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Your Turn

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Author Tom Cassidy as a lifeguard at Rockaway Beach.

By Thomas M. Cassidy

The American Red Cross has three lifesaving principles, “Reach, Throw, Don’t Go.” Stand or lie down on solid ground and reach out with an object like a pole that the drowning person can grab so you can pull them to safety. Throw a flotation device toward a swimmer in distress to help them stay afloat and call for help. Don’t Go is a warning that people who jump in the water to rescue a drowning person put themselves at risk of drowning. Even lifeguards must be very careful when they rescue a panicked and distressed swimmer. As a former lifeguard let me explain:

The author’s son Kieran and his daughter Nikki in a swimming pool. Photo from Tom Cassidy

My first rescue occurred in the ocean at Rockaway Beach soon after my seventeenth birthday. I was working the late shift, and the next available lifeguard was two beaches away. It was early evening, and no one was on the beach. A few minutes before closing time, a woman puts her towel on the sand and walks into the water. Within a few minutes she was knocked down by a wave and the undertow was rapidly pulling her out to sea. She was desperately screaming for help!

I blew my whistle to get the attention of the nearest lifeguard and then swam to her. I told her I was a lifeguard, and she was safe. She stretched out her arm and I started to bring her close to me so I could swim her back to the beach. Suddenly in a desperate frenzy, she gripped both her arms around my neck so tight that I almost lost consciousness. We both sank to the bottom of the ocean, and she finally let go of my neck. I recovered quickly, and I was able to push both of us to the surface to get a breath of air.  A lifeguard who heard my whistle arrived within minutes and helped me bring the nearly drowned woman safely to the beach.

Although lifeguards in the United States rescue 100,000 people every year, never assume that a lifeguard can see every swimmer in trouble. If you are struggling or see a distressed swimmer in the water, yell for help, and yell loudly!  

Many people swim in pools, lakes and beaches with no lifeguard protection. For example, I was recently on vacation at a resort with five swimming pools and no lifeguards. I did a safety check and spotted the rescue pole and life preserver on the deck before my family went into the pool. Still, I was on high alert. Not for my five-year-old granddaughter who was always under the watchful eye of her parents, but the hundreds of other children and people in the pool.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that on an average day in America, there are 11 fatal and 22 non-fatal drownings. It only takes 20 to 60 seconds for a person to drown, so it’s important to always stay alert when people are bathing at beaches, lakes and pools. Above all, keep very watchful eyes on children, even when lifeguards are present. The CDC reports that for children ages 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.

A cool dip in a backyard pool or a refreshing swim at one of the beautiful beaches that surround Long Island is a great way to relax and chill out. President John F. Kennedy said it best, “When we go back to the sea, we are going back to whence we came.”

Author Thomas M. Cassidy, a former investigator, is writer and creator of the feature film, Manhattan South, which is in development. (ktpgproductions.com)

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Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Eight years of water testing

By George Hoffman

Almost a decade ago, Laurie Vetere and George Hoffman had a conversation about water quality concerns in Setauket Harbor and decided to form a group of like minded residents to work on improving water quality and the marine environment in the harbor. Out of that decision the Setauket Harbor Task Force was formed.

Since then a hardy group of local residents wake up twice a month at sunrise, from May through October and head out into the harbor with sophisticated equipment funded by the US EPA and take water quality readings in a dozen locations in Port Jefferson and Setauket harbors.

Setauket Harbor Task Force is part of a 50 harbor water quality monitoring program on both sides of the LI Sound in partnership with Save the Sound.  The water quality data collected under the Unified Water Study, is compiled and categorized in an biannual water quality report card for the Long Island Sound.  This data is used by municipalities, marine scientists and others to monitor the water quality health of Long Island Sound harbors.

Port Jefferson and Setauket Harbors continually rank in the top five harbors for water quality in the Long Island Sound.

This year marks the eighth year that Setauket Harbor Task Force has participated in the water quality monitoring program and is always looking for volunteers that like to get up early and be on a boat as the sun comes up.  If interested contact www.savesetauketharbor.org.

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By John Broven

John Broven with the ARSC Lifetime Achievement Award.

During my 30 years living on Long Island, I have been fortunate to travel to places south, west and north in the United States, but never to the heartland. 

So, with a curious mind, it was an easy decision to attend the Association of Recorded Sound Collections annual conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 14-17.

One of the panels revolved around my favorite subject, the independent record industry from the post-World War II years onward. This is where rock ‘n’ roll music was born. 

