Op-Ed Close The Drugged Driving Loopholes

NEW YORK MUST CLOSE THE DRUGGED DRIVING LOOPHOLES

By District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds

New York’s roads are deadlier than ever. With the legalization of personal use quantities of marijuana and New York’s antiquated impaired driving laws, which have not kept up with new synthetic designer drugs, the problem is getting worse by the day. The Drugged Driving Loopholes in our laws enable dangerous drivers to escape responsibility far too often while endangering innocent people simply trying to drive on our roads or walk on our sidewalks in safety.

The Drugged Driving Loopholes exist because New York is one of only four states that still uses an archaic list to allow for arrest and prosecution of drugged driving. In New York, to prosecute a drugged driver, it is not enough that the drug has impaired the driver. The substance must be listed in the Public Health Law passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, before a dangerous, obviously impaired driver can be arrested. Right now, a driver can be as “high as a kite,” but if they are high on a drug, or other substance that is not listed, they go free. For instance, drugs such as Xylazine (“Tranq”), analogues of Fentanyl, and Nitazene (“ISO”) are not on New York’s list.

With modern chemistry, our lawmakers cannot keep up with new designer synthetic drugs coming out regularly. The constant influx of new impairing substances has turned the drug list into a barrier against stopping dangerously-impaired drivers. It is at the root of the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation to New York and three other states to abandon the limitation of an ineffective drug list that will never be able to keep up.

Additionally, even drivers high on a drug that is on New York’s list can avoid responsibility by simply refusing to take an identifying test because it prevents the drug from being named. Twenty percent of drivers in New York evaluated by police Drug Recognition Experts in 2021 refused to take a chemical test, up from thirteen percent in 2019. We are not protected when drugged drivers can escape arrest simply by refusing a test.2

The type of alcohol ingested by a driver does not have to be named for someone to be charged with Driving While Intoxicated and if impairment is observed, no test is needed to establish a Blood Alcohol Level or whether it was whiskey, vodka or wine, that has caused a driver to be impaired. The same should be true for drugs.

Just like with alcohol impairment, driver appearance, behavior and common sense ought to apply to drug-impaired drivers too. Blood alcohol tests are valuable evidence in DWI cases, but if drivers refuse the test for alcohol, they can still be prosecuted and lose their licenses based on the other impairment factors.

This is a public safety and public health emergency. If we have learned anything during the current opioid crisis, it is that public safety is enhanced when law enforcement and addiction treatment providers work together. Laws that hold people accountable for their actions, paired with evidence-based substance use prevention messages and readily accessible drug and alcohol treatment for those who need it, will save lives.

It is time to plug the loopholes. New York’s outdated approach to impaired driving handcuffs law enforcement, leaves those struggling with a drug problem untreated and puts innocent people at risk. A commonsense bipartisan bill (S3135/A174), backed by both law enforcement and addiction treatment providers, has been introduced in Albany this session to plug these Drugged Driving Loopholes. We need to be responsible and keep everyone safe. It is time to reverse the increase in highway deaths and save lives by passing the Deadly Driving Bill.

Raymond A. Tierney is the Suffolk County District Attorney and Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds is the President/CEO of Family and Children’s Association (FCA). Both are members of the Coalition to Protect New Yorkers from Drugged Driving.

OP-ED Keeping Communities Strong By Andrew Cuomo

Washington can help renew our cities: Urban investment is needed locally and nationally to keep communities strong

By Andrew Cuomo

This is an op-ed written by former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo for New York Daily News

There are a variety of negatives that are caused by our nation’s current political extremism. The resulting government paralysis prevents us from addressing truly pressing and challenging issues.

In the post-COVID world, there are new economic and social forces generating an urban crisis that the country must immediately recognize and address.

As I saw first-hand when I headed the Department of Housing and Urban Development, cities are constantly evolving: they are either growing or dying and government policies can make the difference. Economic and social changes had imperiled cities in the 1960s and federal and state policies crafted a responsive urban agenda. COVID has created another urban crisis.

