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Panzenbeck sworn in for a third term By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Roksana Amid/Herald
After Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, center, in black, was sworn in, the City Council held its first session of the year.
The City of Glen Cove began a new term of leadership as Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck was sworn in for a third term during an inauguration ceremony at City Hall that brought together dignitaries, community leaders, first responders and residents. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman administered the oath of office to Panzenbeck, while City Court Judge Joseph Capobianco swore in City Council members Grady Farnan, Danielle Fugazy Scagliola, Michael Ktistakis, Kevin Maccarone, John Perrone and John Zozzaro. The event blended celebration with reflection on Glen Cove’s civic tradition. Former City Court Judge Richard J. McCord spoke about continuity of leadership in the city and the sacrifices required of those who serve in elective CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Gov. Hochul proposes online safety laws for children By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul is unveiling a new series of State of the State proposals focused on protecting children online and addressing what state officials have repeatedly described as a growing youth mental health crisis. The initiatives are designed to strengthen safeguards on social media and online gaming platforms, and to provide teenagers with tools to support one another when mental health challenges arise. Reactions from parents and professionals who work in technology make it clear that many
New Yorkers are already concerned about how digital platforms affect children. Michelle Ng, of Glen Cove, who is expecting her first child in April and works in the technology industry, said her career has shaped her perspective on young people’s use of social media. “As a UX designer and future parent, yes, I completely agree with the plan to restrict social media usage,” she wrote in response to a Facebook survey from the Herald, using industry shorthand for user experience. “When something is free, we (and our kids) are the products.” Ng, who has worked as a
software engineer and a product designer for Fortune 500 companies and startups and now runs her own design studio, added that UX designers are often responsible for making platforms highly engaging. Social media companies, she wrote, compete for user attention because apps are free and “are selling users products and their data to make money which need the users to stay on the apps more.” Hochul’s proposals center on legislation that would shield children from online predators, scammers and harmful artificial intelligence chatbots increasingly embedded in digi-
tal platforms. As well, she is calling for a statewide expansion of Teen Mental Health First Aid, a program that trains adolescents to recognize signs of mental health and substance use issues among their peers and respond appropriately. “As New York’s first mom Governor,” Hochul said in a statement on her website, “the
well-being and safety of our children has always been one of my top priorities, and today we are continuing to break new ground to give our kids the tools and safeguards they need to contend with the unprecedented mental health challenges and real world dangers that can sometimes be a byproduct CONTINUED ON PAGE 9