My presentation was accepted on “The Pioneering Black NYC Record Men, with a Nod to New Orleans.” This was based on my taped interviews with Bobby Robinson of Harlem in 1986 and New Orleanian Harold Battiste, then living in Los Angeles in 1975, also including Juggy Murray of New York. Interview excerpts were embedded in an accompanying video professionally prepared by Debbi Scott Price of Stony Brook. 

Robinson captured the street beat sound of Harlem from the 1950s blues and vocal group era to hip hop in the late 1970s. In 1959, he had a national No. 1 record on the pop charts with “Kansas City” by Wilbert Harrison. Murray was responsible for breaking Ike and Tina Turner’s very first hits on the Sue label and his recordings were a bedrock of the British 1960s Mod era. While on the West Coast, Battiste established the careers of Sonny & Cher (“I Got You Babe”) and Dr. John. How lucky was I to meet and get to know these great record men.

To the heartland

And so on a chilly May 14, I set out for Tulsa. The Long Island Rail Road train from Stony Brook was on time and I disembarked at Woodside station for LaGuardia Airport. There, with suitcase and bag in hand, I was confronted by an impossibly steep staircase, probably unchanged since Victorian times. Happily, a kind gentleman grabbed my case and we found our way through the bustling streets to the free bus to LaGuardia. He turned out to be a Kenyan citizen now living in Texas, and our British Commonwealth backgrounds created an immediate bond. 

The Delta Air Lines direct flight to Tulsa was slightly delayed but we arrived on time at the “oil capital of the world.” A courtesy shuttle bus was arranged by the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Here, in early evening, was my first taste of Oklahoma. The vegetation was surprisingly green, yet I was mindful of the hurt of the Dust Bowl era, also the American Indian heritage. 

During the conference, we visited Leon Russell’s Church recording studio, which is still active. In its time, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder have all recorded there. Oklahoma itself has deep music history ranging from the western swing of Bob Wills, Black bandleaders Ernie Fields and Roy Milton to the folk music of Woody Guthrie and the mesmeric rock of J.J. Cale. A film screening of “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” was also arranged. 

I couldn’t resist the invitation of distinguished German record collector, Dr. Rainer Lotz, to a gourmet meal at the best restaurant in Tulsa, the FarmBar. We had a “traditional” five-course meal from local produce with the menu showing wine pairings from Oregon, Austria and France. Lotz, in his inimitable way, insisted that as we were in America, we must have all-American wine pairings. And the charming sommelier and her staff duly obliged. A splendid evening culminated in two couples at the adjoining table inviting us Europeans to join them for a final drink. When I said I didn’t realize that Oklahoma was so near to Texas, one of them quipped, “Yes, Texas is south of heaven.”

I managed to call in quickly into the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan centers. Sadly, I ran out of time to visit the Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center, covering the appalling destruction of the Black part of town in 1921.

So what was it like for an East Coast “elitist” to be in the heartland? It was an eye opener. Not once did I see a lawn sign or banner promoting the current president, nor was he mentioned by any of the friendly locals. The only time I heard his name was when I caught up with the news on CNN and MSNBC. The Democratic strategists have work to do.

ARSC awards ceremony

The conference Closing Banquet and ARSC Awards Program was held on Saturday, May 17. It was an Oscar-like OMG moment when the Lifetime Achievement Award was announced to … John Broven. The citation included my books, writing for Blues Unlimited and Juke Blues magazines and my stint with Ace Records of London. 

In an impromptu speech, I thanked my fellow pioneering Brit writers and researchers — we were no more than keen amateurs with day jobs — who from the 1960s onward documented America’s great musical heritage. This award, essentially on their behalf, came from an organization whose membership includes representatives from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, major universities and public libraries. In my later years, I am indebted to the staunch support of my late wife Shelley, the daughter of a record man. 

Riding on cloud nine, I made the journey back home Sunday to East Setauket. It took three hours to fly from Tulsa to New York. It took another three hours to get from Jamaica station to Stony Brook, courtesy of LIRR. 

Still, I was greeted by a garden with irises, lupines, foxgloves and dogwood tree in full bloom. And my kitchen had been beautifully repainted in Shelley’s favorite color. Life could not be grander for a lad who had grown up in austerity postwar Britain with a passion for American rock ‘n’ roll music. 

One of the first records I played on my return? It had to be Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys’ “Take Me Back To Tulsa.”

