Before I get into the goings-on in Washington and Albany, I think it is more important to touch on the heartbreaking tragedy that took place last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., not far across the Sound from all of us. more

For years, the political atmosphere surrounding our State Senate could only be described as puzzling. New Yorkers have seen coups, broken promises and plenty of corruption. more

With everything that has been going on in New York lately, it’s almost hard to remember that, just 24 months ago, we were the laughingstock of the country. more

“Saddened,” “upset” and “disappointed” were among the many dispirited words people used to describe Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to veto a bill that would … more

The Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre received more than 250 items and 70 cases of beverages collected by local Coca-Cola employees in a donation on Nov. 17. It was the first delivery of five planned for the area. more

My last two columns, “As promised: keeping tabs” (June 30 – July 6) and “Is the bloom off the rose?” (July 21-27) provided information to evaluate the session-ending accomplishments of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Two fundamental questions were raised. Has there been a real transformation in addressing the way the “people’s business” is being managed in Albany? Do our political leaders really understand that the state of New York is still headed down a path of fiscal instability and requires levels of real reform hardly evident to date? more

Members of the Rockville Centre Tea Party held a protest outside State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos’s district office on Front Street on July 15, prompting a spontaneous counterprotest by … more

For just the seventh time since 1975 — and for the first time since 2006 — the New York state Legislature adopted a budget before the April 1 deadline. Lawmakers in the Democratic-led … more

Long Island’s history books have recorded the fact that our bicounty area has been blessed by many great political names, each of whom exercised great political clout in Washington, Albany and Mineola. more

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says he is optimistic that despite the difficult choices they face, this is the year when Albany lawmakers will finally make the structural changes to the state budget needed to rein in spending. more