Southampton Town Police are beginning a major push to rein in speeding and improve safety along County Road 39 that will employ new strategies and technologies, like car-tracking drones, teams of police officers stalking speeders and the use of “pace cars” to train motorists to drive slower. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that as complaints have mounted from residents of neighborhoods that spur off County Road 39 about the daily fears for their safety while running basic errands, Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said that he has been searching for strategies on how to make the road safer. Speeding in the hours between the morning and evening “trade parade” is at the top of the list, since it drives much of the dangers of turning into and off the roadway for residents and the employees and patrons of hundreds of businesses. County Road 39 is the highway that runs through Southampton between Hampton Bays and Water Mill. “That road, when you get beyond the rush-hour times, it is a wide road, and drivers can see far ahead of them, so it gives them the sense that they can go fast. But people need to take into consideration that people have to be able to get out of businesses and side streets, and when everyone is going fast, it makes that very dangerous,” Kiernan said this week.

***

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday issued a public notice describing a new plan for "emergency maintenance dredging" at Montauk Inlet this winter, but Montauk fishing interests are concerned that a start date for the work still wasn’t clear as of yesterday. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that the Monday notice said the Army Corps has "received the needed emergency declaration" to start the work after finding there were "no adverse impacts" to any relevant endangered species in the channel. Up to 10,500 cubic yards of sand expected to be dredged from the inlet will be placed just west of the inlet, the project plan states.

"The dredging and placement west of the west jetty is currently anticipated to occur during the winter of 2025, subject to the availability of funds," the notice states, while also discussing public comment periods and a possible public hearing before work can begin.

Newsday has reported that at least five commercial fishing boats that are based in Montauk have had to offload fish and station in Rhode Island because of the dangers of shoaling at Montauk Inlet.

Montauk fishermen and their advocates say the work is already months late, as ships loaded with fish and ice have been hitting shoals and clogging the inlet as they pass to and from, particularly at low tide.

"What are you waiting for, gang?" Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, said Tuesday, adding the state’s largest fishing port has already lost around $100,000 in revenue because of the problem.

***

Sound Aircraft Services at East Hampton Airport is hosting a program for young people to learn about becoming a pilot. The “Guide for Aspiring Aviators and Their Families” is scheduled for tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the airport, 173 Daniels Hole Road in Wainscott. As reported on 27east.com, the program will touch on local training options, and a panel of experts, including East Hampton Town Airport director and former United Airlines Captain James Brundige, and ex-FAA regulator turned flight instructor Lou Cusimano will answer questions. Those who wish to attend should email [email protected]. East Hampton Town Airport is in Wainscott with over 7 acres of ramp, new pilots lounge, and separate passenger waiting area.

***

Democratic legislators are suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman claiming that the Long Island Republican illegally created a tax-payer-funded militia — allegations his office quickly slammed as bogus. Shane Galvin reports in THE NY POST that a lawsuit filed in Nassau County Supreme Court by Democrats Debra Mule and Scott Davis and the Free and Fair Litigation group names Blakeman, Nassau County, and county sheriff Anthony LaRocco as defendants alleging they created an illegal and redundant “militia” by starting an emergency “special deputies” program of civilians last year. “New York State law does not authorize defendants to create a taxpayer-funded militia,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants’ militia is illegal and represents a substantial and ongoing waste of public funds,” it later adds. The so-called “militia” refers to the “provisional emergency special deputy sheriffs” program Blakeman established on March 17, 2024. The program deputizes volunteer citizens who are licensed to carry firearms to assist local law enforcement agencies during emergencies. The civilian members would be expected to help protect critical infrastructure in Nassau County in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency. Nassau County swore in its first 26 citizen members on Dec. 31. Many of the members are retired from the military, police departments, or other emergency service organizations. They’re not paid unless they are deployed. The lawsuit claims the program includes expenses that qualify as illegal spending of taxpayer money — including shelling out funds for background checks, conducting random drug screening, providing training, and the $150-a-day stipend when they are activated. The suit further claims that Blakeman’s office intended to keep the details of the program secret and has refused to comply with Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests. But Blakeman’s office said the lawsuit slanders the gracious volunteers and called the legal action needless and shameful.

***

Amid uncertainty over changes in national spending, a state official said this week that New York’s ability to help struggling residents who depend on certain federally-funded safety net programs could be hindered.

That was the message from Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn to Island Harvest Food Bank leaders on Tuesday. The visit was designed to highlight Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget items to serve residents in need even as President Donald Trump's administration tries to freeze and revamp federal spending. Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that a preliminary look at a proposed House budget would add a work requirement to access food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Guinn said. If enacted, she said, the move would be administratively burdensome and slow access to the program formerly called food stamps.

Officials, she said, are also concerned about the possible elimination of broad-based categorical eligibility. For example, people who receive cash assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families could also be eligible for food assistance benefits. The loss of that category would reduce the number of people who could get SNAP benefits, she said.

And although the state has been focused on building its financial reserves, she said it could not cover a long-term loss of funding. 

"The level of federal investment in safety-net related services is not something that state budgets can make up in the long-term," Guinn said.

At Island Harvest, any potential cuts to funding are concerning, said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. On Long Island, the food bank supports more than 220,000 people who are food insecure and gets 11% of its income from the federal government. The remainder comes from grants from corporate foundations, individuals and local communities, she said.

***

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce presents Harborfrost this Saturday throughout Sag Harbor Village, with ice carving demonstrations, live music, community and family activities, AND a Grucci Fireworks display off Long Wharf at 5:45 p.m. Saturday evening.

As part of the annual HarborFrost activities this Saturday, you are invited to join Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt Saturday morning for a fun walk for kids of all ages along the StoryWalk Trail in Sag Harbor (about 30 minutes). The more adventurous can continue on for another half hour to see Long Pond and learn about the amazing Long Pond Greenbelt. Meet at the bleachers at Mashashimuet Park on the corner of Main Street and Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor at 10 a.m. this coming Saturday.

For more info contact leader: Dai Dayton, 631-745-0689.

*The StoryWalk Trail was made possible through a grant from the Sag Harbor Partnership.

***

Southampton Town Police are beginning a major push to rein in speeding and improve safety along County Road 39 in Southampton which will employ new strategies and technologies, like car-tracking drones, teams of police officers stalking speeders and the use of “pace cars” to train motorists to drive slower. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that after announcing the safety initiative last week, the department has already deployed enforcement teams to work the roadway each day after the morning rush-hour and enforce speed limits and has posted a digital speed monitoring sign on a utility pole near Saaz restaurant that indicates the speeds cars approaching it are traveling. But pulling over a speeder on a four-lane roadway with no shoulder and a nearly constant stream of cars in every lane that can grind to a halt with any interruption in the flow poses some substantial safety challenges of its own. To address the dangers, police will employ several novel strategies to try and collar speeders without creating a hazard to themselves or other drivers. Officers will use business driveways and side streets to pull cars over, positioning themselves strategically in places that will give them an option downstream for pulling over a vehicle in a safe spot. Officers can also work in two-car teams, staging along the road in locations where one can monitor speeds and when a vehicle is pegged for excessive speed can radio ahead to a second car positioned to be able to pull it over safely. The speed crackdown will also deploy 21st century technology — using license plate readers linked to speed cameras to identify chronic speeders, or those who travel at particularly excessive speeds. Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said even the department’s state-of-the-art remote-controlled drones could be brought into the game.

With multiple news outlets reporting that the Trump administration is drafting an executive measure to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, local educational advocates and experts had a message for Long Islanders.

"Don’t panic, but we’re going to pay attention," said Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. "Know that organizations like mine and school board members from across Long Island and New York State and the nation will be advocating to make sure that whatever changes come about will not negatively impact the children and their public education." Darwin Yanes and Laura Figueroa Hernandez report in NEWSDAY that the executive order would reportedly halt all functions of the department that aren’t enshrined in law or transfer powers to other agencies.

Vecchio noted that two federal laws would remain in place, even if the department was dismantled: The Every Student Succeeds Act, which governs public education and sets academic standards for K-12 students, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which guarantees "free and appropriate" public education for children with disabilities. Vecchio also pointed out that federal funding is usually a small portion of a school district’s funding, but he said people should be paying attention to any decrease.

Lars Clemensen, Hampton Bays Schools superintendent and president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said the state's constitution protects the right to a free and appropriate education.

"We’re not at a point of panic," he said. "Schools districts will continue to deliver and be creative and respond to challenges sent our way."

***

More than half of New York State’s first responders, including those in law enforcement, fire services and emergency medical services, experience high levels of stress, burnout and anxiety, according to a state-funded report being released today.

Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the approximately $14,000 state-funded survey and subsequent report aim to identify the unique mental health challenges faced by first responders.

Chronic stress from exposure to traumatic events and everyday strain can significantly impact the mental health and wellness of first responders, according to the report, conducted by the State University of New York at New Paltz’s Institute for Disaster Mental Health and the Benjamin Center.

The report found that 68% of those surveyed experienced stress, 59% felt burned out, and 52% faced anxiety.

The report was commissioned by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and conducted in 2024. More than 6,000 first responders from across the state took part in the voluntary survey, including those in law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, emergency communications and emergency management. Five follow-up focus groups were also held with emergency responders with varying lengths of service, including both those who volunteer and those for whom this is a career.

Governor Kathy Hochul, in her January executive budget proposal, announced the creation of a first responder counseling scholarship program through SUNY to encourage first responders to pursue counseling degrees and micro-credentials in areas such as trauma-informed care and peer support leadership. The scholarship aims to create a pipeline of mental health professionals who are equipped to support the emergency responder community.