“Remote work” is an economic game changer and is here to stay. It reduces the number of people who must travel into central cities and increases mobility and locational choices for individuals and businesses. COVID has also changed people’s preferences.

Data suggests the overall percentage of people who prefer suburban living to urban life has increased post pandemic. In 2018 approximately 25% of Americans said they would prefer urban living with that number dropping to 19% post COVID. The percentage saying they prefer suburban living increased from 42% to 46%.

Aggravating the situation is that approximately 20% of Americans believe their life and their community will never return to pre-pandemic conditions. Therefore, the desire to move to improve conditions will be higher for this group.

There is no debate but that the shift is happening. New York State, for example, lost close to 500,000 people, as did California.

Florida gained 300,000 people, Texas, 250,000, Tennessee and Georgia 150,000, Arizona 100,000 and the Carolinas 200,000 people.

There are several factors affecting these shifts: some beyond our control, but there are also government policies that can manage the forces at play.

Climate is a major factor: Obviously warmer regions of the country have  advantages that will now make them naturally more competitive in attracting population.

Americans rank the availability of affordable housing as a primary concern in locational decisions. Urban areas historically have higher costs of housing as a function of the market economy. However, local and federal policies could increase the supply of affordable housing in urban areas and lower overall costs. Vacant commercial space in urban areas has increased dramatically. Commercial vacancies can be converted to affordable housing if local governments are creative and expedite zoning and building code changes.

Public school quality is also a major factor. Suburban jurisdictions often have stronger property tax bases, and therefore better funded public schools than urban areas. State education funding formulas can remedy this inequity.

A major factor in locational decisions is public safety. Fear of crime has become a major issue in our larger urban areas. Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco experience a high rate of widely publicized violent crimes and together with increased  homelessness and general decay, cities appear “out of control.” Current political forces are slow to recognize or resolve these issues and, in fact, compound the problem. “Defund the police” and “tax the rich” political movements suggest to the local citizens that the government is out of touch.

However, economics is the single most powerful factor. Cost of living varies widely across the country. High tax states and cities will now face greater competitive challenges. Wealthier individuals who pay higher taxes can save tens of thousands of dollars by simply moving their residence. The best way to raise state and local revenue is to stop the tax loss from individuals and businesses leaving and to reduce the tax differential between their state and lower cost states. Obviously, they should not be aggravating the problem by increasing taxes.

The federal government can make a major difference. During the Trump administration, taxes were dramatically increased in urban areas and democratic states by capping the deductibility of state and local taxes. The same cities and states that now have a disadvantage post-COVID would benefit greatly from the federal government repeal of Trump’s prejudicial tax policy. Democratic officials had pledged to repeal the SALT cap as soon as Trump was out of office. They have failed to honor the promise. This one move would in effect reduce the tax burden by nearly 40%. It could alter the economic calculus, literally overnight.

There is no doubt that the post-COVID world will be dramatically different, but will it be better or worse? We must stop with the polarizing extremist politics and make progress on real issues; save our cities. Smart government has made a difference before and must once again.

Cuomo was the 56th Governor of the State of New York and headed HUD during the Clinton administration. 

This is an op-ed written by former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo for New York Daily News

Town Board Members Need To Address Drainage Basins With KP Residents

Head north on Lawrence Road in Kings Park and you will notice buildings once part of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center (KPPC) and now part of the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP).  The chain link fencing seen from the road is a perimeter fence delineating the boundaries of the Park. If you look to the right, you will see residences and a school building that houses the Kings Park school administrative offices and New Beginnings preschool program. This fence does not separate the property owned by the NYS Office Of Mental Health (OMH) which has always been considered a building within the park. When the KPPC was shuttered and the Nissequogue River State Park was created the building was subject to a lien and was not included in the NRSP, although it was widely accepted that it would someday become parkland. 

