Environment
Real estate tax generates $4.6M for Riverhead preservation fund in first half of 2024
A 2% real estate transfer tax generated Riverhead Town $4.63 million in the first half of 2024 for its land preservation and water quality projects, according to Assembly Member Fred Thiele.
Government
Assembly Member Fred Thiele will not seek re-election to seat he’s held for nearly 30 years
Assembly Member Fred Thiele, who represents the First Assembly District, has announced he will not seek re-election in November. Thiele, 70, started his career in public service after graduating from law school in 1979.
Environment
Palumbo hosts roundtable meeting in Riverhead to discuss environmental issues
Representatives of environmental groups, community groups and local government officials across eastern Suffolk County turned out for a two-hour, wide-ranging conversation with state legislators Thursday morning in Riverhead.
Environment
New water quality fund and 1/8-cent sales tax hike eyed to address nitrogen pollution in Suffolk
An extension of the Drinking Water Protection Program to 2060, with a 1/8-penny sales tax increase would provide $3.1 billion to reduce nitrogen pollution by funding replacement of conventional cesspools/septic systems with advanced onsite treatment systems.
Government
State commission members hear support for making LIPA a fully public power authority
There was overwhelming support for the idea of transforming the Long Island Power Authority into a fully public power authority at a hearing conducted by the State Legislature’s LIPA Commission at Southampton Town Hall on Friday.
Government
State’s ‘future of LIPA’ commission to hold public hearing on the East End Friday
The state Commission on the Future of the LIPA will hold a public hearing Friday at 11 a.m. in Southampton. The hearing will be live-streamed. The commission was established last year to develop an action plan to make LIPA a true public power authority.
Government
Thiele: Riverhead sets another land preservation tax revenue record, while the rest of the East End sees decline in 2022
Riverhead Town generated $7.89 million in Community Preservation Fund revenue in the first 11 months of 2022, breaking the yearly record it set in 2021, according to a report by Assembly Member Fred Thiele.
Government
Lawmakers seek awareness month, protective measures for homicide victims’ survivors
Long Island State lawmakers gathered outside the county criminal court building in Riverside to advocate for the establishment of a Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month and the passage of legislation to support and protect the survivors of homicide victims.
News
Legislature votes to restrict governor’s emergency powers
Republican lawmakers blasted Democratic majority, charging the bill passed this week does not nearly go far enough to 'rein in' Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Health
Local officials blast state COVID-19 vaccination program as chaotic, unfair and failing
With more than half of all New Yorkers now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine though the vaccine supply remains scarce,
