SUFFOLK CLOSEUP: Outrage In The Legislature Over Funding For Contract Agencies

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

 August 11th press conference Steve Flotteron (LD 11), Catherine Stark (LD1, Trish Bergin (LD 10, Rob Trotta (LD 13), Dominick S. Thorne (LD7)A measure has been introduced before the Suffolk County Legislature that would prohibit county funding of a contract agency—organizations that receive county funds to help finance its work—if any person at it gets a salary “greater than” the salary of the governor of New York State, which currently is $250,000.

The measure is aimed especially at chief executive officers of the agencies.

Indeed, at a Sunday, August 11th press conference involving five county legislators, behind them were two large charts listing many Suffolk government contract agencies, their budgets, and the salaries of their CEO’s who are paid more than $250,000.

They included organizations that provide mental health services, assist with employment and housing and are engaged in other social assistance and also educational activities. Among the agencies were: Family Service League; Maryhaven Center of Hope; New Horizons Counseling Center; Options for Community Living; Phoenix House; Samaritan Daytop Village of Suffolk County; WellLife Network; YMCA of LI; BOCES II; Concern for Independent Living; Federation of Organizations; YMCA of Long Island; and Family & Children’s Association.

The bill is sponsored by Legislators Rob Trotta, a Fort Salonga Republican, and Trish Bergin, an East Islip Republican.

Trotta declared: “It is time to rein in the out-of-control not-for-profit executives who are making more than the governor and the people they serve who live in poverty.” A retired Suffolk Police Department detective, he said he had been thinking about such a bill for years. He said an agency that helps the “poor and underprivileged shouldn’t pay” its CE0 $400,00 annually.

Bergin said: “These agencies set their own salaries, but when they seek county assistance to fund their administrative expenses rather than use those resources towards the programs benefitting our community, it is not fair to the taxpayer.”

Legislator Dominic Thorne, a Patchogue Republican, said: “It is vitally important that funds that are intended for the less fortunate actually go to the less fortunate, and not exorbitant salaries.”

Also at the press conference were Steven J. Flotteron from Brighwaters, and Catherine Stark from Riverhead. 

Although all five legislators are Republicans, the issue was pushed several years by Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, when he was New York’s governor. In 2012, Cuomo signed an executive order similar to the Trotta-Bergin bill. It capped the amount of state funds that would go toward executive salaries at non-profit organizations to $199,000. 

There was strong opposition to his move. “In order to attract the talent necessary to lead those kinds of institutions, you need to pay executives well,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of the century-old Citizens Union, which describes itself as a “good government” organization.

There was a court battle and in 2018 the state’s highest court, its Court of Appeals, gutted most of the order. And in 2022, Hochul, after succeeding Cuomo as governor, rescinded it.

About the Suffolk bill, Legislator Rebecca Sanin, a Democrat from Huntington Station with familiarity with non-profit contract agencies—she is former president and CEO of the non-profit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island—said she will oppose the bill. She told Newsday: “Human services executives are highly qualified leaders running complex organizations that help meet Suffolk County residents’ needs that government cannot. We engage these organizations because they provide cost-effective solutions to serve residents through competitive procurement, not as an act of charity.”

The Suffolk County Legislature is split 12-to-6 with the GOP having a majority.

Trotta said he expects a vote on the bill “will be close.”

Legislator Ann Welker, a Southampton Democrat representing the South Fork, says Suffolk County’s contract agencies provide “vital services” that the county would be hard pressed to duplicate. The county lacks the resources and the staffing to provide these important services. These nonprofit organizations are governed by boards of directors which “set forth the agencies’ budgets and salaries.”

The bill will first go before the legislature’s Budget and Finance Committee on August 27^th.

It opens by declaring that “the County of Suffolk has adopted guidelines and technical requirements, as well as financial filing and reporting requirements, for county contract agencies for the purpose of increasing oversight and accountability in the use of county funds by these agencies.” The legislature “has determined that further restrictions on contract agency eligibility is needed to ensure that county funds are being utilized efficiently…”

Thus, under the measure: “No contract agency shall be eligible for funding by the County of Suffolk from county funds in any fiscal year where any employee, officer, director, or member of the contract agency received a salary in the previous year greater than the budgeted salary for the governor of the State of New York for that year.”