***

Riverhead Town’s first committee focusing on the needs of the town’s Hispanic and Latino communities was formed by the Town Board yesterday. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Hispanic Development, Empowerment and Education Committee is expected to “develop and recommend strategies to abate and address the issues related to and necessary to improve quality of life of Hispanic members of the community and build a bridge between the Town government and the Hispanic community to better serve everyone and represent everyone.” The resolution was passed by the Riverhead Town Board establishing the committee. Council Member Ken Rothwell will serve as liaison to the committee. "The Hispanic Development, Empowerment and Education Committee is dedicated to advancing the economic development, empowerment and education of the Hispanic community in Riverhead,” according to Counci member Rothwell.

***

Nassau County is authorizing 10 of its police detectives to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and deport immigrants accused of a crime, officials announced yesterday. Nassau police will detain arrested immigrants accused of a crime in jail for 72 hours, then U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will either jail them in a federal detainment facility or deport them, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a news conference on Tuesday. The New York Civil Liberties Union assailed Blakeman's directive, releasing a statement saying it will only create a tougher relationship between immigrant communities and police officers. Bahar Ostadan reports in NEWSDAY that the Nassau County Police Department’s cooperation with ICE is not new, according to Commissioner Patrick Ryder. But under the new program, police "will be notifying ICE" to come pick up people in the country illegally who have been arrested even for low-level crimes who would normally be released with a ticket, Ryder said yesterday. Ryder also warned those hanging with illegal immigrants subject to arrest will also be detained. "If there are people in those targeted enforcements that are illegally in that house with that MS- 13 gangbanger and their name was checked, yes we will be detaining them along with ICE," Ryder said. If an ICE officer is not immediately available to detain the person, the newly appointed detectives will jail them until ICE arrives, according to Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

***

Stony Brook Medicine has directed faculty and staff to only allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents facility access after the health system’s legal counsel has validated their warrant or subpoena. Nicholas Spangler reports in NEWSDAY that the move comes in response to President Donald Trump's efforts since his return to the White House to deport millions of immigrants in the United States illegally.

"Local hospital staff should not provide access to hospital patient care areas or medical record areas," an email sent Friday from Stony Brook Medicine to faculty and staff reads. "Please ask the authorities to have a seat in a designated waiting area, and a representative will come by to speak with them shortly ... The ICE agents will not be permitted access to the hospital or its records, or to engage in any enforcement activities (arrests, searches, interrogations) in the hospital without presenting a valid judicial warrant (order signed by a federal judge or magistrate)."

Matthew Lopas, director of state advocacy & technical assistance at the Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center, said Stony Brook’s guidance appeared sound and grounded in constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

Those protections "aren’t just there for immigrants, they are there for all their patients who may not want law enforcement searching confidential patient records and entering patient examination rooms," he said.

***

Carole Brennan, East Hampton Town’s clerk since 2014 and its deputy clerk for 20 years before that, will not seek reelection, completing a 36-year career with the Town of East Hampton. Christopher Walsh reports on 27east.com that the clerk’s office handles most of the permits issued by the town, for things from home improvement licenses, taxis, films and shellfish to boat launching and beach parking. “Carole Brennan has been a joy to work with,” East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said this week. “Folks don’t always realize the breadth of responsibilities entrusted to the town clerk…Carole is the keeper of town records and ensures that the agendas for Town Board meetings are timely and complete, which is no small feat. Her professionalism, vast institutional knowledge and tremendous sense of humor will be greatly missed when she retires.” Along with the supervisor, members of the Town Board were also effusive in their praise for the long-serving town clerk. As her retirement looms, Brennan voiced one lament. “People just aren’t as nice as they used to be,” she said of visitors to the clerk’s office. “I don’t understand it. And I have always maintained that if somebody came in and got loud, I got up. I didn’t expect my counter help to go through that. “Everybody feels they’re entitled now,” she said. “It’s difficult.” Councilwoman Cate Rogers tells 27east.com, “I am deeply appreciative of Carole Brennan’s long service to our community and to our municipal government. Carole has been a trusted gatekeeper for access to many of the services the town provides as well as the town records and has led the town clerk’s office through many challenging times over the years, including weather emergencies and COVID. Carole has set the standard for integrity and respect for her office."

***

A bilingual statement released yesterday by East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez’s office stated that its police will not detain anyone per the request of ICE without a federal warrant signed by a judge, as required by state law. "There is no means for local law enforcement to determine anyone’s citizenship status, nor is the [police] allowed to inquire as to their status," the statement read. Later on Tuesday, East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen held a press conference about local police and immigrants at the village’s Emergency Services Building, where the message was the same, that the village would not be enforcing immigration issues. Christopher Walsh reports on 27east.com that emotions were laid bare in the crowded meeting room at East Hampton Town Hall as some 17 residents, among them an attorney and advocates for immigrants, implored the board to reject the Trump Administration’s moves to round up, detain and deport undocumented immigrants and to refuse cooperation with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency or ICE. Many more would have spoken up, some speakers insisted, were it not for the fear pervasive in the Latino community. “As policies at the federal level continue to evolve,” Burke-Gonzalez read from a prepared statement, the town and the police department “remain committed to protecting public safety and addressing violent crime by focusing resources on those who pose clear threats to our community, such as repeat DWI offenders, violent criminals and sex offenders.” The police department “has a duty to cooperate with federal and state enforcement agents to ensure the safety and security of our community while remaining steadfast in treating all residents with fairness and dignity, recognizing that immigrants are vital to the strength, character and success of our community,” stated East Hampton Town Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez. Speakers including East Hampton Village Police Chief Jeffrey Erickson, Sag Harbor Village Mayor Tom Gardella and East Hampton Superintendent of Schools Adam Fine, reiterated the message. “Public safety is our main concern,” Mayor Gardella said. “We want everybody in the public to feel safe, regardless of what your immigration status is.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed restricting use of internet-connected phones, smartwatches and tablets during the school day to cut down on distractions and improve students’ mental health. Many Long Island educators and parents support limits on screen time, but some want school districts to set their own policies. Existing smartphone restrictions on Long Island tend to prohibit smartphones through eighth grade and allow limited use in high schools.

Maura McDermott reports in NEWSDAY that the governor’s proposal, unveiled in January, aims to create “distraction-free” school days and improve students’ mental health. It comes as a growing body of research shows excessive screen time is harming kids’ ability to learn and their psychological well-being. In a research letter published yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers led by Lauren Hale of Stony Brook University found that teens spent an average of 1½ hours on their smartphones during school hours. Much of that time was spent internet browsing, text messaging, video streaming, listening to audio or using email or Instagram. “As a public health researcher and a mother of two middle schoolers, I am concerned that too many kids are missing out on both learning and in-person social opportunities during the school day by looking at their phones," stated Ms. Hale of S.B.U.

Governor Hochul wants to allocate $13.5 million to help schools buy cubbies, pouches or other phone storage devices. The proposal requires lawmakers’ approval as part of negotiations over the NYS budget, which is due April 1. If approved, the policy would take effect this fall.

***

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has invited the public to a meeting to discuss a multiyear habitat restoration project in response to impacts of the Southern pine beetle at Napeague State Park and Hither Hills State Park. Christopher Walsh reports on 27east.com that the meeting happens on Thursday, February 13 at 6 p.m. at Montauk Downs State Park, at 50 South Fairview Avenue. It will include a summary of already-completed emergency work and an overview of planned work for 2025 and beyond, addressing efforts to ensure the safety and sustainability of the park. Those attending will also learn about phased tree removal efforts, trail safety improvements and upcoming work to reduce wildfire fuel loads. Project highlights include creation of fuel breaks near residences adjacent to pitch pine forest; the cutting of dead trees along the Promised Land Trail and the Paumanok Path; and continued development and implementation of a restoration plan to support resilient habitats. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will also discuss environmental considerations guiding the work, including compliance with federal protections for the Northern long-eared bat. Public input is encouraged, and officials will be available to answer questions. Those seeking more information about the meeting or the project can contact the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at 631-321-3529.

***

Student artists at East Hampton High School have spent the last three months creating a mural of Ruby Bridges — an African American civil rights activist — displaying their creativity, teamwork, and passion for art. For the past three years, students in Margaret Zubarriain’s art club have worked in collaboration with the East End Arts Council to create an artistic piece honoring Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s group of young artists collectively decided to create a mural of Ruby Bridges after noticing they had yet to explore age as a focal point. Bradley Rodriguez reports on 27east.com that Bridges was one of the first African American girls to be integrated into the New Orleans Public School system. At the age of 6, Bridges was tormented and faced waves of racism. Despite the racism she faced, Bridges would attend school every day, empowering those faced with similar bigotry. Students worked on the mural after school during art club, during school in their free time, and even some working on their panel at home, driven by their artistic passion. E.H.H.S. students agreed to follow a New Orleans color palette, sticking to colors such as purple, yellow, and green. With the framework set, students were given free rein on each one of their panels, allowing the young artists to express their creativity and artistic abilities. The completed mural will be displayed and put up for auction at the East End Arts Council in Riverhead, with all proceeds going toward local scholarships.

***

Long Island retailers and manufacturers spent yesterday bracing for potential price hikes before President Donald Trump reached an agreement with Canada and Mexico to temporarily suspend his plans to impose a 25% tariff on both allies. As reported in NEWSDAY, hours before the tariffs were to go into effect, leaders from Canada and Mexico announced Trump had agreed to a 30-day pause, as they pledged to boost their border security spending. But the threat of a tariff war still sent stocks tumbling on Monday morning and left local business owners weighing the potential impact should Trump decide to impose the tariffs.

