First, the good news. Long Island has consistently been named one of the safest major metropolitan areas in the United States. And in recent years, Nassau County has repeatedly been named the safest county in the nation. Violent crime is down to levels that are among the lowest ever recorded. The Nassau County Police Department is second to none, and we are fortunate to have our law-and-order procedures under the leadership of Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and District Attorney Anne Donnelly, who are tough on crime and willing to enforce our laws to protect the public at the highest levels legally allowed. more

The coronavirus will be with us for the foreseeable future. The shutdown we have been struggling with has been painful, inconvenient and sad. We have seen . . . more

For the second time, Democrat Mike Reid, of Merrick, is challenging longtime incumbent Republican Assemblyman Dave McDonough, also of Merrick, for his 14th District seat. The Herald asked both … more

The race for the New York State Legislature’s 14th Assembly District pits the incumbent, Republican David McDonough, of North Merrick, against Gaspare Tumminello, a Democrat from Merrick, who is deputy chief of staff for the Nassau County Legislature’s Democratic minority. Tumminello, a native of Franklin Square, had previously run unsuccessfully for Nassau County legislator in the 8th District in 2009. This year, the Herald asked each of the candidates to fill in a four-question survey about their positions on salient state issues. The 14th Assembly District takes in all or parts of Freeport, Roosevelt, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Wantagh, North Wantagh, Seaford and Massapequa. more

Every two or four years, we get to hold our elected officials accountable for the decisions they have or haven’t made, the actions they took or didn’t. more

Races for the Nassau County Legislature were as tight as ever this year, and in the end, control of the Legislature boiled down to the two most hotly contested matches –– in the 14th and 18th districts. more