The issue goes beyond Suffolk County and New York State. Online, for example, there is a “Reddit San Diego” discussion page headed: “Why do our non-profit executives have such high salaries?” There is sharp criticism of this and also defenses with one person asking: “Our society has no problem paying people high salaries for making smaller microchips or trading stocks. But when it comes to paying someone to fix the ills of the world, we think, somehow, that they should be doing it out of the kindness of their heart. Shouldn’t someone who is working for a non-profit be compensated the same as for-profit if they do a good job?”

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY at Old Westbury and the author of six books.

Four Feet Of Water In Smithtown Town Hall Basement

Town of Smithtown issues post storm statement & damage advisory in the aftermath of Ernesto’s remnants

Smithtown NY: The Town of Smithtown saw heavy rains and flash flooding last night, enduring approximately ten inches in total, as the storm regenerated across Suffolk County throughout the night and early morning. The Town of Smithtown has compiled a detailed assessment of damage, flooding, and areas of concern in addition to providing important information regarding storm cleanup, and contact information for those in need of further assistance. 

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“We were fortunate in comparison to surrounding areas, much in part due to proactive measures and recent upgrades made to infrastructure, elevated roadways, and state-of-the-art engineering at Smithtown’s most vulnerable areas. I want to commend our crews working throughout the night. Public Safety, Parks, and Highway teams have been working around the clock to clear, assess and repair the damage, in the wake of the storm, which was unpredicted by meteorologists. I also want to commend our volunteer Fire Departments, FRES, our Office of Emergency Management, and Fire Marshals who were out in these dangerous conditions overnight, performing water rescues, extracting stranded drivers, responding to emergency calls and assisting our neighbors in Stony Brook… Public Safety even used their Drone to assist the Smithtown Fire Department boat to rescue two individuals who were stranded from a home. The level of communication, bravery and teamwork over these past 24 hours has been extraordinary. I would also like to commend our County Executive, Ed Romaine for leaping into action immediately to declare a State of Emergency for the area. Finally, I’d recommend that everyone access the Town of Smithtown Mobile App for notifications regarding road detours, areas to avoid and updates on the storm cleanup. We will not stop until flooding concerns have been addressed, the roads are clear, and our residents can safely resume daily routines.” - Supervisor Ed Wehrheim

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Town Damage Assessment:

The headwaters of the Nissequogue have crested at Paul T. Given Park. Councilman Tom Lohmann, Superintendent Robert Murphy and our emergency response teams are currently on scene together with Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) and our Planning Department to alleviate water conditions, in hopes of preventing the river from cresting over NYS Route 25a. The basement of the building next to the park (formerly the Oasis) has flooded up to the first floor. Smithtown’s Parks Department is currently on scene and is going to remove accumulated debris under the culdesac to alleviate rising waters. This will also allow the MTA to get into their property to inspect the train trestle. Currently, train service is suspended between Port Jefferson and Kings Park in both directions due to flooding from the Nissequogue River west of Smithtown.

Maple Avenue at Millers Pond (Wildwood Ln to Darling Ave) is closed due to overflow conditions. The Smithtown Highway Department, alongwith Deputy Superintendent Jim Duetch are currently on scene with Suffolk County Parks to mitigate flooding and ensure the culvert remains stable.  Both of these areas (Paul T Given Park & Millers Pond) are of critical importance to address as more rainfall is predicted for this afternoon. 

The Smithtown Parks Department has been operating the cleanup at Town Hall, which took in close to four feet of water in the basement and is currently operating on backup power. The Parks Department building in Kings Park sustained flooding damage to the shop area and vehicles were badly flooded. 

As of this morning, we’ve estimated approximately 50 town trees (in the town right of way) were either uprooted or down. Highway crews are currently working to remove these trees from the roadways.

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Parks & Beaches:

Landing Country & Golf Club sustained washouts and drainage issues in addition to damage on the 9th hole of the course. Parks crews have been dispatched and are currently working on repairs. 

Boaters with vessels in slips and the town mooring fields should ensure that lines are secured. There have been a few instances where boats have come loose. 

