Blogs 12 Long Island

Golf Long Island

by Scott Feldman

It's officially Spring, but it sure doesn't feel that way right now with temps in the 30's. Hopefully, we'll get warmer weather soon and Long Island golfers can hit the links again. Which brings me to Golf Long Island, News 12's weekly instructional segment.  Photographer Drew Singh and I, were out today taping the first batch of reports for the new season. They'll feature John Ondrush, certified golf fitness professional. He runs the John Ondrush Golf Fitness Academy out of Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Brookville. John is the best of the best when it comes to fitness. And he has some great, easy to do, exercises to help golfers warm up before they tee off. If you're one of those players who rush straight from home to the course without loosening up, you won't want to miss John's simple routines for stretching to make your round a lot more enjoyable. Just like you wouldn't play without hitting some balls, John says you really need to work on your shoulders, hips and hamstrings to play your best. And following John we'll head to Indian Hills Country Club in Ft. Salonga for on course golf tips from head professional Joe Laurentino. If you don't know, Joe has written a superb instructional book, "The Negotiable Golf Swing." We got some of Joe's philosophy last year. And I'm sure he has more to add this season. So, here's hoping for higher temps and you're very best golf from tee to green.   

Road to The Challenge Championship

 by Scott Feldman

As you read this, I'm in NYC taping more episodes of The Challenge. It's been a great season so far. Once again, some top notch teams competing. And we are now getting down to the nitty gritty. The high schools competing this week and next will be vying for the finals in May. The show, of course, has been expanded to include all of the New York metro area that Cablevision serves. That means Long Island's best and brightest are up against the brainiacs from Connecticut, Westchester, Brooklyn/Bronx, New Jersey. And I got word just the other day that The Challenge is now on Facebook. We are taping short student videos and taking behind-the-scenes pictures and posting them on Facebook. Here is the direct link: 

http://www.facebook.com/photos.

I appreciate all of your warm comments about The Challenge. Keep Watching !!

A Four Letter Word

by Scott Feldman

Snow. We really got socked today, didn't we. Hope if you had to go out in it, your trip was a safe one. I stopped by the Auto Club of America this morning to chat with Robert Sinclair about driving safely in the snow. First thing Robert told me was that dedicated snow tires are really the way to go in this kind of weather. He says the all season radials really don't cut it when you've got to stop. In fact, it can take a vehicle up to nine times longer to stop in snow and ice if you don't have the right tires. One of my pet peeves is people who don't clear the snow off their vehicles before they hit the road. It might not matter to you, but snow blowing off your car can blind other drivers. And what happens if some of the snow on your roof slides down on your windshield? That could be a big problem, to say the least. Everybody has seen SUV's barreling down the LIE or parkways, but Sinclair says they are heavy and have a high center of gravity and can easily slide when they try to brake. Speaking of sliding, if you go into a skid, steer in the direction you want to be traveling. As to what to have in your car, every emergency winter car kit should contain a flashlight, flares or reflective triangle, a distress sign, first aid supplies, a blanket, gloves, broom, and shovel. Speaking of shovels, I spotted a tip on the web that might help you. If snow is sticking to your shovel, spray it with a little non-stick cooking oil. The snow should come off a little easier. Believe it or not, Spring is right around the corner. Let's hope this is the last real blast of Winter.

Check these sites out for more safe winter driving tips: www.aaa.com and www.roadandtravel.com

Stand by for News!

by Scott Feldman

Paul Harvey. What a distinctive voice. When he came on the radio, there was no doubt who you were listening to. In the mid 70's, I was the anchor at the NBC TV station in Phoenix. Our radio station was just off our main newsroom. One afternoon I was on the radio side talking to a friend when I saw reams of Associated Press wire copy stacked up in a corner. Paul Harvey was in town for a speech and he was doing his ABC Radio Network newscasts out of our station. He normally did his commentaries from  downtown Chicago. His broadcasts always featured little slices of Americana. The kind of stories you didn't always hear on a typical hourly radio news spot. What Harvey did was comb through all of that wire copy to find the material that made his broadcasts so special. And why I loved to listen to them. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet Mr. Harvey. He came in the very early morning hours. I was there from mid afternoon through the 10 o'clock news. So, it was sad to hear this weekend that Paul Harvey had passed away in Phoenix, where he had a winter home. He was 90. And now you know, "The Rest of the Story."

No Quick Fix

By Scott Feldman

Word came out this weekend that President Obama is going to sign the $787 billion stimulus bill on Tuesday in Denver.  But don't think for a minute that it is going to help turn the economy around any time soon.

In fact, David Axelrod, the White House senior adviser, is saying, "there will be signs of activity very quickly, but it's going to take time for that to show up in the statistics.  And from President Obama, the economy is "likely to get worse before it gets better." From the Republicans, namely Senator John McCain, we are hearing the stimulus bill being labeled, "generational theft." In the end, only three moderate Republican senators voted for it. Not a single Republican in the House voted yes.

Later this week, the White House is going to unveil a new mortgage reversal proposal in Phoenix. There is now considerable debate in Washington about the so-called "nationalization of the banking industry."

And with trouble still brewing in Detroit, struggling automakers will be submitting plans this week on how they intend to try to turn their financial fortunes around. But as they lay out those plans, both General Motors and Chrylser are going to have their hands out for billions more than they have already received. Will the administration okay more bailout money, or are they willing to let the automakers go into bankruptcy? We'll soon found out. The economy continues to dominate the news. And this week will be no different.  

You and the Stimulus Package

by Scott Feldman

As I write this the House has just passed the federal stimulus package. The Senate is expected to vote on it tonight or tomorrow. So, what's in it for Long Islanders? For those lower and middle-income taxpayers there's an extra $13 a week in their paychecks this year, and about $8 dollars a week next year. For upper middle-class families there won't be as big a bite from the AMT--the Alternative Minimum Tax. The unemployed will get a bump in their weekly checks of $25. And benefits will continue for 59 weeks. For anybody who loses their job, the government will be picking up 60 percent of the cost of short-term health insurance--known as COBRA. Food stamp benefits are also increasing. And Social Security recipients, along with those receiving disability checks, will get a one-time bonus of 250 dollars. Long Island commuters won't have to pay tax on up to $230 a month in mass transit costs. That's a pre-tax deduction on your paycheck. Also included in the package, a tuition tax credit up to $2,500 based on income.

There are a couple of big ticket items that are part of stimulus bill. If you are buying your first home and you do it by the end of August, the government will give you an $8,000 tax credit. And if you buy a new car, you'll be able to deduct the sales tax even if you don't itemize on your income tax return.

It could be a while before the dust settles on this massive piece of legislation. Some possible tweaking of numbers mentioned above. If you use an accountant, they are certain to get the fine details. And, we here at News 12, of course, will continue to update you on the latest. In the meantime, here are two good sites to check out: www.tax.cchgroup.com ,  www.irs.gov.  www.ssa.gov

Tax on the Rich

by Scott Feldman

How do you close a 13 billion dollar NYS budget gap? Some Senate democrats think the way to do it is to raise the income tax on New York's highest earners. They're proposing that households earning more than $250,000 in taxable income a year would pay 8.25 percent, up from the current 6.85 percent. That's the highest rate anybody pays now. For those who earn more than $500,000, the tax rate would be 8.97 percent. Anybody lucky enough to make more than $1 million would pay 10.3 percent. Dowling College economic analyst Marty Cantor figures this could impact about 170 thousand Long Island tax filers. Our newest democratic Senator, Brian Foley, says he'd like to see the state's income tax brackets restructured, but is opposed to the bill. Same goes for democrat Craig Johnson, who tells News 12 that a tax increase should be the last resort. And from the dean of the Republican delegation, Dean Skelos, severe criticism of the democrats floating this idea. Skelos says, "they do not know how to stop taxing, once they start they are now down to 250 now and I guarantee you it is going to get down even lower to the 100 thousand range when this is all over with." Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith says he's not convinced a tax increase is the right way to fix New York's budget crisis. Governor Paterson has said all options to fix the budget problem should be on the table, but he's also expressed concern that raising taxes would force wealthy people out of New York. Assembly Speaker Silver, like Foley, thinks the tax brackets should be refigured. He's proposed a tax on people making more than a million, but says he is willing to consider hiking taxes on people making less than that. Still, for those who think they are going to get hammered at a time when the economy is in bad, bad shape, now may not be the time to panic. All indications are this latest proposal from Albany doesn't have the votes to fly.     

