President Donald Trump yesterday doubled down on his threat to revoke federal funding from New York and other states that have so-called sanctuary policies, even as similar attempts by the administration have been struck down in the courts.
Starting Feb. 1, sanctuary jurisdictions — those limiting local government cooperation with federal immigration agencies — will receive "NO MORE PAYMENTS" from the federal government, Trump said in a Truth Social post after issuing a similar threat a day earlier at a speech in Detroit.
"We are not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens," pronounced President Trump during his Tuesday speech to the Detroit Economic Club.
Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that Gov. Kathy Hochul yesterday vowed to challenge any attempts to withhold federal funding from the state of New York, and she pushed back on Trump’s characterization. Hochul said state authorities do cooperate with federal immigration enforcers "whenever there’s a threat" and when "someone has actually committed a crime."
"This is just a threat to intimidate states like New York into bowing into submission, and that is something we'll never do," Hochul told reporters in Albany when asked about the president’s social media post. "So I say this, you touch any more money from the State of New York, we'll see you in court."
Last fiscal year, the state received about $96.7 billion in federal funding, representing about 39% of the state’s overall budget, according to an analysis by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
The Trump administration has previously tried to suspend funding to more than two dozen states and cities with sanctuary laws. But last August, a federal judge in San Francisco issued a temporary injunction barring the administration from blocking the funding.
The administration has since appealed the injunction to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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The Suffolk County Department of Health Services issued an advisory to residents late yesterday afternoon “to take precautions before recreating on the tidal portion of the Peconic River (east of Grangebel Park) this week due to the possible residual effects of approximately 10,000 gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged into the river stemming from a pipe break in the Town of Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant conveyance network.”
“Corrective actions to mitigate the discharge were immediately implemented and the break in the pipe has since been repaired,” stated the Health Department. “Suffolk County Health officials are working closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which has jurisdiction over the permitting and enforcement at the facility and with the management at the Riverhead plant.
“Contact with waters in this tidal portion of the Peconic River should be avoided,” according to the Health Department. “If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately. Seek medical attention if after exposure you experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, skin, eye or throat irritation, or allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.”
So stay away from the tidal portion of the Peconic River (east of Grangebel Park) in Riverhead until further notice.
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The Town of Riverhead’s new Supervisor Jerry Halpin will attend the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association meeting at Riverhead Free Library this coming Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Then from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Riverhead Free Library, the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association will host its 4th Annual Volunteer Expo, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service.
If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that fits your interests, consider attending to meet some fabulous, local non-profits, including: Hope and Resilience Long Island; Sound Justice Initiative; East End Arts; Hallockville Museum Farm; River and Roots Community Garden; Harvest Pantry; North Fork Environmental Council; North Fork Animal Rescue League; Youth Enrichment Services; Open Arms Food Pantry; Riverhead Lions Club; and Friends of the Big Duck.
So, this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Riverhead Free Library meet Supervisor Jerry Halpin and then at 1 p.m. learn how and where you can volunteer your services on behalf of our east end community.
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The Town of East Hampton has won a $3.17 million New York state grant to pay for infrastructure to support the construction of 50 new affordable apartments in Wainscott. Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the grant will fund a sanitary system, water lines and sewer lines for the apartment complex, which will be built just outside the Village of Sag Harbor on Route 114, also known as East Hampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. The apartments will be owned and operated by the East Hampton Housing Authority and rented to people earning up to 130% of the median income on Long Island, which is $164,900, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which sets the figure.
“This funding allows us to put in the water and sewer infrastructure needed to make year-round affordable housing possible,” East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in a statement. “It’s a practical investment that helps support housing while also protecting groundwater and our waterways.”
The Town of East Hampton acquired two lots, 776 and 780 Route 114 — that together span a combined 6½ acres — in 2019 and 2020 for $1.86 million. In March 2022, the town granted the properties the Affordable Housing Overlay District designation, increasing how much housing density is allowed on the site.
The town transferred the property to the housing authority in August 2024.
The East Hampton Housing Authority is nearing an agreement with a company to co-develop the project, executive director Katy Casey told NEWSDAY…adding the development is needed to increase housing options for middle-income families.
Preference will be given to people who already live or work in East Hampton Town, Casey said. The apartments will range from one to three bedrooms, though the final unit mix has not yet been determined.
In addition to the state grant, the project has received $1.5 million from East Hampton Town’s Community Housing Fund. The fund was approved by voters in 2023 and generates revenue through a 0.5% real estate transfer tax.
Besides new housing developments, East Hampton Town officials are looking at other ways to make housing more affordable, including a new construction loan program for homeowners to incentivize accessory dwelling units. The town is also considering updates to its first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program.
