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Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta

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Community Blood Drive

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta is collaborating with St. Joseph’s Church in Kings Park, to host a blood drive on Thursday, August 25, from1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Travis Hall – Lower Level, behind St. Joseph’s at 59 Church Street. The drive is to benefit the blood banks maintained by Long Island Blood Services, which provides blood to hospitals throughout Long Island.

To be eligible to donate blood, a person must be between the ages of 16 (16 with parental consent) and 76, (if older than 76, you need permission from your doctor), weigh over 110 pounds and not have had a tattoo in the last three months. Please bring a valid photo ID with you. LI Blood Services recommends that you eat and drink plenty of fluids before donating. Previous donors should bring their blood donor card with them.

Leg. Rob Trotta at a blood drive in  June.

As a thank you for donating a pint of blood, each donor will receive a voucher for a free pint of beer, glass of cider, wine or soda at one of the participating breweries such as Destination Unknown Beer Co., Jamesport Farm Brewery, Riverhead Cider House, Long Island Beer Company, Tradewinds Brewing, Eastern Front Brewing Co., Ubergeek Brewing and others on Long Island and throughout the tristate area.

“Hospitals are always in need of blood supplies so it is important that if you can donate blood to do so because one pint of blood can help save three lives. We just did a blood drive in June and I thank those who attended and hope you will return as enough time has passed to donate again,” said Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta. For more information, please call Legislator Trotta’s district office at 631-854-3900.

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County Legislator Rob Trotta presented Alison Kelleher with a proclamation at his office in recognition as the 2022 Teen Youth for his legislative district. Photo from Legislator Trotta’s office

In 2020, the Suffolk County Legislature established the Annual Youth Award to recognized incredible young person in each Legislative District. 

This year, Legislator Rob Trotta selected Alison Kelleher, a senior at Smithtown High School West, for this recognition as she spearheaded the fundraising campaign for her school district’s Relay for Life Campaign for the American Cancer Society by raising more than $10,000 within 72 hours, the most of any school district in the nation. For her efforts, she won the “Fund the Mission” Challenge.  

“Alison is most is most deserving of being my district’s 2022 Youth Award recipient as she has demonstrated personal achievement, met challenges successfully, and developed leadership, self-reliance and other qualities of humanity so desirable in young people,” Trotta said.

He added, “I wish her much success as she starts her freshman year at Clemson University.”

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Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta will host a community blood drive at St. Joseph’s Church’s Travis Hall, 59 Church St., Kings Park on Tuesday, June 28, from 1 to 7 p.m. . Each donor has an opportunity to win six tickets to a Mets game, and to receive a Mets t-shirt as a thank you for donating to the blood drive. For more information, call 631-854-3900.

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    Pictured Left: Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (standing second from right) and Legislator Trotta (standing first on left) with presenters and attendees. 

On June 15, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.) joined with her colleagues, Legislator Manuel Esteban (R-16th L.D.) and Legislator Rob Trotta (R-13th L.D.), at the East Northport Public Library to host an Identity Theft Prevention Seminar.  The seminar was led by various members of both the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit.

Legislator Bontempi with Legislator Trotta at the event.

The purpose of this presentation was to provide attendees with not only the latest information regarding the scams and tactics that are currently out there, but to provide them with the tools needed to avoid becoming victims.  More than one presenter stressed how it is usually too late once a victim takes a scam’s bait, illustrating the value of taking certain simple preventative steps.

“People need to hear about the horror stories that are out there with respect to identity theft,” said Bontempi.  “Some people are victimized and their lives are absolutely turned upside down.  I urge everyone to educate themselves and share their knowledge with family and friends.”

Although scams can sometimes target certain age groups more than others, anyone can fall prey to them, especially when he or she least expects it.  Because of the prevalence of identity theft-related crimes, law enforcement and their partners in government rely heavily on the feedback from the public.  One way to report a potential scam is to contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or via online at ftc.gov/complaint.

A great resource to learn more about identity theft and preventative measures is available at www.nysconsumer.gov

If you have been victimized by an identity theft-related crime, call your local police department as soon as possible.