Sky High Electric Rates

By Scott Feldman

Long Island's Republican Assembly delegation recently held a public hearing on the future of the Long Island Power Authority. Should it remain a state authority? Or go private? What about the Board of Trustees? Should they be appointed by the Governor and Legislative Leaders or elected by ratepayers? Or some other combination? But the most pressing issue right now ---those sky high electric bills. Piccolo Restaurant in Bellmore is paying about a 6 thousand dollar monthly LIPA bill. Residential customers could easily be paying 300 to 400 dollars per month. Why, asked lawmakers, did LIPA have to raise rates even when oil prices have been coming down. LIPA CEO Kevin Law's short answer --rising costs for the utility. That includes higher property taxes, higher interest rates on its debt, even Law claims, new environmental laws that put new regulatory requirements on the power plants. Law tells me there could be relief for ratepayers if LIPA got a chunk of the federal economic stimulus package. The authority would use that money for renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, smart meters. And the money could also go towards paying down a multi billion dollar debt on the defunct Shoreham nuclear plant. As Law put it, " I will have my hand out for as much money as we can get." In the meantime, one Long Islander who is living on social security and a small pension from his job at the NYC library had a message for LAW and LIPA, "lower these rates, otherwise, we are in big trouble, all of us. "

Keep it Clean

by Scott Feldman

It looks like we're going to have a cold, snowy winter. We got another blast of snow last night. And on the way to work this morning there were a lot of cars that were still covered in snow. No, not just the hood or trunk, but the WINDOWS. I was behind a van with the entire back window covered. Where they depending on the side view mirrors to see what was around them? Hoping for the best? Or the sun to melt the snow away? Please, KEEP IT CLEAN. For your sake, mine and every other driver on the road.

We're Saving not Spending

by Scott Feldman

Never mind a snowy Tuesday morning on the Island. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union on S. Oyster Bay Rd. was hopping. Long Islanders lined up to make deposits. Yes, they were putting money in their accounts, not taking it out. That activity comes as a new government report shows consumers slashed spending for an unprecedented sixth straight month in December. The personal savings rate rose to 3.6 percent in December. That was nearly three times the savings rate for all of 2007 and far above the seven-decade low for savings hit in 2004, a year buoyed by a booming housing market. Kirk Kordeleski, the CEO of BFCU, tells me the credit union took in 40 million dollars last month for savings accounts. He says the number of people opening credit card accounts is down. But they've seen record business in mortgage refinances. They used to do 150 applications in a month, six months ago. But, in just one week alone they did 250 applications. As for people saving more, Anthony Cuccia, a retired window cleaner on social security, says he puts his food on a credit card, but there is no extra spending. Same story from Salome Claveria. She's widowed and on social security and a small pension. She tells me she goes to the movies less, and she no longer goes once a week to a restaurant. It's pretty much the story for young families. Kris and Christine Corey from Bayville have two young sons. Kris says vacations are a thing of the past. The Bahamas, Florida, just too expensive. Same thing for dining out. So, a steep cutback in consumer spending, the economy's key driver, can only mean continued trouble for struggling retailers, homebuilders and automakers. It remains to be seen just how much the proposed massive economic stimulus program that the Obama administration is lobbying Congress to quickly pass will turn things around. Some economists are predicting the recession will last until late 2009. The slump is already the longest in a quarter-century. So, if it lasts into the summer, it would be the longest downturn since World War II.  

If it sounds too good to be true ...

By Scott Feldman

First Bernie Madoff. Now another suspected Ponzi scheme. This one on Long Island. Agape World headquartered in Hauppauge. The CEO is a guy named Nicholas Cosmo, a convicted swindler who spent time in a federal lockout. When they sprang him, he immediately started Agape World. It made so-called commercial "bridge loans" to businesses. Investors were promised double digit returns. And now, like the Madoff investors, more than 6 thousand Agape investors will also be left holding the bag. Because Agape didn't sell stocks or bonds, the company wasn't required to register with the securities industry. But all anybody had to do was Google Cosmo and they would have found out about his criminal past.

So, how can investors protect themselves from shady operators? Jon Ten Haagen, a certified financial planner in Huntington, says it's not difficult to check out a financial professional. All you have to do is go to the website for the national association of personal financial planners. If you are dealing with a stock or bond broker, there's the national association of securities dealers, the securities and exchange commission and the NYS Attorney General's office. All of those agencies will tell you if a broker has had problems in the past, and it will detail his or her professional licenses--what kind of securities they are authorized to sell. Ten Haagen also advises you scrutinize your financial statements. Don't get bought off by a generic listing that says your money is in "fixed income securities." You want to see exactly what stocks and bonds you own. How many shares and their value. For bonds look for the maturity date and the CUSIP number. 

Given the current state of the economy, it is likely we are going to see more Madoff and Agape's unfold. The old saw is worth repeating, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

  

www.napfa.org

www.nasdr.com/2000.htm

www.CFP-Board.org/cons

www.oag.state.ny.us

The Governor's Choice

by Scott Feldman

It was a plum gig. Junior U.S. Senator from New York. And the winner is ----Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand from upstate Hudson. It's a heavily Republican and conservative district. And already, gun control and immigration advocates --including fellow Democrats --are hopping mad.

Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has signaled she is considering running a primary against NRA supporter Gillibrand. McCarthy's husband was killed by a gunman on the Long Island railroad.

And another Carolyn, Carolyn Maloney, a fellow veteran democratic congresswoman from Manhattan, is considering a 2010 primary against Gillibrand. 

On the republican side, Long Island Congressman Peter King has already signaled his intention to run for the Senate in 2010. News 12's political analyst Jerry Kremer tells me that King can raise a lot of money, including funds from outside New York state and he has a big conservative base.

And as for those Democrats who had fingers crossed they'd be tapped by Paterson?

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who ran unsuccessfully for Governor, could very well be selected by Paterson as his ticket-mate for Lt. Governor in 2010. Paterson, of course, is from New York City. Suozzi would give Paterson a strong suburban presence.

It's not likely Attorney General Andrew Cuomo would have turned down Paterson for the senate seat. But now, Cuomo will just continue on as AG, and if the Governor stumbles, Cuomo would be there to step up and challenge Paterson in a primary.

Huntington Congressman Steve Israel would dearly have loved to move to the Senate. But he's well respected in the House and by President Obama and political observers say he is well positioned to keep moving up in the ranks of his party.

So, while Gillibrand has her detractors, she also has her supporters. She's pro-gun, but also pro-choice and her selection is being hailed by abortion rights groups. Strong support is also coming from the state's largest gay rights group and from Long Island environmentalists.

We here at News 12 will be paying close attention to New York's newest senator. I'm hopeful I get a chance to sit down and talk to her soon.