The bathroom area at Whitman Hollow sustained some flooding issues. Parks Crews have already been dispatched to handle cleanup. 

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Callahan’s Beach only sustained a few down trees as of this morning. The incredible state of the art engineering of the rebuild had its first real test and aced with flying colors. 

The elevation of Long Beach Road also handled extreme rain without incident. No flooding was reported. 

LIRR Train Service: LIRR Train service is suspended from Port Jefferson to Kings Park until further notice. 

ROAD CLOSURES/DETOURS: 

• Maple Ave is closed due to road flooding from Wildwood Ln to Darling Ave. Use an alternative route.
• North Country Road from Mills Pond road all the way up north, is closed and impassable due to flooding. Use an alternative route.
• West Main St Smithtown from Maple Ave to Edgewood Ave Closed due to Flooding. Use an alternate Route.

Residents can stay informed about the storm and get up to the minute updates via the Town of Smithtown Mobile App, which is free to download on Google Play and the App Store. 

Safety Reminders: Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road. Turn around and go another way. DID YOU KNOW? Six inches of fast moving flood water can knock you off your feet. A depth of two feet of water will float your car. Never try to walk, swim or drive through such swift water.

Keep children from playing in floodwaters or near culverts and storm drains. 

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Resident Safety Post Storm:

Residents should attempt to keep all brush, tree branches and storm debris clear from blocking fire hydrants and storm drains. 

Public Safety and Smithtown Fire Marshals would like to remind residents using generators to take a moment to confirm that the exhaust is facing outwards and at least 20’ away from a building, to prevent CO poisoning and fires caused by incorrectly positioned generators. 

Highway crews are working with PSEG to clear the roads of any remaining trees safely, and have begun hauling debris/brush today. The Highway Department led by Superintendent Robert Murphy, has cleanup crews assigned to every hamlet. 

NOTE: Fallen trees can hide downed cables or entangled power lines, even if the power is out. 

Power: 

As of this morning, there are less than 20 homes within the township who are without power. 

To report and receive status updates on an outage Text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or to report an outage online visit www.psegliny.com

To register, have your account number available and text REG to PSEGLI (773454)

Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything contacting the wire. To report a downed wire, call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 1-800-490-0075

Stranded Vehicles: If there is an emergency, please dial 9-11 immediately. All non life-threatening calls can be directed to the Department of Public Safety by calling (631) 360-7553 

Report Gas Outages or Emergencies: If you smell gas anywhere, including in your home, go outside and call National Grid 24 hour hotline at 1-800-490-0045 or dial 911 immediately.

LIRR Commuter Travel Information: For information regarding delays or travel questions, contact the LIRR 24 hour travel information center at 718-217-5477

Local Fire & Police Phone Numbers: In an emergency dial 9-1-1

• Suffolk County Police Department: For non-emergencies, contact 631-852-COPS (2677). Dial 9-1-1 ONLY for life-threatening emergencies.
• Smithtown Fire Rescue Communications: 631-265-1500 for fire and EMS emergencies in the Smithtown, Kings Park, and Hauppauge Fire Districts.
• Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services: Dial 911 for fire and EMS emergencies in the St. James, Nesconset, and Nissequogue Fire Districts.
• Commack Fire Department: 631-499-5777 for fire emergencies in the Commack Fire District.

To Report Flooding or Road Concerns: To report flooding, drainage issues, and other storm related conditions along the roads, please contact the Highway Department at (631) 360-7500. NOTE: Flooding in basements are the 

Down Street Trees: Trees within the town’s right of way (alongside a town road) are in general the responsibility of the Highway Department. Residents with down trees on property lines can call the Department of Environment and Waterways (DEW) at (631) 360-7514 to inspect the tree and determine the best course of action. Trees that are not in the town’s right of way are the responsibility of the resident.

Elderly Neighbors & Special Needs individuals: Always check on your neighbors living with disabilities, special needs or senior citizens. Make sure they have an emergency phone, plenty of water, food and blankets. Ask if they have someone to call in the event of an emergency. If further intervention is required please contact the Senior Citizens Department at(631) 360-7616 or the Office for People with Disabilities at (631) 360-7642

Wildlife Rescue & Lost Pets:

Smithtown Animal Control Officers are ready to respond to calls for wildlife in distress or to report lost pets. Animals in distress, strays or other loose domestic or wild animals can be reported to the Smithtown Animal Shelter and Animal Control at (631) 360-7575 

Suffolk 311: Suffolk County 311 is a central call center available to residents who do not know which number to call for any non-emergency. Residents can reach the 311 line Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or leave messages after hours. 

