Slams Senate GOP for New York City Driven End-of-Session Deal

(Long Island, NY) Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo) ended his first legislative session delivering on critical education reforms, an extension to the property tax cap, and $3.1 billion in property tax relief. However, he condemned the Senate Republicans for their focus on a New York City driven end-of-session deal that failed to address raising the minimum wage, paid family leave, comprehensive IDA reform to remove corporate welfare,  and common sense SAFE Act reforms. Senator Panepinto made the following remarks outside the Senate Chamber:

“I am proud that I was able to deliver on $3.1 billion in critical property tax relief for hardworking families, an extension to our property tax cap, as well as much needed reforms to our public education system – but we could have accomplished so much more. Instead, Senate Republicans chose to block raising the minimum wage, implementing paid family leave, addressing comprehensive IDA reform, and enacting common sense SAFE Act reforms. I also found it disturbing that we gave away $250 million to non-public schools with no mention of the much needed $100 million Upstate Distressed School Fund that the Governor announced to help struggling schools upstate just 10 days ago. After finishing up my first session, I know that there is a lot of work left to do in order to cut through the ‘business as usual’ politics that plague Albany and I am ready to continue that fight for all Western New Yorkers.”

Senator Panepinto represents the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo as well as communities in both the Northtowns and the Southtowns of Western New York.

 

(Long Island, NY) A Suffolk County Police Third Precinct officer revived a baby who fell into a pool in Brentwood on Thursday, June 25.

Police responded to a call of a 16-month-old baby who was found unresponsive in a pool at 7:47 p.m. Third Precinct Patrol Officer Ramses Cerdas scaled a neighboring fence and immediately grabbed the baby from his mother and started performing CPR at 7:49 p.m. The baby began to vomit water and breathe on his own.

A Suffolk County Police officer revived a baby who fell into a pool in Brentwood. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Brentwood Legion transported him to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. He was awake, fully alert and responsive. The baby is being held at the hospital for observation.

The Town of Islip Investigator responded to check the legality of the pool installation.

(Long Island, NY) State Senator Adriano Espaillat, the Ranking Member of the Senate’s Housing Committee, said: “Even though we have moved an inch we are far from where we need to be to protect tenants. New York is in the midst of a housing crisis, and In order to ensure working and middle class New Yorkers have a home in our city we need strong rent laws, not a slight improvement. I have 87,000 rent regulated units in my district and see first hand rent increases due to Major Capital Improvements (MCIs) force tenants out of their homes. I see families who have lived in a community for decades who can no longer find an affordable place to live due to deregulation. The new rent law addresses these issues, but does not do enough to fix the problems that have lead to over 200,000 units being deregulated, or to stop tenants from being subjected to rent increases they cannot afford.”

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Pattern Crime Unit detectives are investigating a bank robbery that occurred on Thursday, June 25 in Ronkonkoma.

A man entered the Capital One Bank, located at 131 Portion Road, approached a teller at approximately 5:20 p.m. and presented a note demanding cash. The teller complied and the man fled on foot.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a bank robbery that occurred on Thursday, June 25 in Ronkonkoma. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The suspect was described as white, between 35 and 40-years old, approximately 6 feet tall with a slim build. He was wearing a light-colored baseball hat, blue t-shirt, dark jeans and sunglasses.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

(Long Island, NY) A Riverhead man pleaded not guilty to attempted arson and a weapons charge at his arraignment this morning Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

On the night of June 14, Monwell Wright allegedly filled an ice tea bottle with gas, ignited a homemade wick and hurled it at his neighbor’s house. The bottle bounced off the house and exploded on the ground.

Monwell Wright of Riverhead pleaded not guilty to attempted arson and a weapons charge at his arraignment. Photo Credit: SCPD.

District Attorney Spota said the homeowner had a video surveillance system installed after an incident last month when he found scorch marks on his vinyl siding.

“The footage shows the defendant outside the home at the time the bottle of gas was tossed at the house,” DA Spota said.   “We are fortunate the house didn’t catch fire; there were six people, including a six-month old infant, inside when the Molotov cocktail hit the house.”

State Supreme Court Justice William Condon ordered Wright held in lieu of $250,000 cash bail.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) A Flanders man convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide last month after a three week trial was sentenced today to 12 and one-half to 25 years in state prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Joseph Perez had a blood alcohol level nearly three times in excess of the legal limit more than three hours after mowing down newspaper delivery person Donna Sartori as she delivered papers in the Hampton Bays business district at 4:15 am on January 5, 2014.

Joseph Perez, 31, of Flanders, was sentenced to 12 and one-half to 25 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide last month. Photo Credit: SCPD.

During the trial, evidence was introduced that Perez, 31, had consumed a bottle of whiskey before bar-hopping with friends, ending up at “Club Dream” in Hampton Bays where at closing time Perez struck a car in the parking lot and left the scene.

The victim’s husband, Anthony Guggino addressed the court at sentencing, describing Perez as “an animal” who callously ignored his dying wife at the crash scene and instead called his mother and not 911 in the minutes after the collision.