Author John Broven was copy editor at TBR News Media from 2006-24.

— All photos courtesy John Broven

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Zinnias are the perfect choice for homegrown bouquets. Pixabay photo

By Alice Dawes

National Garden Week takes place annually in the first full week of June. This year it is held from June 1 to 7. It is spearheaded by National Garden Clubs, a nonprofit national organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that promotes the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility. 

The day is about bringing more awareness to the importance of gardening and preserving gardening traditions and practices by passing on knowledge to new gardeners. Most importantly, the day is about simply enjoying gardening. 

The Three Village Garden Club, organized over 90 years ago, is a member of the National Garden Clubs along with 30 other local garden clubs on Long Island. The club meets weekly on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Setauket Neighborhood House and welcomes our community members to join us to learn about gardening skills, environmental action and civic programs to enhance our community. Information about our current meeting topics can be found at threevillagegardenclub.org and selecting ‘upcoming events’ in the tool bar. 

The club protects and enhances our Three Village Garden Club Arboretum at the end of Bates Road in Setauket and encourages all to visit and enjoy a walk through nature. Pets on leashes only, please! 

The club provides educational programs on floral design, gardening pointers and youth creative projects through Emma Clark Library’s educational program series. With Emma Clark we also provide a Teddy Bears’ Picnic every summer at the Three Village Garden Club Arboretum for our younger neighbors to enjoy. 

National Garden Week is a time to have an adventure in planting, create and savor our wonderful gardens and the plants we grow there. Plant something new, make a bouquet for your home and introduce our children to the wonders of growing with nature during National Garden Week

Author Alice Dawes has been a member of the Three Village Garden Club for over 20 years.

 

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Rabbi Joshua Gray at Temple Isaiah’s Second Night Community Seder that took place on Sunday evening, April 13. Photo courtesy Rabbi Joshua Gray

By Rabbi Joshua Gray

Rabbi Joshua Gray. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

Nothing brings me back to my childhood, gathered around the kids’ table with my brothers and cousins, like the Hillel sandwich. This singular Passover concoction is a mixture of maror (horseradish) and charoset (a sweet apple and nut mixture), packed between two pieces of matzah, or unleavened bread. If your mouth is not immediately watering at the sound of this combination, I don’t think anyone would blame you. It is only after you try this Passover staple that you fully understand the strangely amazing symphony that is the bitter herb dueting with the sweet pieces of apple and wine. All of this occurs between the satisfying crunch of the matzah. I assure you this combination is one that you, and your tastebuds, will never forget. 

Over 70 percent of Jewish people in the United States will attend a Passover, or Pesach, seder this year. The seder (meaning “order”) is a ritual meal, complete with storytelling, song and general togetherness. We use a special book  called a Haggadah to tell the story of the Israelite Exodus from slavery in Egypt, our subsequent opportunity to live as a free people, and the constant desire to reach our promised land, either literally or proverbially. We are told to continue the tradition; to pass down this important story l’dor vador, from generation to generation. Children are an integral part of the ritual, and we all kvell (burst with pride) as our littlest seder-goers muddle through their designated songs and readings. 

The aforementioned combination of bitter and sweet is no accident. The story of Passover and its rituals are a beautiful part of being Jewish. The message is also a universal one: with freedom comes the responsibility to work toward justice for all people. I always get a bit emotional during our seder when we recite the ten plagues of Egypt; the method by which the hard-hearted Pharaoh finally let the people of Israel go. It is tradition to remove a drop of wine from our cups as we recite aloud each plague. Why do we do this? On a macro level, we recognize that our cups of celebration are never completely full so long as others in the world suffer. The sweetness of freedom from bondage is fused with the bitterness that comes with the knowledge that there is still pain and unrest in our human community. We recognize that while we might be free, there are so many in our world who do not enjoy such self-determination. Individually, we might ask ourselves what could be holding us back from feeling entirely free. What might we be able to let go of that will allow us to live a more meaningful life? 

One of the most important moments in our seder comes as we recite the line: “In every generation each individual is bound to regard themselves as if they had personally gone forth from Egypt.”  Not only do we balance both bitterness and sweetness through the lens of Jewish memory, but we are specifically challenged to put ourselves in the place of those who have gone before us. We grow our empathy for the human family as we build this skill of compassionate curiosity. 