Stimulating Long Island

by Scott Feldman

As I write this, our new President, Barack Obama, is settling into his new gig. And on day one it was full speed ahead. His top priority--getting the U.S. economy back on track. From the original fiscal bailout fund, he wants about 100 billion dollars to go to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure. And there is his 825 billion dollar economic stimulus package. Long Island could certainly put to good use a big chunk of that. In fact, at a Long Island Association breakfast, Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi tells me he'd like to see federal funds come to the state to help defray escalating Medicaid costs. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy would put the money to use for road repairs and sewer improvements. Dowling College economist analyst Marty Cantor says new sewers could really energize the Long Island economy. If you've got sewers, you can create affordable housing in our downtowns. Affordable housing keeps our young people here on the Island instead of leaving for employment opportunities elsewhere, and that, in turn, will energize the local economy. Congressional Democrats want to see a slice of the stimulus package go to education. That could translate for Long Island schools into a 100 million dollar windfall. Money that could offset the proposed cuts in state aid to schools from Albany. Senator Schumer is pushing for 20 billion to go to mass transit, including projects that would benefit the Long Island railroad. And then there are tax cuts for middle-income families. That's about 40 percent of the stimulus package. Even without exact numbers, Dowling's Cantor says 95 percent of Long Islanders would benefit from some kind of a tax break. So, it is all just now beginning with a new administration. President Obama has got a lot on his plate. But make no mistake, it's the economy, he's digging into first.       

The Obama Buzz

by Scott Feldman

At noon on Tuesday, history will be made on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation's first African-American president. 68 year old Wilhelmina Thomas from Freeport tells me she "never thought she would see the day" that a black man would become president. She only wishes her mother and father were still alive to witness it. Joe Neek is a 25 year old shoe store clerk in Huntington Village. He says he really hopes Obama will fix the economy. To, as he puts it, "help me keep my job, help everyone keep their jobs." And right outside Joe's store, UPS driver Matt Alberici is also thinking about the economy. The Selden resident has two kids and says, "Im definitely a middle-class guy, so I definitely need as much assistance as the goverment is willing to give." Doug Wiggin, who works with the Guide Dog Foundation, wants to see Obama follow through on his campaign promise to bring home U.S. soldiers from Iraq. On that and othe pressing issues of the day, Wiggin says we've got to be patient. Change will take some time. Megan Brynes from Northport is hopeful that something will finally be done to reform the country's health care system. Meantime, mindful of what Obama has accomplished, Ms. Thomas says she's told her 9 year old grandaughter, "keep on trying, you can be anything that you want to be."

Help for Homeowners

by Scott Feldman

Just got back from Willow Street in Central Islip. On just a few short blocks, there are no less than a dozen homes in foreclosure. With the owners long gone, the houses are boarded up. And the yards are in disrepair. And sadly, surrounding these houses are many long time residents. Two elderly couples have been there 30 and 40 years. Another young woman I spoke with just moved from the West Coast. Her husband is in the U.S.Army. They have a toddler son. All are frustrated about the condition of their neighborhood. They are doing their best to keep up their properties. But it saddens them to see what has happened, especially with the realization that their homes, through no fault of their own, have almost certainly declined in value. Meantime, in Washington, just a week before his inauguration, Barack Obama is pressing to have much of the remaining $350 billion in financial industry bailout funds go toward helping homeowners threatened by foreclosure. And both Democrats in the House and Senate are moving forward to use a big chunk of the funds, anywhere from $40 to $100 billion channeled into programs for modifying mortgages into affordable loans. Key lawmakers have signaled that action could be taken even before Obama raises his right hand on the steps of the Capitol next Tuesday. If not then, certainly soon afterwards. There are far too many Long Islanders facing what happened to those who once owned homes on Willow Street. Hopefully, a fresh start in Washington can provide meaningful help for them.  

Health Care Boost

by Scott Feldman

Governor Paterson took a step toward giving greater access to health care for all New Yorkers in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Paterson wants lawmakers to require private employers to offer health insurance to workers' dependents who are ages 19 to 29. According to the governor's office, 31 percent or about 800,000 of New York's uninsured are ages 19 to 29. I have talked to a number of college graduates who are uninsured because their parents can no longer afford to cover them on their family policy. And even those who find work aren't always offered health insurance by their employer.

So, who would pay for this? Paterson says his plan would not cost the state or businesses a dime. Picking up the tab would be familes that opt for the expanded coverage on their kids. The cost--about $300 to $325 dollars a month compared to $900 if the young person had to pay for the policy on their own.

If lawmakers okay this legislation, the state is expecting that about 10 percent, or 80,000 people, will participate. With the state budget deficit standing at $15 billion and growing every day, legislators have a lot to digest in Albany. But it seems a plan certainly worth their consideration: A social safety net that would benefit a lot of young people in the midst of a severe economic downturn. 

LI Housing Update

by Scott Feldman

There is good news and not so good news on the housing front. The Long Island Association, the area's biggest business group, says median home prices since the peak in housing values in 2007 have dropped 18 percent in Nassau and 20 percent in Suffolk. Back in August 2007, the median home price in Nassau was $502,500 compared to $410,000 in November 2008. In Suffolk, median home price for June 2007 was $420,000 versus $335,000 for November 2008. So where are home prices headed? LIA Chief Economist Pearl Kamer is forecasting another 15 percent decline before the market bottoms out at around 35 percent. Now for the good news. Long term mortgage rates are around 51/2% today. Kamer thinks action by the Federal Reserve could knock that down to 41/2%. If 30 year rates get that low, combined with lower home prices, Kamer says that would make a more attractive market for potential buyers. But there is a big IF. The risk, she tells me, is that layoffs will accelerate and if more people lose their job, low interest rates won't help prospective buyers qualify for a mortgage. Kamer's crystal ball sees the housing market stabilizing by the end of this year or sometime next year. Of course, realtors are touting low home prices and low mortgage rates as the perfect reason to buy NOW. If you are a seller, realtor Fern Karhu says the key is pricing your home right. Listen to your realtor. Get comparable prices of homes that have sold in your area in the past three months. As for buyers, you've also got to check what homes are selling for in the neighborhood. But, at the same time, there's no point to making a ridiculously low offer to the seller. Karhu says prices will rebound over time. But, the days of double digit increases Long Island experienced in the past, are just that, history.

Making a Difference

By Scott Feldman

I had heard for years about the good works of Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Now, they are one of a growing number of non-profit organizations that are struggling because of the economic crisis. 60 percent of their revenue comes from their thrift stores. Another 20 percent from donations. But, both were down dramatically in 2008. So they were forced to dip into their reserves and spend about 300 thousand dollars to keep their operations going. Over the past year, LI Director Douglas LaLone tells me they assisted nearly 200 thousand Long Islanders in a variety of programs that include temporary rent and mortgage assistance and helping the elderly maintain their homes and yards.

I was at Dismas House in Roosevelt today. 10 men --all ex-offenders--live there. They get counseling for their drug and alcohol addictions. And help to transition to mainstream society. I'm told their success rate to keep men out of jail is 90 percent. One of those success stories is 64 year old Freddie Jones. He had been in and out of jail and prison since he was 18 years old. He came to Dismas House nearly 7 years ago. Today, he is a social worker there counseling men who were in the same boat he was in when he walked through their doors. 

St. Vincent de Paul, like a lot of non-profits, is hopeful 2009 will be a better year financially for them than 2008. If you'd like to help, they welcome your support. You can contact the Society by: Phone (516) 822-3132. Or you can go online at  www.svdprvc.org

A Weighty Matter

By Scott Feldman 

I heard a report on the radio the other day that said the average American gains about 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. I'm half way there with a week to go before the Crystal ball drops in Times Square. Well, I've had my fun. Cookies, cakes, pies, chocolate. You name it, I've scarfed it down. Some of it was brought in to sit in the News 12 newsroom to tempt everyone. And, of course, I took the bait. The rest of it was at the house. Either way, it was impossible to walk by and not grab something. There are still plenty of goodies on the homefront, but it is time to show a little discipline. I certainly don't want all those sweets to go to waste! But, maybe this last week as we head into the final week of 2008, I should pace myself. And then, on January 2nd (can't be a monk on New Year's Day !) I'll get down to business and go cold turkey. Yeah, that's it. A month of denial. And then my good behavior can be rewarded on Super Bowl Sunday. Sounds like a plan. Wonder if I can stick to it? What do you think?

New Credit Card Rules

By Scott Feldman

Long Islanders love their plastic. They're just not always thrilled with their credit card companies. But federal regulators have adopted new rules for the credit card industry to protect consumers from arbitrary hikes in interest rates or unfair time constraints for paying.

