Hochul considering classroom cell phone restrictions

Long Island Morning Edition

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering restrictions on cellphones in the classroom for the next school year, teachers union and PTA leaders told Newsday. The Democratic governor recently met with a group of education advocates to discuss a proposal to prohibit the use of cellphones during the school day, which is expected to be part of Hochul’s State of the State address in January, said Melinda Person, president of the New York State United Teachers, and Kyle Belokopitsky, executive director of the New York State Parent Teacher Association. Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the move comes as parents, educators and lawmakers look to decrease cellphone screen time and social media use for students in an effort to protect their mental health and increase opportunities for learning and socialization. "We do think there’s a need for state leadership on this because creating change one school district at a time might take too long given the very real impact, the negative impact, of phones on our students' mental health and learning," said Person, who heads the state’s largest teachers union, representing nearly 700,000 members. The prohibition, if passed, would take effect next September, Person and Belokopitsky said, adding that they support and applaud the move. In July, Hochul kicked off a statewide listening tour to hear from parents, students and educators about addressing cellphone use in schools. "We can help our young people succeed in the classroom by ensuring they’re learning and growing — not clicking and scrolling," Hochul said this past summer. "That’s why I’m working with all stakeholders across the state to develop effective solutions on smartphones that help protect our kids’ mental health and deliver the best results for our schools."

***

Two men have been charged with illegal dumping in the Pine Barrens in Manorville last month in violation of Suffolk County’s new Evergreen Law, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Monday afternoon. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Charles Weiss, 32, of Coram, and Marvin Sandoval, 28, of Ronkonkoma, were arrested for violating Suffolk’s new Evergreen Law by allegedly dumping a pile of construction waste and household debris in a remote wooded area within the protected Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region, according to a press release issued by the district attorney. Weiss and Sandoval loaded a U-Haul box truck with construction waste and household debris on Nov. 6 and then drove the truck into a remote wooded area in the pine barrens region where they dumped the contents of the truck onto the forest floor, according to investigators. The materials they allegedly dumped consisted of pieces of wood furniture, used paint cans, paint rollers, shower doors, chandeliers, large pieces of styrofoam, a sink, a granite countertop, tools, and multiple bags of household garbage, the press release said. Weiss and Sandoval were each arraigned in Riverhead Town Justice Court on charges of violating section 433-7 of the Suffolk County Code (the Evergreen Law) and were released on their own recognizance. They are due back in court on Jan. 8. Early this year, the Suffolk County Legislature amended the county code to increase the maximum fines for dumping in the Central Pine Barrens Region to $15,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations.

The Long Island Pine Barrens Region, is Long Island’s largest natural area and its last remaining wilderness, covering more than 100,000 acres, the D.A. noted. The pine barrens region overlays and recharges a vast portion of Long Island’s sole-source aquifer; all of Long Island’s drinking water comes from underground wells fed by this aquifer, he said.

***

The Town of Riverhead’s 2025 shotgun-hunting lottery will take place next Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Riverhead Town Hall, the town announced this week. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the lottery is open to Town of Riverhead residents and real property owners only. All participants must show proper identification and a New York State hunting license at the lottery. Hunters must be in attendance in order to secure a hunting date and location.

The special firearms deer season on Long Island, authorized by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, begins on Sunday, Jan. 5 and continues through Jan. 31.

Riverhead Town property where shotgun hunting will be allowed, by lottery, comprises certain designated lands within the Calverton Enterprise Park and at 1751 Sound Avenue in Calverton. The lands, dates and time slots for hunters will be determined by the Dec. 10 lottery.

Hunters must have in their possession while hunting a valid state hunting license, a big game tag and the landowner endorsement from the town demonstrating authorization to hunt on town property.

There are other opportunities for deer hunting on Long Island during the January special firearms season, pursuant to state regulations.

***

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she now opposes cutting funding to some schools with declining enrollment — a major reversal from her budget proposal earlier this year that sought the move to rein in spending. Vaughn Golden reports in THE NY POST that the switch comes as the governor faces a potentially contentious re-election bid in 2026 and can little afford to make enemies with the state’s largest public-sector union, the New York State United Teachers.

