Ed Romaine and Ray Tierney Appear Together To Urge Governor Hochul To Reform Child Protective Services

Long Island Morning Edition

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and District Attorney Ray Tierney made a rare joint appearance in front of the Suffolk County Legislature yesterday, imploring members to sign on to a letter urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to adopt reforms aimed at improving child protective services. Vera Chinese reports on Newsday.com that the recommendations were contained in a grand jury report released last week after an investigation into the 2020 hypothermia death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva in Center Moriches.

The letter asks the NYS Legislature to amend social service confidentiality laws to allow a district attorney or grand jury to access unfounded sealed reports. The letter also asks the governor to convene two task forces to investigate the confidentiality laws and examine Civil Service requirements for caseworkers.

“We have a simple, modest proposal,” Tierney said. “We’re asking for [legislators] to co-sign that letter with us so we can implement some of these changes, so that we cannot only keep our children in Suffolk County safe, but children in New York State all over safe.”

The special grand jury, which Tierney empaneled to investigate Thomas’ hypothermia death on Jan. 17, 2020, released the report Friday, recommending no criminal charges against the county caseworkers who investigated allegations of abuse by the child’s father. Those caseworkers shielded themselves from public review of their actions — and potential criminal charges — due to confidentiality laws that must be reformed, the report found.

County Executive Romaine said, “I know that the overwhelming majority of people that work with social services are good, conscientious, hardworking,” he said. “But that does not mean we put accountability or transparency aside.”

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Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard celebrated the accomplishments of his administration so far, and highlighted changes yet to come, during his first “State of the Town” speech yesterday. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the speech, titled” A New Day in Riverhead: Transparency, Civility and Action,” was delivered in front of roughly 40 people in the Riverhead Town Hall meeting room — mostly town officials — on his 100th day in office. Most of the speech highlighted the town’s progress on initiatives already underway, such as downtown revitalization projects and improvements to the town’s infrastructure. But Hubbard also announced a few new initiatives, including plans to put police officers in two school buildings next school year. The supervisor said starting in September, the town anticipates having two armed police officers — also known as “school resource officers” — in school district buildings located within Riverhead Town. One officer will be in the high school and another in the middle school, he said. “This program not only makes our schools safe, but it builds community relationships with law enforcement,” said Hubbard, a retired Riverhead Police detective and former Riverhead school board member. “I have developed a strong relationship with the school district and we have agreed to work more closely going forward.” Neither the Town Board nor the Riverhead Board of Education have yet taken any formal action on an agreement regarding the school resource officer program.

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April has been declared Dark Skies Month in the Town of Southampton. Southampton Town’s Dark Skies Committee urges everyone to go out and observe the night wonders above us. To see these constellations and planets we need to minimize light pollution – turning off outdoor lighting by 10:00 PM (it’s the law!) and shielding light fixtures.

Southampton Town’s Dark Skies Committee invites you to their Celebrate the Night Sky event this coming Friday at 7:00 PM in the Southampton High School Planetarium. Astronomy teacher John Walsh will lead an exploration of night sky wonders in the S.H.S. planetarium and step outside to observe the “real” sky…weather permitting.

Perfect for the whole family! Free admission.

Learn more about what you can do to protect our natural night sky on the Southampton Town website.

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Former CNN anchor and analyst John Avlon has picked up another key endorsement in his bid to secure the Democratic nomination for the 1st Congressional District. As reported on 27east.com, Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York State Democratic Party and chairman of the Nassau County Democrats, personally endorsed Avlon this week. Avlon hopes to unseat one-term incumbent Republican Nick LaLota in November, but first he must defeat Nancy Goroff in the primary election on June 25. Goroff ran unsuccessfully against former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin in 2020.

A statement by Jacobs appears on Avlon’s website: “John Avlon’s unique background and career experience makes him the best candidate to unseat Nick LaLota,” Jacobs stated. “…he will work with President Biden to continue enacting meaningful, bipartisan legislation that will improve the lives of working families here on Long Island.” Since announcing his candidacy in February, Avlon has racked up a number of endorsements on the East End, including those of the East Hampton and Southampton Town Democratic committees, the members of the East Hampton Town Board, as well as State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. and former Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, whom LaLota defeated in 2022.