The victim’s sister, Debra Fox of Saratoga Springs, said “Donna was a healthy 56-year old woman that had a lot of life left to live.  However, because of you Joseph Perez, and your reckless drinking and driving, my sister’s life was cut short.”

Citing the lengthy prison sentence, Ms. Fox said the fact remained that “someday you will be released from prison and will be reunited with your family”, telling the defendant that Ms. Sartori’s family will go on enduring “pain and sadness” during holidays and birthdays.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police today arrested a man and his two sons on drug and weapons charges following the execution of a search warrant at their Huntington Station home.

As part of the Suffolk County Police Department’s continuing enforcement efforts in Huntington Station, detectives from the Narcotics Section, Second Precinct Special Operations Team, Criminal Intelligence Bureau and officers from the Second Precinct Patrol Section, Second Precinct Gang Unit, Emergency Service Section and Canine Section, executed a search warrant this morning.

Mug shot of Tracy Watkins, 42. Photo Credit: NCPD.

A loaded and defaced Tec-9 semiautomatic handgun with a large capacity magazine, along with two other loaded handguns, an imitation pistol, a bulletproof vest and more than 500 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Crack cocaine and marijuana, with a combined street value of approximately $3,000, $3,700 in cash, digital scales, and various drug packaging equipment were also recovered.

Mug shot of Zachary Watkins Jr., 46. Photo Credit: NCPD.

Tracy Watkins, 42, a confirmed member of the South Side Posse gang, and his brother, Zachary Watkins Jr., 46, were both charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of Marijuana 4th Degree and two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd Degree.

Mug shot of Zachary Watkins Sr., 75. Photo Credit: NCPD.

Zachary Watkins Sr., 75, was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of Marijuana 4th Degree and two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd Degree.

Officials from Huntington Town Code Enforcement issued 32 violations for code infractions to Watkins Sr. Code Enforcement officials are continuing their investigation to determine if the home will be declared uninhabitable.

The men will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip tomorrow.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Literary Papers of Alice Hoffman Come Home to Long Island

(Long Island, NY) Bestselling author Alice Hoffman ’73 has donated her archive to Adelphi University, her alma mater.

This remarkable collection includes literary and personal papers, photographs, illustrations, marketing ephemera, appointment calendars and an extensive set of editions and translations of her books.

“As a former and very grateful student of Adelphi University, I am so pleased that a collection of my work will now be in the library,” Hoffman said. “My connection to Adelphi has lasted more than 40 years, and it is the perfect home for my books and papers.”

The literary manuscripts, which are at the heart of the collection, reach back to Hoffman’s days as a creative writing student at Adelphi and forward to her most recent work, covering the breadth of her successful and critically acclaimed literary career.  The correspondence in the collection includes letters from editors, professors and fellow writers such as Judy Blume, Annie Dillard, John Irving, Walter Mosley, Amy Tan and Scott Turrow.

A prolific and multi-faceted writer, Hoffman has produced novels, screenplays, essays and works for children and young adults—a diversity of output that is reflected throughout the collection.

“The impressive range of manuscript material present in the collection is a testament to Alice’s remarkable versatility, energy and commitment to craft as a writer,” said David Ranzan, Adelphi University archivist and special collections librarian.  “The shelves—yes ‘shelves’ plural—of editions and translations of her books in the collection attest to the international reach and popularity of her work.”

Born in 1952, Hoffman grew up in Franklin Square, New York. After a very short stint working at the Doubleday Factory in Long Island, she enrolled at nearby Adelphi University to study English and anthropology.  Hoffman published her first novel, Property Of, at age 22 while enrolled at Stanford University where she would earn an M.A. in Creative Writing, working closely with the critic and novelist Albert Guerard. Among the manuscripts in the collection from this period is a typescript with handwritten edits of her first publication, a short story that appeared in the magazine Fiction.

To date, Hoffman has authored 23 novels, 3 books of short fiction and 8 books for young adults. Her works frequently top best-seller lists and have been hailed as notable books of the year by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Library Journal and People Magazine.

Hoffman’s work has also been adapted for film and television.  Her best-seller Practical Magic was made into a feature film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and her much-praised 2011 historical novel, The Dovekeepers, was turned into a recently broadcast popular CBS miniseries. Hoffman’s work as a screenwriter includes the screenplay for the film Independence Day starring Kathleen Quinlan, David Keith and Dianne Wiest.

“Alice Hoffman’s generous donation of her papers provides an extraordinarily rich resource for students and faculty here at Adelphi and the larger scholarly community,” said Dean of University Libraries Brian Lym. “This collection will be of immense value to any student or researcher seeking to know more about Alice Hoffman and her work specifically, and contemporary American literary culture more generally. We are thrilled to add such an extensive collection from such a prominent writer and Adelphi alumna to our holdings.”

Generous in her philanthropy, Hoffman is a lead sponsor of the Adelphi University Alice Hoffman Young Writers Retreat, an intensive summer writing workshop for high school students and their teachers, and has been a supporter of the Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program.  She also donated the advances from her nonfiction work Survival Lessons and her story collection, Local Girls, to support the Hoffman Breast Center at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA.