“As we craft the upcoming Executive Budget, the Governor believes we should avoid proposals that would negatively impact school budgets, such as eliminating the hold-harmless provision of the Foundation Aid formula” covering such reductions, per a statement from Hochul’s office to THE NY POST on Tuesday. The governor had been rebuffed by the NYS Legislature in making the cuts earlier this year. Budget negotiators agreed to hold off on talks regarding overhauling the school-funding formula to next year.

State teachers union President Melinda Person said in a statement yesterday, “Updating the outdated funding formula is a critical step forward. “However, we remain concerned about recommendations that arbitrarily lower the Foundation Aid amount instead of considering the necessary support for our schools’ evolving student populations. Any changes to the formula must prioritize stability and predictability for school districts.”

The state had asked the Rockefeller Institute of Government to study potential changes to the complex and largely outdated funding formula as part of its review of the current situation. The institute’s report, released Monday evening, recommends phasing out some funding for wealthy school districts and those seeing population decreases.

***

Last week the Suffolk County Legislature recognized Southampton’s Bob Grisnik as the 2024 Second Legislative District Veteran of the Year. Mr. Grisnik’s honorable service to our nation and our surrounding East End community provides a shining example for younger generations.

Bob Grisnik’s military career began in 1966 when he entered pilot training with the U.S. Air Force, attending officers’ school in San Antonio and training in Lubbock, Texas. While stationed at the Stewart Air Force base in NY, he trained in flying the C119 Cargo transport planes. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Grisnik flew 213 combat missions in AC-119G Shadow gunships, providing close air support for ground troops and night operations in Saigon.

Upon leaving active duty in 1972, Mr. Grisnik moved to his mother’s childhood hometown Southampton, where he purchased Southrifty Drug. In 1975, he transitioned to the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Air Rescue Wing in WHB where he was trained as a helicopter pilot, flying rescue missions in the HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant.” Mr. Grisnik retired as a Colonel in 1995, having earned 25 medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters.

Mr. Grisnik’s dedication to service extends beyond his military career. He continues to operate Southrifty Drug and is a longtime member of the Tuckahoe School Board. Mr. Grisnik leads various local veterans’ events, is Chair of the Southampton 4th of July Parade, and contributes to local groups, such as the VFW, Lions Club, and others.

Suffolk County is home to New York State’s largest veteran population.

***

This evening at 7 pm it’s the annual Big Duck holiday lighting, at Big Duck Ranch, Route 24 in Flanders.

The event features a visit from Quackerjack, the Long Island Ducks baseball team mascot, duck carols led by students from the Riverhead Middle School Show Choir, refreshments and of course the ever-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus by fire truck. This classic Christmas community event started in 1988. The Big Duck was built in 1931. The 2024 Big Duck Lighting in Flanders is tonight at 7pm.

THE BIG DUCK, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, overlooks Reeves Bay in Flanders, New York.

For more information, visit bigduck.org.

***

The federal government raised the conforming loan limit for mortgages on single-unit properties in high-cost areas to $1,209,750 for 2025. Nassau and Suffolk counties were 2 of 99 areas in the United States and Washington D.C. that qualified as high-cost, which raises the loan limit to 1.5 times the level of the rest of the country. Local mortgage experts said the 5% increase to the loan limit for next year provides easier access to credit for luxury homebuyers. Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWDAY that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) raises the limit annually as home prices increase. Prices have risen faster on Long Island, according to one measure. The median price of single-family homes and condos on Long Island, excluding the East End, increased 9.4% to $700,000 in the third quarter compared to the previous year, according to a report released by real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman and appraisal firm Miller Samuel last month.

The higher loan limits are relevant to the upper echelon of Long Island's housing market.

In the Hamptons, Long Island's priciest submarket, the median price among 393 deals was about $1.54 million, up 8.5% from the third quarter a year ago for sales that closed from July to September.