collapse of gazebo and edge of tennis courts, undated photograph. Courtesy of PJ Village website
Phase 1 of the East Beach Bluff Stabilization was the first part of a $10 million initiative aimed at arresting bluff erosion and preventing the Village of Port Jefferson-owned country club from sliding down the slope.
This first phase of the project was completed in June 2023. By any official accounts of the time, Phase 1 was a success. But within months of completion a series of storms in late 2023 and early 2024 damaged the site, undoing costly work, setting back progress and hampering the goals of the project.
According to the May 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report covering the period from September 2023 to February 2024, conducted by GEI Consultants of Huntington Station (the engineering firm that designed Phase 1), the village had not implemented recommended repairs, increasing the risk of more complicated and expensive upkeep and repair in the future.
The report stated that “no maintenance or repairs to date were undertaken by the village following the storms,” further suggesting that the village implements “necessary repair to the project as soon as possible.”
The report’s findings have raised questions among residents and officials about the long-term viability of the stabilization efforts and financial resources needed for continued upkeep and repairs.
TBR News Media reviewed GEI’s 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report — required under the Department of Environmental Conservation permit for Phase 1 — and spoke to experts, village officials and residents, exploring the report’s recommendations and the obstacles confronting the village in completing its requirements.
Costs of phases 1 and 2
At the completion of Phase 1, a 358-foot wall of steel and cement was constructed at the base of a steep bluff, about 100-feet-tall, situated on East Beach, facing north toward the Long Island Sound.
As part of the project, the severely eroded bluff face — scoured and denuded by years of storms — underwent restoration. Native vegetation was planted and secured with eight rows of timber terraces, and coir logs (interwoven coconut fibers) at the lower section and, toward the crest, with burlap netting.
The total cost of the Phase 1 project according to village treasurer, Stephen Gaffga, is “$6,024,443 million, of which $677,791 is related to design/engineering/permitting/ surveying, and $5,346,652 was spent on construction.”
At the crest of the bluff, approximately 30 feet beyond the precipice, sits the country club. Phase 2 involves the installation of a 545-foot long, 47-foot-deep steel barrier driven into the bluff’s crest, just a few feet seaward of the country club. The barrier is designed to stabilize the area landward of the bluff and prevent erosion, further reducing the risk of the building collapsing.
The cost of Phase 2 will be partially funded by federal taxpayer dollars as a $3.75 million FEMA grant, the final approval recently completed this past week, allowing for the village to receive bids for the work in the coming months for the construction of the upper wall. Local taxpayer dollars will fund the remaining Phase 2 expenses.
According to Gaffga, the Phase 2 “complete expenses are yet to be determined,” he explained in an email. The total cost will be better understood once the village receives bids for constructing the upper wall
The stabilization project, since its inception in 2017 has been presented by village officials as an urgent necessity. With this imperative in mind, the trustees approved a $10 million bond resolution, without a community referendum, in 2021 to fund the project’s two phases.
In a January 2023 statement by former Mayor Garant, after permitting and plans had been finalized, she warned, “If immediate measures to combat and stop the erosion are not implemented, the building foundation will get exposed, will lose structural support, and slowly but surely will fail — causing significant structural damage first, followed by complete collapse of the [country club] building.”
2024 GEI report findings
Heavy rainstorms swept across Long Island in the early fall of 2023, beginning with Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12 followed by another severe storm on Sept. 23.
According to the GEI report, these storms caused “post-storm stress” to the new vegetation leading to plant die off, shifting sands and forming a small ravine — also referred to as a gully — past the western edge of the wall at the base of the bluff.
To prevent further damage, GEI recommended that the village “replant beachgrass in stressed areas of the bluff face and protect the western edge of the wall by adding a filter fabric and stone.”
Photograph of East Beach Bluff Phase 1 taken as part of the GEI post-storm inspection after Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12, 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website
However, two additional major storms in December 2023 and February 2024 brought strong winds and heavy rainfall expanding the damage started in September. A GEI post-storm inspection in the days following the storms found that a large ravine had formed on the eastern edge of the bluff face, further damaging the vegetation, matting and terracing within the ravine.
Photograph taken as part of the GEI inspection report Feb. 22, 2024 showing extensive damage to the bluff in the vicinity of stressed growth identified in September 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website
In total, the May 2024 report outlined detailed recommendations involving improved drainage, repairs to terracing, laying down of erosion control fabric and replacement of beachgrass. The report’s recommendations concluded with concerns about utilizing honeycomb grids by Coastal Technologies Corp. under consideration by village officials, namely: “GEI has expressed concern that such an installation may not be effective at East Beach due to the types of soils present and the steepness of the East Beach Bluff.”