The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation (NRSPF) was established in 2008. The  Foundation is a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting and preserving the park’s historical and environmental assets. One of its primary goals was the creation and implementation of a comprehensive master plan to determine the most appropriate and sustainable reuses of the park’s buildings and grounds for cultural, recreational, and educational purposes. Foundation members have always been concerned that without a serious vision for the reuse of the park property haphazard utilization would result.

There is a proposal that the Smithtown Town Board of is promoting to have Suffolk County purchase the OMH building and surrounding property to help with its effort to remediate its downtown Smithtown Main Street business district. The proposal calls for sewering the downtown area (near Town Hall on Main St.) and running pipes up to the County’s sewage treatment plant (STP) in San Remo. Since there are limits on how much treated effluent can be released into the Long Island Sound, and since the Kings Park business area has already been allocated the capacity for releasing treated water into the LI Sound, there is no place for Smithtown’s sewage to go.  The plan is for Suffolk County to purchase the OMH building and surrounding property within the NRSP corridor and create drainage basins for Smithtown’s treated wastewater. 

The exact plan calls for the construction of sewers at a cost of $87 million (currently there is $20 million in funding secured through grants that may expire in 2026)  running lines to the San Remo STP and then to pipe that water into four open sewage drainage basins on the property near the OMH building where the water will leach into the ground.

The NRSPF supports sewers and supports the reclamation of wastewater. The problem with this proposal is twofold: The site is wrong, and there has been no information provided to the Kings Park community.

The location of the OMH property is directly across the street from homes and a school. NRSP’s Master Plan calls for the creation of hike and bike trails, soccer fields and picnic areas. The area surrounding the OMH property is designated to be an active and high use area of the park.

Kids should not have to ride bikes or play soccer near sewage drainage basins. 

Planners suggest the building would be removed within two years but without funding for the complete sewer project, how is that possible? When first proposed the county/town plan talked about an underground leaching field; the plan changed and without discussion open drainage basins replaced the underground system.

The NRSPF has been reaching out to residents who live in Smithtown, NRSP patrons and homeowners surrounding the proposed site the proposal is a huge surprise to them AND they are almost unanimous in their opposition to this proposal. There is anger, frustration and concern by people living near the proposed site. Smithtown Town Board members have not reached out to the public to explain this proposal. Residents are not comfortable with this proposal and they deserve to receive information from their elected officials. A mailing to the people of Kings Park is warranted.

The NRSPF supports the reclamation of waste water, but the placement of two acres of open drainage basins at the proposed location is inappropriate and needs to be reconsidered.

Pat Biancaniello 

County Executive Candidate Calone Has Concerns About Albany-Centric Housing Plan

This November Suffolk County residents will be voting to elect a new County Executive. Being an educated voter is key to selecting someone who shares your values. Vote wisely!

Suffolk families need more housing options. The best solutions start in Suffolk.

Suffolk County Executive candidate Dave CaloneThe cost of housing is among the most crucial issues facing Long Island’s future, and it is an issue I have personally worked to address. As Chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, I eliminated red tape and helped to get shovels in the ground for housing developments. Now, I have serious concerns about an Albany-centric, one size fits all plan to increase housing options, but I am confident that we can address our housing needs if we employ a Suffolk-centric approach.

We need more housing options to allow working families to thrive, young people to stay, and seniors to comfortably retire in Suffolk County. However, the existing piecemeal approval processes have left us with too little housing which, due to simple supply and demand, costs too much. With a median home price of $545,000 and few rental units available in Suffolk County, our young people are compelled to move away. This exodus imperils our future and places Long Island businesses at a competitive disadvantage when needed workers cannot afford to live here.

The housing crisis has grown over decades and needs to be addressed with urgency. However, the proposed solutions from Albany don’t make sense for Long Island, and Suffolk County in particular.

One size fits all mandates that ignore local realities and discretion would be both ineffective and counterproductive on Long Island. Suffolk County is home to 1.5 million people spread across more than 40 municipalities. Requiring each municipality to increase housing by 3% over a three year period cannot be done without seriously undermining other regional goals like water quality protection and traffic mitigation. A state commission overriding home rule – Albany usurping zoning power from localities – due to a failure to satisfy this often unreachable mandate is a non-starter. 

