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The Long Island Daily

The Long Island Daily

Written by: WLIW-FM
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 The Long Island Daily, formerly Long Island Morning Edition, with host Michael Mackey provides regional news stories and special features that speak to the body politic, the pulse of our planet, and the marketplace of life.Copyright 2026 WLIW-FM Politics & Government
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  • MTA lead negotiator says deal to avoid strike is within reach

    MTA lead negotiator says deal to avoid strike is within reach
    May 14 2026
    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lead negotiator said yesterday a deal to avoid a commute-crippling Long Island Rail Road strike was within reach, as the transit agency put a $134 million offer on the table that would pay workers "all of the money that was requested," and that the unions have budged from their previous demands.The MTA, however, is relying on a lump-sum payment to meet some of the unions' demands. A union source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, said the unions would not accept a deal made up of a one-time payment.Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that progress in the talks, acknowledged by both the MTA and the unions representing about half of the LIRR’s 7,000-member organized labor force, came as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged both sides to "find a middle ground" to avoid disrupting the commutes of 270,000 daily railroad riders. A strike could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. this Saturday if no deal is reached.Following a Manhattan bargaining session, MTA chief negotiator Gary Dellaverson offered new details of management’s latest offer at a news conference at the authority's headquarters. He said the compensation package worth — $133,788,000 — is "the exact same amount" as a proposal recommended by White House mediators.That recommended settlement would have paid workers 4.5% raises in the fourth year of their contract. The unions have demanded 5%, but Dellaverson said the unions, for the first time in recent negotiations, "actually made a move" at Wednesday’s bargaining session."All of the money that was requested is now on the table," Dellaverson said. "I believe firmly that a deal is present. It’s available. It’s doable. And we should reach it tomorrow."In the event of a strike, the MTA is encouraging commuters to work from home if possible. Those who can’t will have to drive to work or rely on limited public transportation options, including shuttle buses running between six locations on Long Island and two subway stations in Queens.***The public will get its first look this morning at long-anticipated plans for the Petrocelli hotel proposed for the Riverhead town square.Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Riverhead Town Board members are expected to review plans for a 94-room hotel filed by J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC at today’s work session at 10 a.m. in Riverhead Town Hall.The application calls for construction of a five-story, 69,738-square-foot hotel building at 117–127 E. Main St., adjacent to the planned town square and East End Arts campus. Plans submitted to the town show the project would include a 116-seat restaurant with bar and outdoor terrace overlooking the riverfront, a coffee shop, nearly 2,900 square feet of retail space, hotel lounge and fitness facilities and 94 guest rooms, including 14 fifth-floor suites with balconies or terraces.The “Peconic River Hotel” proposal replaces an earlier concept reviewed during the town’s downtown revitalization environmental review process that included 76 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units.The plan represents one of the most significant vertical development projects tied to the town’s broader downtown redevelopment initiative, which includes construction of a new public town square, flood mitigation improvements and a planned parking garage.Among the most significant are questions involving sewer and water system capacity.Parking and traffic operations are also expected to be key discussion points during this morning’s Riverhead Town Board work session.***The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Southold Flotilla holds its annual National Safe Boating Week event in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this coming Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities to promote safety on the water will include paddlecraft & safety equipment, knot tying, and life ring toss. Free vessel safety checks will be given on the water in Greenport Harbor.Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that U.S. Coast Guard statistics show drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2024, and that 87 percent of those who drowned were NOT wearing life jackets.The NY State Annual Report reflects that the most common cause of accidents is collision between boats. “With over 60,0000 registered recreational vessels in Suffolk County, boaters must be constantly aware of what is happening,” said Andrew Tarantino, Division Commander, Eastern Long Island. “Auxiliary safety classes point out the changes in the laws, as well as best practices to keep boating safe and fun.” Learn more as the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates Safe Boating Week in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.***Tired of delay, an Amagansett property owner has sued the East Hampton Town Building Department after five months of waiting for a building permit to construct a house on Bendigo ...
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    10 mins
  • Trump war with Iran causes daily expenses to rise significantly for Long Islanders

