READER OF THE WEEK IS GRACE REILLY LINDEN OF AMITYVILLE
Pets, Pets, Pets... by Joanne Anderson
Kyndal Chandler wins WC scholarship Page 2 Vol. 120, No. 31
WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2024
Keeping students focused this summer Page 9
www.amityvillerecord.com
Weekly Pet Column Page 12 50 CENTS
Amity homeowner’s lawsuit over roofline variance gets tossed
Babylon Town hosted the 17th Annual Soldier Ride to benefit the Wounded Warrior organization. Shown are NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso, Taylor Durso, Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Walter E. Piatt, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, and Dominic Bencivenga, Trustee of the Village of Babylon. See story and photos Page 3
Babylon’s IDA projects produce strong economic benefits: recent New York State report The Babylon Town Industrial Development Agency (IDA) had 173 active projects in 2022 with a total value of $1.75 billion and created 7,500 new jobs in the town, according to a report released last week by NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "The Comptroller's report underscores the critical role IDAs play in fostering economic growth,” said Tom Dolan, CEO of the Babylon IDA. “We are committed to continuing our efforts in attracting and supporting businesses that bring valuable jobs and opportunities to our community while ensuring accountability and transparency in our operations." The 173 active projects benefited from $39.4 million in tax exemptions and $22.2 million in PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes}, resulting in a net tax exemption of $17.2 million. The IDA’s efforts have retained 7,156 jobs while adding more than 6,200 positions. Before the IDA's involvement, there were an estimated 7,156 full-time equivalent jobs; that has increased to 15,200, the report noted. Statewide, the IDAs supported 4,320 active proj-
ects in 2022, with a record total value of $132 billion, marking a $5 billion increase from 2021. The projects are projected to create over 213,000 jobs and retain an additional 224,000 positions. IDA projects collectively received nearly $2 billion in tax exemptions, with property tax exemptions comprising $1.7 billion of this total. PILOTs amounted to approximately $854 million, resulting in net tax exemptions of about $1.1 billion. Downstate regions, including Long Island, accounted for a significant portion of these net tax exemptions, demonstrating the high level of economic activity and investment facilitated by IDAs in these areas. “This agency remains dedicated to enhancing the local economy by supporting sustainable projects that meet the needs of our community and grow our future tax base,” Dolan added. For more information on the Babylon IDA, go to https://babylonida.org/
By Carolyn James A lawsuit filed against the Village of Amityville by a resident fighting over an expanded house roofline has been thrown out of court. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Pamela K. Chen holds that the homeowner’s claim that the village used “selective enforcement” against him to make him comply with zoning and building codes on the roofline height was unfounded. “Where the plaintiff claims to have been treated unfairly in a zoning/building context, he must plead specific examples of applications and hearings that were similar to (his) application and demonstrative of the disparate treatment alleges,” the ruling stated. “Plaintiff has not done so here. Instead, he merely alleges that at least five variances for the same, if not greater, roof height had been approved for others similarly situated.” For his part, VinU.S. District Court Judge cent Franco Pamela K. Chen III claimed in his lawsuit that the Amityville Village zoning board didn’t like that he supported former President Donald Trump with signs on his house and that the Village used “selective enforcement” by refusing to grant him a second variance while other homeowners were granted the same or similar relief. Steve Stern of Sokoloff Stern LLP of Carle Place, who represented the Village in the lawsuit, said that the court agreed that the plaintiff ’s position lacked sufficient proof to move forward. “The legal allegations did not even pass muster to be (Continued on Page 6)
Allegations not supported by evidence