Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Long Islanders pay among the highest utility rates in the nation, and the cost of power has risen 20 percent since January. This has pushed the cost of living even higher, and made it more difficult to get by. Inconsistent and partisan energy policies, repeated price hikes by utility companies and cuts to assistance programs have sent utility bills soaring. I’m doing everything I can in Congress to lower these costs.
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By Laura A. Gillen
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7/24/26
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Student debt makes the American dream unattainable, or, at best, greatly deferred. Gallup reports that 71 percent of student borrowers delay major life milestones — homeownership, parenthood, starting a business, retirement — because of their debt. On Long Island, those delays have a geographic consequence: 22 percent of residents between ages 25 and 34 have left the region over the past eight years. Student debt and housing costs are inseparable drivers of that exodus.
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By John Scully & Samantha Park
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7/24/26
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Long Island has no alternative water supply. We rely entirely on a vast but finite underground aquifer system that must meet all residential, commercial and public needs. That makes water conservation not just a seasonal suggestion, but a long-term necessity.
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By Brendan Warner
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7/24/26
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Forget the slow roll-through. More and more drivers of all ages are blowing through stop signs as if they don’t exist. On my routine walks with my dog, we pass at least seven stop signs. If two or three drivers come to a complete stop, that’s a lot. Most don’t even attempt a rolling stop. They accelerate through intersections as if the stop sign is the starting line of a drag race.
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By Michael O'Neill
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7/17/26
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That landfill, though, is scheduled to close, and may be at capacity by 2028. What will happen to your trash then? It will probably end up in Central New York or Pennsylvania, or perhaps another place that’s much farther away than Suffolk County.
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By Daniel Herman
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7/17/26
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Now, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling that paves the way for the deportation of legal immigrants from Haiti and Syria who have Temporary Protected Status, we are getting a fresh reminder of the president’s virulent racism. While the majority opinion shamefully insisted that Trump’s abuse of Haitians has nothing to do with race, in her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan called it “plain to see” that race played a role in the decision to terminate the TPS designation for Haiti.
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By Charles Lavine
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7/17/26
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This multifaceted process has culminated in the establishment of a financially secure, efficient and responsive budget. It ensures the delivery of the highest level of services, encompassing vital areas such as police, sanitation, the Department of Public Works, electric and water, to all of the residents of Freeport.
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By Robert T. Kennedy
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7/17/26
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The purpose of public education extends far beyond preparing students for their next academic step. Schools help young people discover their strengths, develop their talents, and understand their responsibility to contribute to the world around them. Through our curriculum, enrichment opportunities, instrumental programs, arts experiences, career exploration, assemblies, field trips and after-school programs, we provide students with opportunities to develop confidence, creativity, curiosity and connections.
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By Roxanne Garcia-France
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7/17/26
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While many of us are enjoying the season, our Department of Public Works crews have been hard at work throughout the village. Their efforts often take place behind the scenes, but they are essential to maintaining the quality of life we all value. This administration remains firmly committed to maintaining and improving our infrastructure, ensuring that our roads, parks and public spaces meet the needs of today while preparing for the future.
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By Francis X. Murray
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7/17/26
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Running a village requires consistency, not constant political uncertainty. Every election introduces the possibility of leadership changes that ripple throughout village government. Employees naturally wonder whether their positions will remain secure. Many update résumés and explore other opportunities. Even when nobody leaves, uncertainty affects morale, recruitment, retention and productivity. A stable workforce provides residents with better service than one distracted by annual political turnover.
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By Samuel Nahmias
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7/17/26
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