Where To Find Us Page 3
Thursday, May 21, 2026 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 25 ~ $1.00
LIRR Strike Resolved with Tentative Deal By Matt Meduri The first Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike since 1994 has been resolved, at least for now. The strike began at 12:01a.m. on Saturday when workers of five unions that service the LIRR walked out. The unions involved consist of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union. “We want a fair and equitable contract that keeps us above the cost of living and the rate of inflation so our members can live comfortably on Long Island,” Jim Sokolowski, Assistant General Chair for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, told The Messenger outside the Ronkonkoma LIRR Station on Monday afternoon. Continued on page 4
Strikers picket at the Ronkonkoma station on Monday (Credit - Matt Meduri)
South Country Budget Fails Massively By Matt Meduri Perhaps the most-watched school district for the annual budget elections was that of the South Country Central School District. The contentious lead-up to the election saw Superintendent Antonio Santana resign as the Board of Education (BOE) proposed a budget that, if approved, would have carried a 13.45% tax levy hike. That $150 million budget represented a 2.43% increase from the 2025-2026 school year’s spending plan. While it included contractual step increases for teachers, it would have reduced 41 teaching positions, 8 administrators, and 7.5 non-instructional staff. Continued on page 13
The sign outside Bellport High School (Credit - wikimedia commons, Bellportguy)
FULL STORIES ON:
New Bus Hub Coming to Patchogue Page 10
All School Election Results Pages 12 & 13
Smith Point Bridge Reopens Page 15