"We need long term stability and we need clarity when it comes to trade," said Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, a nonpartisan group that promotes local businesses.

Cohen told Newsday, "at the end of the day" a trade war "helps no one," noting "small businesses and merchants are not going to be able to absorb increased costs without passing them on."

On Long Island, most store owners and manufacturers interviewed by Newsday said tariffs on imported goods would likely lead to price hikes and higher construction costs.

Some Long Island store owners and managers said they expect that if tariffs were to be implemented, it will lead to higher wholesale costs that they will have to pass on to retail customers.

Developers and construction groups on Long Island said they were hoping tariffs could be avoided, noting any future tariffs would lead to price hikes for construction materials like steel and lumber.

Cohen also said potential tariffs on Canadian gas and oil, though only 10%, as proposed by a carve-out included in Trump's executive order, could still lead to a hike in energy costs for Long Islanders already struggling with affordability issues.

***

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation yesterday aimed at protecting medical providers by allowing them to request that only the name of their practice be printed on prescription abortion medication labels instead of their personal name. The law, which is effective immediately, looks to shield physicians from being prosecuted in other states that have limited abortion access. Hochul signed the bill contingent on the New York State Legislature passing an amendment that would legally require pharmacies to comply, heading off any potential issues.

"This is an urgent situation," Hochul told reporters.

Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the legislation comes after a grand jury in Louisiana on Friday indicted a New York doctor for providing abortion pills to a Louisiana resident. The physician, Dr. Margaret Carpenter, was identified because her name was found on the prescription label. She was charged with criminal abortion, a felony in Louisiana.

Governor Hochul vowed she would "never, under any circumstances" sign an extradition agreement to send the doctor to be prosecuted in Louisiana.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) said "While other states escalate efforts to criminalize abortion, New York stands firm. We will not allow anti-abortion extremists to intimidate providers or block access to care."

The doctor had been operating under the state’s shield law, enacted in 2023, which protects New York-based doctors who serve patients in restrictive states through telehealth.

***

Yesterday, NYS Attorney General Letitia James wrote a letter to groups that receive federal funding saying the freeze that President Donald Trump wanted on certain federal grants was on hold and they could not deny gender-affirming care to minors. James and 22 other attorneys general had sued to block the freeze which could have impacted federally funded programs at the state and local level. James noted that withholding services from an individual because they are transgender is discrimination under state law.

Advocates and members of the LGBTQ+ community said they were heartened by James’ letter but still deeply worried about the future.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that President Trump has signed executive orders that would only allow male and female genders to be recognized and end gender-affirming treatments for people under the age of 19.

***

The Corwith Windmill, on the village green in Water Mill, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Town of Southampton and, along with the water mill that provided the inspiration for the small hamlet’s name, it is a cherished monument to the area’s roots and history. On the south side of Montauk Highway, the Water Mill Green area has undergone massive changes since the windmill was built for its original location in North Haven and moved to Water Mill in 1813 by James Corwith. Corwith and his family then ran the mill for the next 75 years. While the mill was considered to be on the small side, it served a vital service to the farming community of Water Mill. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that for the past several weeks, evidence of Water Mill’s 21st century community dedication and teamwork has been on display for anyone passing through Water Mill via 27 eastbound or westbound. A crew of local carpenters and craftsmen have been hard at work, in the cold of winter, on a restoration project, expected to cost roughly $170,000, to ensure the mill’s survival and operation into the future. Nearly 40 years after the last major renovation project, in 1987, the Water Mill Village Improvement Association has helped spearhead the restoration effort, assembling a talented crew to oversee the significant maintenance project, which began in December of last year and is expected to be completed sometime in the late spring. In a letter sent out to community members seeking fundraising support for the restoration, the Water Mill Village Improvement Association Inc. stated, “Everything needs to be reassembled before we can return this beautiful ‘old friend’ to watch the modern world go by for the next several years.”

New York officials said they will oppose President Donald Trump’s executive order to replace what he calls "radical indoctrination" of "anti-American ideologies" in public schools with "a patriotic admiration for our incredible nation and the values for which we stand." Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that in an apparent reference to gender-altering operations and separate sex restrooms, Trump said schools are “steering students toward surgical and chemical mutilation without parental consent or involvement or allowing males access to private spaces designated for females.” The order also targets teaching about structural racism and "white privilege."

A day after Trump issued the order, New York officials said they are ready to resist it.

The president "lacks authority to disregard acts of Congress," said J.P. O’Hare, spokesman for the NYS education department.

"We are reviewing the recent executive orders," O’Hare told Newsday in a written response. "This review is informed by our belief that state and local control remains the bedrock of our nation’s education system, and this principle will not be enhanced through federal curriculum mandates.

"We remain committed to ensuring that schools are safe, welcoming environments for all students, which is a bipartisan issue," O’Hare said. "We will continue to work with the Legislature and governor to ensure that our schools remain devoted to truth, excellence, and free inquiry."

In New York state, education policy is set by the state Board of Regents, who are chosen by the State Legislature. Under law, local school boards have great latitude in what is taught in schools.

***

Median teacher salaries have risen to $130,000 a year or higher in 34 school districts across Long Island — up from 24 a year earlier, a Newsday review found.

And a majority of the region’s school systems — 72 of 125 — report median salaries of $120,000 or higher. That number is also up from the previous year’s figure of 64.

John Hildebrand and Michael R. Ebert report in NEWSDAY that payroll numbers show that Long Island's school systems maintained their longtime position as among the highest-paying, not only statewide, but also nationally. Teacher representatives in the region said the salary levels reflect high living costs in Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as in similar suburban counties such as Westchester.

But state and local finance watchdogs questioned whether the rise in teacher pay was resulting in higher academic achievement for students. Recent national assessments, for example, showed middling results for New York students in math and reading. Andrea Vecchio - a founder of Long Islanders for Educational Reform, a regional advocacy group focused on school-finance issues – tells NEWSDAY, “If we keep rewarding failure, we’re going to get more of it,”

The salary medians, also known as midpoints, were based on records covering more than 37,000 full-time classroom teachers in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Figures were for the 2023-24 school year, the latest available, and were provided by the state's Department of Education.

Among more than 650 districts statewide, five of the 10 top-paying systems were located in the Nassau-Suffolk area.

The highest-paying districts on Long Island, and their median salaries, included: Cold Spring Harbor, $150,089; Syosset, $146,892; Jericho, $146,105; Commack, $143,402 and Three Village in Suffolk, $142,041.

***

The East Hampton Town Police Department’s 2025 Citizen Academy is now accepting applications, with the Spring 2025 session scheduled to begin on March 5. CHRISTOPHER WALSH reports on 27east.com that a 10-week program, the Citizen’s Police Academy gives participants firsthand insight into how the town’s police officers perform their duties and serve the community. The goal is for graduates to leave the academy as more informed citizens with an insider's view of local law enforcement functions and operations. The free, interactive 10-session program will run one to two times per week from 6 to 9 p.m. between March 5 and May 14. The course is open to those who live in East Hampton Town, are 17 or older and have a valid driver’s license. Applicants will be subject to a background check. The application submission deadline is Wednesday, February 26. Those seeking more information can call 631-537-7575, extension 542.

***

The Town of Southampton on Wednesday filed court papers seeking to stop leaders of the Shinnecock Indian Nation from continuing to build a gas station on Sunrise Highway in Hampton Bays. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that the town's motion for a preliminary injunction, which seeks a court hearing on Feb. 19 in State Supreme Court in Riverhead, follows its Dec. 20 filing of a lawsuit that seeks to block tribal leaders from building the travel plaza. The nation has said the gas station/travel plaza is essential to its economic development and is being built on long-held tribal land over which the Town of Southampton has no zoning authority.

Earlier this month, the Shinnecock Nation received a letter from the U.S. Department of the Interior affirming that the 80 acres that constitute its Westwoods property in Hampton Bays are part of its legally protected, aboriginal sovereign land.

Separately, lawyers for Shinnecock leaders, including chairwoman Lisa Goree and other council members, last Friday filed a motion to dismiss the town's suit against the gas station, arguing they had not been properly served.

On Wednesday, Lance Gumbs, vice chairman of the Shinnecock council of trustees, called the town’s latest court filing a "modern-day land grab."

Gumbs said the nation has not stopped construction, nor has it stopped operating its adjacent billboard and monuments on Sunrise Highway which are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit by the state Department of Transportation.

Westwoods "has been affirmed as what we always said it was," said Gumbs. "It’s aboriginal restricted-fee land and not under the jurisdiction of the state or the town."

***

The Trump administration is considering a move to halt New York City’s congestion pricing program, according to multiple people with knowledge of the matter.

As reported in THE NY TIMES, the U.S. Department of Transportation is discussing whether to withdraw a key federal authorization that the tolling plan received from the Biden administration last year. Such a move would almost certainly touch off a legal battle between the state and federal government and could effectively kill congestion pricing in its infancy.

No final decision has been made but President Trump had vowed to halt congestion pricing when he entered office, saying it was harmful to the city’s economy.

The tolling program, which is meant to provide funding for public transit…including the LIRR…started on Jan. 5 after surviving a number of lawsuits seeking to block it and a last-minute suspension by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in June.

Ms. Hochul and Mr. Trump have spoken twice this week. They discussed a range of issues including congestion pricing, according to a person familiar with the matter, with the governor conveying to Mr. Trump that the program was showing signs of success.

President Trump told Governor Hochul that there would be no immediate action and that before any decisions were made they should touch base again next week.