Despite these concerns, the Board of Trustees at the Oct. 23 public meeting approved a resolution to use American Rescue Plan Act funds at the total cost of $33,920 to pilot test Coastal Technologies stabilizing devices, pending a revised permit from the DEC.
In response to GEI concerns, George Thatos, Coastal Technologies co-founder and head of design, said, “Our Cliff Stabilizer system stabilizes near-vertical slopes with vegetation, unlike terracing which requires major regrading and cliff-top land loss.” He added, “Our solution naturally reforests bluffs.”
According to DEC representative, Jeff Wernick, if a permit holder “cannot follow a report recommendations due to environmental conditions, DEC works with them to modify the permit to correct the issues. If the recommendations are not followed due to negligence, it could result in a violation of the permit and enforcement action.”
Port Jeff Citizens Commission on Erosion
This reporter attended a recent meeting of the Port Jefferson Citizens Commission on Erosion. Their mission, in summary, is to act as a volunteer resident advisory group to the village on matters of erosion confronting the village. So far, much of the group’s focus, chaired by village resident David Knauf, has been on the East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.
On Jan. 20, the committee submitted detailed written questions to Mayor Lauren Sheprow expressing concerns about the overall status of the stabilization project. It questioned plans to proceed with Phase 2 before implementing drainage recommendations and before updating the land survey of the upper bluff that is about three years old. The commission urged these steps be completed before soliciting bids for the construction of Phase 2.
”There was damage that occurred since the Phase 1 was completed that hasn’t been addressed, meaning that it keeps getting more pronounced. There were ongoing reports that were done during the past year,” Knauf said at the Jan. 23 commission meeting.
He added that repairs “should have been done up to now so that whatever was occurring [with Phase 1] didn’t get worse.”
The commission, to date, has not received a comprehensive update on maintenance done on the bluff/wall as recommended in the May 2024 report, according to Knauf.
According to village trustee Robert Juliano, any maintenance and repair done during the time frame of the 2024 report “was minor, such as grooming the beach by village employees.”
Other concerns brought up at the meeting included a request to review a retreat plan allegedly completed under former Mayor Garant and actively participating in vetting of contract bids.
Sheprow, present at the meeting, told TBR News Media her responses to the written questions from the commission, reviewed at the Jan. 23 meeting, would be posted on the village website.
“The village will look to enlist the Citizens Commission on Erosion to help facilitate an open forum where GEI will present the Phase 2 project design and a path forward for Phase 1 remediation and restoration,” the mayor said in an email to TBR News Media.
The 2023 Annual Post-Construction Bluff Monitoring Report dated May 2024 and related items can be viewed at the Port Jefferson Village website at: www.portjeff.com/ 206/East-Beach-Bluff.
For earlier reporting by TBR News Media, visit tbrnewsmedia.com and key in “East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.”
Long Island chapter of Standing Up for Racial Justice held a rally in PJS on Feb. 2. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
By Sabrina Artusa
On Sunday, Feb. 2, the newly founded Long Island chapter of Standing Up for Racial Justice, a national organization aimed toward mobilizing people against racial and economic inequality, met alongside Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station at “Resistance Corner.”
Around 20 men and women held signs in gloved hands, projecting their passion and mission to passing traffic. They faced the bitter cold together, united in their mission to sway newly elected Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) to their purpose.
SURJ was founded in 2009 in response to backlash over the election of former president Barack Obama (D). The organization is dedicated to mobilizing community members, particularly white people, and “to bring together others who were not already active in justice work or who were unsure about how to take action,” according to the website.
This chapter, or “circle,” of SURJ was initiated by circle organizer Sarah Payne and began in November. SURJ encouraged the chapter to sign a pledge “to protect and resist” said Cindy Simon, a member of SURJ. The pledge asks Kassay to “stand up for the people [and] make sure the new policies don’t hurt us.”
Simon said she received a positive response from Kassay. “I am steadfast in my commitment to justice, and in this, would offer my participation at a workshop or other forum where my presence and perspectives could help to further local community goals,” Kassay wrote in an email.
“I want to live in a community where we take care of each other because we have more power than we think we have,” said one member to the crowd. “If we come together, we can fight for a world where everyone has what they need to live dignified lives:health care, housing, a climate that keeps us safe [and] safety from unreasonable detention.”
Some community members held American flags or wore red, white and blue attire. Others held signs reading “Defund the oligarchs,” “Protect people. Resist fascism” and “United against hate.”
“The goal is to become an established group that can continue into 2025 and beyond,” Simon said.
