Rep. LaLota votes in favor of cutting funding for public media

The Long Island Daily

Southampton Village Police are warning residents and visitors that there will be increased police presence and possible traffic tie-ups over the weekend ahead of the anticipated “Billionaires Lane Shutdown” protest tomorrow.

As reported on 27east.com, Southampton Village Police said that travel delays, temporary road closures and parking restrictions can be expected throughout the day on Saturday as more than 300 protesters have said they plan to flood into the village and block access on Meadow Lane, the posh oceanfront roadway home to a number of ultra-rich summer residents.

The protestors plan to gather at Coopers Beach in the early afternoon and march down the roadway from there to the home of the late David Koch, owner of Koch industries and a major Republican Party donor, and back.

Tomorrow’s protest march is expected to last about two hours, from 2 to 4 p.m., but the convergence and departure of the protestors can be expected to cause traffic congestion over a longer period.

Southampton Village Police Captain Christopher Wetter said, “The safety and security of our residents, visitors and local businesses remain our top priority. As such, community members can expect an increased police presence throughout the village to help ensure a safe and orderly environment…All motorists and pedestrians are urged to follow the directions of law enforcement personnel, remain alert to closures and exercise caution due to the anticipated increase in traffic.”

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Protesters on Long Island and across the country will take to the streets Saturday in “No Kings” rallies nationwide to coincide with a military parade commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary that falls on Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. June 14 is also Flag Day.

“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance,” according to organizers. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like.”

Regarding tomorrow’s demonstrations, Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Kevin Catalina stated, "We’re in contact with our partners in LA and around the country to share intelligence of the tactics that have been used, and we are abreast of what is happening throughout the country…"As a result of that, we will be prepared for this weekend. We expect everyone to obey the laws. We respect people’s right to protest peacefully and lawfully. We’ll have our officers enforcing all laws and we’ll be ready for protests."

No Kings events on the east end tomorrow include:

East Hampton

East Hampton Town Hall grounds

97 Main Street, East Hampton

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southampton

Coopers Beach

2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hampton Bays

Macy's

190 W. Montauk Highway

10:30 a.m. to noon

Sag Harbor

11 a.m. to 12 noon at Steinbeck Park.

Riverhead

The Riverhead No Kings rally, organized by the Riverhead and Southampton Democratic Committees, will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in front of the Suffolk County Supreme Court at One Court Street, Orient 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“We will be gathering in Orient Village to march around the block to make fun of the wannabe king on his birthday! Bring signs and noisemakers and wear costumes: ridicule him to the best of your ability!”

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The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, in partnership with the Long Island Housing Coalition and community partners, will host an East End Community Housing Summit tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton

Saturday's event will focus on housing challenges and solutions across the East End. Community members are invited to engage in critical discussions, share their experiences, and learn about ongoing housing initiatives. Experts will be available to provide insight and resources that address housing equity and access in our region.

“As long time Chair of the Southampton Housing Authority and ED of The Center for more than 17 years, I know all too well about the severe lack of affordable housing on the East End,” said The Center’s Executive Director, Bonnie Michelle Cannon, in announcing the summit. “I am proud that The Center is able to host this important event. Please come and learn. Tell your friends and family. There will be many experts on hand to offer valuable advice.”

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

RSVP here

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U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota, the Republican from Amityville who represents the 1st Congressional District which includes the east end and another Republican colleague changed their votes yesterday, saving an endangered House bill that slashes more than $9 billion from PBS, NPR and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Bahar Ostadan reports in NEWSDAY that the house narrowly voted to pass the bill, which aims at clawing back money previously allocated to USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS and thousands of public radio and television stations nationwide...among them WLIW. The move crystallized Trump’s executive order to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS, and his efforts to dismantle USAID.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson had been engaged in a lengthy conversation with LaLota on the House floor before Thursday's vote.

LaLota, along with fellow Republican House member Don Bacon of Nebraska, changed their votes to yes, propelling the final tally to 214-212.

Nearly every Republican voted in favor of the funding cuts, including Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport). Four Republicans in the House voted against the bill and no Democrats voted in favor.

The bill will now advance to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it only needs a simple majority rather than the 60 votes usually required from the 100-member chamber. This rule falls under the so-called rescissions request, where presidential administrations can ask to cancel funding that has already been allocated.

A federal judge ruled in March that Trump’s dismantling of USAID violated the Constitution, blocking the Department of Government Efficiency from making additional cuts.

NPR is available on WLIW-FM on Long Island and WNYC in New York City. PBS television stations serving Long Island include WNET and WLIW/21.

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Rep. Elise Stefanik and Gov. Kathy Hochul faced off over New York’s migrant crisis during a fiery congressional hearing on sanctuary policies — as the congresswoman aggressively asked the governor about high-profile migrant crimes.

Vaughn Golden reports in THE NY POST that Stefanik…a Republican who represents upstate New York's 21st congressional district…is eyeing a run against Hochul in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Governor Hochul said the state has helped US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement remove over 1,300 criminal migrants since she became governor in 2021.

Hochul renewed the state’s controversial sanctuary policy, first defined under an executive order by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It bars state employees from asking about someone’s immigration status other than in situations such as criminal investigations.

Many localities around the state such as New York City have their own, often more rigorous, sanctuary policies.

Throughout the hearing Hochul tried to argue both that New York has indeed been cooperating with ICE to deport criminal migrants, but also that the federal immigration raids and crackdown on protestors in LA are a “flagrant abuse of power.” “My views on immigration are simple and direct, our nation needs secure borders, our nation needs comprehensive immigration reform from this body, and our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE and criminal cases,” Governor Hochul said yesterday in Washington, D.C. during a U.S. congressional hearing.

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Hundreds of “NO KINGS” rallies are planned for tomorrow across the country including Long Island and New York City.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said a large presence of police would deter illegal or violent behavior and would be "working as our peacekeepers."

"You have a point of view, great, this is America, and you can express it," Romaine said, "but you can't express it through violence or property destruction. That's not right. That's the wrong way to go about it.

On the east end “NO KINGS” rallies are expected in Riverhead, Orient, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, Southampton and East Hampton.

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When “NO KINGS” demonstrators gather for their rally at Coopers Beach in Southampton tomorrow they might want to take a moment to appreciate America’s NUMBER ONE beach.

For Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a Florida-based university researcher and beach and sand devotee who is the director of the laboratory for coastal research at Florida International University, puts Coopers Beach at the top of his 2025 list of the best beaches in the United States.

Main Beach in East Hampton took fifth place in the rankings

But it was the tranquility, safety and an out-of-town vibe, to go along with soft, quartz sand, that earned Coopers Beach its No. 1 ranking.

Often referred to as Dr. Beach, Leatherman tells NEWSDAY, "When you go out to the Hamptons, it's sort of like going out into the countryside compared to Manhattan. You got beautiful small towns there, but the beach itself is really pristine," he said, adding that it was "very safe" with "great lifeguards."

(With a heavy Southampton Village police presence tomorrow, Coopers should be even safer.)

"There’s no pollution there," he said of the Southampton beach. "The water is crystal clear and clean."

Aidan Johnson reports in NEWSDAY that since 1991, Leatherman has named his top 10 beaches using 50 criteria, including "water and sand quality as well as safety and management."

The Southampton beach is not without its flaws, Dr. Beach said. The sand at Coopers is grainier than he'd like and the $50 daily parking rate is pricey.