Suffolk's top law enforcement official said a seven-month narcotics investigation led to the first seizure in the county of carfentanil, a potentially deadly synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and used to tranquilize large mammals. Michael O'Keeffe reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said yesterday four Long Island residents are accused of selling large amounts of carfentanil, fentanyl and cocaine, criminal sale of controlled substances, weapons charges and other crimes as a result of the probe.
"As hard as it is to believe, carfentanil is even more potent and more lethal than fentanyl," Tierney said in a statement. "The influx of this drug in Suffolk County is alarming and poses a clear and present danger to the public."
John Sims, 40, and Tyeisha Kisswani, 39, both of Freeport, and Robert Day, 65, of Hempstead, were members of a conspiracy that sold "copious quantities" of carfentanil, fentanyl and cocaine on multiple occasions between January and July, Tierney said. Adrian Spooner, 36, of Bay Shore, sold cocaine 12 times during the investigation, including more than a half ounce of the drug on July 17.
Fentanyl is a cheap and deadly synthetic opioid responsible for most of the fatal overdoses on Long Island and nationwide in recent years, officials have said. Carfentanil is often used as a tranquilizing agent for horses, elephants and other large mammals, officials said.
Authorities executed multiple search warrants at multiple locations on Aug. 28, Tierney said. Officials found a loaded .357 revolver, a high-capacity ammunition feeding device, cocaine, U.S. currency, digital scales and packaging materials while executing a search warrant at the home Sims and Kisswani share in Freeport. Kisswani was arrested at the scene and Sims was taken into custody at another location later that day.
Suffolk Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins ordered Sims held without bail at his arraignment in Riverhead on Monday. Sims, who faces 12½ to 25 years in prison, is scheduled to return to court on Nov 14.
The development of logistics centers, last-mile fulfillment centers and truck terminals would be banned in most of Riverhead Town’s industrial areas, under a proposed code amendment unveiled yesterday. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that legislation drafted by town planners and discussed at the Riverhead Town Board work session would define those uses separately from warehouses and prohibit their development in industrial zones. Warehouses — which would be redefined to a use with “limited trucking activity” — could still be developed.
Logistics centers, last-mile fulfillment centers and truck terminals are critical to e-commerce and other distribution industries and are considered warehouses under the current Riverhead Town code.
Concerns about warehouse development…especially the potential for them to bring heavy truck traffic to local roads, has drawn hundreds of residents to public meetings over the last few years. The Town Board, after years of resistance, adopted a six-month long industrial moratorium at the start of this year in a unanimous vote; the board in a split vote extended it for another three months in July.
That led to yesterday’s proposal. Along with banning those truck-heavy uses, the legislation would overhaul the town’s industrial zoning districts and decrease the allowable density of any new industrial development in the Town of Riverhead.
Southamptonfest, the annual fall festival hosted in Southampton Village, will return for its 12th year this weekend.
There will be plenty to see and do for lovers of art, fashion, food, music, and a long list of activities and sights for children as well.
The weekend begins this evening at the Southampton Cultural Center, sponsored by the Southampton Rotary Club. The evening will feature live music, light food and complimentary beer and wine from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a cash bar until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.00 in advance. $45.00 at the door. Contact your favorite Southampton Rotarian for tickets and information.
Saturday’s lineup features live music, with Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks, Charles Certain and Next Level performing in Agawam Park. There will also be a chowder contest, with entries from local restaurants, and several food trucks on hand offering a wide range of culinary options.
The Boys and Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation will also perform a special dance tomorrow. The Rogers Memorial Library will bring the library to the community and distribute free books for adults and teens, as well as answer questions about library services and collections. They will also offer outdoor games. Heart of the Hamptons will provide a children’s scavenger hunt throughout the village, and hayrides will be offered in Agawam Park.
The Southampton Animal Shelter will be on hand with its pet mobile, with dogs and cats looking for a forever home.
AND, Paula Hinck of 88.3 WLIW FM will be there tomorrow, too!
The sponsors of a controversial Suffolk County bill that would cap executive pay at nonprofits contracted by the county are revising parts of the legislation after fellow Republicans expressed apprehension. The bill, sponsored by Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) and Legis. Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), once again came before a public hearing during Tuesday's legislature meeting. The legislature voted 11-6 along party lines to recess the public hearing, which keeps the bill alive and allows for amendments. The next regular meeting is set for Nov. 26. Vera Chinese reports in NEWSDAY that the measure would bar the county from funding nonprofits that pay any employee more than the New York governor’s budgeted annual salary, which currently stands at $250,000. It would also require all nonprofits to list all gifts and donations they receive along with the donors. The restriction would not apply to nonprofit hospital systems or federally qualified health centers such as the Sun River Health system. Several members of the majority Republican caucus, including Nick Caracappa (R-Centereach), James Mazzarella (R-Moriches) and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), said they would not support the bill as it was written in part because it singles out the nonprofit sector. The Democratic caucus remains opposed to the bill. It would need a simple majority of 10 to pass, but it is not clear if it will get that support. Legislation expires if it is not adopted by the end of the year. Meanwhile, about 20 nonprofit representatives once again urged lawmakers to reject the proposal during the second public hearing on the matter this week. Speakers said the proposed law could make it difficult for nonprofits to recruit top talent and have a chilling effect on their willingness to work with the county.