The new rules, which take effect in 2010, allow credit card companies to raise interest rates only on new credit cards, future purchases or advances and not on existing account balances. They also restrict certain lender practices such as allocating all payments to balances with lower interest rates when a borrower has balances with higher rates.

The banking industry say the changes would force them to impose higher initial rates and make it tougher for some people to get credit cards. But SafeGuard, a credit counseling service in Hauppauge, thinks its a "win" for the consumer struggling to get out of debt.

SafeGuard's President, Michael Smith, tells me it's important to monitor month to month what the credit company is charging you. And if your interest rate goes up, contact the creditor immediately. Also, if  you can't afford to make payments, don't ignore it. Again, get a hold of the credit card company and try to work out a payment plan. If that doesn't work, contact a credit card counselor to develop a budget to repay your debt. Check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the counselor you are going to is reputable.

To Albany and Back

By Scott Feldman

Just spent a couple of days in Albany. Legislators were called back to hear Governor Paterson's 2009-10 budget proposal. I brought back with me five big budget books that have all the numbers in them. They weigh at least ten pounds. It was not a lot of fun lugging them for a few hours Tuesday before I got back to our TV truck.

In any event, the budget proposal doesn't make good reading. New York is facing a 15 billion dollar deficit that Paterson wants legislators to close by March 1st. That's a month earlier than usual. He figures the sooner the state tackles the enormous fiscal problem, the less of a mess New York will face down the line.

So, what's the spending plan mean to you? For starters, big cuts to school aid and health care. Higher tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools. But at the same time, a program to provide low interest loans to tens of thousands of college students. 

 And then there are some 88 new or higher fees that will affect all of us.

There's a so-called IPod tax, a 4 percent tax you'd pay for downloading music and other "digitally delivered entertainment services."  Also, we could be facing higher taxes on gas, taxi rides, cable and satellite TV service, cigars, beer, movie and sports tickets, and health spa visits. The state sales tax on clothing and footwear purchases under $110 would be resumed. Driver's license fees and registration fees would be boosted by 25%. And we could be paying $25 for new license plates. Something that is sparking a lot of controversy, an 18 percent "obesity tax" on soda and other sugary drinks containing less than 70 percent real fruit juice.  State officials says almost one in four New Yorkers under age 18 are obese, and at higher risk for dangerous and expensive illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. It's estimated this tax would raise more than $400 million to help close the budget gap. But the American Beverage Association opposes the tax and says it would most harm the middle class.

So, legislators came. They heard. And now they are back in their home districts for the holidays. Everybody heads back to Albany after the first of the year to dig in and try to resolve what Paterson calls "the worst fiscal downturn in our economy since the Great Depression." Tough choices to be made. We're all sure to feel some pain when the dust finally settles.

Black Friday Tragedy

by Scott Feldman

It was not the kind of day after Thanksgiving that I expected. Retailers count on Black Friday to put them into the black for the year. So all the stores have big sales. That attracts big crowds. But the crowd at the Wal-Mart in Valley Stream got totally out of hand. Some 2,000 shoppers lined up in the early morning hours there to take advantage of huge bargains. But the doors didn't just open. They were broken down in the mad rush to hit the aisles. And a temporary employee was trampled to death in the stampede. Since then, there's been a lot of finger pointing. Fingers pointed at Wal-Mart for not having sufficient security on hand to deal with the crush. Fingers pointed at Nassau police for not sticking around to make sure everybody stayed safe. The police commissioner says he met with security officials from Green Acres Mall. And as Lawrence Mulvey told reporters at a news conference, "The message was clearly portrayed to all those parties that these kinds of events fall within the purview of their security ...and they need to plan, organize and police them properly. We clearly put it on their plate." Wal-Mart is defending its security measures. They say they put up barriers and hired additional security workers. But, to no one's surprise, lawsuits are already being filed. Against Wal-Mart. Against Nassau County. In the meantime, we've got an investigation by police. It really was a Black Friday on Long Island. One that never should have happened. Let's pray it never is repeated.   

Home Sweet Home

By Scott Feldman

Did you go away for Thanksgiving? How about somewhere warm this Winter? Our latest News 12 Long Island/Hofstra poll reveals a lot of Long Islanders are staying close to home. Not hard to figure out why. Now that a recession has officially been declared, 41% of you told us you have no plans to go on a vacation in the near future. 24% will take a vacation, but 17% say they will spend less. And 15% won't be taking a vacation anytime soon. I was talking to Ellie Dayton, the owner of Total Travel Management in Uniondale, about all of this. She puts it very succinctly: "Travel is based on discretionary money and right now there isn't any." At a sandwich shop near News 12, I ran into Uri Rud. He told me he spent Thanksgiving with his sister in Toronto. But he didn't fly--he took the train. It was a lot longer, of course, but a lot less expensive. At a table nearby, Joe Squatrigo from Brentwood says trips to Las Vegas are just a memory. As he put it, "I'm a senior citizen, so I don't go nowhere right now, I can't afford it." And Ellen Forman from Jericho says the only reason she is flying to Aruba tomorrow is because she owns a time share there. Otherwise, she tells me, "If we didn't have the time share, we wouldn't be going away." Total Travel's Dayton says many Long Island travel agencies are either closing their doors or moving out of commercial space and doing business from home. She's managing to stay afloat with corporate business. So, when does she think things will turn around? All I got was a shrug of the shoulders and a look that said your guess is as good as mine. "Right now, Ellie says, the future is very precarious."

Thawing the Credit Markets

By Scott Feldman

Yet another wrinkle to what has already become the largest US government bailout in history. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson unveiled two new programs totaling 800 billion dollars to help thaw the market that backs consumer debt such as credit cards, auto and student loans, as well as mortgages.All of  that, says Paulson, was essentially frozen in October. Banks just deathly afraid to make loans for any purpose. Well, now, the Federal Reserve will provide 600 billion dollars to make mortgage loans cheaper and more available. That could help someone like Tyrone Ferdinando from Huntington who has been a renter for six years. He tells me, "just the money that I am spending on rent could go toward my mortgage and I would have something for the future." A second federal program announced today calls for 200 billion dollars in credit protection for banks. A Nissan dealer in Syosset, Wayne Siegel, says his "business has been terrible." But now that there is another 200 billion dollars in credit protection for banks, he's hopeful customers can get loans easier and he can move dozens of cars that sit in his lot. The financial crisis has also caused banks to cut credit lines on credit cards. Yolanda Delgado of Huntington Station had her credit line cut from 500 to 300 dollars. And she says she never even got to the 500 dollar limit. Dowling College economist Dr. Irwin Kellner says it is now more likely your credit card issuer will restore your line of credit and it could be easier to get a credit card if you were denied one before. Finally, there are student loans which virtually came to a screeching halt last month. They should start flowing again. That's a relief to SUNY Farmingdale student Italo Tellerico. He's got a four thousand dollar loan. But he says he's going to need more when he transfers to Queens College next year. So, the federal government again trying to get lending back to more normal levels. It's all up to the banks now.   

Five Men in a Room

By Scott Feldman

"Interesting" couple of days in Albany last week. I was in the Capitol for a special emergency economic session. Governor Paterson had called it to resolve the state's fiscal crisis. But nothing was resolved. Tuesday at high noon, Paterson brought the legislative leaders from the State Senate and Assembly together in one room for a public meeting.  Paterson wanted lawmakers to approve $2 billion in budget cuts. But most of what we got in the 90 minute session was a lot of finger pointing. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos from Rockville Centre staunchly opposed mid-year cuts to school aid. Which prompted Paterson at one point to hold up a blank piece of paper and say, "You brought us nothing, I'm still waiting for what your solutions are." Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver piled on to criticize Skelos, as did Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith from Queens. Then, Assembly GOP leader James Tedisco(Schenectady) came to Skelos' defense. He held up his own sheet of paper that he said was Silver's proposals and also blank. And that is exactly what lawmakers left Albany for their home districts with, nothing. Paterson says the budget deficit next year is expected to reach $15 billion. After Jan.1, the Democrats will take control of the State Senate. What will be done to dig the state out of its' deepening fiscal hole? We shall see. Oh, by the way, when all the bickering and name calling ended in the Red room, Paterson commandered Skelos and Silver and they posed with big smiles for the cameras. Go figure.  

