CiNcO dE dE mAyO mAyO CiNcO SuNdAy MaY 5 2024 Thursday, May 2, 2024 ~ Volume 136 ~ Issue Number 24 ~ $1.00
RFK Holds Rally in Holbrook
Credit - Matt Meduri
Presidential Candidate
By Matt Meduri Americans are rarely treated to strong third-party bids for President, and Suffolk County is even more rarely treated to visits from presidential candidates. Suffolk residents got the best of both worlds on Sunday afternoon as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., (RFK) stumped in Holbrook not only in his Independent bid for president, but also to obtain ballot access in New York. In order to obtain ballot access, political candidates of any party or affiliation must obtain enough signatures from residents of a state, district, or municipality where they intend to run. Independents often have a much more difficult time obtaining ballot access, as they lack a political machine behind them, as well as the benefit of a more partisan national environment than that of yesteryear. The last strong thirdparty presidential candidacies were run by Ross Perot (I-TX) in 1992 and 1996. Continued on page 10
Mattera Discusses the Budget’s Effects on the Second Senate District
By Matt Meduri
With the State budget finalized, residents and elected officials alike are dealing with the effects on their districts. Perhaps the most discussed target in the Albany crosshairs were school districts across the state, with those on Long Island initially slated to lose nearly $170 million in State funding. Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) initial budget proposal including reduction in State aid to districts to be more in line with reduction in population. She also attempted to amend the formula behind New York’s “hold harmless” provision, a mechanism that ensures school districts don’t receive annual reductions in State aid. The Governor’s proposed changes included a factoring of inflation over the last ten years. The Messenger sat down with Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) to discuss the effects of the budget on his SmithtownHuntington-based district. “Due to efforts to speak out to Governor Hochul, all our schools were able to get their full Foundation Aid restored,” says Mattera. “Thanks to the joint efforts of all interested parties who recognized the damage Governor Hochul’s cuts would cause, we recovered over $3.6 million for schools in the Second Senate District alone.” Continued on page 3
FULL STORIES ON:
New Column: The Romaine Report Page 5
Charges on Infant’s Near-Fatal Overdose Page 17
Ducks Win Home Opener Page 24