The extensive collection is currently being catalogued and processed and will be open to researchers in 2016.

Photo Caption: Author Alice Hoffman donates her archives to Adelphi University, her alma mater.

About Adelphi University
A world-class, modern university, Adelphi has excellent and highly relevant programs in which students prepare for lives of active citizenship and professional careers. Through its schools and programs—the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, the Honors College, the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, the College of Nursing and Public Health, and the School of Social Work—the coeducational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. As a nationally-ranked, doctoral research university, Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 43 states and 45 foreign countries.

LONG ISLAND, NY – The Fair Media Council is pleased to announce South Nassau Communities Hospital, located in Oceanside, N.Y., is the latest organization to join FMC.

South Nassau® Communities Hospital is the only hospital on Long Island to win four major awards for quality in recent months, including designation as a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), for women’s healthcare services and top rankings from U.S. News & World Report and from the Joint Commission. In addition, it is a recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite Quality Achievement Award as well as the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Silver-Plus Quality Achievement Award.

“We welcome South Nassau Communities Hospital, and look forward to working with them closely throughout the year. Organizations that join FMC do so because they have a strong commitment to the community and understand that quality news coverage is vital to the health and well being of the community,” said Jaci Clement, FMC CEO.

“The Fair Media Council provides an important forum for the public and local organizations to interact with the media on issues that are of concern to all of Long Island,” said Joe Calderone, senior vice president of communications & development at South Nassau Communities Hospital. “We look forward to working with the council leadership, its members and the media to exchange ideas and information that will result in more informed coverage of the complex health care issues impacting all of us.”

South Nassau is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 455 beds, more than 900 physicians and 3,000 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty, and is the only hospital on Long Island with the Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery technologies. South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and is an accredited center of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Association and Quality Improvement Program. In addition, the hospital has been awarded the Joint Commission’s gold seal of approval as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care; and disease-specific care for hip and joint replacement, wound care and end-stage renal disease.

For more information, visit www.southnassau.org.

The Fair Media Council is one of the oldest and most successful media watchdog organizations in the country. FMC creates opportunities for media and community to engage in open dialogue, to ensure local news reflects the needs and wants of the community. Creating a media savvy public is as much a priority as keeping the media responsive and responsible to the public.

To join the more than 200 organizations that are members of the Fair Media Council, please visit www.fairmediacouncil.org/membership.

Defendants Ronald Ustica, Jr. And R&U Auto Body Inc. Allegedly Stole Over $570,000 In Sales Tax And Filed False Sales Tax Returns To Conceal The Theft

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone announced today the indictment of Ronald Ustica, Jr., 46, and his collision center, R&U Associates Inc. on seven felony charges stemming from the alleged collection and theft of sales taxes for vehicle repairs at R&U from June 1, 2007 through March 21, 2011.

Ustica, a resident of Suffolk County, is the owner of R&U Associates Inc., also known as R&U Auto Body Inc., a collision center located at 10 Kees Place, Merrick, New York. According to the prosecution, Ustica and R&U collected but failed to remit to New York State over $570,000 in sales taxes between June 1, 2007 and March 21, 2011. They also allegedly filed false quarterly sales tax returns which grossly underreported the millions of dollars in taxable sales at R&U, and the sales tax they had collected during the time period.

“When a business pockets sales tax revenue paid by its customers, it unfairly shifts the burden onto other hard-working New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Those who are already paying their fair share of taxes shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for those who skip out on their bill.”

“Collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers in sales tax, then failing to pay those funds to the State as required by law, is a serious crime,” said Commissioner Boone. “We’ll continue to team with the Attorney General and law enforcement organizations across New York to prosecute these crimes.”

According to the indictment, unsealed today in Albany County Supreme Court, an Albany County grand jury charged the defendants with the following crimes: Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, in violation of New York State Penal Law § 155.40 (one count); Criminal Tax Fraud in the Second Degree, a class C felony, in violation of Tax Law § 1805 (two counts); Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, in violation of Tax Law § 1803, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, in violation of New York State Penal Law § 175.35 (3 counts).

In addition to the criminal charges filed against the defendants, the Attorney General’s office also filed a civil forfeiture action in Albany County Supreme Court which seeks to restrain and attach and ultimately forfeit $570,963.73 in assets of Ronald Ustica, Jr. and R&U Associates, Inc. as proceeds of their crimes

The defendants were arraigned before Hon. Roger D. McDonough, Supreme Court, in Albany County. Bail was set at $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond and Ustica was remanded into custody.

The charges against the defendant are allegations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Department of Taxation and Finance’s Criminal Investigations Division, and then referred to the Attorney General’s office for further investigation and prosecution.

Assisting in the investigation are Investigator Kyle Vitale-O’Sullivan and Senior Auditor Dmitry Temis of the Attorney General’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, under the direction of Supervising Investigators Edward Keegan and Natalie Shifrin and Deputy Chief Leonard D’Alessandro. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Benjamin S. Clark of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary T. Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Stephanie Swenton and Meryl Lutsky. The civil case is being handled by Assistant Deputy Attorney General Brian Moore of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.