    Trump war with Iran causes daily expenses to rise significantly for Long Islanders
    May 13 2026
    A potential Long Island Rail Road strike could have a “catastrophic” impact on local economy and employees’ ability to get to work sites, shops and offices. The region could see a daily loss of $70 million in economic activity, according to past analysis adjusted for inflation. Local employers, both large and small said they are weighing contingency plans on how to get employees to job sites.Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that the Long Island Rail Road transports more than 270,000 weekday riders each day, and a strike would disrupt the local economy and create ripple effects on businesses that rely on rail access, business leaders and economists said. Businesses, from restaurants and hospitals to retail, construction and tourism, could stand to lose tens of millions in economic activity, experts said.“The LIRR is an economic lifeline for Long Island and a critical artery for the entire downstate economy,” said Stacey I. Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group. “A strike could create immediate disruptions for hundreds of thousands of commuters and employees.”Steven Kent, chief economist for the Long Island Association said, “We on Long Island have not experienced this kind of disruption for a very long time,” said Kent, an associate professor of economics at Molloy University’s School of Business. The LIRR last went on strike in June 1994. The next LIRR strike could start this coming Saturday at 12:01 a.m.While businesses in certain professional services, such as accounting, the legal field, or IT support, have tools in place for remote work following the pandemic, many industries, including construction and retail don't, Kent said. Many workers will still need to travel within Long Island or to the city "whether the railroad is working or not."As a result, Long Island's highways may become even more gridlocked, leading to lost productivity even for businesses with local staff, Kent said. Kristen Porciello, vice president of operations at the Hotel Indigo in Riverhead said the loss of any modes of transportation ahead of Memorial Day weekend posed a risk to hotel stays. Industry officials said it could also slow the collection of hotel and motel taxes.“This is our busy season. This is the season that people come out for,” Porciello said. “Anything that could stop that could hurt bookings.”***Gasoline prices on Long Island and in the metropolitan area overall rose a whopping 33.9% last month compared with a year ago as the war with Iran continued to disrupt oil production and transportation.That was the fastest rate in nearly four years — and followed March’s 18.2% increase in the cost of gas.James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that the surge in pump prices led to higher inflation overall in the metro area and nationwide last month with the consumer price index rising at its quickest pace in three years. The index was released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.The acceleration of war with Iran which began Feb. 28, has reversed the year-over-year decline in the cost of gas seen in January and February, as well as in much of 2025.Prices on Long Island have continued to climb this month. The average price of a gallon of unleaded was $4.53 yesterday, up from $4.35 on May 1, according to AAA.Economists predicted more of the same at least in the short term, with some saying inflation will peak next month."Shoppers face a costly summer ahead," said John A. Rizzo, an economist and Stony Brook University professor, adding the higher gas prices coincide with the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported goods."Businesses are passing on the import taxes directly to customers. At the same time, high oil prices and summer gas fees are making it pricier to ship food and store goods," which leads to increases in retail prices, Rizzo said.The overall consumer price index for the 25-county region, including Long Island, rose 4.6% last month compared with April 2025. That was the fastest pace in three years.***Riverhead High School’s honor music students returned home from Philadelphia with some of the top honors awarded at the Music in the Parks festival earlier this month. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the R.H.S. wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, chamber orchestra and chamber choir all earned superior ratings at the regional competition, with the wind ensemble and jazz ensemble each being named best overall in their categories.The wind ensemble captured first place and Best Overall Concert Band, while the jazz ensemble earned first place and Best Overall Jazz Ensemble honors. The chamber orchestra also took first place with a superior rating, and the chamber choir earned second place with a superior rating.Two Riverhead High School students also received individual recognition for their performances. Senior Christian Seymour was named Best Overall Jazz Soloist and junior Jarell Gilliam earned Best Overall ...
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    10 mins
  • Gov. Hochul says she's committed to help prevent LIRR strike