Instead, we can set and achieve regional goals that meet the moment and maintain local governance, with the state serving as a crucial partner providing incentives and resources to help us reach those goals. Here’s how:

First, we organize and plan locally. Through the Suffolk County Planning Commission – a representative body made up of members from each of Suffolk’s ten towns and two from its villages – we should create a regional housing plan designed to maximize the needs, capacity, and desires of each part of the county. In such a plan, we will identify areas for future housing development and encourage the re-development of under-utilized properties.

To execute such a plan, we need New York State to partner and deliver the incentives needed to facilitate development. For instance, the state can offer funds to municipalities that contribute most towards the county-wide goal, most quickly approve housing, and create housing for a variety of income levels. Moreover, it can provide necessary infrastructure investments that will allow future growth in municipalities that want to develop. 

In addition to organizing a regional effort, the county must play its part by seeking innovative solutions to address our housing needs. For example, Suffolk County, our largest landowner, should audit all of its properties and determine which could be repurposed to develop housing at a reduced rate for our taxpayers. Moreover, we must seek avenues to eliminate red tape and specifically, for homes that are consistent with the regional housing plan, the County Department of Health Services must streamline and prioritize the review and approval process. The county should also increase regional capacity for housing creation by helping to form other development tools, like land trusts, as well as providing planning resources and guidance to municipalities. 

With major investments and opportunities coming to Long Island, this is an exciting time for our region, but we must act to capitalize on our opportunity. To support working families, provide local businesses with employees, and secure countywide safety and prosperity, it’s imperative that we address the housing needs across our region – and the best solutions will start here in Suffolk.

Dave Calone, a former prosecutor, business leader, and previous Chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, is a Democratic candidate for Suffolk County Executive.

Editorial: America's Greatness Comes From Our Ability To Participate In The Election Process

This is a reprint of a letter I wrote as president of the League of Women Voters of Smithtown in 2001. The letter was posted in Newsday. It seems very relevant today.

The recent horrific events have left us numb. In one moment, so many lives were lost and so many lives tragically changed forever. As our nation starts to move toward acceptance of our losses and the healing process starts, it is important to think about who we are and what we stand for.

We are not a perfect people, but we are good people. We take pride in America. Our nation is rich and it is rich because of its diversity in race, religion and creed.

Our nation is powerful not only because of our military strength but because we believe that in education there is strength.

Our nation is tough and it is tough because its citizens constantly challenge our government to be better, to look for and correct the injustices in our system.

We take pride in America because we are a democracy. Our greatness comes from our ability to participate in the election process.

Our greatness comes from freedom of speech, our right to comment on all the weaknesses and failures in our system, and our gretness is derived from our commitment to correct those injustices.

Democracy may not be for everyone, but it is our source of greatness.  The League of Women Voters urges everyone to acknowledge who we are and to take the time and participate in America’s greatness.

This year on November 8, support democracy and vote.

Pat Biancaniello

Op Ed : Gerrymandering Diminishes Ability Of Voters To Hold Elected Officials Accountable

The Suffolk County 5^th Legislative District is Under Attack By Partisan Gerrymandering

Redistricting affects political power, what issues policy and lawmakers prioritize, and whether issues affecting our diverse communities are represented, or excluded.   When those responsible for drawing district maps do so to favor one political party, the potential for fair representation suffers.  We must take action to keep our communities in Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station and Terryville together, as they are now.

The 5^th Suffolk County Legislative District is under attack by those seeking to divide the population of these communities over several county districts so that our influence in County matters is significantly reduced, our ability to elect our preferred candidate is diminished, and the ability of voters to hold an elected official accountable is undermined.   This attack would be of no surprise to those fighting off current partisan attempts to make significant changes to the existing boundaries of Town of Brookhaven Council Districts 1 and 2, which if adopted would crack off large chunks of Port Jefferson Station from Terryville, and cut Mount Sinai in half – severing communities of interest, and diminishing voter influence.   With a deadline approaching this week, it is not likely that the Brookhaven Redistricting Committee will have a map that accurately reflects changes in population, communities of interest, and racial diversity.         

