One on One with State Senator Mario Mattera – Segment Two

Following my initial visit with State Senator Mario Mattera on Thursday February 10th, I was provided an opportunity for a more extensive interview on issues facing state and local residents. Senator Mattera represents the 2nd
Senate District, which includes the Town of Smithtown and portions of the Towns of Brookhaven and Huntington.

In our first meeting, the Senator and I discussed Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to override local zoning laws to pave the way for apartments and cottages in traditional single-family neighborhoods. The Governor has since withdrawn the plan from the upcoming budget. The original proposal was designed to curb the affordable housing situation by providing lower cost living arrangements for residents priced out of conventional housing options.

In our latest discussion, Senator Mattera explained that over the past couple of weeks, more democrats have come out in opposition to the proposal. The Republicans, including Senator Mattera, remain opposed to the plan. At present, the Republicans are in the minority in both the State Assembly and Senate, therefore it’s possible the proposal could still pass legislatively at some point this year, although the Senator is dubious this will transpire. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Congressman Tom Suozzi are also opposed to the plan.

We then moved on to the subject of crime. This is clearly a passionate subject for the Senator. As background, new laws regarding bail reform were instituted in late January, 2020 and amended in April. The purpose of reforming bail policy was to reduce the number of defendants incarcerated while awaiting trial because they could not afford to post bail or arrange for a bond. Not all crimes are subject to the reforms, but many serious felonies are. Senator Mattera is opposed to the new laws and would like them rescinded based on the increasing crime rate, especially in New York City.

From a very personal perspective, Senator Mattera described how an acquaintance of his was severely beaten with a bat by someone free pending a court date. It was learned the attacker had previously been released with no bail following a felony arrest for drugs. Senator Matter’s office estimates there are thousands of similar felonies being committed.

While it seems evident that the jail population has been reduced following bail reform, there are many recurring stories of severe crimes being committed by known perpetrators who would have been off the streets prior to the reforms instituted in 2020. Senator Matter’s office is tracking the data carefully.

Amendments to the original law have given judges more discretion for setting bail and other conditions regarding release pending further court appearances. However, this has done little to stem rising crime rates, per Senator Mattera, who has followed the situation carefully. When asked how his colleagues who supported the reforms have responded to the rising crime rate, including many heinous crimes, the Senator replied “they remain mostly silent on this issue.”

On the topic of Covid mandates, Senator Mattera made it clear he opposes mandates as a matter of principle, stating “people should be responsible enough to make their own decisions.” The Senator also expressed his disappointment that workers had to lose their jobs over the mandates, including police, firefighters and healthcare workers. He is hopeful they could possibly get their jobs back. On the subject of school mask mandates, the Senator is inclined to believe that Governor Hochul will allow school districts to handle masking on a district-by-district basis. Unfortunately, if certain districts allow the mask mandates to continue, there will surely be continued controversy for the parents who remain vehemently opposed to their children wearing masks, especially in light of the weaning effects of the virus. In New York, 88 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Meanwhile the CDC is planning to lift mask mandates very soon, possibly even this week.

The Senator and I discussed the high costs associated with living on Long Island. I mentioned the state’s new found revenue stream with on-line gambling, and whether the funds could be funneled toward lowering property taxes.  School taxes account for 60-70 percent of property taxes for most of Long Island.  The Senator was quick to mention other funds including the state lotto funds, which have traditionally been intended as aide to school districts. We also discussed the billions that New York is slated to receive from last year’s infrastructure bill passed by congress, as well as Covid relief funds. Senator Mattera was happy to give credit to US Senator Chuck Schumer for his efforts in getting the legislation passed. “Long Island’s roads are in dire condition and asphalt paving may be ineffective in maintaining the roads for more than a few years at a time,” says the Senator. A different technique should be studied that would be more durable and more cost effective as well, said the Senator.

With Long Island’s high costs not getting better anytime soon, and with inflation at a 40 year high, Senator Mattera is adamant there must be accountability and prudence when allocating the significant revenue from the Covid relief and infrastructure funds as well as the combined funds from both Lotto and on-line gambling.