    Gov. Hochul says she's committed to help prevent LIRR strike
    May 12 2026
    Every day on average, half a million vehicles cross the Queens-Nassau border on the region's major highways — the Long Island Expressway, the Northern State and Southern State parkways.Peter Gill and Alfonso A. Castillo report in NEWSDAY that shutting down the Long Island Rail Road, if a possible strike becomes a reality this coming Saturday, and sending at least a portion of the 270,000 daily weekday riders to their cars is expected to put a serious strain on roadways connecting Long Island and the city.Robert Sinclair, of AAA Northeast, said the strike has the potential to make roadways between the city and Long Island "extremely crowded.""All the roads going west are [already] jammed during a normal rush hour — and this is going to be extremely abnormal," he said.Commuters and transportation experts see a potential gridlock situation. However, they say, the impact can be difficult to predict and could be less severe if people adjust commute times, to avoid peak rush hour, or work from home.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s strategy to survive a potential LIRR strike next week relies on most commuters working from home, and those who can’t making do with limited options to get between New York City and Long Island, including buses and their own cars.The MTA will have shuttle buses going from six LIRR stations — including Bay Shore, Huntington, and Ronkonkoma in Suffolk to and from Queens locations.MTA chief financial officer Jai Patel said between 165 and 275 buses could be secured for the contingency plan, costing the MTA $325,000 to $550,000 per day.Still, MTA officials have acknowledged the shuttles won’t be able to accommodate all riders of the busiest commuter railroad in North America, so they have been encouraging employers to allow workers to telecommute.***Gov. Kathy Hochul said yesterday she’s committed to getting LIRR workers a "deal that is going to prevent a strike" just five days away.Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that Governor Hochul, in Manhattan Monday, said she and her team are "immersed in the details" of the ongoing labor negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions representing nearly 3,500 LIRR workers. If unresolved, the unions have said they will go on strike beginning Saturday, shutting down the nation’s largest commuter railroad and displacing about 270,000 daily riders."I am involved," said Hochul, who oversees the MTA and appoints many of its board members. "We just want to make sure that New York is affordable for everyone and make sure, as they negotiate, that they get the deal that is going to prevent a strike. I’m committed to that."After failing to reach a deal at a pair of negotiating sessions last week, both sides returned to the bargaining table in Bethpage yesterday for negotiations overseen by the National Mediation Board.A union coalition spokesman said Monday's bargaining session ended with no settlement and little progress made. He said both sides are set to meet again Wednesday.In a statement, the MTA said it made "a revised proposal" during yesterday's talks, but offered no details of the latest offer.Yesterday, Michael Sullivan, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said the MTA strategy is to "deflect, distort, dither and denigrate" even as the strike date grows nearer."It’s time for management to get serious about negotiating wages," Sullivan said in a statement.Hochul said among the issues her office is tracking is "what can be afforded" and "what sets the pattern for other unions."***New York Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed incumbent East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez in her ongoing Democratic primary race with challenger Jerry Larsen, the mayor of East Hampton Village, according to a release sent out by East Hampton Democrats. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Burke-Gonzalez and Larsen have been locked in a heated contest for the Democratic Party ballot line, the winner of which will be decided in the primary election on June 23. Since the local Republican Party has not put forth a candidate for East Hampton Town supervisor ahead of the filing deadlines for the November election, the winner of this year’s primary will have a straight shot at the town’s top office.Intrigue has surrounded the race from the outset, as Larsen has challenged the established local Democratic Party by backing a separate slate of candidates for seats on the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee and drawn the ire of Suffolk County Democratic Committee officials.Governor Hochul’s announcement yesterday endorsing Kathee Burke-Gonzalez stated in part, “Kathee knows how to work with partners at every level of government and bring resources home for the people she serves…I’m excited to keep working with Kathee to build on that progress and deliver even more for East Hampton and for New York.”***The man who was shot and killed by Southampton Town Police ...
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    10 mins
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