The Suffolk County 8 Member Reapportionment Commission is currently in a deadlock over two competing map proposals, and has until Sept. 30^th to adopt a map to submit to the Suffolk County Legislature for approval.  The Democratic map proposal for the 5^th Legislative District, currently represented by Legis. Kara Hahn, (D-East Setauket - term limited in 2023) keeps our communities of interest in Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station, and Terryville together.  The Republican proposal literally tears apart the 5^th Legislative district as we know it, separating it into three different County legislative districts.  Stony Brook and western Setauket, now in the 5^th Legislative District would be shifted to the 13^th District, represented by Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), the southern portion of the district would be shifted to the 4^th District represented by Legis. Nick Caracappa (R-Selden), and the eastern portion of the district including portions of Port Jefferson and Port Jefferson Station would shift into the 6^th District which extends to Wading River, and is currently represented by Sarah Anker, (D-Mt. Sinai) who is also term limited in 2023.  Note that the exact street level dividing lines on the publicly accessible maps are unclear. 

Our communities in the current 5^th Legislative District — Stony Brook, The Setaukets, Port Jefferson Station, and Terryville share common historic, economic, social, policy, legislative, scientific, educational, and environmental values and interests and must continue to have single county legislative district effective and fair representation.  Everyone loses when communities of interest are cracked by gerrymandering simply to shift the balance of political power.  There is still an opportunity to stand up and fight to keep our communities together at public hearings scheduled for Sept. 13^th at 6PM in Hauppauge at the Legislature or on Sept. 15 at 6PM in Riverhead at the Legislature.  To confirm meeting dates and for more information go to the Suffolk County Legislature’s website at https://www.scnylegislature.us/1400/Reapportionment-Commission. 

Laura A. Ahearn, Esq., LMSW

Port Jefferson

(Laura A. Ahern was a candidate for NYS Senate in 2020)

Lee Zeldin Makes His Vote Count And It's Against New York

Editorial

Late Friday night Congressman Lee Zeldin (CD 1), by proxy, voted “NAY” on one of the most significant pieces of legislation he has been asked to vote on. He rejected the $1.2 trillion infrastructure legislation that will bring billions of dollars desperately needed for infrastructure improvements and jobs to New York.

Congressman Lee Zeldin CD 1 Zeldin was the only congressional person, Republican or Democrat, from Long Island who opposed the legislation. The legislation received bipartisan support in the house and was previously approved in the senate with bipartisan support including an “Aye” vote from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).

Marc Herbst, Executive Director, Long Island Contractors’ Association issued the following statement on the passage of the infrastructure legislation.: “Congress took the extraordinary step of delivering for the American people. Infrastructure is the best possible investment we could make to continue to bring our economy back and to make long-term, critical improvements to our roads, highways, bridges and water systems. As this bi-partisan bill continues to make its way to President Biden’s desk, we applaud Senator Schumer for his leadership and the New York delegation members who supported this bill to deliver for Long Island and the entire state.”

Congressman Tom Suozzi (CD 3) posted a breakdown of specific funding New York will receive from the once in a generation bipartisan infrastructure package:

Highway Funding: $12.5 billion specifically for New York

•  $11.5 billion for surface transportation (roads, highways, etc.)
• $1.9 billion from a new vehicular bridge repair formula program
• $142 million for EV charging infrastructure

Airport Funding: nearly $1 billion for New York

• JFK $294,682,575
• LGA $ 150,008,970
• Long Island MacArthur $21,595,630 
•  Republic $ 3,735,000 
• East Hampton $1,480,000 
• Brookhaven $1,480,000 

New York Rail

• $16 Billion for Amtrak National capital backlog needs - $688 million: will save NYS its contribution to replacing the Amtrak railcars that operate upstate
• $6 Billion for Amtrak - Northeast Corridor (NEC) – capitol backlog of the NEC including the Gateway project
• $24 billion for Norther East Corridor Modernization – competitive grants that Gateway, Metro-North Penn Access, and East River tunnels are eligible for.
• $12 billion for Intercity passenger rail including upgrades for high speed rail.