There is little precedent for the reversal of a transportation project of this magnitude, transit experts said. New York’s congestion pricing plan, which first took shape more than six decades ago, is the first such program in the country.

Legal experts said that it was unlikely the federal government could directly scrap congestion pricing and whatever maneuver it employed to derail the plan would undoubtedly be challenged in court.

***

"Locals helping locals." That's the slogan for an event taking place tomorrow, meant to help workers laid off from Crescent Duck Farms in Aquebogue, where an outbreak of avian bird flu left owners with no choice but to cull their entire flock and quarantine the business. Lisa Finn reports on Patch.com that the fund-raising event is tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at North Fork Brewing Co., 24 East 2nd Street in Riverhead. A raffle will be held, with prizes and experiences provided by local restaurants, hotels, vineyards, breweries and artists. Crescent Duck Farm had to lay off about two-thirds of its 75-person workforce after bird flu was confirmed at the farm Jan. 16, Crescent Duck Farm president and a fourth-generation farmer Doug Corwin told RiverheadLOCAL last week. Nearly all the farm’s employees have been working there for many years, he said. Crescent, founded in 1908, is the last duck farm remaining on Long Island, where duck farming once prospered with about 100 operating farms.

***

The Town of Southampton on Wednesday filed court papers seeking to stop leaders of the Shinnecock Indian Nation from continuing to build a gas station on Sunrise Highway in Hampton Bays. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that the town's motion for a preliminary injunction, which seeks a court hearing on Feb. 19 in State Supreme Court in Riverhead, follows its Dec. 20 filing of a lawsuit that seeks to block tribal leaders from building the travel plaza. The nation has said the gas station/travel plaza is essential to its economic development and is being built on long-held tribal land over which the Town of Southampton has no zoning authority.

Earlier this month, the Shinnecock Nation received a letter from the U.S. Department of the Interior affirming that the 80 acres that constitute its Westwoods property in Hampton Bays are part of its legally protected, aboriginal sovereign land.

The town’s papers state the federal affirmation about Westwoods "does not purport to make a finding that the nation holds aboriginal title to Westwoods, or that Westwoods is 'Indian Country.' "

Southampton Town attorney James Burke said, "I have not seen authority that clearly provides that lands held in restrictive fee make such lands sovereign from local municipal authority." After speaking recently with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Burke said he's awaiting a response from them.

The Town of Southampton says tribal leaders’ efforts to build the gas station/travel plaza are "highly disruptive and cause material adverse impacts to the surrounding residential community."

Tribal construction efforts "disregard town regulations and authority, ignore questions from the town about the environmental and safety impacts, flout zoning and permitting requirements, trample on town property rights, and otherwise threaten the quiet enjoyment of the surrounding area," the town's papers stated.

The suit includes aerial photos from November alleging the "natural character of the land has been utterly destroyed by the perpetual and increasing activity."

Long Island nonprofits, social service groups and other recipients of federal funds responded with alarm and confusion yesterday to a Trump administration memo that sought to impose a freeze on targeted federally funded programs. Tom Brune and Laura Figueroa Hernandez report in NEWSDAY that the memo issued Monday night by the Office of Management and Budget put a "temporary pause" on federal grants and loans to align spending with President Donald Trump’s priorities and to eliminate "Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal" policies. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., halted the memo’s orders until Feb. 3, moments before it was to take effect at 5 p.m., to consider its complicated ramifications.

1st Congressional District Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) said in a statement that he and Trump made campaign commitments to pause funding for some foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations and initiatives like DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), gender ideology and the Green New Deal while protecting Social Security and Medicare. "Should the courts block the President’s actions and instead require Congress to step in, I will work closely with him and my colleagues to achieve a balanced budget, strengthen national security, improve affordability, and ensure that Long Island gets its fair share," said Congressman LaLota.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "Last night, President Trump plunged the country into chaos. Without a shred of warning, the Trump administration announced a halt to virtually all federal funds across the country."

Meanwhile, Nassau and Suffolk county health agencies and nonprofits are scrambling to understand the order and whether it applied to them.

***

Jessica Lynn Elliott was recently named as the new executive director of the Southampton African American Museum in Southampton Village, taking over for founder Brenda Simmons, who has transitioned into a new role as the museum’s president and CEO. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Ms. Elliott was a teacher and history professor at Syracuse University before taking the role with the museum in December. Its mission is to promote an understanding and appreciation of African American culture by creating programs that will preserve the past, encourage learning and enhance the life of the community. The museum fulfills that mission by researching and collecting local history, producing media events, and creating exhibits and community celebrations. Located at 245 North Sea Road in Southampton, the museum is the former home of a Black barber shop that was founded by Emmanuel Seymore, who came to the North during the Great Migration in the late 1940s to escape the Jim Crow South. He purchased the land in Southampton and opened the shop, becoming a successful businessman. Elliott has been an educator for 20 years, working as a teacher of U.S. history, government, global history and geography in the Syracuse City School District, and writing and teaching African American history curriculum for the same district for 15 years before taking a role as a history professor at Syracuse University. Elliott earned both her doctorate and masters from Syracuse after graduating from Delaware State University in 2006 with a double-major in history and political science and a double minor in African American studies and philosophy. After working at Syracuse University for five years, Elliott said she was ready for a change, and in looking for new opportunities, came across the opening at the museum.

***

The Sag Harbor Zoning Board of Appeals last week issued three variances to the John Jermain Memorial Library that will allow it to replace a failing heating and ventilation system. Stephen J. Kotz reports on 27east.com that the variances allow for a soundproof fence that will be placed around the system on the north side of the library building to be 6 feet tall, where 4 feet is ordinarily the limit. Two other variances would ease restrictions on total lot coverage and building coverage, which the library building already exceeds on the 14,172-square-foot lot. With the variance now in hand, the library is expected to receive site-plan approval from the Planning Board. And not a minute too soon. The library reported that its existing heating system broke down on January 13.

***

The Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, which lost its entire flock of 99,000 to an outbreak of bird flu, has begun the long, methodical process of sanitizing its facilities. Mark Harrington and Lisa L. Colangelo report in NEWSDAY that Doug Corwin, president of the family-owned operation in business since 1908, said all the ducks have been euthanized, as required by federal officials, and two layers of quarantine remain in effect around the operation. None of his workers has fallen ill or tested positive for the virus.

"The worst is over as far as any viral spread," he said. "Now we’ve got to do an intensive cleanup here. USDA will come down once or twice a week and monitor our progress. We talk with them multiple times a day."

The future of the popular farm, which supplies duck meat to restaurants and gourmet shops throughout Long Island, New York City and beyond, hinges on several thousand eggs that are being safely kept off site. Infectious disease experts have said the risk to health among the general public is still low, especially since there have been no confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission.

Corwin was forced to lay off 48 workers but kept 20 to help with the cleanup.

He said the company was successful in salvaging many of the 10,000 eggs that he hopes could represent the future of Crescent, which has developed a unique genetic strain of duck over generations. Eggs were kept off the farm and sanitized and tested along the way, and many are now being incubated at an undisclosed location. Corwin has not yet determined whether he will raise ducks at the site again. He has been frustrated with the lack of a vaccine that would protect ducks from the virus. "There’s a lot of challenges left," he said. "But don’t get me wrong. We’re making every step forward so that at least we can try. I’m not backing down by any means."

Richard Ball, commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets said there have been no other recent detections of bird flu on Long Island.

***

Following a similar announcement by Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard last Friday, Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski released a statement Monday reaffirming the Town of Southold’s long-standing policy to “not assist Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other federal agency in the enforcement of federal laws. The Town of Southold’s Police Department will focus on maintaining public safety and will continue to treat all residents with respect, regardless of race, national origin, citizenship or any other matter which may define us,” states Supervisor Krupski. Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that a Community Informational Session to provide important and timely information to residents on the Southold Town Policing Policy will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30…that’s tomorrow evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Southold Town Recreation Center, 970 Peconic Lane, Peconic.

Southold Town Police Chief Steven Grattan, along with representatives from the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force and the Police Advisory Committee, have been invited to participate in this discussion and “to be responsive to issues of greatest concern to our residents,” according to Supervisor Krupski’s statement.

For more information, contact the Supervisor’s office at 631.765.1889.

***

A proposal to phase out sand mines on most residentially zoned land in Southampton Town was adjourned until February 25 by the Town Board on Tuesday. Stephen J. Kotz reports on 27east.com that Councilman Bill Pell, the legislation’s sponsor, said that the board had received comments from the Town Zoning Board of Appeals and the Suffolk County Pine Barrens Commission, but had yet to hear from the Town Planning Board, necessitating the need to adjourn the hearing. However, the board accepted testimony from the four people who signed up to speak during a public hearing on the measure, three of whom supported the town’s action. The only speaker to oppose amortization, Aram Terchunian of Westhampton Beach, urged the town to use incentives to encourage sand mine operators to transition from mining to less intense uses.

***

Fear and uncertainty, but also an invincible devotion to God, permeated a Roman Catholic Church in Riverhead where hundreds of immigrants gathered for Sunday Mass despite President Donald Trump’s order that federal agents can enter houses of worship to arrest people in the country illegally.

Some immigrants, who acknowledged they were living here without documentation, said they came to pray anyway at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Riverhead since their faith and belief in God was stronger than any threat Trump might level.

"We are afraid but we have confidence in God," one immigrant, a landscaper who is in the country illegally, said in Spanish.