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A woman who served as secretary to the mayor of Southampton Village during the administration of Jesse Warren has filed a lawsuit against Warren and the village, alleging that she was subjected to gender discrimination, harassment, a hostile work environment and retaliation during her time as a village employee and is owed unpaid overtime wages and monetary damages. Brendan J. O’Reilly reports on 27east.com that Miranda Weber took the position in late 2020 and resigned in April 2022, at which time she said she was leaving “on good terms.” But nearly a year after resigning, her attorney sent a demand letter to the Village of Southampton’s labor counsel that detailed her allegations against Warren and the village and claimed she is owed almost $90,000 in outstanding pay. Warren shared that letter with The Southampton Press, an action that Weber’s lawsuit calls “retaliation for raising claims against him.” The lawsuit, which was filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court on September 20, states that Warren “regularly had volatile outbursts, made inappropriate and gendered comments, and encroached on Ms. Weber’s personal life” and “threatened to withhold a promotion and raise unless she capitulated to his various demands.” Weber accuses Southampton Village leadership of being aware of “discriminatory conduct” and failing in their duty to protect her. Due to the “intolerable working conditions,” Weber resigned to protect her “physical and mental health and safety,” according to the lawsuit. It further states that Warren had promised her a payout for overtime at the end of her employment but that she has never received that payment. Current Southampton Mayor Bill Manger said the village is aware of the lawsuit but has yet to be formally served.
Sk8tober, a community celebration and skate contest, will be held at the Greenport Skate Park, 170 Moore’s Lane in Greenport tomorrow from 12 Noon to 5 p.m…the competition hosted by Dan Berkowitz of “How to Skateboards.”
The Greenport Skate Park is a 20,000 square foot concrete-and-wooden outdoor facility located in Greenport, New York. Built in 1998, the park serves as a central recreational outlet for the local community and surrounding townships. Greenport Skate Park welcomes all wheels - boards, scooters, skates, and BMX.
Greenport Skate Park Inc., a 501c3 dedicated to fostering a healthy, more active community, asks you to “Help us revitalize the Greenport Skate Park, which has fallen into disrepair. We are working towards raising the capital necessary to make the critical infrastructure repairs and aesthetic updates that will ensure the safety of current users and attract new users to the park.”
Saturday’s Sk8tober event is from 12 noon to 5pm.
More details are at greenportskatepark.org.
Freshman Republican Rep. Nick LaLota leads Democratic challenger John Avlon by eight percentage points (50%-42%) among likely voters in the race for New York’s 1st Congressional District, according to an internal poll released by the GOP campaign. Boosting LaLota in the competitive race is the presence of former President Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket. Carl Campanile reports in THE NY POST that Trump, 78, leads vice president and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, 59, by six (50%-44%) in the district that stretches from Huntington to Orient and Montauk Point. Democrats are hoping for an upset by Avlon, 51, a former CNN commentator, author, and founder of the centrist group No Labels. But LaLota, 46, a Navy veteran who succeeded longtime Rep. Lee Zeldin in Congress and reported $1.45 million remaining in his campaign treasury, appears to have the upper hand…according to a survey conducted for the LaLota campaign Sept. 26-29 which has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.9 percentage points. “The positive feedback I receive from constituents, confirmed by our latest polling, shows that Suffolk County families want a common-sense conservative and lifelong Long Islander to tackle issues at the border, strengthen the economy, and lead on world issues,” LaLota said. Avlon’s campaign dismissed the poll and claimed the Republican would be in for a shock Nov. 5. “Nick LaLota’s campaign is setting themselves up for heartbreak in November by rushing out a poll as it becomes clear that John Avlon has a cash and enthusiasm advantage in the last month of the race,” said the Democrat’s campaign manager, Bryan Sokolowski. The Avlon campaign said the candidate had raised $2.5 million between his two campaign committees and will have a cash advantage during the final stretch of the campaign. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has added Avlon to its “Red to Blue” program, indicating the party is making flipping the eastern Suffolk seat a top priority.
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