New York Water

• At least 90 billion for water infrastructure including
  • $14.7 billion for the EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which provides capitalization grants to states for loans supporting water infrastructure projects.
  • $14.7 billion for the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Funds which provides loans to states for water quality improvement projects.
  • $55.4 billion in supplemental emergency appropriations for both the EPA state for capitalization grants through the Clean Water State Revolving Funds and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds

Public Transportation

• $9.8 billion for Clean Buses and Mass Transit

Broadband

• A minimum of $100 million over five years

Lee Zeldin has failed the people of CD 1, Suffolk County and New York. 

Pat Biancaniello

Republican Proposal Fails To Address Issue Of What Causes Staff To Leave

Op Ed By Thomas M. Biancaniello, MD

The New York State Senate Republicans have made proposals to address the staff shortages in health care facilities.  It is good to see proposals that seem to be for the benefit of workers such as increased educational opportunities, training and promises to help with the economic burden of education and training.  But the proposals are vague.  This could be a good first step, but of course the “devil is in the details.”  There are no concrete proposals with dollar amounts and the “forgiveness” mentioned is not quantified in either the amount forgiven or the what specific requirements must be met to obtain such relief. 

Furthermore, it fails to address the real-world issue of what actually causes staff to leave or apply for jobs which is inadequate pay and benefits.  For example, Bank of America has raised its minimum wage to $21 per hour and plans to increase it to $25 per hour by 2025 with benefits.  Walmart is raising its minimum wage from $12 per hour with benefits to $15 the end of this month.  Meeting the needs of patients in nursing homes and patients on home care is grueling work both physically and mentally.  You need to offer the people who do this work more to keep them on the job.

Other than mentioning addressing the State’s inadequate Medicaid rates, there is no proposal to increase support for these institutions which will guarantee the money will be spent on staff rather than increase the profits of the owners.  Many private facilities charge patients much more than Medicaid rates, but still face the same staff retention issues.

Government is doing its job in mandating public health measures to assure the health and safety of the workers and patients, but must also go a step further.  It should declare these jobs and functions critical and mandate a living wage and benefit level adequate to recruit and retain people doing these important jobs.  Politicians must do more than score points, they should do their jobs and provide the resources necessary to provide quality care to their constituents. 

Thomas M. Biancaniello, MD is a pediatric cardiologist who lives in Smithtown. He is also the husband of Smithtown Matters Editor Pat Biancaniello.

October 12th: Electeds Hold Rally To Bring Smithtown Sewage To Kings Park

Smithtown’s elected officials have two problems vision and transparency:Do they really want you to know?

Let’s start with transparency:Do they really want you to know?

Transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens that is needed for them to make informed decisions and hold officials accountable for the people’s business

Smithtown Supervisor Ed WehrheimOn Tuesday, October 12th Town Board members along with other elected officials, representatives from selected community organizations, school board superintendents and others will hold a press conference announcing their support for Supervisor Wehrheim’s proposal to bring the Smithtown business district’s sewage into Kings Park to be treated and pumped into open sewer drainage basins.  These basins will be located at a facility that is currently owned by NYS and surrounded by the Nissequogue River State Park and in close proximity to some residences. 

That’s the short version! But I am not an expert and Kings Park residents are entitled to hear the plan and have the opportunity to question the experts and the proponents of the plan.

Smithtown Matters reached out to some Kings Park residents to ask what they knew of the proposal.