Bart Jones reports in NEWSDAY that the church attracted a standing-room-only crowd of about 800 people, larger than even the typical showing of 650 to 700 of the faithful, said the Rev. Larry Duncklee, pastor of St. John. Immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and other Latin American countries packed the pews. The aisles along the walls were also full.

Hispanics are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States. Many denominations including the Catholic Church are catering to them to try to stem declining membership, in part by offering Spanish-language services. Most Latinos traditionally are Catholic but Evangelicals and other denominations are making inroads in the community.

The U.S. is home to an estimated 11 million people who do not have legal documentation. Many on Long Island work in restaurants, factories, landscaping and — especially on the East End — farms, according to advocates.

"I’m afraid to go anywhere," another parishioner at the Mass who is also living in the country illegally, said in Spanish.

"I have a little fear to go to Mass because they have threatened to take people out of the churches," the parishioner said. "But the will of God is the most essential thing ... We have to go to Mass and thank our Father and our creator."

More than 1.3 million Long Islanders could receive between $300 and $500 in state rebate checks at the end of the year and see substantial tax savings if two proposals from the governor are approved. Critics, however, argue that the measures merely paper over significant affordability issues throughout Nassau and Suffolk. Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that among the line items in New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget is an “inflation refund” that would give $3 billion in direct payments to about 8.6 million state residents, including more than a million on Long Island, the state said. Single taxpayers who make up to $150,000 per year would receive $300, and joint filers making up to $300,000 annually would get $500 total.

Separate from the rebate is an expansion of the Empire State Child Credit, which would give parents up to $1,000 in refundable tax credits for each child younger than 4, and up to $500 for families with children ages 4 to 16.

If approved, the credit's expansion would be phased in over two years, meaning Long Island parents with children younger than 4 would qualify for the savings when filing their taxes in 2026. Parents of children ages 4 to 16 would qualify the following year, the state said.

An estimated 215,000 households on Long Island, or roughly 355,000 children, would benefit from the expansion of the child tax credit, the governor’s office said earlier this month.

The State Legislature will review and potentially make changes to Hochul's proposed budget. A budget deal must be reached by April 1.

***

Twenty-five years ago, when current Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger first served on the Village Board, as a trustee, he remembers talk about the need to replace the slate roof at the Southampton Arts Center, the 9,930-square-foot cultural institution on Jobs Lane that is owned by the Village of Southampton. Even a quarter of a century ago, it was evident that it was near the end of its lifespan. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that now thanks to a recent half-million-dollar investment by the current board, the Southampton Arts Center is finally getting a new roof. Approximately $500,000 was set aside in the capital budget last year to replace the slate roof, and recently, the materials arrived from a company in Vermont, allowing workers to get the project underway. Mayor Manger said yesterday that the project would likely be complete in a few weeks. It will be a welcome relief for those who work at and visit the arts center regularly. In recent months, the roof had been leaking, requiring buckets to be set up inside to catch the water on rainy days.

***

Bridgehampton students in grades two through five are lacing up their skates again this winter thanks to the generosity of their community. As reported on 27east.com, through donations of ice time, skates and helmets, students take part in ice skating lessons at the Buckskill Winter Club in East Hampton during the months of January and February. For many years, Douglas and Katheryn DeGroot’s continued support has made this opportunity possible for Bridgehampton students, offering them a unique experience outside the classroom. With the help of physical education teacher Steve Meyers, students learn the fundamentals of ice skating, build confidence, and stay active throughout the winter months.

***

The Ladies Village Improvement Society of East Hampton is marking its 130th anniversary this year and, in a presentation to the East Hampton Village Board last Friday, LVIS announced a 2025 community programs budget of slightly more than $785,000. Christopher Walsh reports on 27east.com that this includes beautifying and preserving the village’s landscape through its more than 30 committees devoted to matters such as trees, greens and grounds, landmarks and the Nature Trail. The LVIS also awards scholarships to high school students, sells merchandise in its thrift shops and hosts an annual summer fair. “The LVIS works to care for over 3,500 trees and to plant new ones,” Joyce Tuttle of the LVIS told the East Hampton Village Board. “It’s likely one of the oldest private-public tree programs in the United States.” Members tend to some 700 memorial plaques along the streets and clean the tree enclosures on Main Street and Newtown Lane. Dead or downed trees are replaced with a variety of species. “Keeping East Hampton Beautiful Since 1895” the Society’s Greens program, founded in 1907, oversees mowing, irrigation and organic care of the greens on Main Street, from Town Pond to the Hook Mill memorial and the large open space at the western end of Pantigo Road. The LVIS Nature Trail Committee feeds and monitors the health of diverse waterfowl and birds, and in partnership with the Garden Club of East Hampton removes downed branches, limbs and litter there. “The LVIS is a wonderful organization,” Mayor Jerry Larsen said, “and you all work so hard and it’s so clear how much dedication and how much money is given to this Village. … From my heart, I thank you so much for all the hard work you do.”

***

A decision on the application for a use variance to allow a retail cannabis shop to open in a former bank building on Ostrander Avenue was postponed last week by the Riverhead Zoning Board of Appeals until at least the next planning commission meeting on Feb. 13. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the adjournment came pending receipt of the recommendation of the Suffolk County Planning Commission on the proposed use. Applicant Elizabeth McGrath, operating as Tink & E. Co. of Cutchogue, proposes a state-licensed dispensary in the former bank building at 1201 Ostrander Avenue, which has been vacant since the branch was shuttered by People’s United Bank in June 2017. McGrath appealed to the ZBA for relief from Riverhead Town’s cannabis code, which prohibits a retail cannabis dispensary at the site, because it is within 1,000 feet of existing residential uses and is outside a designated commercial corridor.

Amanda Grams of Reeves Park was the only member of the public to speak on the application during last Thursday’s meeting. Grams said the town invested a lot of time and energy in developing the cannabis code. She noted that Riverhead’s code has allowed the largest retail dispensary in the state to open on Route 58, near Tanger Outlets. “I’m standing here because I don’t want Riverhead to be the pothead place. That old bank is near homes, residences, children. It’s not zoned for it,” she said.

***

Several local organizations are among 15 nonprofits awarded a total of $378,000 by the Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund in support of their efforts to advance progressive social change, the New York Community Trust announced last week. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that among the nonprofit organizations awarded grants is the Riverhead-based Butterfly Effect Project, which received a $23,000 grant to support its leadership initiative, which creates opportunities for young people of color to advocate for change in their communities.

Tijuana Fulford, founder and executive director of the Butterfly Effect Project said the grant will support the group’s college access and college retention program. BEP helps its members attend college tours, access resources like scholarships and financial aid, and prepare federal financial aid application documents known as FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The group also helps high schoolers explore alternative pathways, including careers in public safety and other public service employment, various skilled trades, and entrepreneurship.

***

More than 1.3 million Long Islanders could receive between $300 and $500 in state rebate checks at the end of the year and see substantial tax savings if two proposals from the governor are approved. Critics, however, argue that the measures merely paper over significant affordability issues throughout the NYC Metropolitan area including Nassau and Suffolk. The NYS Legislature will review and potentially make changes to Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget. A budget deal must be reached by April 1.

“Families shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they can afford to put food on the table because of the rising cost of groceries,” Hochul said in a statement last week. “Making New York more affordable has been one of my top priorities."

However, Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that critics of the governor’s proposed child tax credit expansion and inflation refund said the state is leaving core affordability issues unaddressed.

“The governor is talking about affordability, and she’s going about addressing it in all the wrong ways,” said Ken Girardin, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank in Albany.

“If you’re concerned about the cost of goods or services in New York, then go find ways to make it easier to provide goods and services in New York,” Girardin said. “You can do that by lowering taxes on the people who provide those goods or services or by easing their regulatory burden.”

The Fiscal Policy Institute, a progressive think tank in Albany, also took issue with the state’s proposed refund checks. Emily Eisner, an economist at the institute, wrote in an analysis earlier this month that the checks would not address structural issues, such as the high cost of housing.

She added that “the policy could easily backfire, giving a small boost to prices rather than easing household finances,” implying that a cash injection into the economy could have inflationary effects similar to what was seen with pandemic stimulus payments.

Eisner did suggest, however, that expanding the child tax credit represents a “recurring investment in New York families.”

Hospitals on Long Island and in the region are gearing up for the potential arrival of immigration officers now that these sites are no longer largely off-limits to enforcement actions. Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that the Greater New York Hospital Association recently sent its members, which total close to 280 facilities, guidance to help them prepare for the change. It includes questions and answers about warrants and subpoenas, a suggested memo for the public and advice on dealing with assertive officers. "Like all law enforcement officers, ICE agents take their work seriously and are trained to obtain information," one section reads. "They may use persuasion and even intimidation at times. When dealing with any law enforcement agent, it is important to be professional and calm."

The Greater New York Hospital Association suggests its members designate a hospital liaison, preferably in-house counsel, to take the lead when immigration officers show up at the facility. It notes that, in general, only a warrant signed by a judge requires hospitals to allow ICE agents to enter nonpublic areas. If an ICE agent says a patient needs to be arrested to avoid imminent harm or risk, "the hospital may decide to cooperate with ICE. But remember, without a judicial warrant, cooperation is not required."

Last week, President Donald Trump discontinued a policy enacted under President Barack Obama that labeled hospitals, schools, houses of worship and other sites as sensitive locations. Immigration enforcement agents were discouraged from making raids at those sites except in certain circumstances.

