SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - 2019 County Election Is Over Now What?

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

 Steve Bellone was re-elected Suffolk County executive in the leading race in this year’s election in Suffolk. Mr. Bellone won, but the campaign he conducted was highly negative, the most negative I’ve ever observed for the position. And I’ve covered campaigns for Suffolk County executive since the 1960s when H. Lee Dennison was the first to hold the job. 

Relations have long been contentious between Democrat Bellone and the Republican challenger he defeated, County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr., but after this race and its torrent of Bellone attack ads, we can expect their relationship to be even more rocky. 

Towards the end of the contest, the Kennedy campaign mailed out a flier declaring: “Why Is Steve Bellone Shovelin’ Mud At John Kennedy And His Family? Because He Doesn’t Want You To Know About His Disastrous Record As Suffolk County Executive.” 

Mr. Kennedy, of Nesconset, as comptroller, the county’s fiscal watchdog, and previously as a Suffolk legislator, has been highly critical of Mr. Bellone’s financial management as county executive. 

Mr. Bellone has blamed the situation on what he describes as the financial situation the county was left in by his predecessor, Steve Levy, whom he succeeded in 2012.

But years afterward—this year and last—the office of New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (a Long Island Democrat) has identified Suffolk County government as the “most fiscally stressed” county government in all of New York State. 

Mr. Bellone’s handling of finances was the central issue of the Kennedy campaign.

In conceding the race to Mr. Bellone on Election Night, Mr. Kennedy blamed his loss on the large Bellone campaign war chest, many times that of his, and Mr. Bellone’s “vile” campaign ads that included one depicting Mr. Kennedy and his family as pigs at the trough. “It’s amazing what a $2 million campaign full of lies and misrepresentation can do,” Mr. Kennedy told a crowd of about 200 supporters. “I kept it clean, unlike my opponent.”

He vowed to as comptroller continue to fight “vigorously” against waste, fraud and fiscal abuse in county government. Mr. Kennedy declared: “Bellone better keep looking over his shoulder.”

So that’s ahead in the relationship between the Suffolk County executive and Suffolk Country comptroller.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bellone could have more conflict ahead in his relationship with the Suffolk County Legislature because of last week’s election.

A vote recount is underway, but if Legislator Bill Lindsay III, a Democrat, indeed has lost (results on Election Night had him defeated by 223 votes) to GOPer Anthony Piccirillo, that would mean Republicans will hold eight seats on the legislature.

The current Democratic majority would be reduced 11 to 10. There are matters on which 12 votes are needed for legislative passage including bonding resolutions. It will “make it harder” with a reduced majority of 10 for Democrats to get to 12 votes, said a legislative source last week. Getting support of one GOPer would not be enough; two would be needed.  

Further, the Democratic leadership of the legislature is independent. Mr. Bellone years ago pushed for an ally, then Legislator Louis D’Amaro, to become the presiding officer over DuWayne Gregory. Presiding Officer Gregory, a Democrat, recently put together a nine-member Budget Working Group composed, notably, of both Democratic and Republican legislators. 

Another remarkable happening in last week’s election was the defeat of Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith. In 2017, she was elected the first female supervisor of the town in its 226-year history. But Democrat Jens-Smith lost last week to Republican Yvette Aguiar. Ms. Aguiar has an unusual background: she is the retired supervisor of the New York City Police Department’s Counterterrorism Division. 

She will be the first Latina (or Latino) town supervisor in Suffolk County history. 

Importantly, she put a focus in her campaign of going door-to-door. “I knocked on over 11,000 homes,” said Ms. Aguiar. “I spoke to everyone.”

Interestingly, Mr. Piccirillo said something identical to that on Election Night. He attributed what might be his victory to knocking also on 11,000 doors, and also 10,000 two years before when he ran against Mr. Lindsay but narrowly lost. He said “21,000 doors in two cycles is a lot of doors.”

As a county legislator—first elected at age 26—and then as a state assemblyman, former County Executive Levy was a pioneer in Suffolk campaigning by going door-to-door. He emphasized that as a Democrat in heavily Republican Islip Town, that person-to-person contact was key.

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/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.    

Kings Park Interact Club Focus On Spring 2020 At Nissequogue River State Park

Kudos to the members of the Kings Park HS Interact Club who braved the wind and very cold temperature to plant daffodils at the Nissequogue River State Park today. 