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On Wednesday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m. Suffolk County Legislators Rob Trotta, Manuel Esteban and Stephanie Bontempi will host an Identify Theft Prevention Seminar at the East Northport Public Library, 185 Larkfield Road,  in East Northport.  

Assistant District Attorneys from District Attorney Ray Tierney’s Financial Crimes Bureau will address Identity Theft from an elder abuse point of view focusing on motor vehicle theft, forged documents, insurance fraud, and other acts of identity theft.

As a former Suffolk County Detective, I know first-hand how devastating identity theft can be for our seniors and that they are reluctant targets of such crimes,” said Legislator Trotta. “I encourage everyone to attend as anyone can be an unwilling victim,” Trotta added.

“Anyone can be the victim of ID theft, especially someone who is not equipped with preventive strategies. Hearing from and engaging with ID theft prevention experts is a fantastic way to avoid becoming a victim,” said Legislator Stephanie Bontempi.

Legislator Manuel Esteban Sr. said, “It is my pleasure to partner on another important community program to help our residents.”

The event is free and open to all. The library will be taking reservations via phone at (631) 261-2313 or through its website at https://www.nenpl.org/

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Detective John Oliva and Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta at the podium. Photo from Trotta's office

A standing ovation from the members of the Suffolk County Legislature and the audience was music to the ears of former Detective John Oliva and his previous FBI Gang Task Force member and current legislator, Rob Trotta. All 18 members of the Legislature signed a proclamation congratulating Oliva on his vindication and the dismissal of the charges previously filed against him, which forced him to retire, according to Trotta’s office.

In 2014, then Detective Oliva retired from the Suffolk County Police Department due to trumped up charges orchestrated by former and now convicted felon Tom Spota, according to Trotta’s office. It was revealed during the federal corruption trial of Spota and his former top aide, Christopher McPartland, that they and former Chief of Police James Burke initiated and coordinated the charges against Oliva, who they suspected was revealing previously unreported serious gang crimes to the media, which embarrassed Burke and Spota. Burke, Spota and McPartland all received lengthy prison sentences.

Throughout his career, Oliva was closely engaged with the communities he served and was an asset to the FBI Gang Task Force as he was fluent in Spanish. At the March 29 meeting of the Legislature, Oliva noted that he loved his job, would still be working today and that he was very successful in locating and arresting members of the MS 13.  He pointed out that gang members have regular 9-5 jobs in our neighborhoods, but on nights and weekends, they become a different person. Trotta added that the current trial that is going on with the killing of several young men by the MS 13 could probably have been avoided if Burke did not dismantle the county’s police department’s partnership with the FBI task force.

“John Oliva was a terrific cop with a great arrest record and he served the department and the residents with distinction,” Trotta said.

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Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta's office

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta, pictured with his dog Buddy, is participating in the 11th Annual Legislative Food Drive Challenge to collect pet food for the clients of Long Island Cares. Since 2009, Long Island Cares has provided free pet food and supplies to individuals and families in need, in an effort to enable them to keep their pets at home instead of placing them in shelters.

Legislator Trotta pointed out that, according to Long Island Cares, dog and cat food are the most requested items by their member agencies. “Pets keep many people going, giving them comfort and a reason to survive in difficult times, especially now with many people coping with the effects of COVID-19.  I am asking the kindand generous residents and pet lovers in my district to help out. Last year we collected about 1,000 pounds of pet food,” said Legislator Trotta.

The pet pantry is in need of canned and dry cat/dog food, cat/dog treats, birdseed, and food for fish, rabbits, and ferrets, as well as kitty litter and small new toys. The drive is from now until May 1. Donations may be dropped off, Monday through Friday, from 9am – 4pm, at Legislator Trotta’s office, 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, Smithtown. For more information, please call his office at 631- 854-3900.

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Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta at a press conference in October. File photo by Julianne Mosher

By Raymond Janis

The Suffolk County Board of Ethics issued an advisory opinion Feb. 16 regarding campaign contributions from police unions to elected officials.

In May 2021, county Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) requested an opinion regarding donations made by the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association to the campaign of former District Attorney Tim Sini (D). Trotta asked the board whether Sini, or any other elected official, could accept a donation exceeding the $5,000 limit imposed by New York State election law 14-116.