Damage Self-Reporting Tool: Homes & Businesses: In collaboration with affected counties, New York State has developed an online form allowing residents to self-report damages to their homes and/or businesses. The purpose of this form is solely to collect information that may help State and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop and augment potential requests for available federal assistance programs.NOTE: Reporting damage is a voluntary activity and is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency, nor does it guarantee disaster relief assistance. (Do not use this form to report immediate, life-threatening needs. Call 911)

LINK TO FORM:  Smithtownny.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2879

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP: Presidential Campaigning In Suffolk County It's About Money And Plastic Cups

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

Suffolk County is a prominent spot on the U.S. presidential campaign trail.

Former President Donald Trump was here on August 2^nd for a fundraising dinner in Bridgehampton at the estate of billionaire Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of the financial servicing firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Guests were asked to pay $25,000 to attend, $50,000 for a photo with Trump, and as much as $500,000 to be listed as a host, said Bloomberg News. The aim was to raise $10 million.

“It’s a hot race now and Donald Trump needs the fundraising and I’m trying to help any way I can,” said Lutnick in an interview on Bloomberg TV.

Also on August 2^nd, Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman as husband of Vice President Kamela Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, was on Fire Island for a fundraiser. He was accompanied by Chasten Glezman Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The event was at the beach house in Fire Island Pines of Marius Meland, a founder of the Law360 Newswire, and Eng Kian Ooi, an executive at it. Tickets ran from $250 to $25,000.

Fire Island Pines is a famed principally gay community. They carried a “warning” to the 150 attendees, said Newsday, that “their rights were at stake.” Newsday reported that Emhoff said: “The right to love who you want to love, the right to marry who you want to marry…this affects all of you.” An attorney, Emhoff said recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions could have grave implications. “We need to have an army for freedom, an army for justice, led by my wife, Kamala Harris.”

President Joe Biden, on June 29^th, two days after his widely criticized performance in a debate with Trump, was at an event in East Hampton defending his functioning in it. “Voters had a different reaction,” he said, as compared to pundits, according to media pool reports. “I promise you, we’re gonna win this election.” His wife, Jill, also spoke, and the reports said she declared: “Joe isn’t just the right person for the job. He’s the only person for the job.” Then, on July 21^st, Biden announced he wasn’t running for president again and endorsed Harris.

As to Harris traveling plans, an August lst piece in Vanity Fair magazine by Nate Freeman said: “Sources have indicated that the vice president is probably not going to personally make it to the Hamptons this summer, for logistical reasons—she started a campaign just over 100 days before the election, an incredibly condensed time frame, and she is very much needed elsewhere. And it’s not like she can’t raise cash without hitting up the masters of the universe on the beach.”

The lengthy article by Freeman was headlined: “Kamala Harris is Crushing Donald Trump at the Monogram Shop in the Hamptons, by Nearly 5 to 1.” This referred to a part of the piece in which he reported that “the most clear indicator of where the wind is blowing on the South Fork might be a little store on Newtown Lane in East Hampton called the Monogram Shop. Since 2004, proprietor Val Smith has been selling plastic cups bearing the names of both the Republican and Democratic candidate for presidents. The cup that sells the most has synced up with the actual winner in each race, apart from 2016, when Hillary Clinton outsold Trump in a town where she’s vacationed for years.”

It continued that “until Biden dropped out of the race, the Trump cups were the clear favorite—on July 20, the store sold 323 Trumps and just 39 Bidens.” But after Biden withdrew, a new batch of 800 cups arrived and sold out two days later. The first day “Harris had outsold Trump 126 to two” and the next day “Harris took the lead again: 419-88.” 

Freeman quoted Smith saying “East Hampton is actually a pretty representational slice of the electorate.” And each cup was priced at $3 so, “It’s not like you’re just talking to a pollster.”