While the goals of Passover are lofty and the rituals might feel a bit baroque, just remember the Hillel sandwich. We are nourished by the tastes from our past as we strive toward a future of justice for all people. On a baser level, Passover evokes memories via taste, smell, song and story. I wish all of you a “Chag Pesach Sameach,” a Happy Passover, and remember, you are always welcome at my table. Try the Hillel sandwich. Trust me.

The author is the Rabbi at Temple Isaiah in Stony Brook.

 

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By Ernestine Franco 

You don’t have to wait until July of 2026 to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America. There were a lot of activities going on that led to what became the great experiment in democracy. One such activity is the famous ride of Paul Revere that occurred on the overnight of April 18 to 19. Many of us will remember that we had to memorize it in school. “Listen, my children, and you shall hear/Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere/…/Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch/Of the North Church tower, as a signal light/One, if by land, and two, if by sea.”

So this year join the Sound Beach Civic Association in remembering and celebrating what we all studied as the American Revolution. Don’t just read about it — This year live it. Of course, we don’t have to ride, or drive, from Boston to Lexington, a ride that many consider the opening of the American Revolution. There’s another way: An organization, Two Lights for Tomorrow, is asking us to commemorate that famous ride and use the imagery of that shining light “Of the North Church tower” as a uniting call to action to celebrate and serve.

The celebration begins on April 18, when we are asked to put two lights in our windows commemorating that famous ride. Then, on April 19, we can go and fight our own war – the war against hunger and homelessness. The SBCA continues the celebration of the beginning of our democracy with a day of service. Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. SBCA members as well as Girl Scout Troop 2019 will meet at the Adopt-A-Spot on New York Avenue in Sound Beach to begin their yearly spring cleanup.

Additionally, the SBCA will be collecting nonperishable food items, personal care items, diapers and cleaning supplies to benefit Long Island Lending a Helping Hand in Rocky Point. The SBCA encourages everyone to join this celebration by putting two lights in their windows on April 18, then stop by the Adopt A-Spot on April 19 to help with the cleanup or donate to help those less fortunate in our communities. There are many different types of revolutions, and we can celebrate the revolution that gave us our democracy by paying it forward to our fellow Americans.

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By Jeffrey Szabo

The March 7 article in Newsday, originally titled, “Public water providers challenge strict PFAS standards, concerning environmentalists,” might mislead readers regarding the Suffolk County Water Authority’s relationship to the legal action against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new PFAS standards. I want to clarify SCWA’s position and correct the record.

First and foremost, SCWA did not bring this lawsuit and is not a party to it. The legal action was initiated by the American Water Works Association and later joined by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, organizations of which SCWA is one of many members. The lawsuit was filed to ensure that the EPA follows the rule of law and the intent of the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

It is also important to clarify that SCWA does not set drinking water standards. These standards are established by the EPA and the New York State Department of Health. Our responsibility is to adhere to these regulations, which we not only meet but consistently surpass. Furthermore, our goal is to treat all contaminants, including PFAS, to nondetectable levels.

Regardless of the outcome of this lawsuit, SCWA’s approach to water treatment will not change. Under my tenure as chief executive officer, we have invested tens of millions of dollars in state-of-the-art treatment technology to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality drinking water. By this summer SCWA will be fully compliant with the 4 parts per trillion  standard established by EPA, well ahead of the required compliance date in 2029. We led the nation in testing for PFAS and have proactively developed new treatment technologies, such as advanced oxidation process treatment for 1,4-dioxane. Our dedicated team of water professionals takes their duty to protect public health with the utmost seriousness, and these achievements are proof of that. 

The fact is SCWA did not pollute the aquifer with PFAS. But our wells draw from that aquifer, and SCWA is now faced with enormous treatment costs to remove the contaminants. Our customers should not bear that financial burden — the polluters should. That is why SCWA is suing the manufacturers of PFAS to hold them accountable for the costs of installing and operating this treatment. Ratepayers should not have to pay for the actions of chemical companies that profited while polluting our water supply.

SCWA’s stance is clear: whether the standard is 10 PPT as set by New York State, 4 PPT as established by the EPA, or any other threshold, our goal remains the same — zero. We are committed to removing contaminants to nondetectable levels and will continue to invest in the technology and infrastructure necessary to achieve this goal.

Our customers can rest assured that SCWA will always prioritize their health and safety, regardless of external legal proceedings. We are proud of our track record and the trust we’ve built within the community. Our rigorous testing protocols and proactive treatment methods have consistently demonstrated our dedication to delivering the highest quality water possible.

