At a press conference on February 23rd at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Smithtown, New York, several Suffolk County Legislators were joined by environmental advocates and residents to urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to reject the Dredge Material Management Plan (DMMP), proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers. When the public asked for more responsible alternatives for the disposal of dredge materials, the United States Army Corps of Engineers failed to deliver. The new plan, released in January, outlined the continuation of dredge dumping in the Long Island Sound for 30 additional years without addressing possible beneficial reuses.

“The Army Corps of Engineers has taken over 10 years and spent over $7 million to identify alternatives to dredge spoil...| read more ››

In Democrat Steve Stern’s decade as a Suffolk County lawmaker, some have labeled him a back bencher who showed little ambition for higher office.

Minority Leader Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), who sits next to Stern on the dais, said he was surprised at Stern’s entry into the contest for the seat of retiring Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington).

“He’s not been out in front on a lot of things, but it also means he has less negatives,” McCaffrey said.

But the term-limited Dix Hills lawyer, 47, has emerged as a serious contender even though he represents just a sliver — 39 election districts — of the 3rd Congressional District, which stretches across Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

Stern also probably is the least...| read more ››

Generation Citizen alumnus and former NYU Chapter lead John De Vito is running for office as the Democratic Candidate for the New York State Senate’s 3rd District. At 25 years old, John is an advocate for getting young people involved in the Democratic process at a local and national level. During his time at NYU, John served as a Democracy Coach in an 8th grade classroom at the Mott Hall School in Harlem. There, he empowered his students to organize and execute a “Sustainable Living Curriculum” that those students taught to their 6th grade peers and presented to their Assembly Member.

John credits his decision to run, in part, to his experience with Generation Citizen. He believes that millennials deserve...| read more ››

The two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 28 primary for the First Congressional District seat squared off in what was their first public debate Wednesday night.

Former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst of Bridgehampton and attorney and former Suffolk County Planning Commission Chairman Dave Calone of Setauket are seeking the nomination to oppose Republican incumbent Lee Zeldin in the November general election.

In an event sponsored by the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee and hosted at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Amagansett, the candidates gave their backgrounds and then answered questions submitted by the committee on specific topics. There were no questions from the public.

The most recent Federal Election Committee campaign finance disclosures, show that...| read more ››

The Suffolk County Legislature confirmed Timothy Sini Tuesday as the next county police commissioner.
In a 14 to 3 vote, with one abstention, legislators approved Sini, who was nominated by County Executive Steve Bellone.
During confirmation hearings Tuesday, Sini said he would be taking over a department that is under a “cloud” of federal investigations
Sini, who will earn $166,022 a year, said he would work to restore public trust and department morale following the arrest of former top uniformed cop James Burke on federal charges that he beat a suspect and coordinated a cover-up. Burke has pleaded not guilty.
“I will do everything in my power to move this department forward and do the right...| read more ››

Democrat Julie Lofstad defeated Republican Richard Yastrzemski in a Southampton Town special election Tuesday.
With all 42 electoral districts counted, Lofstad had 2,771 votes to Yastrzemski’s 1,721, according to preliminary results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
Lofstad will serve the two years left in the unfinished term of ex-Councilman Bradley Bender, who pleaded guilty to selling oxycodone pills and resigned Nov. 24.
Her victory means a Democratic-Independence alliance will continue to control the South Fork town, where the GOP dominated politics for decades until 2013.
Lofstad also had the backing of the Independence and Conservative parties in the special election. Yastrzemski had only the Republican line.

“We knew going in we had an uphill...| read more ››

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer did more than just show up for work Thursday. He made history.

Schaffer became the longest-serving supervisor in town history, with 13 years, 1 month and 20 days under his belt, a day more than the last record holder, Edward Daily, who died in office in 1912.

Schaffer, 52, who has served split terms — from November 1992 to December 2001 and in his current run that started in January 2012 — is not the longest-serving supervisor on Long Island. That distinction belongs to Patrick Vecchio in Smithtown, who is in his 37th year as supervisor.

According to the Association of Towns of the State of New York, the longest-serving town supervisor in the state...| read more ››

Join us for our 2016 Spring Fundraiser to celebrate the recent victories of Town Councilmembers Jackie Gordon and Tom Donnelly, hosted by Rich Schaffer and Town Committee Chairman Peter Casserly, at the Bergen Point Golf Club from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, February 17th.

Tickets are $350 and sponsorships are available.

Platinum Sponsorship - $5,000
Gold Sponsorship - $2,500
Silver Sponsorship - $1,500
Bronze Sponsorship - $500

Please make checks payable the Babylon Democratic Committee. To RSVP, please fill out response card (attached below) or call (631) 991-3081 by February 8th.| read more ››

Mount Sinai, NY - January 19, 2016 - Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker is pleased to announce her appointment as Chairwoman of the Seniors and Consumer Protection Committee for 2016. The committee has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs and the Office for the Aging. The committee will also deal with matters concerning senior citizens at any level of government, including the development and implementation of prescription drug programs.

“It is an honor to be appointed Chairwoman of the Seniors and Consumer Protection Committee. My district has one of Suffolk County’s largest senior populations, and I look forward to continuing to advocate on their behalf,” said Legislator Anker.

Since entering office in 2011,...| read more ››