***

The Riverhead Police Department will not get involved in immigration enforcement and related issues, which are “purely federal functions and are administered by federal agencies.” Riverhead Town Supervisor and Police Commissioner Tim Hubbard said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “It is and has been the policy of the Riverhead Police Department that police personnel will not stop, question and/or interrogate or investigate, or arrest persons based solely on suspected immigration or citizenship status and will not detain any individual for suspected civil violations, federal immigration laws or a related civil warrant,” Hubbard said in the statement. “Such investigations or actions are federal functions and will be pursued by relevant federal agencies. The Riverhead Police Department may field requests for local agency assistance in connection with federal immigration operations within the town, the statement said. The police department enforces state and local laws and is tasked with maintaining public safety, said Hubbard. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Hubbard is a retired Riverhead Police detective who had a 32-year career with the town police force. He was elected to a Riverhead Town council position in 2015 and in 2023 was elected town supervisor. As town supervisor he also serves as police commissioner.

***

The East Hampton Library’s Digital Long Island Collection has received and scanned more than 500 documents from Preservation Long Island’s manuscript collection, which covers three centuries of Long Island history. Christopher Walsh reports on 27east.com that with more than 3,000 objects and 185 cubic feet of archival materials, Preservation Long Island, founded in 1948, has curated one of New York State’s most significant regional collections of historical artifacts. Its collaboration with the East Hampton Library provides public access to a selection of documents from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, offering insight into Long Island’s social, cultural, political and economic histories. Digital Long Island is an online resource for exploration of Long Island’s history. It includes searchable scans of deeds, maps, letters, oral histories, legal documents, photographs and other materials such as whaling ship logs, poems, recipes and song lyrics. The documents are available online through the DigitalLongIsland.org portal.

***

Three school districts on Long Island were identified in a report issued Friday by NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for the 2023-24 school year as facing varying degrees of fiscal stress. John Hildebrand reports in NEWSDAY that a total of 22 districts statewide were singled out. One of two systems in the state facing "significant" stress — the highest level of fiscal trouble — is tiny New Suffolk on the east end's North Fork. Residents there voted in March to shut down instruction at their local school and send students to a neighboring district. The stress level designations were for the school year ending June 30, 2024. The 22 districts in New York State identified were an increase from 16 systems the prior year. New Suffolk's superintendent, Joseph Vasile-Cozzo, did not dispute the comptroller's rating of his district. But he told Newsday that the district was satisfied with its new arrangement, in which all resident children of school age are sent to classes in the nearby Southold system. New Suffolk had previously operated its own school for prekindergarten through sixth grade, with higher grades attending classes in Southold. The district decided to stop offering its own classes on the grounds that it did not have enough students to maintain a full program. The district retained its own administration to allow it to negotiate tuition rates. In addition, New Suffolk continues to set its own tax rate, which is low compared to rates in districts further west. "We're doing great," Vasile-Cozzo told Newsday. "Southold has been terrific."

***

The Hampton Bays Civic Association’s Monthly Meeting is scheduled for this evening in the Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Avenue.

Doors open at 6:30pm for refreshments and the meeting starts at 7 o’clock tonight. Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore will provide an update and take residents’ questions on various issues impacting Hampton Bays.

These issues include:

1) Westwood litigation and Southampton Town’s goal in taking the Shinnecock Nation to court.

2) The next steps with downtown development.

3) The town’s housing authority’s purchase of the Easterner Motel.

4) The towns plans for the various properties in the Hampton Bays hamlet.

5) The status of the proposed sewage treatment plant for the Hampton Bays community.

6) The proposed BESS zoning guidelines.

7) Park development on the former Bel-Aire Cove property.

8) What are the Supervisor’s plans for infrastructure improvements within our Hampton Bays hamlet in the coming year?

Those issues will be addressed during Hampton Bays Civic Association's meeting with Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore this evening at the Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Avenue. Doors open and refreshments are served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m

631.728.2289

View Organizer Website

[email protected]

***

After a flurry of federal directives last week targeting un-documented immigrants living in the United States, Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard issued a statement Friday affirming Town Police’s commitment to “provide professional services to the community and maintain equal treatment and equal enforcement of the law to the community.” Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Supervisor Hubbard is a retired Riverhead Police Department Detective. He said those town police polices “are consistent with federal and state laws and it is not the Town’s intention to alter such policies in response to recent Federal executive actions.” Hubbard’s statement came as he extended a town emergency executive order, enacted by his predecessor, Supervisor Yvette Aguiar in May of 2023, prohibiting hotels, inns and other transient lodging in the town from accepting “persons for long-term, non-transient housing inconsistent with approved and/or permitted uses.” In Mr. Hubbard’s extension of the State of Emergency, signed this past Friday, he said the “circumstances and dangers upon which my predecessor’s declaration was predicated… have not abated and I find that such conditions do, or threaten to, imperil the health, safety and general welfare of the residents and visitors to the Town of Riverhead.”

***

Better compensation for volunteer firefighters injured in the line of duty and the phasing out of equipment made with forever chemicals known as PFAS were among the legislative priorities laid out by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York Saturday at its 2025 outreach meeting. Joseph Ostapiuk reports in NEWSDAY that the organization, which represents volunteer firefighters statewide, held the session at the Albertson Fire Department headquarters to bring its agenda before legislators preparing to engage in negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of the April 1 budget deadline. The association’s focus, officials said, is centered on bringing in new volunteer firefighters and keeping them in the service.

“The biggest thing is recruitment. We got to get them in the department, and then the retention will follow,” said Jerry Presta, an East Norwich firefighter and chairman of the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association. “All of these initiatives — if you put them all together, it helps.”

A bill that calls for volunteer firefighters to be paid the same amount of workers' compensation as paid employees injured on the job is one of the association’s highest priorities.

Some of the association's 2025 legislative goals mirror last year’s, including raising the income tax credit for volunteer firefighters from $200 to $800, creating a sales tax exemption for products such as smoke detectors and allowing members to receive both an income tax credit and a local real estate property tax exemption.

NYS Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni (D-Sag Harbor) attended Saturday’s meeting along with other NYS legislators from Long Island.

Civil rights advocates and police reform activists on Long Island reacted with alarm yesterday to a new Trump administration directive that would severely limit federal oversight of local police departments.

The Trump administration, in a memo, instructed lawyers in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division not to file any new complaints, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

Another Justice Department memo ordered lawyers to notify Department of Justice leadership of any settlements or consent decrees reached in the last three months of the Biden administration, saying Trump’s administration "may wish to reconsider" the agreements, which lay out plans for police reform and are enforceable by the courts. It does not appear that any Long Island police departments have reached settlements in that time period. Nicole Fuller reports in NEWSDAY that New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with her counterparts in 10 other states, said they won’t abide by any Trump administration-ordered freeze on civil rights litigation. The attorneys general said they would focus on continuing to enforce laws to protect immigrants.

"Despite what he may say to the contrary, the president cannot unilaterally rewrite the Constitution," they said in a statement yesterday. In New York, State Executive Law 70-b gives the attorney general authority to investigate all instances in which a police officer may have caused a death.

The law was passed in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

***

The Riverhead Central School District has notified the community it will strictly adhere to New York State guidance that “immigration enforcement actions cannot occur on school grounds without proper legal documentation.” Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the statement came two days after the Trump administration announced it was ending a ban in place since 2011 against federal immigration agencies making arrests at schools, churches and hospitals. In a letter to the school community sent out through the district’s Parent Square communications app and posted on the district website yesterday, the district said it would adhere to the state guidance “in the strictest sense” and would call on its “legal counsel to affirm the validity of any supposed legal documentation brought to the District by any federal agency before we commit to compliance.” The letter was signed by Riverhead School Board of Education President James Scudder and Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich. They emphasized that New York State law and federal protections guarantee the right to a free public education for all children, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The Riverhead School District student body is 66 percent Hispanic according to district officials.

***

Hampton Library in Bridgehampton is hosting “Winter Intermezzo: An Afternoon of Poetry & Music” on Saturday afternoon. That’s tomorrow at 2 p.m. in St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Bridgehampton. Inspiring words of verse will be read by local poets Peter Walsh and Candace Hill Montgomery, Canio’s Maryann Calendrille, Hampton Library’s Jill Burdge and Lisa Michne, student Poppy Edwards, and St. Ann’s Father Jim, with musical interludes by, among others, violinist Garry Ianco, associate concertmaster of The New American Sinfonietta. Blythe Danner will be the special guest. Refreshments will be served in the parish house after the reading. Tickets may be reserved in advance at myhamptonlibrary.org or by calling 631-537-0015. Admission is free but donations will be accepted at the door. All proceeds will go toward the Hampton Library’s Capital campaign.

***

The North Haven Village Board last week unveiled a slew of proposed code amendments, ranging from new definitions for what can be included in determining the size of a building lot to a proposal that would have banned the display of sculpture or other artwork on a front lawn, which was withdrawn by Mayor Chris Fiore without comment. The remaining hearings were kept open, pending a ruling by the Suffolk County Planning Commission that the proposed changes are appropriate. Stephen J. Kotz reports on 27east.com that the proposal that generated the most pushback was one that would exclude that portion of a property that is underwater or under a street from being included in the total lot area. Trustee Terie Diat said there are at least 175 waterfront lots in the village, where land below the high tide line is considered part of the property and taxed by both the Village of North Haven and the Town of Southampton. Eliminating that square footage could reduce the size of what could be built on it and would be particularly “punitive to waterfront homeowners who have small lots,” she said. Mayor Fiore said the village took up the proposed zoning changes because the board has received complaints over the years from residents who see modest ranch houses razed and replaced with McMansions, destroying the village’s character in the process. Another resident, Rob Remkus, told the board, “The village should be careful about how strict it is in restricting the size of houses because those larger houses pay higher taxes and will help support the village in the future. Trustee Terie Diat said she supported the general effort to protect the village’s character. However, she argued that the work was too important to do in “a piecemeal” fashion. “We should look at zoning changes in a comprehensive manner.” Barbara Roberts, a North Haven resident, backed Diat. She said the village should invest the time and energy into creating a comprehensive plan. “The conversation has to start with the entire community brainstorming,” said Ms. Roberts.

