Suffolk Closeup - Election 2020 Is Coming The Political Scramble Is Underway

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

With Election 2019 past—and the blizzard of campaign signs that lined Suffolk County roadways mostly gone, thankfully—it’s Election 2020 that’s coming. The announcement last week by incumbent Representative Peter King of Nassau County that he would not run for re-election in the 2^nd C.D.—which includes the southwest portion of Suffolk—heralds the election ahead.

So does the political scramble underway in the lst C.D., which covers most of Suffolk—the five East End towns, all of Brookhaven, most of Smithtown and a slice of Islip. 

Democrat Perry Gershon who ran against the Republican incumbent, Lee Zeldin, two years ago and narrowly lost—receiving 47.4% of the vote to Mr. Zeldin’s 51.5%—is now emulating what Otis Pike did decades ago. Democrat Pike, of Riverhead, first ran against incumbent Stuyvesant Wainwright of Wainscott in 1958 and lost—but dealt with this by intense activity in the next two years. He spoke at every venue which would have him, shook plenty of hands, and beat Mr. Wainwright in 1960, holding the seat until he retired in 1979.

Mr. Gershon, from East Hampton, with a background in business, was noting recently how he’s been going to many “fire department barbecues and street fairs and shaking hands with and engaging with many voters and speaking about the issues” while “stressing listening.”

“And I’m completely convinced that the Number One problem here,” he said, “is that it’s too expensive to live here, and government needs to intervene by lowering the federal tax burden, eliminating the restrictions on the SALT [state and local tax] deductions and creating more jobs and better paying jobs and making health care more affordable and accessible.” Also, “we must do something to relieve the student debt burden to keep our young people here.”

He is embarked on what he calls a “Restore American Values Tour: 10 Town Halls in 10 Months.” The first was in September at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Library, the next month it was Smithtown, this month it’s Stony Brook. “The goal is to be everywhere, in all parts of the district.” 

Mr. Gershon is for President’s Trump’s impeachment. “Our country is founded on the rule of law. President Trump is making a mockery of the norms and structures that bind us and flaunting his perceived right to break the law. It is the constitutional duty of Congress to stop him and his chief enablers.” 

Also seeking the Democratic candidacy to challenge Mr. Zeldin is Nancy Goroff of Stony Brook who has been chair of the Chemistry Department at Stony Brook University.

“As a scientist, I believe in facts. And the fact is Washington is hurting Suffolk families. I’m running for Congress to use my experience as a scientist to combat global warming, make health care affordable, protect a woman’s right to choose and end the gun violence epidemic,” she said in announcing her candidacy.

Ms. Goroff has the endorsement of Suffolk Legislators Kara Hahn and Sarah Anker as well as 314 Action, a group working to elect Democratic scientists, and also EMILY’s List, which supports Democratic women running for public office.

Regarding Mr. Trump, she says: “If the allegations are true, Donald Trump should be removed from office—and an impeachment inquiry is the proper way to determine the truth.” Mr. Trump is working hard to get re-elected president in 2020 and through the U.S. the names of all candidates for the House of Representatives would be on the ballot with him. 

Will this hurt or help Mr. Zeldin in the lst C.D.? 

Mr. Zeldin has been personally and politically close to Mr. Trump. As a recent Newsday headline stated: “Zeldin emerges as a major supporter of Trump in impeachment Inquiry.” 

Mr. Zeldin, an attorney from Shirley, has tweeted that the impeachment inquiry now happening “has produced NOTHING to impeach POTUS…While Dems run from the MANY gross flaws of how this circus is run. I welcome a debate on just how massively screwed up their clown show is on the SUBSTANCE.”

The campaign website of the three-term incumbent, who stresses his military background, says: “Since entering Congress in 2015, Lee has pursued an aggressive agenda in Washington, D.C., on top local, domestic and international issues; quickly becoming one of the nation’s leading proponents for a stronger, more effective foreign policy that defeats ISIS and other terrorist threats, secures our homeland and treats our nation’s friends as our friends, and our adversaries as our adversaries. On the national level, Lee is fighting every day in Washington to help grow our economy and create more good paying private sector jobs, strengthen our national security, fight for our veterans, improve health care and education in America, repair our local infrastructure and safeguard our environment.”

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.    

In The News - Smithtown's Peter Dudek

All Aboard for Holiday Wonderment with Smithtown’s Peter Dudek 

By Nancy Vallarella

A smiling Peter Dudek has the twinkle of excitement in his eyes as he narrates a tour of the 38’ x 48’ model train mega display hidden below the Mills Pond House. Lifetime model train enthusiast and decade long member of the St. James Model Railroad Club, Peter gleefully shares the magical world the club has created over the past 36 years.  

The 30-year Smithtown resident and father of four was introduced to the club when his daughter, Carolyn, brought him to the model railroad display to celebrate his birthday. Upon retirement, he officially joined the club. Member skill sets vary.  Devotion to creating a world where the locomotive is king is required.

Children visit the model train display year after year to see their favorite themed locomotives, Polar Express, Thomas the Train, and Disney rumble, chug, and whistle along with seven other trains through the large display filled with vignettes of yesteryear to the current and familiar. 

Although the wide-eye wonderment may begin with the running of the trains, it is magnified by the attention to detail. Miles of wiring and multiple control panels are out of sight and mind as the scenery mesmerizes.  Model train sets running inside of a storefront window, a woman ironing clothes in her apartment, puppies frolicking in the pet store window, scented smoke billowing train stacks, synchronized street lights and railroad crossings, intrigue and are only a few examples of the captivating details.

Peter points out during a recent renovation to the display’s Levittown vignette, “Lawn replacement was accomplished with a powder, glue, and water. A needle with an electrical charge was inserted into the mixture to produce varying lengths of grass to demonstrate where a figure had just mowed.” 

Dudek shops for props in hobby stores and train shows, it is where his inspiration for the occasional out-of-theme and out-of-scale scene surprises begin. To add to the holiday merriment, Peter places a dinosaur on a mountain top along with a scout troop and a group of hippies. One may even spot a cantankerous Captain Quinn about to become an elasmobranch fish dinner. 

There is amusement for all ages to be found at the 35^th Annual Holiday Train Display and Holiday Market.  Friday, November 22, 6 PM – 9 PM, Saturday, November 23, 11 AM – 5 PM, Sunday, November 24, 11 AM – 5 PM. Hosted by St. James Model Railroad Club and Smithtown Township Arts Council at the Mills Pond House, 1432, 60 NY-25A, St. James, NY. Please use rear parking off of Mills Pond Road across from the Flowerfield entrance.

Train display admission by donation: Adults - $2.00 / Children - 50¢ Upstairs at the Mills Pond Holiday Market children’s gifts are available for purchase.

Don’t forget to wish Peter and mascot Charlie the Conductor a happy holiday!

Find the St. James Model Railroad Club on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjtrains/

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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