For decades presidential candidates made appearances in Suffolk County at the Long Island Arena, a huge Quonset hut type of a structure that stood along Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, and the Colonie Hill catering complex in Hauppauge. In 2016 the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook had a photo and artifact exhibition titled “Long Island in the 1960s” with a section that related: “Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon recognized the region’s up-and-coming status, making presidential campaign stops at the Long Island Arena in 1960.” 

A major appearance of Trump when he first ran for president in 2016 was a fundraiser at the Emporium nightclub in Patchogue. The New Yorker magazine published an article about it headed “Donald Trump in Patchogue” which told of Trump speaking about a southern border wall and how to the attendees he “launched into a call and response, ‘Who’s going to build the wall? The crowd shouted back: ‘Mexico!’” His stance on immigration continues as a big Trump issue. 

Security was tight for Trump’s recent visit to Suffolk. After his airplane landed at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, his motorcade journeyed to the Lutnick estate in Bridgehampton with many side streets taken. That provided heightened security after the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last month. Scott Armusewicz who lives on one of the streets which the motorcade took, Cooper Lane in Southampton, said residents were told by Southampton Town Police that they couldn’t drive out from their homes or back to them for periods of time. 

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY at Old Westbury and the author of six books.

Congressman Nick LaLota Wants Americans To Show Proof Before Voting

LaLota: American Elections Need Voter ID

 

Congressman CD1 Nick LaLotaAs a former Suffolk County Election Commissioner and an attorney who has studied the legal history of Voter ID laws, I understand the positive role that voter ID laws play in maintaining the integrity of our electoral process. We must ensure every American’s vote counts and that our elections are fair and transparent.

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During my seven years as Suffolk Elections Commissioner, I successfully managed the complexities of voter roll maintenance and ballot accuracy. From my experience and studying 50 years of Voter ID laws across states, I’ve learned that election integrity depends on clear, consistent procedures. Contrary to Vice President Kamala Harris’ assertion that Voter ID laws are designed to disenfranchise voters, these laws are about safeguarding the sanctity of our votes and ensuring that every legitimate ballot is counted fairly and accurately.

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Voter ID would significantly reduce voter fraud by impersonation, which is particularly easy to commit in New York. A fraudster only needs to scribble a signature on the Poll Inspector’s iPad that vaguely resembles the valid voter’s signature, making it simple for someone to vote on behalf of another, such as a father for a son or a daughter for a mother. Practically, Voter ID would also streamline the check-in process at polling places, reducing delays caused by complex name spellings and allowing more valid voters to cast their ballots efficiently.

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The future of American elections, in every state, should include Voter ID and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), which I strongly support, is a vital measure for securing our elections. This legislation seeks to standardize and enhance voter ID requirements nationwide. By establishing uniform standards for verifying voter identity, we can effectively prevent fraud and strengthen public trust in our electoral process.

Opponents of voter ID laws wrongly argue that they disenfranchise marginalized communities. While this may have been the case decades ago, it is no longer so.  Modern voter ID laws, modeled after the Indiana Voter ID law that was held to be constitutional by both conservative and liberal Supreme Court justices, include provisions to ensure that every eligible voter can obtain the necessary identification without undue burdens like a fee or a long wait time. The SAVE Act addresses these concerns by providing options for those who may face difficulties in obtaining ID, ensuring that the process is fair and accessible to all.

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The importance of voter ID cannot be overstated. It helps protect the integrity of our elections, deters fraudulent activity, and ensures that each citizen’s vote has the weight it deserves. By passing the SAVE Act, we take a significant step towards restoring confidence in our electoral system and upholding the democratic principles that define our nation.

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In our pursuit of a more secure and transparent electoral process, let us remember that ensuring every vote is valid and every voter’s identity is confirmed is not just a matter of policy, but a matter of preserving the trust and integrity of our democracy. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support the SAVE Act and join me in this essential effort to protect our elections and honor every American’s right to vote.

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Congressman Nick LaLota served as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections from 2015 to 2021, where he worked diligently to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in our democratic process.

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP: NYS Is Falling Behind On Climate Goals

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

Karl Grossman

“Whether New York can reach the 70% goal by 2030 is a matter of social and political willpower. It is not a question of technology or economics,” says Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, a top energy expert, about New York Governor Kathy Hochul and two state agencies saying New York won’t be able to reach its goal of 70% of electricity generated by renewables by 2030.

