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BaBylon _______________
HERALD BEaCon
Also serving Babylon, Bay Shore, Copiague, Deer Park, Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip and Wyandanch
Mark Donnelly named LIBOR prez
Nancy Leftenant-Colon of Amityville dies, 104
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VOL. 75 NO. 6
FEBRUARY 6-12, 2025
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Babylon Village Board bans sales of firearms.
fireworks, ammunition
whatever we can to protect our children and residents.” She No one will be able to carry noted that the village has the or sell firearms, ammunition, jurisdiction to decide whether fireworks or other explosives in this kind of business belongs the Village of Babylon, accord- in the village. And she added ing to a new law approved by that other municipalities allow these stores in their business the Village Board last week. Local Law, Chapter 117, en- districts, so those interested in opening such a busititled Firearm Use ness can go other and Sales, provided places. a limited exception Manuel Alarcon, for the twice-yearly treasurer of Caribou gun shows held at Rifle Pistol Club in the American LeNorth Babylon said gion Hall in Babythat his business is lon. a competitive shoot“For safety reaing club that focuses sons, I think this on education and he is a good policy,” FRANK SEIBERT believes that the law said Deputy Mayor Deputy Mayor will take away free Frank Seibert. enterprise. But others dis“More and more agreed. Vito Carillo of Rockville Cen- villages are going to prohibit tre said he didn’t understand these stores and keep people why the village would be threat- from opening these stores,” he ened by a gun store opening be- said. “I believe that this law cause there are so many laws in would prohibit competitive place for those purchasing and shooters and I don’t understand why gun owners need to be reselling firearms. Mayor Mary Adams replied, stricted.” The sale of firearms is proreferencing a marijuana shop that opened on Deer Park Av- hibited by law anywhere in enue, saying there were issues New York State, which also has with people selling behind the some of the strictest fireworks laws in the country, allowing store. “We’re only 2 ½ square miles only for the sale and use of cerhere, and the one thing we care tain types of sparkling devices about in this village is quality for limited periods around cerof life,” said Adams. “We have tain holidays, such as Indepen. a small downtown, children, dence Day and New Year’s Eve. activities, and we’re going to do CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD
cbabirad@liherald.com
Photo Credit/Metro Creative Connection
Proposed measure would give schools the option to opt out of state’s zero-emissions bus measure.
Bill would allow local school districts to opt-out of electric bus mandate By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Assemblymen Keith Brown and Michael Durso, both Republicans, are co-sponsoring a bill that would allow local school districts to opt out of a new state law mandating the transition to electric school buses. The lawmakers argue that the measure, which requires districts to replace diesel buses with zero-emission models, presents significant energy and cost-related challenges. At a news conference on January 28, Brown (12th AD) and Durso (9th AD) introduced the proposed bill that, if passed, would give school districts the option to apply for a waiver from the state’s commissioner of education, allowing them to bypass certain zero-emission bus requirements. Under current law, starting in 2027, school districts in New York will be required to purchase electric school buses to replace traditional diesel models. The
state offers transportation aid as partial reimbursement for bus purchases, but the new measure has raised concerns about its affordability. A group of Republican state senators sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, expressing concerns over the high costs of electric buses. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the average new electric school bus costs approximately $400,000, compared to about $130,000 for traditional diesel buses. However, in a statement to the press, Hochul defended the initiative, stating, “It is not enough to encourage New Yorkers to buy electric—we must build green infrastructure that will drive New Yorkers to choose cleaner and greener modes of transportation.” The push for electric school buses is part of New York’s broader environmental goal of reaching 850,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2025, with plans for all new passenger vehicles to be electric by 2035. Critics of the mandate argue that electric CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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or safety reasons, I think this is a good policy.