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Jonathan Kornreich. Photo by Michael Rosengard/North Island Photography and Films

By Jonathan Kornreich, Brookhaven Town Councilmember

There is no question that the cost of housing in many areas of Brookhaven has surged in recent years. While some homeowners have benefited from dramatic increases in home equity, the pressure of high property taxes remains a heavy burden. For renters, the situation is even more daunting, with studio and one-bedroom apartments often starting at $2,500 per month or more. Clearly, both older residents on fixed incomes and younger people trying to establish themselves face significant challenges due to the high cost and scarcity of truly affordable housing options.

Developers often propose a simple solution: build more housing. However, this approach comes with complications. The rental prices for each new project seem to be higher than the last, making affordability elusive. Additionally, increasing population density puts strain on our infrastructure. Traffic congestion worsens as side streets become race tracks for drivers avoiding clogged main roads. Our underground aquifer is being drained at increasing rates, and every increase in population carries environmental costs—sewage, waste, and air pollution all take their toll. At what point do we conclude that this fragile sandbar we call home has reached its carrying capacity?

Developers, however, continue to insist that more housing is the answer. The logic goes: build more housing near workplaces and public transit to reduce commuting; build in areas with sewer access to limit cesspool contamination; build more to drive down rental prices. But one reason multifamily housing is so appealing to developers is its profitability—high demand guarantees high occupancy rates and allows landlords to charge premium prices. This has led to aggressive development proposals, even when projects may not align with sound planning principles or the public interest.

Recent cases highlight these challenges. Not long ago, our community faced a proposal from Northville to build a multifamily development wrapped around their gas tanks on Belle Meade Road. The community was given an ultimatum: support rezoning for multifamily housing, or face the construction of a shipping warehouse. The request was denied, and to date, no warehouse application has moved forward.

A similar situation is unfolding on Baylis Avenue in Port Jefferson Station, where residents have been presented with the same false choice—accept a zoning change for multifamily housing or contend with a shipping warehouse that could clog roadways with truck traffic.

The fact is that multifamily development can serve as a valuable tool for revitalization when applied strategically. The Route 112 corridor in Port Jefferson Station presents opportunities for transit-oriented development and the creation of a vibrant downtown. The Jefferson Station project by Staller Associates is one such example, demonstrating how mixed-use redevelopment can enhance an area. By incentivizing good development in targeted locations, we can revitalize blighted spaces while avoiding undue strain on infrastructure. Still, this tool must be used sparingly to keep from making our existing challenges worse.

Despite what developers claim, we cannot simply build our way out of the affordable housing crisis. Addressing affordability through unbridled construction would require such an influx of new units that it would fundamentally alter the character of our communities and cause irreparable environmental harm. But viable solutions exist.

Public funds can be provided by the state or federal government to offer low-interest loans to developers in exchange for the construction of affordable units. By reducing borrowing costs and providing tax incentives, we can encourage developers to prioritize affordability without sacrificing profitability.

Beyond assisting developers, we must also support our residents struggling to maintain their homes. The Town of Brookhaven already allows accessory apartments, but the process should be streamlined to encourage more homeowners to participate. Providing homeowners with access to low-cost loans, similar to those offered to developers, would enable them to create legal rental units while maintaining low-density development.

Too many residents, pressured by economic realities, have resorted to building illegal and potentially unsafe rental units in garages and basements, placing both homeowners and tenants at risk. Making it easier to construct legal accessory apartments would not only enhance safety but also provide homeowners with economic security and a way to offset their tax burdens. 

The path forward requires a thoughtful approach. While housing development is necessary, it must be done prudently—addressing affordability without overburdening our infrastructure or harming our environment. By using policy tools wisely, investing in targeted development and empowering homeowners, we can create sustainable housing solutions that work for everyone in our community.

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METRO photo

By Thomas M. Cassidy

Thomas M. Cassidy

As a former senior investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Office who spent twenty years investigating health fraud, I was truly annoyed when I discovered how hospitals are paid, and not paid, by insurers and individuals.

Keep in mind that hospitals are required by federal law to provide emergency care and stabilize all patients regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. As a result, hospitals provide more than $40 billion a year in unpaid care for patients who can’t afford to pay their hospital bill.  When patients don’t pay for their hospital care, those costs are shifted to health insurers who are charged higher rates by hospitals to make up for the losses from non-paying patients.

However, uncompensated hospital care is not shared equally by private and government health insurers. According to a study by the Rand Corporation, private plans pay hospitals 241% more than Medicare for the same service. This amounts to a sneaky tax on the 216 million Americans covered by private insurance plans.