Jacobson is author of the 2023 book “No Miracles Needed: How Today’s Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air.” His work was key in the development of plans and target dates for expanding renewable energy in New York State. He is the director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University in California.

“Today” Jacobson told me last week, “California reached 100% wind-water-solar (WWS) renewable electricity on its main grid for part of the day for the 100th day this year and in fact the 100th day out of the past 144. WWS includes wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. The state will be nearly 60 percent WWS in the annual average this year and 70% within two to three years.”

“There is no reason New York cannot follow suit simply by building out large amounts of rooftop PV [photovoltaic converting sunlight to electricity] + batteries, utility PV + batteries, offshore wind, some onshore wind, using hydroelectric as a means of filling in gaps in supply, and using demand response to shift the time of some electricity use,” said Jacobson. 

Jacobson also sent his most recent plan “for transitioning New York for all energy purposes to 100% WWS.” He said: “Such a transition will reduce energy needs 61.7 % per year, reduce annual energy costs 56.4 %, reduce annual social costs—energy plus health plus climate costs—by 82.6%, use only about 1.3 to1.4% of the state’s land area, produce about 300,000 long-term, full-time jobs, save 2,150 lives per year from air pollution, and eliminate 196 million tons per year of CO2-equivalent emissions. The payback times for the energy infrastructure is only about 6 years.”

Still, as Newsday headlined a two-page spread two weeks ago: “Hochul Says New York Won’t Meet 2030 Climate Goal.” In the article, Newsday cited Hochul’s comments in an Albany Times Union newspaper podcast: She said: “We’re gonna get to our goals, but if we miss it by a couple of years—which is probably what’ll happen—the goals are still worthy. But we have to think about the collateral damage of all of our major decisions…either mitigate them or you have to rethink them.” In the podcast, she also termed herself as “a staunch environmentalist.”

That came after a report issued by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The press release from his office said: “The Public Service Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority have taken considerable planning steps for New York State’s transition to renewable energy but must take stronger action to meet the state’s clean energy goals, according to an audit released today by…DiNapoli. The audit found inadequate planning, monitoring and assessment of risks and challenges in the PSC’s efforts to help the state meeting the Climate Leadership and Community Protection’s Act’s targets, which seek 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2040.” It added that “better planning, monitoring of progress and timely assessment of risks by PSC is needed.”

Following Hochul’s comments and the report, environmentalists declared that the state has not done enough on renewable energy.

Judith Enck, for seven years regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an area that includes New York State and before that deputy secretary for the environment for two New York governors, said delaying the 70% goal “is a terrible decision by the governor. I hope she revisits it. We’re in a climate crisis. She says things have changed—and they have: the climate crisis has gotten worse. The governor should look at ways to accelerate meeting the goals, not delaying them.” Renewable energy, she said, is not a priority for state government. 

Liz Moran, New York political advocate for the group Earthjustice, said: “The administration has been appearing to slow walk it from the jump. It’s a fear-based approach rather than a brave and bold approach that we need in the face of this crisis.”

“We’re certainly not ready to wave the white flag,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. 

Meanwhile, the journal Politico published a report in May headlined “New York policymakers thaw on nuclear energy.” The piece by Marie J. French began: “Gov. Kathy Hochul has cracked the door open to the potential for new, small nuclear power plants as a way for the state to try to meet its ambitious climate coals.” The article told of this happening “at a private dinner with environmentalists April 29, according to two attendees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private conversations. It’s not the first time that her administration has raised the idea. One of her top aides suggested as much earlier this year.”

Enck said last week about this: “I think the governor even speculating on nuclear power in New York is trouble.” Enck spoke of how decades were spent in “shutting down the Indian Point nuclear plants” 25 miles north of New York City. We “shouldn’t promote the same thing again.”

The central message of Jacobson’s “No Miracles Needed” book is how existing technologies—led by solar and wind—can solve the climate crisis, and he emphasizes how nuclear power is not needed and also investing in it would obstruct a transition to green renewable energy. 

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY at Old Westbury and the author of six books.