Big Budget Ax

By Scott Feldman

The fiscal picture from Albany is not pretty. Governor Paterson says $2 billion in spending has to be cut from the state's $120 billion budget that ends March 31st. So, where's the money coming from? Paterson is looking for billions in cuts in Medicaid, along with midyear reductions in school aid. The possibility of cutting Medicaid outrages advocates for the poor, sick and senior citizens. Bill Ferris, a New York state lobbyist for AARP says, "Cuts could deny personal care services to an elderly person living alone, cuts could deny a homebound senior a meal, as well as force a family to institutionalize an elderly loved lone because they no longer have the caregiver support in the community to keep the person at home."

School Superintendents are clearly nervous about potential cuts to their districts. Connetquot Supt. Dr. Alan Groveman tells me midyear school aid cuts are much more difficult to deal with than those that begin with the budget cycle. Connetquot could tap a reserve fund to make up some of the shortfall this year. But administrators, clerical, teachers, counselors along with a whole host of after school activities and programs could be cut. Groveman says for every million dollars less the district gets in school aid, taxes would go up about 85 dollars annually for the average homeowner, if the district wanted to keep the programs alive for next year. 

Parents are clearly not happy. One mother of five told me her kids are in all kinds of after school activities. But an 83 year old retiree on a fixed income says he just can't afford to pay higher taxes.

Albany lawmakers head back to the capital on Nov. 18th for a special session. They're facing some tough choices. But it is what it is. Governor Paterson knows he's going to get a lot of resistance from legislators and others. A lot of what he is asking to be cut he fought to protect during his years as a State Senator. But as he told the New York Times, "I'll feel the pain my stomach, but my conscience will be clear." 

Obama and the Economy

 By Scott Feldman

Not a good Friday on the economic front. The government reported the unemployment rate had jumped from 6.1 percent in September to 6.5 percent in October. That's another 240 thousand jobs cuts last month bringing the nation's unemployment rate to a 14-year high.  Long Island numbers come out next week. September showed an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent up from 3.9 percent for the same period a year ago. Long Island Association economist Pearl Kamer expects the new jobless rate number could be anywhere from 6 to 6.5 percent.

So, against that backdrop, President-elect Obama held a news conference saying the country is facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime and "we're going to have to act swifly to resolve it." He said, "immediately after I become president I will confront this economic crisis head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity." Obama's comments came just a short time after he and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden met privately with economic experts to discuss ways to stabilize the troubled economy.

Pearl Kamer tells me Obama shouldn't think about raising ANY taxes, including hiking the tax rate on capital gains and dividends. She says, "when you raise taxes in a severe recession you simply exacerbate the recession because you're restricting disposable income." And given the latest unemployment numbers, she says the government should extend jobless benefits. She'd also like to see an infusion of federal dollars to help local and state governments with infrastructure projects. Things like repairing streets and sewers and construction of the third rail for the Long Island railroad. Subsidies too would be important for our emerging technologies, nano-tech and bio-science.

In talking to Long Islanders on the streets, they hope Obama won't raise their taxes. He's talking about a boost in the tax rate for anybody making over 250K. Small business owners say they need a tax break, not a tax hike to keep afloat in an economy where consumer spending is shrinking every day. And they'd like to see the new administration put some pressure on the banks to loosen credit.

Carl and Dorothy Rennhack from Bohemia were telling me, "there has to be some changes made. 8 years under Bush has been awful." These are Republicans who went Democrat this past Tuesday. They're retirees living on a fixed income struggling to pay their bills, including higher health care premiums. I asked them if they thought things would be better under Obama than Bush.  Carl's reply, " We certainly hope so. Truthfully, I don't think we can do worse." For his part, Obama says Congress needs to pass an economic stimulus package either before or just after he takes office in January. It's clear that right from the get-go, Obama will have to be laser focused on finding ways to remedy the dismal economy.

LIRR Disability

by Scott Feldman

A real mess spilled out Monday at SUNY Old Westbury. In the Student Union building, a hearing on how LIRR  retirees collected disability benefits. It was all about claiming they were hurt when they weren't. We heard from a state investigator how doctors and consultants were paid to advise workers on how to collect retirement and disability pay. Steve Cohen, chief of staff for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said employees were told they would be "fools" for not cashing in on the payments. Cuomo opened the hearing attended by our Long Island Congressional delegation saying, "It was a bad program design to begin with, and it was totally flawed oversight by the Railroad Retired Board, by the LIRR, by the MTA." There was video testimony from a doctor, an orthopedist, his face pixled out, who said employees started planning for their disability applications while they were still on the job and HEALTHY. He said, "it was clear to me that these patients saw this benefit as an entitlement." LIRR President Helena Williams, who took over in 2007, says reforms are now being instituted including ethics training and a new compliance unit. What's all of this cost you the taxpayer? Cuomo puts the figure at $250 million since 2000.  And get this. The railroad retirees were not only getting their regular pension, but up to $36,000 in dubious disability pay !  There are no less than four investigations into this scandal. No doubt, there is a lot more to unravel.

Down the Stretch

by Scott Feldman

Did you catch the final presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain from Hofstra University? I don't know about you, but I thought it was the best of the three. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that the candidates were seated and close to each other, not standing stifly at a podium or wandering around the room as they did in the town hall setting for the second debate. Aside from the heated and sometimes testy exchanges on a wide range of domestic issues, what struck me was how intent John McCain was, and will be, for the remainder of the campaign, to try and seperate himself from President Bush. As he put it to Barack Obama, "Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago. I'm going to give a new direction to this economy in this country." But Obama's game plan as I see it, is to continue from now until election day to try and tie McCain to W. and the past eight years. His message to voters about McCain, as we heard him say at Hofstra, "If I've occassionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people, on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities, you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush." As of this writing, it's 17 days until Long Islanders decide who gets to move into the White House for the next four years. It should be quite a stretch run. 

Nassau Goes Democratic

by Scott Feldman

I was out front at State Supreme Court in Mineola this morning. Nassau Democrats were in particularly good spirits. After 110 years, the county was no longer "officially" Republican. Dems were touting new registration numbers that show there are 328,477 registered Republicans and 328,604 registered Democrats. That gives them a margin of 127 votes. Back in 2002, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by nearly 67,000 votes. Commenting on the historic shift in voter registration, Nassau Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said that it, "marks a watershed event in the national political landscape." He added that the party machine was so powerful that President Ronald Reagan once remarked, "When a Republican dies and goes to heaven it looks a lot like Nassau County." So, what do Republicans have to say about this? Nassau GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello, declining an on camera interview with News 12, issued a statement saying, "The Democrats should wake up to the fact that party labels really don't matter any more and they haven't for a very long time. Victory at the polls is determined by the quality and qualifications of the candidates each party produces. The Nassau County Republican Committee has always produced outstanding candidates who have earned the trust of the people." The new registrations don't take effect until after the November election, but Democrats figure, and perhaps rightly, that anybody who filled out a form to say they now want to be a Democrat, isn't going to go into the polls in less than a month, and vote any other way.