Payne said that as organizer, she has noticed a lack of support for the LGBTQ community on Long Island, so she plans to direct the chapter accordingly to address those needs.
“We’ve been looking at the intersectionality between queer and trans issues and racial justice issues,” Payne said. “Queer and trans issues are really close to the heart for a lot of people in our circle so I think that is more of our focus.”
“I’m hoping that now that we’ve done this it will be more like a self-sufficient group and we can go and do more actions now that we have this experience,” Payne added.
Legislator Sanin at the 2025 Inauguration of the Suffolk County Legislature
Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin has been elected as Whip for the Democratic Caucus of the Suffolk County Legislature. The announcement was made in a press release on Jan. 30. “This leadership role comes just one year after Legislator Sanin’s election to the Legislature, reflecting her hard work, dedication, and effectiveness in delivering results for Suffolk County residents,” read the release.
As Democratic Whip, Legislator Sanin will play a critical role in advancing the caucus’s legislative agenda and building consensus on key issues. Her leadership will focus on continuing her efforts to reduce costs and make Suffolk County more affordable for working families, enhance public safety, and create good-paying jobs to support families across the county.
“It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to serve as the Democratic Whip,” said Legislator Sanin. “I am proud of the progress we’ve made in my first year on the Legislature, and I look forward to working closely with our caucus to build a safer, stronger, and more affordable Suffolk County for all. This new role allows me to amplify the voices of our communities and to continue advocating for the policies that matter most to our residents.”
Democratic Caucus Leader, Legislator Jason Richberg, praised Sanin’s leadership and tireless commitment to her constituents: “Rebecca has demonstrated incredible dedication and vision since joining the Legislature. Her ability to connect with residents, her thoughtful approach to policymaking, and her passion for public service make her the perfect choice for Democratic Whip. I am confident she will continue to make a significant impact in this role.”
Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chairman Rich Schaffer also expressed his support: “Legislator Sanin has proven herself to be a dynamic and effective leader in just her first year on the Legislature. Her election as Democratic Whip is a testament to her hard work, her ability to bring people together, and her commitment to improving the lives of Suffolk County families. I look forward to seeing her continued success in this new leadership role.”
“Legislator Sanin has built a reputation as a fierce advocate for her district and a champion for policies that strengthen Suffolk County’s economy, enhance public safety, and improve quality of life for all residents. As the Democratic Whip, she will work closely with her colleagues to advance initiatives that address the county’s most pressing challenges and create new opportunities for families across Suffolk,” read the release.
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Rebecca Kassay is sworn into office by NYS Attorney General Letitia James. Photo by Juliane Mosher
Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright presents Rebecca Kassay with a flower bouquet. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Attorney General Letitia James at inauguration ceremony for Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Julianne Mosher
Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich spoke at the inauguration ceremony. Photo by Julianne Mosher
New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay with Lillie Crowder. Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
The seats of Theatre Three in Port Jefferson were completely filled on Sunday, Jan. 26 to witness the swearing in and inauguration of Rebecca Kassay to the New York State Assembly for District 4.
A local business owner and former deputy mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson, Kassay beat incumbent Ed Flood (R) last year in a tight race for the seat. District 4 covers several communities including Stony Brook, Setauket, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Mount Sinai and Coram.
The event featured guest speakers including Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) and Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket). Administration of Oath of Office was provided by New York State Attorney General Letitia James and a special poem was read by civil rights activist and community organizer Lillie Crowder.
During her final remarks, Kassay thanked her supporters and all of the public servants before her.
“I know that I carry on work that has been done so long before I was born and I’m working for the people who’ve not yet been born,” she told the crowd. “I’m working for the people who will never hear my name, but hopefully will feel the impact that I had along with these incredible leaders in our community and be better off from it.”
Former Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sharon R. Soderstrom, his former chief of staff. Photo courtesy of Sen. McConnell’s website
By D. Bruce Lockerbie
Just before its Christmas recess, the U.S. Senate met for an unusual ceremony, the retirement of an employee who, after 43 years on the job, had become known as one of “the most powerful” women in Washington (The Atlantic, May 20, 2015) and, according to former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), even the 101st Senator. Her name is Sharon R. Soderstrom, former chief of staff forMcConnell.
Few ordinary citizens understand the inner workings of our national government; in particular, the “sausage-making process” of passing bills into law to fulfill the policy expectations of voters who sent politicians to high offices.