***

The Southampton Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. on major changes to its town codes regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), after massive public backlash last year against a proposed 100 megawatt BESS project proposed not far from the Shinnecock Canal in Hampton Bays.

The board has scheduled the public hearing just in advance of the expected end of a moratorium on consideration of BESS systems on Feb. 13, 2025. That moratorium has been in place since mid-2023, as New York State has been working to revamp its code guidelines for battery storage in the wake of three 2023 fires at BESS sites throughout the state, including one in East Hampton. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that under Southampton’s proposed new regulations, BESS systems large enough to be considered Tier 2 and Tier 3 under the new code would be prohibited in residential areas, and stand-alone BESS systems would be capped at 5 megawatts, while systems tied to a solar array could be rated no greater than 20 megawatts. Southampton Town Planner Seth Race said 16 recommendations by the New York State Interagency Fire Safety Working Group, which are expected to become state code “at some point,” have been incorporated into town code, including mandatory peer review of applications by experts in the industry who do not have a financial stake in the project. The New York State Energy Research Development Agency is compiling a list of “qualified, certified individuals that should be able to assist the town.” The fee for this consulting work would be paid for by the applicant, he added.

Here's a text of the code changes

"The Southampton Town Board hereby directs that a public hearing shall be held on February 11, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., both in-person, at Southampton Town Hall, 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, New York, and via videoconferencing, to hear any and all persons either for or against a local law entitled: “A LOCAL LAW enacting Article VIIA entitled "Energy Storage" within Chapter 330 Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Southampton."

***

This coming Sunday the North Fork Polar Bears will host their third Annual North Fork Polar Bear Plunge — a charitable cold-water plunge open to the public at Veterans Beach on the Peconic Bay in Mattituck.

Plungers and supporters will gather to brave the cold to raise funds for the Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation (CAST) and Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program’s Back to the Bays Initiative.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the plunge starts at 10:00 a.m. this Sunday.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that The Plunge has become a highlight of the North Fork’s quiet winter season — more than 300

plungers and supporters took part in the second annual event in January of 2024.

This year, the North Fork Polar Bears are raising the stakes with an ambitious goal of 500 participants and a fundraising target of $100,000.

***

Southampton History Museum Executive Director Sarah Kautz recently confronted the Southampton School Board over “seemingly coercive comments” made during a previous meeting, comments that suggested the nonprofit could lose its spot on the district ballot in May following its termination of the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery’s lease. Michelle Trauring reports on 27east.com that efforts to clarify quickly deteriorated into a back-and-forth between Kautz and the School Board — with the museum administrator calling out specific members by name, and Board President Jacqueline Robinson insisting that this conversation be placed on pause until they had spoken with their attorney. “We take this extremely seriously,” Kautz said. “We do, as well,” Robinson interjected. Kautz responded, “We spent a lot of, over 100 years, serving this community, and not just any museum gets a charter.” The Southampton History Museum, which is a nonprofit educational organization, is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and incorporated under the New York State Education Department. For that reason, according to museum officials, the hatchery cannot host commercial shellfishing businesses on the Conscience Point property — the basis behind ending the rent-free lease late last year, which had been in place since 2011. On January 14, several School Board members raised the question as to whether the district should allow the tax levy for the museum’s budget on the ballot given the reduction in resources for district students — such as those who participate in the district’s marine science program — who have historically worked and volunteered with the shellfish farmers at the hatchery. For the 2024-25 school year, voters approved a $285,000 tax levy for the Southampton Historical Museum, up from $275,000 the year prior.

Long Island education officials reacted with a mixture of concern and caution yesterday at the news that federal immigration agents can now make arrests at schools and other "sensitive" areas. Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that a directive was issued Monday — President Donald Trump's first day in office — rescinding guidance that had protected migrants from being arrested by law enforcement agencies, such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while in or near locations like places of worship, health care facilities and schools.

Dafny Irizarry, president of the Long Island Latino Teachers Association, criticized the policy change, saying, "Schools are places where our kids come to learn, not to be interrogated about their status, not a place to be arrested."

The NYS Education Department, along with the offices of Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James, issued a nine-page document that addressed issues such as enrollment requirements at schools, the release of student information and potential law enforcement detention of students. The guidance states that "law enforcement officers may not remove a student from school property or interrogate a student" without the consent of a parent or person in parental relation, unless a warrant or an order authorizing the custody is issued.

In a statement yesterday, state Education Department spokesman J.P. O'Hare said, "New York State law guarantees every student, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, the fundamental right to a free public education. Through this joint guidance, we reminded school districts of their legal obligation to educate every student and offered our full support in this vital mission."

***

The Farrell Companies plan to install nitrogen-reducing I/A septic systems for all of the new “manufactured homes” they plan to install at the former Lier’s Mobile Home Park in Eastport — but maintain that they are still entitled to erect 93 of the units that were on the property’s original certificate of occupancy. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the installation of new residences that had been underway has been halted since early December after Southampton Town issued a second stop-work order at the property demanding that no new concrete pads or new homes be built or installed until the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has determined how the development can move ahead. In June, a county health department official sent a memo to Southampton Town officials stating that the trailer park’s septic allowances were not, in fact, grandfathered in, allowing the existing decades-old wastewater systems to remain in place at the property. The site of the property being cleared in Eastport and new “double wide” residences being brought in sparked objections from neighbors, saying that the renewal of the trailer park as a bustling residential neighborhood would bring new problems of traffic, environmental conditions and soaring school population in the tiny hamlet. Only 14 residents still live at the property, some of whom have also raised concerns that they will be pushed out unfairly by Farrell. But an attorney for the Farrell Companies assured members of the Planning Board that the current residents would be allowed to remain as long their leases remain up to date and are paid regularly.

***

The National Weather Service has announced on its website that it's seeking volunteers for its Cooperative Program to serve as volunteer weather observers in Mattituck, NY.

Volunteers will participate by taking daily temperature and precipitation readings, the NWS said, adding, "Your data will help save lives and property!"

Instruments and training will be provided free, including a temperature sensor and snow boards. Training will include instruction on how to take measurements and submit data through the NWS website.

The perfect candidates should have "long-term commitment and a passion for weather observing," the NWS said. "We are looking for individuals who can commit to take observations for many years. A passion for weather is required."

Backup observers are also needed for when volunteers are away.

If interested visit the NWS website here.

***

A gift card went missing from the Amagansett School before Christmas break in 2023 — and now the school's principal could lose her job over it. Dandan Zou reports in NEWSDAY that the district is trying to fire principal Maria Dorr after accusing the longtime educator of stealing the card. District officials have said in disciplinary proceedings that she broke the trust of the Amagansett School community. But Dorr, who was never criminally charged, has denied she stole the card. Her attorneys called the allegations “scandalous, defamatory and without merit.” They asked: Why would an educator with an “unblemished record” of 25 years steal a gift card worth $50 or less, putting her career and reputation in jeopardy?

After seven hearings — with more than 42 hours of testimony and 15 witnesses — the case could soon have a resolution. Attorneys for both sides filed post-hearing briefs last Friday and a state-designated hearing officer is expected to issue a decision within 30 days. Dorr, 51, who earned $215,764 in 2023-24, was suspended with pay last January.

The hearing officer, Timothy Taylor, instructed the witnesses not to speak about the case. But unlike most disciplinary hearings, Dorr chose to make hers public.

The Amagansett school system is one of the smallest on Long Island, with about 120 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade all housed in one building.

***

Long Island’s last large commercial duck farm, in Aquebogue, had a bird flu outbreak, requiring 99,000 ducks to be euthanized. Any hope of saving the genetics of the ducks sits with 10,000 sanitized eggs that are in quarantine and must undergo rounds of testing before they can be safely hatched off the facility. The presence of the virus, which is highly contagious and deadly among domestic poultry, was confirmed by lab tests last Thursday, Crescent Duck Farm President Doug Corwin said yesterday. The farm was established in 1908 and remains the last commercial duck farm on Long Island, once world-renowned for its ducks. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that no one at Crescent Duck Farm is known to have contracted the virus, Corwin said. Everyone is being monitored. The Suffolk County Health Department said in a statement this Tuesday that the “county is working with state agencies to ensure public health and safety. There is minimal risk to public health.” Corwin said the outbreak at his family’s farm leaves its future up in the air. After culling operations are completed, which will take about a week, a massive cleanup will be undertaken.

Mark Harrington and Lisa L. Colangelo report in NEWSDAY that 47 workers at Crescent Duck Farm were laid off. Around 20 Crescent workers remain on staff, helping in the effort to sanitize. The employees laid off were given notices explaining the situation of their release for unemployment benefits. Many of the workers have been with the company for 20 to 30 years, one for 35 years. The Corwin land in Aquebogue has been in the Corwin family since the 1600s.

***

Legal Counsel Natalia Rodriguez, of the Central American Refugee Center (CARACEN) says that local students have one overwhelming question for her: “What will happen to me if my parent gets detained or deported?” Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Ms. Rodriguez explains to the students the process by which their parents can file for “Standby Guardianship,” an 18-page form available on the New York State Unified Court System’s website, which must be signed by two witnesses and notarized, allowing their parents to designate a person to care for them if they are detained.