Monday Meltdown

By Scott Feldman

What a way to start the "work week." After Congress passed the $700 billion rescue/bailout package on Friday, the following Monday stocks sell off big time. At its worst, the Dow plunged more than 800 points, an intraday record. At the bell, it closed down JUST about 370 points at 9,955.50. The first time it has been under 10,000 in about four years. What do local economists think about all this?  Pearl Kamer, the chief economist of the Long Island Association, was telling me this was the worst credit crunch since the Great Depression. And she was cautioning that it was going to take some time, many months, before the government's action was going to have any measurable impact. In the meantime, banks which are scared to death to loan money to EACH OTHER, are going to be really tight-fisted when it comes to loaning money to businesses and consumers.  Unless you've got sterling credit, don't expect to get a loan for a mortgage, fix up the house you're now living in, borrow to buy a car or most anything else for that matter. And if the bank gives you the money, you're going to pay for it with higher interest rates. I  talked to a home builder who got the bid to construct affordable housing in Bay Shore.   She says all those banks that were beating her door down for her business before, she can barely get on the phone now and even then they are, to say the least, UNCOMMITTED. All of this, of course, started with an overheating housing market in the U.S. And now it has spread to financial markets around the world. Kamer, for one, says any meaningful turnaround is not going to happen until housing prices bottom out. And when banks and other financial institutions finally figure out exactly what their losses are. It's not like we haven't been through this before. But, somehow, this time it just feels a heck of a lot worse. Given this economic mess, TGIF takes on a whole new meaning. Thankfully, financial markets don't trade on Saturday and Saturday. Our money seems safe for a couple of days. To wrap this up, not sure who churns them out, but I'm thinking of buying stock in the company that makes TUMS.  I think we all need something to settle the stomach for a while, don't you think?

Return of The Challenge

By Scott Feldman

It's that time of year again. We're gearing up for the 12th season of "The Challenge" on News 12 Long Island.  And this year, the Long Island competition is expanding to 64 schools. 

Our season premiere weekend is Saturday & Sunday, November 8 & 9. A new show will be airing every Saturday (Nassau schools) and every Sunday (Suffolk schools) each week. My producers e-mailed me the other day saying to expect a special delivery package. It's every game for the year with thousands of questions and answers. So, I'll be busy evenings at home reviewing them, including pronunciations.

Thankfully, I've got a dictionary CD that speaks ! I really appreciate all of your kind comments about the program. Yes, I'm the "face" of The Challenge. But, it is dozens of people behind the scenes who  make the show as good as it is. And believe me, make my job so much easier. It is truly a team effort. Now, throughout the season if you'd like to check out more about The Challenge, including weekly results and standings, just go to http://www.powertolearn.com/challenge/li/index.shtml

Looking forward to having you join us every Saturday and Sunday night at 6:30pm and 9:30pm!  Are you up to The Challenge?

Gardens of Remembrance

by Scott Feldman

Wednesday morning, April 10. As I stepped out of the news car at the Dennison Building in Hauppauge, I couldn't help but thinking how much the day was like that infamous day 7 years before. The air was crisp and clean. The sky, bright blue and virtually cloudless.

News 12 was there to cover the ceremonial groundbreaking of a Suffolk memorial to the 180 county residents who lost their lives on September 11. From the architectural sketch, the memorial looks to be magnificent and a beautiful tribute to those who perished in the terror attack on the World Trade Center. Manhattan architects Barry Silberstrang and Barry David Berger have created an inaccesible wild-growing garden that will be surrounded on four sides by glass panels. Each panel will be inscribed with the name and biographical information about a Trade Center victim along with a holigram portrait. 

In talking to some of the family members gathered where the memorial will be located, the lawn between the Dennison parking lot and Veterans Memorial Highway, it is clear that this memorial will be the place they come to remember their loved ones, not the World Trade Center site where construction has really just begun. Going to Lower Manhattan, they tell me, would be too painful.  Emotionally, it will be easier for them to travel from their home in the county to the Suffolk memorial than trek 50 miles into New York City.

I'm told actual groundbreaking on the Suffolk 9/11 memorial will happen in the next four to six weeks. And Suffolk Executive Steve Levy seems confident it will be completed by next September, the 8th anniversary of the attacks. I look forward to going there. As I'm certain, every other Long Islander will too.

The Interview

by Scott Feldman

It was September 22, 1987. Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was chairing the nationally broadcast Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings on Judge Robert H. Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court. But there was another controversy brewing, aside from Ronald Reagan's hotly debated selection of Bork. The 44-year-old Biden was running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. And it had just been revealed by the New York Times and the Des Moines Register that Biden had lifted, without attribution, sizable portions of a speech by British Labor Party leader, Neil Kinnock. It was also reported that he had done much the same thing with speeches of Robert F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey. And had been discplined as a first-year law student involving a law review article.

Well, as you can imagine, everybody in the media wanted to get to Biden. But, while he was in the Bork hearings, he was off limits. At the time, I was a Capitol Hill and White House correspondent for TV stations around the country. Our Charleston, S.C. CBS affiliate wanted an interview with the state's senior Senator, 84 year old Strom Thurmond. He was the committee's ranking Republican and its former chairman. My photographer and I were told to meet Thurmond in a side hallway. When the committee took a break, Thurmond appeared as promised. And just as we finished our interview, Joe Biden appeared. He was headed to the men's room. Out of ear shot of a Capitol Hill police officer, I told my cameraman to stall. Pretend as if something was wrong with the gear . Biden walked out of the rest room within a few feet of me. "Senator Biden, I asked, do you have a quick second?" I posed the question everybody had been clamoring to ask him for the past 10 days. "Are you staying in the race, or not?" He spoke to me for at least five minutes and ended by saying he was headed home(on the train to Wilmington) to talk things over with his family. I raced back to my bureau. The interview was fed to ABC, NBC, CBS. And the Biden scoop led their evening news.

Fast forward to Thursday, two days later. "I made some mistakes," said Biden. At a packed news conference,  with his wife, Jill, at his side, Biden dropped out of the race for President. As reported that day in the New York Times, he told everyone in the room, "there will be other Presidential campaigns, and I'll be there, out front." And twenty one years later, so he is. As Barack Obama's running mate. The 2008 election for the White House, just 9 weeks from today.    

Up, Up and Away

by Scott Feldman

Looking for a really fun and exciting activity for the holiday weekend? It's as close as the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. They've got a wonderful hangar full of vintage military planes and exhibits. And, if you'd like to go airborne, check this out. You can hitch a ride in a B-17 or B-24 for $425, tax deductible. If you are willing to really splurge, how about a half hour in a P-51 Mustang fighter for $2,220. An hour will cost you $3,300, also tax deductible. Admission to the Airpower Museum is 15 dollars for adults. Seniors and veterans, $10. Children 5 to 13, $5. The museum is open from 9 to 5pm.

I was at the museum on Friday for a story on Dr. Roscoe Brown, who makes his summer home in Sag Harbor. He's 86 years old. And a former Tuskegee Airman. Dr. Brown, a former college president and professor, got to co-pilot a P-51 Mustang fighter, the same kind of plane his famed squadron flew during World War II, as they protected B-17 bombers over Berlin in 1945. Brown flew 86 missions and shot down two German jets. The Tuskegee Airman were groundbreaking black aviators with an outstanding record of never having lost a single bomber they were assigned to. Dr. Brown told me, "by our excellence, we changed the hearts and minds of men. Just the way Martin Luther King Junior did and Barack Obama is doing today."

It's a Bargain

by Scott Feldman

Tired of paying high prices for clothes?  Have you ever thought of going to a thrift store? College students have been going to them for years to find funky things to wear. But, thrift stores also have on their racks the latest designs you'd find right down the street at the mall at the big retailers. And, now, with those big retailers struggling because of a slumping economy, thrift stores, like Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army are thriving. And crowding the aisles, more middle-class families trying to juggle their checkbooks because of high food and gas prices and wondering how they're going to pay their mortgage.

At the Goodwill store in Centereach, I met Ben. He's got his own masonry business. But he tells me this year has been terrible. So, he's working a second job as a chef to make ends meet. And there's Kathryn. She's 80 years old and on a fixed income. She says she really can't afford to buy clothes anywhere else.

I was in the store on a week day morning. It is sure to be crowded this weekend right before a new school year starts. Goodwill has ridiculously good buys on kid's clothes and back-to-school supplies.