Kings Park HS Interact Club membersThe Kings Park Interact Club is a service club sponsored by the Commack-Kings Park Rotary Club. The Kings Park club is one of the more than 20,000 Interact Clubs worldwide. All Interact Clubs share a goal of making a difference in their community. One of the ways the Kings Park Interact Club serves the community is by volunteering their time at the Nissequogue River State Park.

Winter at Healing Garden Nissequogue River State ParkMembers of the Interact Club with guidance from club advisor Susan Portnoy have been doing spring and fall weeding and cleaning at the NRSP Healing Garden for years. This year they agreed to expand their role and stewardship of the garden. With an eye towards the future the students labored planting bulbs that will signal spring 2020 has arrived. A warming thought when the temperature hovered around thirty degrees. 

People In The News - Sharing Kings Park Memories In Historic Virginia

Touring the Historic Triangle in Virginia for the last week of October, Dave and Phyllis Stein of Hauppauge along with longtime friends/extended family members Manuel Valente of Mineola, and Joyce Shuppe of Freeport stayed at a cabin in a campsite in Gloucester, Va. During the four days there, they toured the Historic (left to right ) Laura Jean Mauro-Elliott, previously of Fort Sologna and now of Kilamarnock, Virginia and Joyce Shuppe of Freeport during dinner in Matthews, Virginia. Jamestown Settlement (where Capt. John Smith and his company of settlers met with Pocahontas and survived the winter of 1659 as they started the first English settlement in the Americas), the Yorktown Museum (where history came alive about the surrender by General Cornwallis to the American Patriots, ending the American Revolutionary War), and the Maritime Museum (where they were able to tour the Monitor and Merrimack Civil War “ironclad ships” displays and see some of the artifacts).  The final day in the area, the group was able to share the evening with Joyce’s long-time friend Laura Jean Mauro-Elliott, previously of Fort Sologna and now of Kilamarnock, Va.  Meeting for dinner in Matthews, they discovered that Laura is a 1976 King Park HS Alumnus. Dave (KPHS Class of 1958) and Laura were able to share their memories of the town and of  Kings Park HS when they were growing up in the area. 

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Hauppauge High School Student Jessica Spiers Wins Smithtown VFW Contest

Smithtown VFW Voice of Democracy Essay Contest Winner Jessica Spiers Hauppague HS  

What makes America great?

This is a question that has been pondered for years, and has no singular answer. There are countless reasons that America is great from freedoms granted to us in the Constitution to our multicultural society, but a reason that stands out to many is the determination of our soldiers. Millions of American soldiers have proved time and again that they are willing to put their lives on the line for the freedoms of the rest of the country.

Veterans have contributed so much to this country, often performing courageous actions without hesitation. An example of a soldier who emulated this quality is Private First Class Jacklyn Lucas. During World War II, Private Lucas threw himself on top of two grenades to protect his fellow marines, risking his own life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. Due to this heroic action, he was awarded with the Medal of Honor at 17 years old, making him one of the youngest recipients in United States history. This type of courage is a staple of soldiers and veterans in this country, making America great each and every day.

American greatness is determined by the people in our country who make a difference in society, people who go out of their way to do the right thing and stand up for what they believe in. There is no better example of this than American soldiers, fighting for what they believe in: America. When war begins, fear is prominent amongst Americans, but soldiers fight that fear and rise to the occasion and perform the jobs that many are too fearful to do. Veterans are the foundation of this country, and without them we would not have any of the liberties we often take for granted.

As Richard Grenier once said, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf”. This quote captures the spirit of American soldiers, willing to fight for the greater good and for Americans at home. Many of the things that are considered to make America great are available to us only because of the work done by veterans. Without veterans, we would not have any of the ideals we hold so important like democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and so many more. These are the pillars of American society, and they are upheld by the veterans who allowed them to be created, and the soldiers who continue to defend them. One of the characteristics that Americans value very highly is bravery. Bravery and courage are traits that are ideal in any person,  but are most distinctive in a veteran. To have courage is to have strength in the face of fear, which is something not many people can do. However, this is done on a daily basis by soldiers, and they do this because they are fighting for America and everything that Americans believe in. Veterans and soldiers have given so much to our country, sacrificing everything to uphold American values. Having fought for our country is one of the most honorable things one can do, and it is because of these brave people that America is truly great. 