“Why haven’t I heard about this before?” Why would we take Smithtown’s poop (paraphrasing)? These are two questions asked by Kings Park residents.  Will it smell? Why is it by my house? Isn’t that near a Kings Park school (San Remo school)? Why not put it in Smithtown?”  Were also questions residents and taxpayers in Kings Park want to have answered before Supervisor Wehrheim moves forward with his proposal.

The Kings Park community is entitled to know what is happening in their backyard. And yet, not one elected official has bothered to reach out to them. There have been no mailers going to houses, there have been no phone calls, no interactions whatsoever.  Nothing is posted on school district, civic association, or chamber websites.

Where did the authority to represent the community come from? How many members do each of these organizations have that they get to represent the whole community? No transparency in how and when two school superintendents made their decision to lend their support to this proposal. Was it discussed at a school board meeting? There’s no mention of a discussion to support the proposal on the Kings Park or Smithtown district’s website. 

How do elected officials not tell their constituents, their voters and taxpayers about their plan to support a proposal that may impact on property values? 

Not informing the public is wrong.  Not allowing residents to have a say makes a mockery of the concept of Kings Park’s informed voter. The lack of transparency casts a pall over the sewer project and the people who support it.

Supervisor Ed Wehrheim has a resposiblity to get information about his plan to the public. Sending an email blast is not acceptable. Many residents are not receiving town emails and as far as I know there have not been any emails from the town about this proposal. Saying mailings are too expensive is ridiculous, an $8 million road in St. James, a $7 million ballpark in Commack is evidence that the town can afford mailings! 

Whether they support or reject the proposal, Kings Park residents are entitled to know what their electeds are planning for them before it’s a done deal.

Transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens that is needed for them to make informed decisions and hold officials accountable for the people’s business. Smithtown residents deserve better than they are getting.

Pat

Next: Smithtown’s Vision Problem

Don't Let Lee Zeldin Turn New York Into Texas

Op Ed: Don’t Let Lee Zeldin turn New York Into Texas

By Elaine A. Turley

October 8, 2021

The Texas resident arrested in September for carrying a concealed loaded weapon in his truck in defiance of New York State law likely would have been permitted to carry his loaded handgun into our state if Congressman Lee Zeldin had his way.  As a cosponsor of H.R. 38, known as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, introduced in Congress on January 4, 2021, Zeldin is attempting to bypass New York State laws and allow the laws of states like Texas to apply.

Beginning on September 1^st of this year, Texas residents are not required to obtain a license, permit or training to carry a handgun, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2021.  H.R. 38, reintroduced in the U.S. Congress this year and cosponsored by our Congressman Lee Zeldin, would force New York State and its localities to follow the concealed carry laws of states like Texas rather than those enacted by the officials elected by the majority of our New York voters. 

The law in New York for the past century that requires residents to demonstrate “proper cause” to carry a concealed weapon in public may itself be in jeopardy, challenged in a case brought in 2018 by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and Robert Nash and Brandon Koch, two New York residents whose applications to carry guns in public had been denied. The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on November 3, 2021, but regardless of the outcome of this case, New York law will continue to impose greater restrictions than the law of many states, including Texas.  

In every year between 2015 and 2019 New York lost approximately 4 people per 100,000 to death by an injury inflicted by firearm while Texas lost approximately 12 per 100,000 of its population.  This includes death by suicide and homicide.  In 2019 the number of deaths by firearms in New York was 3.9 per 100,000 people, the number of deaths by suicide overall was 8.3 per 100,000 and deaths per 100,00 by homicide was 3.2 people. In Texas the number of deaths by firearm in 2019 was 12.7 per 100,000, the number of deaths by suicide per 100,000 was 13.4 and by homicide 5.9.  

By supporting the H.R. 38 Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, Lee Zeldin is attempting to deny New York the right to enforce the laws that are effectively keeping our residents safe by letting states that fail to protect people force their laws on us.

Elaine Turley is an attorney who lives in Smithtown with her husband and family.  She is the former chairperson of the Smithtown Democratic Committee.