Avlon left CNN in February. Prior to working with the network, he was editor of The Daily Beast and a one-time speech writer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Avlon and his wife, conservative political commentator Margaret Claire Hoover, have a home in Sag Harbor.

CD-1 includes the entire east end and north shore of Suffolk County, New York.

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This weekend, Long Island's volunteer fire departments will be holding open houses trying to recruit new members. The departments say membership has dwindled dramatically since the terror attacks of 9/11. Fire officials say they are looking for volunteers to perform a variety of duties to help out at emergency scenes, in addition to firefighting itself. John Valenti reports on Newsday.com that local fire officials said economics, time and lack of awareness and knowledge on how to get started are the main roadblocks to landing recruits. The annual RecruitNY weekend is designed to educate those who might be interested.

Training for Long Island-based firefighters is extensive, helping volunteers prepare for a myriad roles. In Nassau, would-be firefighters train at the Nassau Fire Service Academy in Bethpage; in Suffolk, they learn at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank. But, as officials said, being a volunteer doesn't mean you necessarily have to be an interior structure firefighter.

Departments need administrators, maintenance staff, drivers. Even volunteers who can haul hoses — or, direct traffic — at an emergency scene.

Find out more at recruitny.org or visit the Firefighters Association of the State of New York website: fasny.com.

Or, FASNY president-elect Eugene Perry, a 44-year veteran of the Patchogue Fire Department suggests you just stop by your local firehouse on any given Sunday. “If you're really interested, go knock on the door,” he said. “Talk to somebody. Ask what you need to do to get involved … Believe me, it's rewarding.”

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Baseball season has begun across America…so some local boys are asking you to come out and play with them.

Hamptons Adult Hardball is a 30 & older Wood Bat Baseball League. Teams are limited to three players that are 26 to 29-years-old, non-pitchers.

Limited roster spots are available for the 2024 Summer League.

Outdoor workouts will take place on Sundays April 14, April 21 and April 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor.

Opening Day is in May. Playoffs to conclude in July.

For further info and player registration visit hamptonsadulthardball.com

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Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard took aim yesterday at Southampton Town's revitalization plans for Riverside, saying construction of a sewage treatment plant in the hamlet could lead to residential development that would funnel more students into Riverhead's schools and drain other municipal resources. Tara Smith reports on Newsday.com that Hubbard, who took office in January, said during his first State of the Town address he had "made it clear" to Southampton officials that their plan to revitalize the Southampton Town hamlet across the Peconic River with up to 2,300 housing units would "place an unfair burden on services" in Riverhead. The supervisor listed Riverhead library, ambulance, parks and recreation services as examples and stated the Town of Riverhead might, “…pursue legal action designed to protect the interests of our town and taxpayers. Stay tuned."

A 2015 Riverside Revitalization Action Plan projected 2,300 new housing units could be built in the hamlet, half of which could be affordable apartments. Redevelopment of the Riverside area hinges on a new sewage treatment plant that Southampton officials have said is the key to spurring development. In 2022, the median household income for Riverside was $56,429, compared with a county average of $119,838, according to the latest U.S. Census figures. On Tuesday, Southampton's town board voted 5-0 to finalize the environmental review for construction of the sewage treatment plant — a key step in the advancement of the project. Funding for the $35.5 million project is in place.

But Hubbard added during his speech that he is urging Southampton to consider building senior housing as part of its revitalization effort in order to reduce the impact on Riverhead schools. The Riverhead supervisor also said he is “adamant” that Southampton's sewer district include the County Center and Correctional Facility, which currently use Riverhead’s sewer treatment plant.

Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore said that board members plan to meet Friday with Riverhead officials.

“We have repeatedly said we would consider the sewer expansion to include the County Center and the jail in future phases,” Moore added.