Commack Candidates Forum - Heroin Epidemic Tops List Of Concerns

NYS Assembly candidates - Michael Fitzpatrick and Jason ZoveNew York State Assembly candidates, incumbent Michael Fitzpatrick and Jason Zove, participated in a candidates forum at the Commack Public Library Tuesday night. Sitting side by side, the candidates gave an opening statement and answered questions from the audience. 

Seven questions came from the audience with the eighth and last question coming from Commack Community Association President Bruce Ettenberg.  After their opening statements the candidates took questions and were allowed as much time as they wanted to give their response.

Members of the audience wanted to know about the heroin epidemic, Common Core, early voting, family law and the courts, PSEG and identity theft.  

The heroin epidemic was the number one concern for the audience garnering three questions  The issue was first raised by Rev. Walker from the Holy Cross Lutheran Church.  The Reverend questioned what can be done about this problem that is affecting teens that have every material blessing? 

Both candidates spoke about A9943a legislation that recently passed in NYS which took some control for treatment away from insurance companies and gave more authority to health care providers. Both supported its passage, Fitzpatrick acknowledged being a late sign-on to the legislation, but felt that he was doing his fiduciary responsibility by looking for answers about the cost of the program which he never received. He said he took a “leap of faith” and supported the bill because the issue was so important. Zove believes that the legislation does not go far enough.  He mentioned more education and more narcotic officers as possible solutions. He wants to create more outlets for opiate disposal and make the public more aware of drug disposal locations.  Audience members were very passionate and spoke about pharmaceutical companies, television marketing and young people. The last question of the night came from Commack Community Association President Bruce Ettenberg, who noted that with the 2 percent cap, there was no room in school budgets for additional drug prevention programs. Would the candidates support funding programs with money outside the school budget? 

Fitzpatrick used this opportunity to express his support for the tax cap. He spoke about his opposition to unfunded mandates and his proposed legislation to change the Triborough Amendment (labor law allowing for step increases to continue without a contract). He lashed out at the governor for allowing gambling in the state and for the 1000 “video crack” gambling terminals Suffolk County will be receiving. Zove pointed out that Fitzpatrick’s response was not about heroin and that over the next 42 days there would be opportunities to discuss his (Fitzpatrick’s) proposal. He supported the idea of funding programs (offered through the schools) with other sources of revenue with the caveat that it would not devastate another necessary program. Zove said he would support it 100 percent. “We need to go after the drug problem 24 hours a day, during the school day and after the school day.” 

A question about PSEG’s metering system seemed to take both candidates by surprise. According to the questioner the metering system uses military grade microwave technology to send information about customer use back to PSEG. Without an independent study done on health issues regarding the use of this technology in homes, the questioner rejected the metering system and was told there would be an opt out fee. Both candidates seemed stunned and rejected the idea of an opt out fee. Zove pointed to his support for a Republican proposal to introduce competition into energy/electric generation. 

The candidates agreed on a number of issues. There are stark differences that can be seen in their approach to problems. Fitzpatrick’s opening statement was about a state that is ranked 50th in business climate. He focuses laser like on fiduciary responsibility when evaluating programs including those that address quality of life issues. Zove’s opening statement was about bringing tax dollars back to the community, it was about finding solutions to high energy bills, heroin and quality schools. 

Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy Has A Change Of Heart

In a very brief memo to the Supervisor and Town Council, Councilman/Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy announced his intention to offer a resolution rescinding resolution 4.O approved at the September 9 Town Board meeting.  The resolution increased the stipend for the Deputy Supervisor $30,000. The position he holds.

In a phone conversation Deputy Supervisor McCarthy explained his vote and his change of heart. Votes cast by Town Board members are cast as “votes of necessity”.  According to Mr. McCarthy this vote, although in his opinion legal, was not what he considered a vote of necessity. 

McCarthy said he believes that an increase in the Deputy Supervisor’ s stipend is better left as part of the budget process and discussion. He is unsure if the Supervisor will include the $30,000 stipend increase in the Town Budget, but stated that if it is, he would vote. 

Breaking News - Deputy Supervisor McCarthy To Rescind Stipend Resolution

Councilman/ Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy in a memo to the Town Supervisor and Council members announced that at tomorrow’s Town Board meeting he will put forth a resolution to rescind the increase in stipend for the Deputy Supervisor.

Theater Review - "Evita"

Theater Review “Evita”

Produced by: The John W. Engeman Theater – Northport

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

It must have been a formidable challenge for Janine Divita to accept the title role in “Evita” at the Engeman Theater this fall. We make the observation, not because the Broadway-seasoned Ms. Divita is in any way unequal to the huge task (she’s more than capable) but for the simple reason that in Northport, of all places, anyone cast in the lead of this renowned show is bound to be compared to the proud old town’s favorite daughter, Patti LuPone.

With the possible exception of writer Jack Kerouac, it’s widely acknowledged that no other Northport celebrity involved in The Arts has garnered the international acclaim that Ms. LuPone has. And most of that recognition has accrued to the singer/actress because of her Tony Award winning work in the 1978 Broadway production of “Evita.” There, the musical ran for nearly four years—37^th longest in history. Remarkably, it was nominated for 22 of theatre’s most prestigious awards (consider that the hugely successful “Hello Dolly” received only 13 such nominations). To put matters in further perspective, “Evita” gained no fewer than 11 Tony Award nods and won 7 of them; (decades earlier “My Fair Lady” won 6 of 10).