Sharon R. Soderstrom
The U.S. Senate describes how a senator’s hired staff functions: “Senators depend on the assistance of staff on Senate committees and in their individual offices, both in Washington, D.C., and in their home states. Senate committee staff include clerks, staff directors, staff assistants, legal counsel, researchers, policy analysts, press assistants, and archivists. Most senators’ offices include a chief of staff to manage the office, legislative correspondents to communicate with constituents, and legislative directors and assistants to help develop legislation, as well as schedulers, communications and press staff, and other administrative assistants.”
Sharon Soderstrom filled the role of senior adviser for three Republican majority leaders: Trent Lott (R-MS), William Frist (R-TN) and McConnell.
Soderstrom’s father Karl E. Soderstrom was the head of The Stony Brook School; her brother Mark Soderstrom is a senior captain on the Port Jefferson/Bridgeport Ferry. With their younger sister Cheryl, they all attended North Country Elementary School through sixth grade, then enrolled at The Stony Brook School.
She was valedictorian of the class of 1978 before going on to the University of Virginia, where she majored in English; her intended graduate studies were interrupted by an opportunity to work in the Washington, D.C., office of then Senator Paul Trible (R-VA).
“I thought I’d work there for a year or two before I found my real job,” Soderstrom said. “I started answering phones but soon moved into a role that I found stimulating — learning about policy issues and thinking about how to strategically advance causes through the legislative process.”
The Hill, a widely-circulated insider publication, acclaims her as “an expert on Senate rules and procedure” and “well regarded for the counsel she provides to McConnell and members on Senate strategy. . . . Former aides in the office say that she constantly has her finger on the pulse of the [Republican] conference and the full trust of the longest-serving leader in Senate history.” (Sept. 12, 2023)
McConnell’s spoken tribute began, “For several months now, I’ve been calling the Senate’s attention to the extraordinary people who have me, this institution, and our nation so well — and for so long — in the Republican Leader’s office. Today, I’ve reached the end of the list. My one remaining task is to prepare our colleagues for a Senate without Sharon Soderstrom.”
McConnell ended his tribute by stating, “Come January, the Senate will convene again. The 119th Congress will bring us a new slate of weighty business, new moments of minor crisis, and new opportunities to better serve the nation we all love. But in the most trying moments — and the most triumphant ones — a great many of us will feel like something is missing. We will miss Sharon — the 101st Senator. Sharon, you have served the Senate with honor. You are the greatest at what you do.”
As for her own retrospective, Soderstrom says, “One of the joys of my work through the years has been the opportunities to mentor public-spirited young people. The role placed me at the intersection of operating between the White House, the House leadership and Senate Republican leaders. Among the many things I’m proud of is despite the stresses on our institutions, in moments of crisis I have been part of national leaders who led during 9/11 and 1/6/24 — two different evacuations of the Capitol, two different Republican leaders, and one imperative: Return to the Capitol the same day and demonstrate national resolve for the country and for the world.”
When asked to cite both high and low points in her career, she replied, “I have also been grateful at different moments in time to drive agendas that have been consequential in the moment. After Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, I was with Leader McConnell in Finland, then Sweden, the day they voted to join NATO. We then were part of the legislative team to drive early U.S. ratification of the treaty, and met again with the Prime Minister the day he presented the accession papers to the State Department to make it official.”
“I did ask on behalf of my Norwegian grandparents what took them so long,” she added.
“I credit my upbringing at The Stony Brook School for modeling lessons that helped me in this role. At the end of his life, my Dad told me of his deep satisfaction in doing purposeful work with talented colleagues, many of whom became lifelong friends. I too was able to work with the best and brightest, and as a team we were each better than our individual parts. Building and managing a team that maintained our reputation for excellence and high morale through the tenure of the longest serving leader in Senate history was a great good gift.”
“But I think my greatest disappointment through the years has been watching politics become more performative among each party’s base, making progress more difficult. Mark Shields once said, ‘There are two types of political parties like there are two kinds of churches: those who seek converts and those who root out heretics.’ I hope that we can return to a moment when we try to persuade through the weight of a winsome argument rather than shutting down dissent and vilifying fellow citizens.”
For the first time in more than four decades, Sharon Soderstrom’s daily routine is no longer at the behest of 100 men and women who live their lives in six-year cycles and count to 51 (or 60), depending on the nature of the case before them. She plans to take a well-earned break from Senate arithmetic.
D. Bruce Lockerbie is a longtime resident of the Three Villages.
After an extended vote-counting process, Rebecca Kassay has defeated incumbent Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson). Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks. As of now, Kassay is leading Flood by 813 votes.
Kassay released a statement on her Facebook page Tuesday, Nov. 26, declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4. She wrote, “After a spirited campaign, I am declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4, having secured an insurmountable lead over my opponent, Ed Flood. Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks.”
