State DOT refuses to sign off on $10 land sale that could modernize Long Island's busiest LIRR line
If DOT does not sign off on the land deal by June 30, roughly $2.1 million earmarked from the federal American Rescue Plan to help fund the project will be lost, according to Suffolk officials.
'This should have been done, this whole line should be electrical,' Romaine, a, Republican, told The Post from Port Jefferson. 'This is the best land deal the MTA will ever make — which isn't exactly known for its fiscal responsibility.'
Romaine said the agency is ready to move forward with the project, but did not specify how much the project would cost.
The vacant land, nearly 50 acres that was once part of the Lawrence Aviation Superfund site, is currently controlled by the Suffolk County Landbank.
Landbank officials offered to sell it to the MTA last year for just $10 so the agency can begin building infrastructure to electrify the unreliable diesel-fueled, double-decker trains that still run through the Port Jefferson line — a LIRR route that 30% of all riders live along.
It's also the busiest branch on Long Island, according to MTA data.
But the DOT balked at blessing the project, citing the need to complete an easement process as well as floating other potential options for the property, Suffolk officials charged.
Stephen Canzoneri, DOT spokesperson representing Long Island, confirmed the agency 'is in the process of delivering a free property easement' to 'facilitate MTA's property acquisition,' and said the process will take several months.
Even state Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, a Democrat, offered to personally pay the $10 fee to get the deal done — but said she was told the state still wouldn't allow the sale.
Romaine has even called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to step in. He argued DOT's stalling tactics go against Hochul's own green goals.
'Governor Hochul supports any effort to advance meaningful transportation investments in the region and will work with all stakeholders to resolve the complicated land use issues impacting this potential project,' Kara Cumoletti, a spokesperson for the governor, told The Post.
The MTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 minutes ago
- New York Post
To make NY more affordable, Gov. Hochul needs to ditch her all-electric plan and push natural gas
New York has some of the highest residential and commercial construction costs, and ranks in the top 10 most expensive states to live. Yet rather than focus on ways to make it more affordable for residents and attractive for investments, Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to make gas stoves in new buildings illegal. Go figure. Her 2023 All-Electric Buildings Act bans natural-gas hookups in new buildings that are seven stories or less — meaning no gas stoves, hot-water heaters, furnaces, or any other gas appliances are allowed, starting in 2029. This is a serious blow to freedom, common sense, and the future of the Empire State. Advertisement It's even worse considering the state of New York's electric grid. Energy prices are roughly 33% higher than the national average. A 2023 study by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission warned New York's grid is on the brink of collapse, and it's only luck that has kept the state from total catastrophe and loss of life. If such a damning FERC study were released by the Biden administration, one can only speculate how much worse the reality could be. Advertisement Meanwhile, there's no reason to push people off natural gas. In fact, most of the world is desperate for more of it, not less. Germany just committed to a three-year purchase of US gas. Japan invested $44 billion in a natural-gas pipeline in Alaska. A few days ago, President Donald Trump announced a $750 billion deal for American energy, including natural gas, with the European Union. Advertisement New York seems alone in rejecting the economic benefits and the scientific evidence. So much for 'trust the science.' In addition to the strain put on the grid by forgoing reliable, affordable natural gas and mandating electric appliances and machinery, New York continues to entice the construction of power-grabbing data centers. Recently, it offered half a billion dollars in taxpayer-provided subsidies to lure a new data center in Genesee that'll consume 250 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 100,000 homes. Hochul's all-electric plan represents two big punches to the face: First, it makes already expensive New York even more costly. Advertisement Second, it makes an already vulnerable electric grid even more precarious by demanding more from it. Like the mathematical certainty of the sinking of the Titanic, New York's electric grid, under Hochul's 'leadership,' is headed for collapse. Not if, but when. Yet easy fixes can relieve the strain on the grid and lower costs — and provide political boons for the governor ahead of her reelection run next year. First, delay the all-electric plan. Encourage natural gas for new construction instead. The more appliances like hot water heaters and stoves that run on natural gas, the less the strain on the grid. Second, fast-track construction of the Constitution Pipeline. This project will bring natural gas from Pennsylvania into upstate New York and New England, and offer a reliable, affordable energy source to millions. Yes, environmental groups will holler, but most voters will back the governor when they see their utility hikes simmering down. Advertisement Third, reopen the Indian Point nuclear-power plant, the 3,200-megawatt facility unwisely closed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021. This facility is now being decommissioned, a process that'll last more than 30 years. But getting it back online — as massive a project as that might be — is certainly faster and cheaper than the governor's plan to build new nuclear facilities. Energy is everything, and sound energy policy will not just make the state more affordable and livable, and the grid more reliable; it'll make Hochul more electable. Like the grid, her political standing is precarious. More than half (53%) of New Yorkers oppose Hochul's gas ban. Even among fellow Democrats, less than half (48%) believe the state is moving in the right direction. Advertisement New York's path to a better energy future, greater economic development, lower costs for residents and a more secure grid is clear. The first step is stopping this illogical ban on natural gas. Does Hochul have the political will and savvy to pull it off? Advertisement Daniel Turner is the founder and executive director of Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. Email: daniel@
NBC News
8 minutes ago
- NBC News
Republican super PACs bank millions ahead of midterm battles