“Evita” is both inspiring and tragic in that it tells of Eva Peron’s unlikely rise from an Argentine slum, where she is the child of a single mother—to her career as an ambitious actress—and ultimately to her securing a place in the nation’s seat of power, the Presidential Palace. There, the once destitute girl who has become Argentina’s First Lady, wins the adoration of her people by displaying concern for the poor and disadvantaged, despite her own failing health. Eva’s inability to control her greed and ambition, however, lends an overriding element of Greek tragedy to the play, which nonetheless manages to work as a thoroughly absorbing, lyrical musical.

The multi-talented Ms. Divita is in good company among a cast of proven professionals, primarily in the person of ‘Che’ who serves effectively as the story’s narrator and pace-setter. Bruce Winant, playing Juan Peron, is the most widely traveled performer in the company, and his experience is evident. Winant is as silky-smooth as we expect the slick Argentine leader to be, and we get the impression that his very presence on stage is largely responsible for elevating the performances of his fellow actors.

Prominent among those accomplished players is Ruben Flores (Migaldi), whom many will recognize from ‘Law and Order’ though that is by no means chief among his many performing credits. They run the gamut from Shakespeare to “Beauty and the Beast” and attest to Flores’s obvious versatility. The inclusion of lovely Ashley Perez Flanagan, who plays Juan Peron’s mistress marvelously, should be an inspiration to all aspiring thespians who see her at the Engeman over the next six weeks. Ashley started her career as a hostess at JWE and has gone on to distinguish herself in more than a half dozen productions to date.

Credit director Igor Goldin for flawlessly guiding his charges in this musical which Patti LuPone claimed was the most unbearable experience of her theatrical life, stating that “The play was obviously written by a man who hates women. I screamed my way through the role of Eva Peron.” That said, Janine Divita and company give no hint of such distress. Indeed, everyone in this lush production contributes to another Engeman blockbuster that takes the often explosive Ms. LuPone’s early stomping grounds by storm.

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Award-winning Smithtown writer Jeb Ladouceur is the author of eight novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “Harvest” due next month, an American doctor is ordered to perform illegal surgeries for a gang of vital organ traffickers in The Balkans.

Kings Park Activist Mike Rosato - "Let The People Decide"

 By Dana Klosner

For the past several months Mike Rosato, an activist from Kings Park, has been lobbying the Town Board to establish an Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund. Local civic and youth organizations supported this effort, he said, because they understood the economic, environmental and quality of life benefits it would provide to the community.

“A lot of youth groups in the town support the effort because they say there is not enough field space to play on,” he said. “The field space that is there is rutted and over used.”

According to Allyson Murray, an environmental planner for the town, the planning department has identified 150 parcels (a number that changes as new sites are identified)  as possible acquisition parcels. The sites vary in size, shape, geographic features, value and possible use. The list “reflects parcels that the Planning Department would likely recommend acquiring if the Town/County/State were interested.” Stated Ms. Murray in an email to Smithtown Matters.

Rosato, emphasizing the benefits of an Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund for Smithtown residents, has been lobbying members of the Town Board. But his efforts have been to no avail. One of the reasons the Town Board has not put the idea to a vote is because of the tax cap, Rosato said.

In the long run the referendum would save taxpayers money, he said.  Open space is considered the ultimate tax cap. Protected open space can help keep property taxes from going up because increased residential development leads to increased demand for government services, schools and other costly infrastructure. 

If the referendum were approved it would allow Smithtown to become an active partner in Suffolk County’s Public Space Program which would allow our taxpayers the local benefits of a program that is supported countywide, he said.

Rosato said he recently wrote a letter to the Town Board requesting that they support a Smithtown Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund referendum. According to Rosato he asked members of the board to let the people, not politics, decide if they wish to invest in open space preservation and recreational facilities. Unfortunately, this concept was not supported.

He cited the Ryan Property in Fort Salonga  as an example. The site is 22 acres and according to Rosato the owners are looking to sell.

“We can’t participate in purchase of property because the town does not have an open space program and is unwilling to put aside money to purchase any open space,” he said.

“Just let the people decide. That’s all I and others are asking,” Rosato said.

 “I don’t think that placing referenda at the behest of one individual makes for good government,” Town Supervisor Pat Vecchio said.

“Central Park in New York City is approximately 840 acres,” Vecchio said. “As a comparison, in the center of Smithtown we have 1,300 acre (Caleb Smith State Park, Blydenburgh Park [county], Greengate Park [town]). These are in addition to our 130 acre golf course. There is also Hoyt Farm (133 acres), Sweetbriar Nature Center (56 acres), 22 town parks and 3 beaches. We acquired the 22 acre Saam property (behind the “Bull”), the 8 acre Harned Sawmill property and most of this acreage was obtained without cost to the taxpayers.”

There is also Sunken Meadow State Park (1,200 acres) and Nissquogue River State Park, (500 acres), he said.

“We are not lacking for open space and we continue to acquire it. Since 2009, the transfer of development rights has gained approximately 10 more acres at no cost. Folks like Mr. Rosato seem to forget we are under a state mandated 2% tax levy cap. The 2015 budget is capped at 1.6%. He disregards that and says ‘Spend, spend’ and that’s not my mantra. People pay enough in taxes and it’s not my desire to levy more than is necessary.”

A petition could be used to circumvent the Town Board, but that does not guarantee its (the fund’s) implementation, Rosato said. Even if the referendum passed, the Town Board would not be obligated to create the trust fund.

It’s better to have the majority of the board supporting the measure to help promote it and facilitate its adoption.