News

During Black History Month, we stop to consider not only the progress we have made towards equality in this country, but also the ongoing issues facing our Black youth every day.

Historically, young Black males are incarcerated at a higher rate than others. While about 8 percent of the school-age population in Suffolk is African American, Black men currently comprise approximately 41 percent of the inmates under 21 years old in the county jails.

Recent statistics on our youth are even more troubling. We are seeing young people turn to a life of crime at alarming rates, and, without support, they often are unable to get out. A recent report by the nonprofit New York City Criminal Justice Agency found that 48 percent of the 16-year-olds arrested since the Raise the Age law took effect in October 2018 had been rearrested for new crimes by January 2020. These are horrifying statistics that I seek to change| read more ››

January 2022 is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which coincides with the Department of Homeland Security’s annual “Blue Campaign” - a national public awareness effort to educate the public to recognize the signs of victims of human trafficking. To raise awareness, the center façade of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility in Riverhead will be lit up in blue light throughout the month of January.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office have embraced the Blue Campaign over the past few years. “Human trafficking is happening in Suffolk County and in communities across the country,” said Sheriff Toulon. “Most often these victims are women who are vulnerable due to a substance abuse issue and who may have had several traumatic experiences throughout their lives. It’s not uncommon for youth in the foster care system to fall victim to traffickers, but men and women from all backgrounds can become victims.”| read more ››

A new clothing drive is seeking donations to provide inmates leaving the Suffolk County prison system with dress attire so they can pursue career and educational goals.

Suffolk law enforcement and local nonprofit officials gathered Wednesday at Legis. Bridget Fleming’s (D-Sag Harbor) office on the East End to help announce the launch of the clothing drive, spearheaded by Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon’s office through its Sheriff’s Transition and Re-entry Team, or START, Program. The program, which began in February 2020, is partnering with the Brentwood-based New Hour for Women and Children-LI and the Riverhead-based Sound Justice Initiative for the clothing drive.

Accepted donations include new or cleaned professional attire such as slacks, shirts, leggings, sweaters, sports jackets, pants, shoes, dresses and handbags. Personal hygiene products and office supplies are also needed.| read more ››

Democratic incumbent Samuel J. Gonzalez relentlessly listens to and advocates for his community. This past term, he was the lone "no" vote in the legislature on the county's police reform plan, fueled by concerns from his constituents that it lacked an independent investigator to hold the department accountable.

This district was hard hit by COVID-19. Gonzalez, 60, of Brentwood, used his ties as a former labor union official to borrow trucks with screens and microphones to provide vaccination information in English and Spanish. That, plus other messaging and organizing pop-up vaccination sites, helped improve vaccine rates. His out-of-the-box thinking includes union certification programs for high-schoolers, non-train-station-oriented downtown development around 5th Avenue, and innovative multifamily housing solutions. He should see these through in his next term.

Republican Maxima Castro of Brentwood is not actively campaigning.

Newsday endorses Gonzalez.| read more ››