She said the families should give a copy of the form to the guardian, which they can bring to Suffolk County Family or Surrogate Court if the child’s parents are detained or deported. They will then be granted guardianship for 60 days.

“They can get an extension, but what happens after 60 days, I don’t know,” said Ms. Rodriguez.

CARACEN has long been a partner with the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation in Southold, better known locally as CAST helping immigrants on the North Fork navigate these challenges.

CAST plans to hold informational seminars as national policy becomes clearer.

New York State Unified Court System’s website

***

A new survey of Long Island CEOs shows division over the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the workplace. James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that among the 268 executives who participated in the annual Long Island Economic Survey, 35% said DEI is part of their company’s mission and is a company priority, while an additional 33% said DEI is important but not a company priority.

“There’s a significantly high adoption rate on Long Island,” said Don Levy, a pollster and director of the Siena College Research Institute, which conducted the survey from Sept. 16 through Nov. 4 with the accounting firm PKF O’Connor Davies. "You've got two-thirds of CEOs that we interviewed who say DEI is either a priority or at least important to their company."

But 32% of respondents said DEI isn't something they think about.

The results of the survey, which was conducted before the presidential election, were released this morning.

Levy, the pollster, said the CEOs surveyed “are not a left-leaning constituency.” They much preferred Trump to win the White House and for Republicans to control both houses of Congress, Levy said yesterday.

This is the first time in the survey's 30 years that CEOs have been asked about DEI.

DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion, refers to organizations' efforts to recognize and value individual differences, ensure fair opportunities—particularly for legally protected groups such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, those with disabilities and religious minorities—and foster a workplace where all feel respected and welcomed.

Leaders of local business groups said private-sector employers should be given latitude in terms of how, or if, they embrace DEI.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul yesterday released her proposed budget that would increase total spending by 3.6% to $252 billion, including a 4.7% increase in school aid, a middle-class tax break and tax rebate checks of as much as $500 to families.

Overall, Hochul’s proposed budget would increase spending by $8.6 billion.

Michael Gormley and Yancey Roy report in NEWSDAY that the governor’s budget proposal will now go the State Legislature for review and potential changes. Hochul and leaders of the Democratic-led Senate and Assembly will then negotiate a budget deal, which is due by April 1. Hochul also would triple the child tax credit for families as part of a budget she said is dedicated to making New York more affordable. The child tax credit would rise to $1,000 from $330 for families with children under 4 years old and $500 for families with children 4 to 16 years old. That will cost $825 million and help 8.6 million New Yorkers. She said the middle-class tax break would reduce that tax rate to the lowest in 67 years.

The budget proposal doesn’t increase any broad-based taxes and uses a $5.3 billion surplus from increased tax revenue. The surplus will partly pay for a 14% increase in spending on the Medicaid health care system for the poor and working poor. The Medicaid increase would total $4.3 billion.

Governor Hochul also would use revenue from extending a temporary tax rate for five years for New Yorkers with taxable incomes over $2.1 million, worth $5 billion a year in revenue.

In schools, Hochul proposed $13.5 million more to help schools limit the access of cellphones in classes as part of an effort to limit the distraction.

Overall, school aid would increase by $1.69 billion to $37.4 billion, pending negotiations with the legislature, which traditionally increases the aid. Rises in school aid are intended to reduce the pressure on school districts to increase local property taxes.

The state would cover the cost of breakfast and lunch for all public and nonpublic school students at a cost of $340 million.

Overall, Governor Hochul said $6 billion, or almost 60% of increased spending, would go to Medicaid and school aid, the two biggest areas of the NYS budget.

She faced some partisan opposition to the growth in overall spending from Republicans.

"New York Democrats should be breaking their runaway spending habits," Assembly Republican leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) said. "Instead, they’re breaking the bank."

Hochul’s budget proposal will now go the NYS Legislature for review and potential changes. Hochul and leaders of the Democratic-led Senate and Assembly will then negotiate a budget deal, which is due by April 1.

***

The Ross School Senior Projects Exhibition Night is tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ross School on Goodfriend Drive in East Hampton. As posted on 27east.com, the Ross School Senior Project is the culmination of a student’s learning experience at Ross. Through the execution of their project, seniors harness their passions in a process and product that integrate such Ross School principles as multiple intelligences, cultural-historical context, personal reflection, applied media/technology, and pursuit of excellence. Guided by a faculty mentor, students create a Process Folio, Final Product, and Presentation, gaining deeper self-awareness and growth as learners and creators. Students present their end products to the community in an annual exhibition night and in individual presentations discussing their process, product, and conclusions.

That’s the Ross School Senior Projects Exhibition tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ross School on Goodfriend Drive in East Hampton.

***

The Trump administration has delivered a potential body blow to the wind-energy industry with a sweeping executive order that pauses new leases and permits for arrays in federal waters and on land. The move comes as Orsted, the Denmark-based developer of Sunrise Wind, detailed a series of setbacks for the Long Island project which will push back its completion date by a year to mid-2027. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that Trump’s order Monday night could have an immediate impact on future projects planned for the waters between New York and New Jersey, for which leases have already been issued but which will need federal permits to move forward. New York State, which canceled then reissued a solicitation for projects last year in the area known as the New York Bight, was expected to announce new awards as soon as this month. One project, Attentive Energy, has already pulled out, citing uncertainty tied to Trump's election.

Whether projects that already have their federal permits could be impacted is uncertain. Orsted, which is building the land-based cable for Sunrise Wind in Brookhaven Town, said yesterday that it was taking another large impairment charge, this time nearly $1.7 billion, tied in part to delays and cost overruns on Sunrise Wind and other U.S. projects. The company said it still expects the project to be profitable when completed by mid 2027 — a year behind the prior schedule.

Land-based construction for Sunrise Wind has been heightened near Smith Point in Shirley, where a high-voltage cable will make land. Crews were seen at two newly built dock facilities at the Suffolk County Park. In a statement announcing the delays, Orsted chief executive Mads Nipper called the new impairments (on top more than $4 billion last year) and the delays "very disappointing," but said the company remains "committed to the U.S. market in the long term ..."

***

New York State is home to 470,100 undocumented workers, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration announced yesterday — as the governor worried a coming crackdown on illegal immigrants could send the local economy into a tailspin. The revelation means about 15% of the state’s entire workforce is undocumented, or nearly one out of every 6 employees. “The potential deportation of undocumented immigrants could further exacerbate the state’s population loss and labor shortages,” an economic outlook analysis released as part of the NYS budget plan said. Carl Campanile reports in THE NY POST that the Center for Migration Services estimated that 470,100 workers in the State of New York are undocumented — a figure cited in Hochul’s budget report released on Tuesday. “Most of them work as construction workers, maids/housekeepers, cooks, home and personal care aides, janitors, and delivery drivers, among other occupations,” Hochul said. “If workers are forced to leave their jobs, employment in these industries will be significantly disrupted.” The analysis noted that 70% of workers in the construction industry are foreign-born. “A slowdown in the flow of new immigrants may cause labor shortages and delays in the completion of ongoing construction and negatively impact the available inventory,” Hochul’s analysis stated. Hochul’s report also noted that remote work has contributed to an exodus of New York residents to lower cost states. “The New York City metro area’s high cost of living has contributed to a population decline in the region,” Hochul’s analysis said. “The potential deportation of undocumented immigrants could further exacerbate the State’s population loss and labor shortages. A long-term decline in population remains a significant downside risk to both wages and employment.” Conversely, New York City and the state could benefit if New York City’s population loss is less than anticipated and the immigration crackdown isn’t as restrictive as expected, the analysis concluded.

***

Suffolk County has terminated Chicago real estate conglomerate JLL as master developer of the $2.8 billion Midway Crossing project on county-owned land in Ronkonkoma and plans to seek new proposals to replace the convention center and health offices complex that had been proposed for the site, county officials announced yesterday. Carl MacGowan reports in NEWSDAY that the administration of Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said JLL, formerly Jones Lang LaSalle, had failed to make significant progress toward hiring staff and arranging financing for the oft-delayed project, which also would have included a hotel and a new Long Island MacArthur Airport terminal.

Supporters had hailed Midway Crossing as a "transformative" project that would create tens of thousands of jobs and redevelop county-owned parking lots at the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station.

Suffolk officials signaled they planned to restart the project from scratch, seeking both a new developer and revamped proposals to revitalize 179 acres south of the LIRR tracks and north of the airport. JLL said it "fulfilled, and will continue to fulfill, all its obligations" to the county.

***

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York unveiled yesterday a $252 billion executive budget that seemed intended to appease New Yorkers dissatisfied with the rising cost of living rather than to address President Donald Trump’s policies that may hurt the state. Benjamin Oreskes and Jay Root report in THE NY TIMES that the proposed budget includes funding for about $1 billion in middle-class tax cuts, $3 billion in rebate checks for millions of New Yorkers, $800 million for an expansion of the state’s child tax credit, $340 million for school meals for every student and close to $60 million for more police officers on subway trains — all designed to address concerns about affordability, crime and the cost of living.

The spending plan represented a nearly $8.6 billion increase from the current budget, largely because of vast jumps in Medicaid and education spending.

Perhaps most significant is what Ms. Hochul’s budget did not include. She offered no contingency plans in case President Trump makes good on his vow to halt congestion pricing, which would stop the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars a year to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority…including funding for Long Island Railroad projects.

It also did not identify potential alternate funding streams in response to the Republican-led federal government’s likely focus on cutting money from social service programs like the Affordable Care Act.