2019 Voice of Democracy Essay Contest

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed 3-5 minute recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

Up to fifteen finalists are selected from entries at the three Smithtown high schools, and are judged by the veteran Voice of Democracy committee. Local post certificates and cash scholarships are awarded to the winners.  The first place post winner goes on to compete at County, District and NY State (Department) level for additional awards. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. 

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Vaping Big Business And Big Profits

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

 “Vaping is an example of big business and profits,” Dr. William Spencer, the first physician to serve on the Suffolk County Legislature, was saying last week. 

At long last, 50 years ago came a broad societal realization that cigarettes are a major cause of cancer and other diseases, so “Big Tobacco had to repackage nicotine addiction, it needed a replacement for smoking cigarettes,” said Dr. Spencer in an interview.

Thus, vaping was developed with “a narrative that this could be a device for people to quit smoking, that it was safe. The claim: cigarettes involve 600 chemicals and vaping 50, so it must be safer.”

It turns out, said Dr. Spencer, that “vaping is not safer and it probably is more dangerous than smoking; it’s not the number of chemicals but their toxicity.”

As a Suffolk County legislator, Dr. Spencer—chair of its Health Committee—has been the leader in Suffolk in taking on and restricting vaping.

In observing the Suffolk County Legislature since it was founded in 1970, I’d say that Dr. Spencer is one of its most extraordinary members ever.

He is past president of the Suffolk County Medical Society; Chief of Otolaryngology (the medical discipline that focuses on the ears, nose and throat) at Huntington Hospital; clinical professor at Stony Brook University Hospital; and founder of Long Island Otolaryngology & Pediatric Airway, a practice which specializes in head and neck surgery. He is also an ordained minister and licensed pilot. It should be noted that he is an African-American, which was non-existent in elected officialdom in Suffolk for many, many years.

When vaping first emerged, the concern was that it “may be hazardous to your health,” said Dr. Spencer. But “now,” with many illnesses and death having resulted from vaping, “it is clear that vaping is hazardous to your health.” 

The target in the vaping push, said Dr. Spencer of Centerport, the father of three, has been teens. “Once they get them hooked, they get them hooked forever.”

And the doses of nicotine received by the young—indeed all people—by vaping is enormous. “One Juul cartridge has the nicotine of a pack of cigarettes.”

Moreover, for a teen, initially smoking “a regular cigarette” usually causes irritation and discomfort. But vaping with flavors such as “bubble gum”—clearly aimed at youth—softens the intake. Thus, hooking young people through vaping, causing them to become addicted to nicotine, is an easier process for the nicotine purveyors. 

“We have to push back against the disinformation,” says Dr. Spencer. “We must bring awareness. A big issue is education.” For example, of the claim of the vaping industry that maybe additives put in by vaping outlets is the problem, this is just an effort by the “vape lobbyists to confound and confuse. They seek to muddy the waters.”

And along with getting information out, government must firmly confront vaping with legislation. Legislation enacted in Suffolk sponsored by Dr. Spencer include prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and restricting the locations where they may be used. 

He is encouraged by a new state restriction on flavored e-cigarettes but is concerned that it had to be done by Governor Andrew Cuomo with an executive order which can be reversed by a successor governor. It’s also tied up in a court action taken by the Vapor Technology Association. So, Dr. Spencer last month introduced a measure in the Suffolk Legislature to “codify in law” in Suffolk County that state order.  

As the tobacco industry fought restrictions on smoking for decades—I was there when PR people from its Tobacco Institute paraded before the Suffolk Legislature insisting there was no connection between smoking and cancer—the vaping forces are busy trying to thwart government action.

Newsday had an important article two weeks ago about how Juul and the Altria Group have been lobbying New York State and its local governments. Juul Labs makes up 70% of the e-cigarette market and 35% of Juul is owned by the Altria Group, a tobacco industry giant which manufactures cigarette brands including Parliament and Marlboro. “So far this year, Juul…spent $262,645 for lobbying, records show,” Newsday reported, and “Altria spent $594,707 lobbying Albany and local governments, including Suffolk County.”

Offices of members of the Suffolk Legislature have, say my county sources, been receiving calls from a PR and lobbying company called Millennial Strategies, representing Juul, asking for meetings. Millennial Strategies is based in Manhattan but has an office on Long Island on Main Street in Huntington. It says on its website: “Millennial understands the imperative nature of proper campaign strategy.” 

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/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.