News

Sex Offender Trailers Shutting by Tuesday

May
24
2013

The East End trailers that have housed homeless sex offenders and sparked community complaints will be shut down by Tuesday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced.

Twenty-six men remaining at the Riverside and Westhampton facilities will be moved to motels and homeless shelters throughout the county -- no more than one per location, Bellone said Friday at Riverhead Town Hall, where he received applause from local officials.

"We've overburdened these communities for much longer than any community should have to bear," Bellone said of the trailers that have sat near the Riverhead and Southampton Town border since 2007.

County police and social services leaders have identified more than 30 sites for the 26 homeless offenders, Bellone said, with 20...| read more ››

Sunday Bus Service Kicks Off: Resident Sees Red Over 'County's Theft of Funds'

May
24
2013

It's time to get on the bus, Gus.

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman announced this week that Sunday and holiday bus service will begin again on the East End with the holiday weekend.

The Sunday service will run from Memorial Day weekend until October 13, Columbus Day weekend.

The program was successful for the past two years, with numbers indicating a healthy ridership, and is back for another season.

“Sunday is a busy day for retail and service-oriented businesses. Employees need to get to work and employers need a workforce they can depend on,” Schneiderman said.

The Sunday service begins on the S92 and 10C lines; the S92 bus line runs from Orient Point to East Hampton, making stops...| read more ››

Sex offenders relocated as 8 others arrested

May
23
2013

Suffolk County late Thursday began relocating homeless sex offenders from East End trailers that have housed them for years, with the aim of closing the facilities within days.

Hours after County Executive Steve Bellone held a news conference to announce eight arrests under a new law requiring closer monitoring of all registered sex offenders, aides confirmed that some of about 40 homeless offenders had been moved to shelters throughout Suffolk.

"They're beginning efforts to reduce the amount of folks in the trailers," said Deputy County Executive Jon Schneiderman. Asked where the residents were going, Schneiderman would only say that they would receive shelter under the terms of the recently enacted Community Protection Act, which calls for homeless offenders to be...| read more ››

Smithtown Dems choose candidates for town board

May
21
2013

Smithtown Democrats have picked a former county judge along with a longtime party activist to run for town board in November.

Adam Halpern, a prosecutor in Suffolk County's Traffic and Parking Violations Agency and a former 4th District County Court judge, and activist Richard Macellaro, a retired home health care administrator, have been named to challenge Republican councilmen Kevin Malloy and Thomas McCarthy.

Halpern, 53, of Hauppauge, and Macellaro, 60, of Kings Park, were endorsed by the town Democratic committee at its nominating convention on Monday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25 hall in Hauppauge.

The committee also formally endorsed Steven E. Snair, 31, a Nesconset foreclosure attorney, to run for town supervisor. Republican Supervisor Patrick Vecchio,...| read more ››

William J. Lindsay gets nod from Suffolk Democrats

May
21
2013

Suffolk Democrats Monday night named William J. Lindsay, the son of the term-limited presiding officer of the Suffolk Legislature, to succeed his father, but left the nominations for four other legislative seats open for now.

The convention, held at the IBEW Local 25 hall in Hauppauge, also deferred a decision on a six-way battle for the North Fork's 2nd District Assembly seat nomination, so town committees, meeting during the next 10 days, can vote on the contenders.

The younger Lindsay, 40, of Bohemia, is in the insurance business and is making his first run for office.
Republicans have named Anthony Musumeci, 36, of Bohemia, who lost to William Lindsay the elder two years ago, 54.3 percent to 45.7...| read more ››

Suffolk to move homeless sex offenders

May
15
2013

Suffolk officials say they hope to begin moving homeless sex offenders out of trailers on the East End within several weeks, the first indication of progress in implementing an emergency monitoring plan passed nearly four months ago.

The Community Protection Act, drafted by County Executive Steve Bellone and approved unanimously by the county legislature Feb. 5, called for relocating about 40 homeless male sex offenders now living in the trailers to shelters around Suffolk.

Bellone argued for emergency approval of the law -- bypassing legislative committees and traditional public hearings -- because he said it was urgent to start treating all 1,016 county sex offenders equally, instead of devoting the majority of time and money to the 4 percent who...| read more ››

Legislator Calarco Secures $15K for Patchogue Cultural Institutions

May
13
2013

      Patchogue, LI—Monday, May 13, 2013: At their May 7th General Meeting, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously adopted two bills, co-sponsored by Legislator Rob Calarco, which secured $10,000 for the Plaza Cinema and Media Arts Center in Patchogue (Plaza MAC) and $5,000 for the Patchogue Village Center for the Performing Arts. Both bills (IR 1327 & IR 1328) allocated funding from the Hotel/Motel Room Tax Fund, a fund which exists to promote the tourism industry in Suffolk County.
      Legislator Calarco said, “Supporting organizations like the Patchogue Theater and Plaza MAC is critical to encouraging economic development. Investment in the arts supports jobs, generates tax revenues, promotes tourism, and advances our creativity-based economy. The Theater and the Media Arts...| read more ››

Calarco Establishes South Shore Coastal Protection Task Force

May
7
2013

      Hauppauge, LI—Tuesday, May 7: Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill (IR 1355) to establish the South Shore Coastal Protection Task Force passed today at the General Meeting of the Legislature. The bill, which set ups an 11-member task force to develop recommendations for the protection of the environment and infrastructure on the South Shore and barrier islands of Suffolk County, requires the group to provide the Legislature with a written report within six months.
      Legislator Calarco said, “Between Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene our southern shoreline and barrier islands have suffered tremendous damage. But even prior to the storms, our coastal areas have suffered from increased and recurring flooding. I introduced this bill to bring together a group of...| read more ››

Proposed Sunday Bus Service Expansion Up For Vote Tuesday

May
1
2013

Suffolk County residents who have long cried out for Sunday and evening bus service could soon see relief.

Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced this week an agreement that could provide a minimum of $1.1 million and up to $2.1 million in funding to expand Sunday bus service across Suffolk County.

Those advocating for the new legislation believe the expanded service could prove an environmental and economic boon.

The legislation was approved Tuesday by the Legislature's public works and transportation committee; a vote on the legislation will be held Tuesday at the County Legislature's general meeting in Hauppauge.

Co-sponsored by Suffolk County Legislators Al Krupski, Sarah Anker and Tom Muratore, the measure has received bi-partisan...| read more ››

Editorial: Use extra $2M to test more Sunday bus service

Apr
26
2013

Thanks to increased transportation funding in the recently approved state budget, Suffolk County Transit will get about $2 million more than it had planned for the fiscal year that began April 1. Used to fund a one-year test of increased Sunday bus service in the county, that money could make a real difference in the lives of many residents.

The county has Sunday service only on two East End routes and only in the summer. That service was added for six weeks in 2012, pushed by Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk), and it proved a huge success, providing 8,674 rides on six Sundays and a few holidays. That East End Sunday service is already set to be expanded to cover the...| read more ››