If you're looking for a Goodwill store in your community, there's an easy way to find it. Just go to www.goodwill.org  The link for Salvation Army is   www.salvationarmy-newyork.org And to locate any thrift store www.local.com

Half a Loaf of Bread

by Scott Feldman

Albany lawmakers are coming home from their special session without giving Long Islanders and other New Yorkers property tax relief.

The Republican-led Senate passed a measure to cap yearly spending increases by schools. The state commission on property tax relief says a 4 percent cap last year would have saved Suffolk residents 650 dollars--24 hundred bucks over the past five years. The savings in Nassau even greater. 900 dollars last year. 33-hundred over 5 years.

The Democrat Assembly's version of tax relief took the form of tax credits. They tout the average household would save $734. The average renter--$250. Their plan would be paid for by a personal income tax increase for annual incomes over $1million. And a new tax bracket for those earning more than $5 million.

So, lets say you're fortunate enough to take home a million bucks a year. You'd pay the state $67,706 plus 7.85 percent of the excess over $1million. So, if you made $2million, you'd be writing a check to the state for an extra $78,500.  If you raked in more than $5million, you'd pay the state  $381,706 plus 8.6% of the excess over $5 million.

Economic analyst Martin Cantor doesn't think much of either tax plan. He says the tax cap is really soft, because voters would be allowed to override the cap and spend more for their schools. And most Long Islanders, two-earner families earning between 125 and 200 thousand dollars, would only get half the average $734 benefit under the Assembly plan.

So, will we get meaningful property tax relief any time soon? Governor Paterson has signaled he'll push aggressively after Labor Day and the political conventions to get lawmakers back to Albany to hammer out a property tax relief package. We shall see. 

Her Final Resting Place

by Scott Feldman

Her only child gave his life for his country. And now, Dorine Kenney wants to be buried with her son at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn. Army Spc. Jacob Fletcher was killed in Iraq in 2003. He was just 11 days shy of his 29th birthday. News 12 Long Island has done numerous stories about Dorine. To honor her son's memory, she started the Jacob's Light Foundation. Using the American Legion hall in Brentwood as a base, she has shipped nearly 200,000 pounds of supplies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. And then, last Friday, from that same hall, she stood with Congressman Steve Israel of Huntington. He's sponsoring legislation that would enable a parent of a veteran to be buried in a national cemetery with their child if that child had no spouse or children.  Israel told me, "Why shouldn't Dorine have piece of mind knowing that when the time comes she will be with him eternally." Under current law, only a soldier's spouse or minor children can be buried with them. Dorine applied for a waiver, but was told no decision would be made before her death.

Another Gold Star mother was at that news conference. Dawn Esposito is the president of the American Gold Star Mothers North Fork Chapter. She's concerned about a diminishing number of burial plots at national cemeteries in the tri-state area. But Congressman Israel says that space has already been reserved. Esposito also says her chapter feels burying parents at national cemeteries would "detract from the honors of what national cemeteries are designed for."

It's certainly a sensitive issue. But Dorine says,"to know that I would be resting with my son, brings me a lot of comfort." We'll keep you posted how this legislation fares in Congress. In the meantime, for more information about the Jacob's Light Foundation, go to http:/www.jacobsprogram.org 

Making a Difference

By Scott Feldman

I was stunned by the news report on the radio. Skip Caray, voice of the Atlanta Braves for 33 years, died in his sleep at home last Sunday. He was 68. I met Skip back in 1967. A St. Louis native, like myself, Skip  was the play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Hawks NBA broadcasting team. I loved listening to Skip. And I had grown up hearing his Hall of Fame broadcaster father, Harry, who was the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper and I was looking for some career advice. Skip agreed to meet with me at halftime of a Hawks game at Kiel Auditorium. He could have used those few minutes  to get something to eat and drink and catch his breath before going back to the broadcasters table at courtside to call the second half of the game. But, graciously, he spent it with me, talking about the radio business and what I could expect once I graduated college. Then, after I went away to the University of Denver, I got a short type-written letter from him. His advice again,  go into news. Sports, I distinctly remember him writing and telling me, would be just too competitive with so many former professional athletes transitioning into broadcasting from the playing field. And that was in the late 60's !  He was certainly right on the money. I did concentrate on news. And don't regret it for a moment. Though it was rewarding to be ESPN's Washington bureau reporter in the mid 80's, while at the same time covering Capitol Hill and the White House for affiliated TV stations around the country.

I have never forgotten how Skip went out of his way to help an aspiring journalist. And ever since, for what it is worth, I happily share my career experiences with others and counsel them when they solicit my advice. A longtime TBS producer Glenn Diamond was quoted in an AP story about Caray, saying, "he had a huge impact on a lot of people's lives and he had a huge impact on my life."  Glenn, that makes two of us.

Whole New Budget Ballgame

by Scott Feldman

Lawmakers in Albany are going to be reopening and reworking the budget book. At a news conference in Manhattan this morning, Governor Paterson said New York is "officially" in recession. And it may not be over any time soon. Budget Director Laura Anglin says New York's recessions have historically lasted 25 months, twice as long as national recessions. So, what's going to be done to right the state's financial ship hard hit by declining revenues from tough times on Wall Street ? Paterson has ordered a hiring freeze for the state's workforce and an additional 7 percent cut of spending from state agency budgets. Paterson says that would save $630 million dollars. As for the legislature's part, the Governor wants them to find another $600 million dollars in savings. Asked whether there would be cuts to school aid, Paterson says "nothing is off the table right now, we'll be talking to school boards, unions, parents, everyone involved in the school process to see where we stand there." Asked about a tax hike, Paterson said, "only as a last resort." So, Albany lawmakers head back for a special emergency economic session on August 19th. In addition to trimming 1.2 billion from the budget, the Governor will also be asking lawmakers to spend money. Millions in grants for home heating assistance for the poor this winter. And he wants a cap on yearly increases in school taxes. Says Paterson, "we're all going to have to feel some pain, but the sooner we address it, the sooner we can recover from it." To dig into more of the nitty-gritty of the budget process, just go to www.ny.gov/governor/press

Suozz's New Campaign

by Scott Feldman

Tom Suozzi was on a conference call with reporters around the state this week. Nassau's County Executive chairs a state commission on property tax relief. And Thursday he kicked off a campaign to convince state lawmakers to approve a measure that would cap school taxes.

                 The new Senate leader, Dean Skelos from Rockville Centre, is ready to call his members back in a special session to pass a tax cap bill. Governor David Paterson is also on board with the plan. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver tells News 12, "I support a property tax cap, but only if the resources are in place to insure that every child in NYS receives a quality education." The powerful NYS United Teachers union calls the tax cap "a gimmick" that would "damage educational programs and widen the achievement gap." They favor a "circuit breaker" approach which would hold property taxes to a percentage of a New Yorkers household income.

Suozzi tells me the circuit breaker is part of the plan. But you have to start first with the tax cap.  So, what's the financial impact for Long Islanders? If a tax cap were in place in Suffolk, a homeowner would have saved 650 dollars last year. 24 hundred dollars over the past five years. There would have been a bigger savings for Nassau homeowners. 900 bucks last year. 3300 dollars over 5 years.

Senator Skelos has indicated he is ready to bring the tax cap measure to his members for a vote in a special session next month. Suozzi is hopeful Speaker Silver can be convinced to do the same between now and election day. Long Islanders will be watching to see what direction their lawmakers take.   

