Brown Slams Liberty New York Water for Unfair, Unethical Business Practices

Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) recently wrote a letter to Liberty New York Water calling it out for deceptive billing practices, steep and misleading rate hikes totaling over 43% in less than two years and aggressive enforcement of backflow and irrigation compliance that has left seniors and families facing threats of shutoffs over simple paperwork disputes. He also cites faulty meter installations and non-transparent billing that prevent customers from understanding charges. Brown is demanding immediate action, including a full audit of rate increases, clear line-item billing, suspension of unfair enforcement, protection from water shutoffs for good-faith customers and refunds where overcharges occurred.

“At a time when Long Islanders are seeing their cost of living rapidly increase, Liberty New York Water is adding insult to injury by profiting off of unfair business practices,” said Brown. “Liberty New York has displayed a concerning pattern of inconsistent explanations, aggressive enforcement tactics, and a lack of transparency that is completely unacceptable. Increasing rates by over 40% in the last two years on working families isn’t simply inconvenient; it’s unethical. What was once a trusted utility provider has now completely eroded the public’s faith in its ability to provide services fairly. I will do everything within my power to bring down these costs for Long Islanders and make sure New York Water is held accountable for its actions.”

{ZOA Files Complaint Against Massachusetts’ Largest Teachers Union For Engaging In And Fueling Antisemitism

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has filed a 26-page complaint with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell alleging that the 117,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) has created and fostered a hostile and discriminatory environment toward Jewish members in violation of their civil rights. The filing, supported by Jewish educators in the union—who have themselves made many unsuccessful efforts to address these problems—urges the Attorney General to immediately investigate the antisemitic and anti-Israel conduct the union has been engaging in since the Hamas attack on Israel nearly two years ago, and to bring a civil action against the MTA to enforce and restore Jewish members’ civil rights.

“Since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, the MTA has strayed from its mission by engaging in and fueling antisemitism,” said ZOA National President Morton A. Klein. “Instead of dedicating itself to improving educators’ workplace conditions and quality of life, the union has been so fixated on attacking Israel and denying the Jewish people’s connection to their ancestral homeland that many of its Jewish dues-paying members feel unwelcome and even unsafe in the union. For almost two years, the MTA has been fueling such hatred of Israel and Jews that some Jewish educators have left the union, and others are considering leaving.”

“The ZOA’s complaint gives the Attorney General more than enough evidence to finally put a stop to the bigotry and discrimination promoted by the MTA which many Jewish educators have courageously been battling on their own,” said ZOA Center for Law and Justice Director Susan B. Tuchman. “The MTA is obligated to represent all its members fairly, including those who are Jewish and support Israel. We are counting on the Attorney General to exercise her authority and seek an end to the MTA’s hostility and discrimination, which has inspired intimidation and outright fear in some Jewish members. Jewish educators are entitled to fair, safe, and equal treatment in the union that claims to represent them.”

Backed by Jewish union members, the ZOA’s complaint documents the MTA’s hateful and discriminatory conduct, including:

• Passing multiple resolutions that demonize Israel with falsehoods, while failing to condemn or even acknowledge Hamas’ terror attack, its victims, or the hostages still held by Hamas nearly two years later.
• Sponsoring speakers and programs that question Jewish ties to Israel and misrepresent and vilify Zionism, including speakers who express support for extremist antisemitic organizations.
• Furnishing curriculum resources for teachers to use in their classrooms that contain antisemitic imagery and messaging, including images of the Star of David made out of folded dollar bills—implying that Jews use money to buy influence; and a workbook that inaccurately and hatefully described Zionists as “bullies” who “stole [land] by force and hurt many people.”
• Discriminating against observant Jewish members by holding important union meetings on the Jewish Sabbath and major Jewish holidays and failing to reasonably accommodate Jewish members’ religious observance, thus effectively excluding observant Jews from key deliberations and votes and undermining their ability to participate equally in union affairs.
• Tolerating and sometimes participating in the intimidation of Jewish educators, while failing to denounce antisemitism or acknowledge Jew-hatred within its ranks.

The ZOA’s filing also urges the Attorney General to seek specific corrective measures to address the MTA’s threatening, intimidating, and discriminatory environment and protect the civil rights of its Jewish members. The call for an investigation and legal action comes amid a nationwide rise in antisemitism after the October 7 Hamas massacre, which has led to a surge in incidents of harassment, intimidation, and exclusion of Jewish students and staff. For more information, visit ZOA.org. n

Addressing the rising population of feral cats in America’s largest township and across Long Island, Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti announced an expansion of the town’s effective Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) Program. Capitalizing on the proven success of this humane program, Supervisor Ferretti has empowered the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to mobilize, utilizing a fully equipped TNR Vehicle to carry out the initiative at critical locations all throughout the township. What’s more, the TNR Program at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter will be expanded to four days a week. Supervisor Ferretti made today’s announcement at Rath Park in Franklin Square, standing in front of the town’s Mobile TNR Vehicle and alongside a slew of young adoptable kittens.

“We’re taking our commitment to humane animal care directly into our neighborhoods,” said Supervisor Ferretti. “By expanding and mobilizing the TNR Program, we’re not only helping to control the feral cat population—we’re also protecting our communities, supporting public health, and showing compassion in action.”

The Town of Hempstead’s TNR Program is a humane, effective, and widely accepted initiative that successfully manages and reduces the population of feral cats. Stray cats are trapped with a humane trap, safely neutered, and then returned to where they were trapped after the surgery is completed. This program reduces feral cat populations overtime by preventing the birth of kittens who would struggle to survive. It also eliminates mating behaviors like yowling, fighting, and spraying while protecting public health.

Starting after Labor Day, the Mobile TNR Vehicle will be visiting various locations throughout the township—such as Rath Park—to provide residents with a closer, more convenient TNR option. The vehicle will allow for residents to drop-off local stray cats and have the surgeries performed right in the mobile unit. The cats will then recover in a controlled environment before they are returned to their original location. The Mobile TNR Vehicle will be visiting communities such as Oceanside, Levittown, Seaford, Wantagh, Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Malverne, Floral Park, Lawrence, and more.

“This is about being proactive, compassionate, and responsible,” concluded Supervisor Ferretti. “With the launch of our Mobile TNR Vehicle, we’re making it easier than ever for residents to be part of the solution. Together, we can create healthier communities—for both people and animals.”