American taxpayers fund all or part of government health insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Yet, the American Hospital Association reports that hospitals received payments of only 82 cents for every dollar that was spent on Medicare patients in 2022. I get it. Medicare negotiates rates for more than 60 million people, and they squeeze every drop of leverage out of hospital administrators.

But wait, why are American workers being forced to pay higher premiums for their private health insurance when they are also funding the government plans? Whoa, wait a minute! That would be like selling a car for $50,000, but if you were a stockholder in the company the same car would cost more than $100,000. It sounds ridiculous, because it is. Especially, when a commonsense solution is within reach.

Simplify hospital reimbursement rates by having Medicare negotiate the same rate for all private and government insurers as a volume purchaser for 330 million Americans. By negotiating fair and reasonable reimbursement rates with just one insurer, hospitals would save money by reducing the number of administrators and consultants that are needed to negotiate with numerous private and government health insurers year after year.

Hospitals throughout the United States are in dire economic straits due to workforce shortages, inflation, cyber-attacks, unfunded government mandates and oppressive bureaucratic regulations. For example, the American Hospital Association reported in September 2024, “Recent data from Strata Decision Technology show that administrative costs now account for more than 40% of total expenses hospitals incur in delivering care to patients.” 

A Medicare, “one-size-fits-all,” hospital reimbursement program would streamline administrative costs, save taxpayer money, reduce health insurance premiums and ensure that America’s hospitals remain best in class. 

Thomas M. Cassidy, an economist, is the author and creator of the independent feature film, Manhattan South, which is in development. (ktpgproductions.com)

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METRO photo

By Jacob Klipstein

Ms. Pamila Pahuja, a dedicated middle school science teacher, is now at the center of a firestorm. A personal social media post expressing frustration over immigration policies and the broader state of the country has led to her suspension. Critics claim she wished harm upon Trump supporters,suggesting she would treat students differently based on their beliefs. That accusation is completely unfounded.

Having known Ms. Pahuja at R.C.Murphy  Jr. High School, I can say with certainty that her commitment to students has never wavered, regardless of their background or ideology. Let’s be clear: her suspension isn’t about protecting students or maintaining neutrality in education. It’s about something much bigger—and much more dangerous. 

This is about reinforcing the idea that opposing the present administration, even in one’s personal life, comes with professional and personal consequences.

Education has become one of the key battlegrounds. Whether at the college level or in school boards, middle schools, and high schools, the message is clear: speak out against the present administration, and there will be a price to pay. Ms. Pahuja’s suspension is just the latest example.

So, who will stand up for our teachers’ free speech? In our quaint district of Three Village, groups like the Setauket Patriots freely exercise their own speech. They have labeled Ms. Pahuja “unhinged,” calling her the “first casualty of the migrant crisis on Long Island.” In one post, a commenter referred to her as a “DEI hire”—a phrase casually tossed around as an insult, revealing the underlying biases behind these attacks. They claim to defend students while attacking a teacher’s character with unfounded accusations. If they can openly condemn her, why can’t she express her own views without risking her career?

Nationally and internationally, Ms. Pahuja has made headlines in The New York Post and the Daily Mail, where she has been subjected to further harassment and ridicule, particularly in their online comment sections. 

Despite the manufactured outrage, Ms. Pahuja’s record speaks for itself. She comes from a family of educators and has spent over a decade inspiring students, running the Science Olympiad team, and dedicating herself to teaching. She isn’t being targeted because of her abilities as an educator—she’s being targeted because she refuses to conform.

And yet, here we are, throwing her under the bus. Why? Because she won’t pledge fealty to a political movement that stands against everything she believes in. Are we really expecting someone who has passionately taught science, advocated for immigrants, and supported unions to suddenly submit to a different ideology? Ms. Pahuja has spent years educating with care—there is nothing to suggest she would ever do anything less.

The truth is, she isn’t being punished for failing as a teacher. She’s being punished for speaking her mind. And that should give all of us pause.

I stand against the campaign of hate targeting Ms. Pahuja because of the values I was taught, in part, at Three Village schools. In these classrooms, we learned not only to think critically but also to stand up to bullies, no matter their power or influence. I urge others in the community to support her as well and hope to see her reinstated in the classroom as soon as possible.

Ms. Pahuja embodies the values of free thought, moral conviction, and standing against injustice—principles that should be protected, not silenced. 

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