Housing Rescue Plan

by Scott Feldman

It looks like Washington to the rescue for thousands of Long Islanders trapped in mortgages they can't afford on homes that have plunged in value. Cynics say he's only doing it because it is an election year and the Republicans need help, but President Bush is now reversing himself and backing a bill to help struggling homeowners get new, cheaper loans. In a nutshell, a homeowner facing foreclosure would be able to refinance to a more affordable, fixed-rate loan that would be backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Lenders would accept potential big losses on the loans, but at least get some kind of payoff that could offset what is often times a costly foreclosure process. As Dowling College economic scholar Irwin Kellner puts it, "half a loaf of bread is better than nothing." As for homeowners, he thinks it is clearly not going to save everybody. There are some people he says lenders never should have made the loans to in the first place. Nassau's housing and homeless services chief Connie Lassandro tells me she is getting anywhere from 125 to 160 calls a week from people pleading for help who can't pay their mortgages. She's looking for more details on this rescue program, before she's ready to give it her stamp of approval. If you need assistance, you can call Connie's hotline number: 516-572-0858. There is also affordable housing help from the Long Island Housing Partnership. Their website is www.lihp.org

Hit & Run

by Scott Feldman

11 year old Joey Larocca isn't going to the beach this summer. Or playing his favorite sports. And if he wants to hang around with his friends, they're going to have to come to him. A few weeks ago, Joey and a buddy, on bicycles, had just crossed over a walking bridge at Spur Drive North and East Farmingdale Street in Islip Terrace. That's when a commercial van struck Joey. He and his bicycle, got tangled up for a moment, in the van's bumper. But then, the driver and passenger, both men, after briefly stopping, drove away.

Joey's legs are broken. One has pins in it. The other, rods. He spends the day playing Wii games with his younger brother, Gio. And texting friends on a new cell phone. 

Joey's mom, Tracy, told me," I'm very angry, angry and not understanding how they can hit a child, any child for that matter, and leave them there."

Tracy says Joey refuses to talk about the accident. She's not certain whether he knows exactly how it happened. But to show you what this little boy with a great smile and great attitude is all about, Tracy says when she arrived at the scene, it was Joey comforting her. She says, "he kept rubbing my face and telling me mommy, I'm ok, don't cry."

Police think the van may have been working in the area. They describe it as light blue, in poor condition and marked with colorful graffiti. The passenger side window is rectangular and covered with a white, weathered, mesh-like material.

Tracy is pleading with the driver and passenger to come forward, saying, "you've had time to think about it, to know what you have done wrong. Please, just find it in your heart to have some compassion for my son and turn yourself in."

Joey is going to be laid up for another 6 to 8 weeks. Tracy is hopeful he'll be okay. And there will be no complications. For his part, Joey says, "I just want to be healed. I want to be able to run around again and stuff like that, just be a normal kid, again."

If you have any information about this case, Suffolk police want to hear from you. Call their Crimestoppers hotline at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Keeping it Clean

by Scott Feldman

I got a "dirty" story today. I was out in Sayville talking to Peconic Baykeeper Kevin McAllister about designating the South Shore Estuary a federal "no discharge" zone. Right now, it is legal for a boater to dump sewage waste into the water as long as it is treated with chemicals. But is that enough to do the job? McAllister tells me absolutely not. He claims the chemicals themselves are toxic to marine life. And while they may knock out some of the bacteria, what is being dumped is pretty powerful and is bad news for bathers and shellfish beds. McAllister has gotten Southampton, Brookhaven, Islip, Babylon, Oyster Bay to sign on to declare the area a federal "no discharge" zone. Hempstead has a local "no discharge" law. McAllister claims they told him their local law was good enough. But when we contacted the town, they said there was a "miscommunication." They say they are ready to join the other towns. To check out what areas are now in the federal "no discharge" zone in New England, just go to www.epa.gov  We've also got clean boating tips for you from the Peconic Baykeeper http://www.peconicbaykeeper.org  Kevin tells me he is hopeful the new federal designation for our area will be in place by June of 2009.

Mr Clean II

by Scott Feldman

I ran into Alphonse Deck the other day in Islip. He's the 86 year old retired carpenter, who works part-time for the town, sweeping the streets clean every morning. If you saw my feature piece on him, you know he's a real character. Everybody calls him Mr. Clean. And now, he's got a new nickname, courtesy of our profile. I was coming out of Islip Cleaners when Alphonse, broom in hand, said to me, "Oh boy, everywhere I go now, everybody stops me and says, oh the movie star, how are you doing today?" And then he let loose with that big, infectious laugh of his. So, a new star is born courtesy of News 12 Long Island. You never know. You may be next !

He Won't Forget

by Scott Feldman

I'm sure you've seen them. Those black and white battlefield films of U-S soldiers in action. Well, the other day I met a Long Islander who shot them. He was one of the top combat photographers of the Korean War. 77 year old Len Totora, Jr. I caught up with Len at his camera and video store in Huntington. It was the 58th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Photography was Len's first love. And the U-S Army trained him well. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted the best photographers in the military to show him exactly what was happening in Korea, he picked Len. His footage went directly to McArthur to show him how his men were doing and what was needed to defeat the enemy. As Len put it, "It was a little unfair. They were shooting at me with a gun, I was shooting at them with a camera." But then he quickly added, "I was full of you-know-what and vinegar and I had no fear." Len and other combat photographers were saved on more than one occasion by their film cans. They would strap a bunch of them around their necks. In each can, there was a 100 feet of film tightly wound. Len says when they got back from a battle, they discovered bullets in the cans, stopped by the thick film! They didn't even know they had been hit. Len returned home to Long Island with the Bronze Star. And ever since, he has been speaking around the Island to let all who don't know what Korea, known as the Forgotten War, was all about. Len tells me, "It is not the Forgotten War, not as long as I'm alive." If you ever get the chance, stop in to L&L Camera and Video at 267 New York Avenue. Len is quite a guy.   

Mr. Clean

by Scott Feldman

Ever wonder why Main Street in Islip is so clean? There's a good reason for it. You can thank 86 year old Alphonse Deck. I've seen him for years with his broom and pan sweeping up the sidewalks and parking lots. Mr. Deck comes from a small town in France. When Hitler invaded the country, he fled to Switzerland. Later, he would make his way to New York and eventually Long Island. He's been a resident of Islip for over 40 years. He was a carpenter and when he retired -- decided he just couldn't sit at home. So, for the past 12 years, he's been working part-time for the Town of Islip. Half the time keeping Islip clean. The other half, Main Street in Bay Shore. All the merchants in town know him. And, of course, so do many of the residents, like those who see him every morning at Starbucks where he gets his morning cup of coffee before setting off with his broom and pan that he calls his "instruments."

He really has the technique down pat. First, squashing the cup or can with his foot, then quickly sweeping it up. It's really too bad that so many people litter. But, as he told me, "without them, I wouldn't have a job." Mr. Deck has so much energy. And when I remarked about it, he kiddingly said his secret was "a shot of scotch and a little fooling around, on the side." That was followed by an infectious laugh. In fact, he's got a new joke every day for those he meets. And he loves to kid around with people. When they say, how are things? His reply, "things are picking up." And then that laugh. Yes, Alphone admits to getting tired. But after going home for a good night's rest, he says he can't wait to go back again the next morning. Alphonse Deck is Islip's Mr. Clean. If you ever see him, he's tanned with a shock of white hair, broom and dust pan in hand, say hi and thank him. As one resident told me, "it's nice he takes the time to do what we all should be doing in the first place." KIC. Keep Islip Clean.

A Cowardly Act

by Scott Feldman

Veterans, at the Brentwood VFW Hall, are angry and saddened by some recent vandalism. Harold Allen, tells me, "it hurts in the heart to see stuff like this." And Vic Yalowitz, adds, "to me, this is like a synagogue, a church." Four times in the past year, twice in the last couple of weeks, somebody has spray painted the building with graffiti. Suffolk's 3rd precinct was out to take pictures. And from what they can tell, they say it doesn't appear to be gang-related. So, it looks somebody, kids or whomever, for no good reason, are defacing a building where men and women who've served our country, who fought for THEIR freedom, come to spend a few hours to unwind. Every time the white walls have been marred, the vets have to spend a lot of money to have it repainted. They say "it hurts deeply." It's a real "kick in the stomach." The vets are pleading with the vandals, "just stop it, please." If you know anything about this, police would like to hear from you. You can call their hotline at 1-800-220-TIPS. The Vets at Post 6431 will be glad you did.