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Riverhead Town residents who serve as volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel will earn a 10% real property tax reduction after two years of service rather than the current five-year minimum, if a proposed code amendment is adopted by the Town Board. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the property tax reduction, which is authorized by New York State law, is an incentive intended to help the town’s volunteer fire and EMS departments recruit and retain members.
Council Member Ken Rothwell invited local fire service leaders to the Riverhead Town Board work session last week to talk through the proposal and discuss what departments are seeing on the ground as they try to attract and keep volunteers.
Noting the savings the town realizes from volunteer services, Rothewell said, “if we ever had to pay departments, the cost would be astronomical.” The community “desperately” relies on the volunteers for these services, Rothwell said.
Council Member Denise Merrifield questioned the practical and fiscal details behind the pitch, asking about what departments invest in training and how long it typically takes before a new member becomes operational. She also raised concerns about preventing people from qualifying for the benefit and then leaving while retaining the benefit.
Fire officials described the training pipeline as extensive, including a college-level course and additional training for probationary members.
Rothwell, a longtime volunteer firefighter, said the amount of training volunteers must complete in the first two years alone demonstrates a strong commitment. “I think our younger generation that’s coming in [are] the ones that are starting out and just getting married and purchasing a house,” he said. “Why make them wait five years before they can get any type of benefit? So let’s help, let’s help the younger generation as soon as we can,” he said.
“I just want to make sure that we have it in it in the law, that they’re going to be working on Riverhead fires, Wading River fires, all the town of Riverhead fires,” Merrifield said. “I just want to make sure that it’s clear that if you get this tax exemption, that you’re not going to be working for Islip Fire Department.”
The state law allows the exemption if a volunteer serves in a “neighboring town,” Assessor Laverne Tennenberg told the board. Rothwell said the code change must be made by local law and would require a public hearing. The Town Board could schedule the public hearing at its next meeting Feb. 3 and adopt the change at the following meeting. He asked the town attorney to weigh in on the feasibility of getting that done. Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard said the amendment would be “a pretty straightforward amendment” to the section of the code that lists the available exemptions and he saw no reason why it couldn’t be in place before the March 1 deadline.
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The Southold Town Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance is this coming Sunday; January 18 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Southold Recreation Center in Peconic.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force’s annual King Holiday Observance is a time that we celebrate, commemorate, and honor the life, legacy, and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Rev. Tykym Stallings of the Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church, the oldest continuing church in Harlem, NYC.
The ABTF’s strategic theme for 2026 is “Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way.” This theme defines the 2026 King Holiday Observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work the ABTF will do this upcoming calendar year and beyond.
“The pioneering work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated that Kingian Nonviolence (Nonviolence365™) is the sustainable solution to injustice and violence in our world, ultimately leading to the creation of the Beloved Community, where injustice ceases, and love prevails,” says the Southold Anti-Bias Task Force. “We welcome and invite you to join us as we strive to cultivate a Beloved Community Mindset and ultimately transform unjust systems.”
Also, the winners of the ABTF’s Southold School’s MLK essay and poster contest will receive their awards this coming Sunday, too.
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Increases in 2026-27 school property taxes on Long Island will be capped at 2% for the fifth consecutive year, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced yesterday.
Dandan Zou reports in NEWSDAY that the state tax cap, which was established in 2012, limits local tax increases to either the rate of inflation or 2%, whichever is lower. For years, the cap has put limits on how much school districts can raise locally through property taxes.
The cap has been 2% since 2022. The latest inflation figure, posted for December by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was 2.7%.
“School district and municipal officials must continue to find ways to deliver services efficiently as they deal with higher costs and the potential impact of federal actions,” DiNapoli said in a news release.
The tax cap applies to New York State’s 675 school districts, including the 124 in Nassau and Suffolk, where school taxation makes up roughly two-thirds of homeowners’ property tax bills.
The 2% cap establishes a statewide baseline but actual allowable tax levy increases will differ by district. Factors such as payment in lieu of taxes, debt service and spikes in pension costs, among others, could change the final percentage voters see in their district’s budget presentation before the vote in May.
The cap could also be pierced if a district wins a supermajority vote of 60% or higher on its proposed budget. Very few Long Island school districts attempt to do that, however, as it poses a much higher risk of the budget failing to pass.
School district administrators are also waiting to see the coming state budget proposal, which Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to release next week. That proposal includes state funding for public schools.
Regional taxpayer advocate Fred Gorman, of Nesconset, called the tax cap a fair balance that allows districts to operate in an environment of rising costs without significantly raising homeowners’ tax bills.
“It makes school districts live within their means, but it also gives them some sort of growth and money that allows them to continually operate in an environment where things cannot remain the same,” he said. “The tax cap allows you to live here. It keeps expenses down to a limit that makes it survivable for someone on a fixed income.”