Kassay added, “I am heartened by our community’s trust in me to bring public service back to politics. It will be a great honor to represent District 4 in the New York State Assembly and to deliver resources to our communities. As discussed during civic debates and at residents’ doors throughout my campaign, I will serve with a community-up approach — one that prioritizes transparency, communication and meaningful action on pressing issues.”
Assemblywoman-elect Kassay has already begun laying the groundwork to ensure she and her team “hit the ground running and serve the district effectively on day one.”
“Throughout the coming weeks, I will be meeting with civic groups, school district representatives, nonprofits, first responders, local government officials and other community stakeholders to collaborate on the important work of shaping the projects and policies that will guide the district forward,” the statement continued.
Kassay invites residents or groups to connect with the incoming District 4 Assembly team by emailing [email protected].
Gov. Hochul visits Stony Brook following Aug. 18 storm. File photo
By Lynn Hallarman
The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied requests from Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Nov. 14 to provide funding assistance for Suffolk County homeowners impacted by the severe flooding this past August.
Hochul requested disaster assistance from FEMA’s Public and Individual Assistance programs for Suffolk County in September in the wake of a relentless six-hour downpour in the early hours of Aug. 19.
Floodwaters from almost 11 inches of rain destroyed roads and damaged numerous residences and businesses across the North Shore of Suffolk County. Multiple swift water rescues occurred in the Town of Brookhaven, and flooding caused a breach of the Mill Pond Dam in Stony Brook Village causing six families to be displaced.
“Over 2,000 residents and business owners experienced flood damage in some capacity, and Stony Brook University had to relocate and/or shelter hundreds of students,” according to the statement released by the governor’s office shortly after the storm.
President Joe Biden (D), in October, approved a major disaster declaration for New York State for recovery efforts. The federal funding supports emergency work and repair by local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations.
However, this aid funding does not include flood damage repair for individual households.
The November FEMA declaration denied Hochul’s request for aid to homeowners.
“It was determined that the damage was not of severity and magnitude to warrant a Federal Declaration for Individual Assistance,” said a statement from FEMA.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY1) sent a letter to the governor on Nov. 20 urging her to appeal the decision to deny Individual Assistance to Suffolk County residents.
“Suffolk County families devastated by the August 18 flooding, cannot be left to shoulder the burden alone,” he said in the letter.
“While the federal denial [for individual homeowners] was disappointing, we plan to appeal and will continue fighting to ensure storm-impacted residents have access to recovery resources,” said Gordon Tepper, Long Island press secretary for Hochul, in an email statement to TBR.
A local flood ordeal
Kellie Coppi, an East Setauket homeowner, describes a harrowing ordeal when her basement was rapidly flooded with six feet of stormwater the night of the storm. As she tried to soak up the water
Floodwater line in Coppi’s Basement after the night of the Aug. 8 storm. Photo courtesy Kellie Coppi
with towels, a sudden surge trapped her, her father and her dog in the basement. If not for her husband breaking down the basement door, they might have drowned.
Coppi’s father, who lives with her and her family, is recovering from recent cancer chemotherapy. In the flood, he lost his life-long belongings stored in the basement.
“Everything in the entire finished basement had to go, and everything from my deceased mother, who passed away right before the flood,” she said.
Coppi thought she would receive funding aid after FEMA officials made a visit to her house, but she has yet to hear back from them.
“I thought that was a really good sign, because it was a whole team with jackets and everything, wow!” she said. She added, “They took pictures and checked the property. It seemed totally legit and that something was going to happen,” she said to TBR News Media.
As a backup, Coppi applied for a $ 50,000 grant to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Agency’s Resilient& Ready Home Repair Program available to affected homeowners.
“But that’s been even more challenging than FEMA,” she said. “They asked for every document under the sun.”
Coppi made it to the second round but still has not heard any news from HCR. She does not know anyone in her community who received this funding, only those who were denied.
The application deadline was Nov. 8.
According to Shachar Roloson, assistant director of communication for HCR, “a large number of applicants are still gathering documents or working with contractors to get repair estimates” in an email to TBR.
“Over 600 applications were received on Long Island. Of those, 80 applications have been fully or conditionally approved to date,” said Roloson.
TBR spoke with Brookhaven Town District 1 Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) about his efforts to advocate for local homeowners affected by flooding damage.
After speaking with residents, Kornreich estimates that at least 30 households in the Stony Brook area alone have tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to their homes.
“There are people in our community who are suffering, and that is what I am focused on,” he said.
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