“This board opines that if an elected official accepts contributions from a police union or any political action committee that have been made in violation of election law 14-116, a violation of the Suffolk County code of ethics would occur,” the board wrote, adding that “a definitive ruling … falls solely within the province of the New York State Board of Elections and/or a court of law.”

The board concluded that the donation created an “appearance of impropriety” due to the unique relationship between a prosecuting attorney and the police department. 

The PBA has pushed back against these charges. In an email, PBA president Noel DiGerolamo defended the union’s involvement in the election and accused Trotta of making false allegations. 

“Last year, Legislator Trotta made false allegations about the PBA’s election activities. Every other agency in the state has rejected his nefarious claims,” DiGerolamo said. “The recent decision by the Suffolk County Board of Ethics, even if valid, does not even suggest any wrongdoing by the PBA.”

Trotta, who was a police officer with Suffolk County Police Department for 25 years, said he sees an unhealthy arrangement between the county government, police department and police unions

“The reason why other law enforcement agencies didn’t do anything is because they took hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars from this union,” he said. “It’s corrupting the government and it’s making it unaffordable for anybody to live here.”

According to DiGerolamo, the PBA has donated to political campaigns for decades. He said these donations have fully complied with all state and federal election laws.

“The Suffolk County PBA has been 100% compliant with all rules and regulations regarding political contributions,” he said. “We have supported candidates in every political party for decades and will continue to do so.”

Trotta argues the existing practice of donating is precisely the problem. He claims that he and two others are the only elected officials in county government who do not accept police union money.

DiGerolamo said the BOE does not have authority to interpret federal or state election law. He viewed the advisory opinion as a significant jurisdictional overreach. 

“The advisory opinion is a tremendous overreach of the board’s authority,” DiGerolamo said. “It attempts to supersede federal and state law and undermine the democratic process. This unethical opinion cannot be allowed to stand.”

According to DiGerolamo, the PBA intends to clear its name of any wrongdoing. He said the PBA will exhaust all legal options necessary to defend itself and the voting rights of police officers.

“The Suffolk County PBA will seek all legal remedies available to ensure law enforcement’s hardworking men and women are not disenfranchised from the election process,” he said.

Last November, Sini lost his reelection bid to incumbent District Attorney Raymond Tierney (R). Trotta said he is optimistic that Tierney can root out corruption and restore electoral integrity in Suffolk County.

“I’m counting on the new Suffolk County district attorney to enforce the laws,” Trotta said. “I’m very confident he will.”

Sini could not be reached for comment.

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Photo from Leg. Trotta's office

For several years, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) has been working with Smithtown-based SMM Advertising and Retired Volunteer Services Programs (RSVP) to conduct a winter coat drive to provide coats to various organizations that provide services to people in need or who reside in shelters and could use warm winter clothing. They are collecting gently used or new coats, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and new socks for infants, children, teens and adult men and women. 

“Due to COVID-19, many residents have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced. As people prepare for the winter and clean out their closets or plan to give a new coat as a gift, it is important for all of us to help our fellow neighbors who need warm coats by contributing to this drive. Many people are still dealing with the impact that the pandemic has had on their lives,” said Leg. Trotta.

Donations of coats and other outerwear may be dropped off at Leg. Trotta’s district office, located 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, (Blue Door) in Smithtown, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The coat drive ends January 7, 2022. For directions or questions, please call Legislator Trotta’s office at 631-854-3900.

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Photo from Leg. Trotta’s office

Through an omnibus grant administered by the Suffolk County Office of Economic Development, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta secured funding for the Kings Park Chamber to commission three murals to beautify the downtown business district in Kings Park. 

In partnership with Splashes of Hope, a non- profit art organization that creates murals throughout Long Island, the first mural was recently completed. With the help of local residents and Legislator Trotta, they painted a picture of the Kings Park Bluff. The bluff is a favorite site for local residents, anglers, boaters and students at Kings Park High School. The painting is on the side of the Kings Park Shipping and Business Center building at 21 Pulaski Road, and it welcomes visitors and residents to the area.  

“I think this is a terrific use of the grant money and a great way to revitalize our downtown business district,” said Leg. Trotta.

Above, Leg.Trotta paints the top of a boat while children and adults work on other aspects of the mural.

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