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Thursday, August 20, 2026 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 38 ~ $1.00
Siena College Finds Hochul +10 in Shock Poll By Matt Meduri The Siena College has long been considered an A-rated pollster for state and national races. They’ve also tracked consistent and generous leads for Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) on her quest for a second full term. Siena College’s latest August poll finds Hochul with her slimmest lead yet in their surveys - a ten-point lead over Blakeman. Among likely voters, Hochul leads Blakeman 49%-39%; among registered voters, 52%-32%. In December, she was found to lead Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach) by +25. In February, that lead grew to +26, followed by +20 in March, +13 in April, +16 in May, and +20 in June. Alongside the fluctuations in her leads over Blakeman, Hochul’s favorability and approval ratings have moved more or less parallel to each other. She’s reached peaks closer to +10, but has also been found treading water on the negative side. Continued on page 4
Bruce Blakeman (Credit - Matt Meduri) and Hochul (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Officials Decry Graffiti on Proposed Islamic Center in Shirley By Matt Meduri
The Islamic Center at Mastic-Shirley (ICMS) is a proposed site on William Floyd Parkway set to offer daily prayer, Islamic education, weddings, community outreach, and social obligations. The original center, also known as the Masjid Umar Bin Khattaab, was founded in 2002. The new center was approved in November 2024, followed by the groundbreaking on June 14, 2026. The 34,000-square-foot center is expected to be Long Island’s second-largest mosque, behind Melville’s 45,000-square-foot complex. Officials on Monday decried hateful graffiti spray painted on the banner of the construction site. “We do not discriminate against people on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, or anything else,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “We respect religious freedom in this country.” Continued on page 10
FULL STORIES ON:
Port Jeff Welcomes New Asst. Principal Page 12
Town Retains Top Bond Rating Page 13
Bayport-Blue Point Welcomes New Leaders Page 15
The current, two-story Islamic Center across the street from the construction site (Credit - Matt Meduri)