Republicans are betting that they can defend their slim congressional majorities in next year's midterm elections, and the party's biggest donors are putting their chips on the table, too. New fundraising reports filed Thursday for outside groups show that GOP megadonors are engaged in the fight for Congress, steering $59.2 million to the main two super PACs involved in House and Senate races aligned with GOP leadership, Senate Leadership Fund and the Congressional Leadership Fund, throughout the first six months of the year. The two major super PACs aligned with Democratic congressional leadership, Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC, raised $38.6 million combined. The GOP groups had $62 million left in their accounts as of June 30, while the Democratic groups had $35.8 million. And neither those figures nor the totals raised include all of the groups' nonprofit arms, which can also raise unlimited funds but do not have to disclose their donors. While Republicans may have an early advantage in the super PAC money chase, that doesn't necessarily mean they will be able to swamp the airwaves. Democratic candidates have typically raised more money directly for their campaigns than the average Republican candidate has in recent years, riding a wave of small-donor enthusiasm unleashed in response to President Donald Trump's first election in 2016. That candidate-to-candidate financial advantage pays dividends, since candidates can reserve television airtime at lower rates than outside groups. Still, the big hauls from Republican groups are a sign that the party's donors are tuned into the midterm battle ahead, with both groups raising substantially more than the first six months of 2021, the last midterm election cycle. That period was also marked by GOP donors pulling back from Republican causes after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. SLF, which is aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, pulled in $26.5 million during the first six months of the year, four times the size of its haul at this point in 2021. CLF, which is aligned with Speaker Mike Johnson, raised $32.7 million, more than double its 2021 haul. The same group of megadonors — hedge fund manager Paul Singer, current United Kingdom Ambassador Warren Stephens, investor Mark Rowan and poultry businessman Ronald Cameron — gave $1 million or more to each of the groups. The biggest checks came from billionaire Elon Musk, who donated $5 million each to SLF and CLF on June 27, after he had left his role as a White House. Musk, who also donated to a pro-Trump super PAC, made his contributions before publicly musing about starting a third party in July. On the Democratic side, HMP saw a 50% increase compared to its 2021 haul, bringing in $21.2 million so far this year. But SMP saw a slight decrease, raising $17.3 million so far. And the groups drew from different big donors. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker gave $1 million to HMP but not SMP, the filings show. And HMP also benefited from Democratic megadonors including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and hedge fund manager Stephen Mandel. SMP, meanwhile, had million-dollar donations from software company founder Phillip Ragon, Olan Mills and real estate mogul George Marcus. Senate GOP candidates aren't just going to be boosted by SLF's significant resources; some will benefit from strong fundraising by outside groups specifically devoted to their elections, both in red and swing states. These candidate-specific Republican Senate super PACs have emerged to push back against the Democratic candidates' hard-money advantage. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican defending a seat in a state Democrats regularly win statewide, has overcome a big fundraising discrepancy before — her Democratic opponent in 2020, Sarah Gideon, outraised her $75.6 million to $27.8 million between 2019 and 2020, but Collins won that race by almost 9 percentage points. After outraising her top Democratic opponent last quarter, Collins' allied super PAC, Pine Tree Results PAC, reported raising $5.6 million in the first six months of 2025, thanks to some key seven-figure checks from private equity CEO Stephen Schwarzman and New Balance executive James Davis. In Michigan, home to what's expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle, a group backing Republican Mike Rogers could help him combat strong fundraising on the Democratic side. Great Lakes Conservatives Fund, a pro-Rogers group, raised $5.1 million through June, virtually all from oil billionaire Timothy Dunn. In Texas, where Sen. John Cornyn faces a tough GOP primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cornyn is trying to counter Paxton's direct fundraising lead with a strong fundraising showing from outside groups. Texans for a Conservative Majority, a super PAC backing Cornyn, raised almost $11 million in the first six months of the year. And Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who faces a primary challenge from state Treasurer John Fleming, is also getting an outside boost from a group called Louisiana Freedom Fund, which raised $2.5 million over that same time period.
NBC News
8 minutes ago
- NBC News
‘Alligator Alcatraz' detainees on hunger strike for 10th day, protesting conditions
A hunger strike at a South Florida immigration detention center state officials have named 'Alligator Alcatraz' has entered its tenth day, as detainees protest what they call inhumane and dangerous living conditions. One of the detainees, Pedro Hernández, was hospitalized during the strike but continues to refuse food. His wife, Daimarys Hernández, said she's terrified for his health and fears he could die in custody, or be deported back to Cuba, alone. 'My husband was in prison. We make mistakes, but we learn from them and fix things,' she told NBC6. Pedro Hernández, who came to the U.S. from Cuba in 2006, was detained in July during a routine check-in with ICE in Miramar. He hasn't been home since. In a recorded phone call from inside the facility, he pleaded for help: 'We've all been hungry since Tuesday. I'm not going to eat another plate of food until they show us respect," Hernández said. The hunger strike has prompted outrage from his wife and community members. On Thursday night, Democratic leaders held an emergency town hall in Coconut Grove demanding reform and accountability. 'Florida has struck an unholy bargain with the Trump administration,' one speaker said. 'People are not getting food, hygiene, or medical care. These conditions are substandard and cause irreparable harm.' Meanwhile in Washington, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott responded to questions about the facility by expressing appreciation for the president's immigration policies, adding only that things should be handled in a humane way. haven't been allowed access to legal counsel, which the state denies.
