100 community leaders gather to discuss how to protect immigrant rights

About 100 faith leaders, social justice advocates and others rallied simultaneously at three Long Island congressional offices yesterday, frustrated over what they said was their inability to meet with the three representatives to discuss the mass deportation of immigrants in the country illegally. Olivia Winslow reports in NEWSDAY that Ani Halasz, executive director of Long Island Jobs With Justice, which sponsored the rallies along with Long Island Immigrant Justice Alliance, said the rally came about because they were unable to secure meetings with local members of congress including 1st Congressional District Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) during the August recess, typically when members of Congress return from Washington to their home districts. Richard Koubek, community outreach coordinator for Long Island Jobs With Justice.said the faith leaders were seeking support for legislation that would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to identify themselves with badges and uniforms, to "stop wearing masks" and to "restore protected status of places of worship, hospitals and schools."

Advocates attending the rallies at the 3 district offices said they handed off the letter to aides.

Koubek said about 60 people attended the rally at Congressman LaLota’s office in Hauppauge.

Mary O'Hara, a spokeswoman for LaLota, said in a statement regarding the faith leaders' request for an August meeting: "If we received a request to meet, it would have been considered. But our office never received such a request." As for reaction to the faith leaders' concerns, LaLota said in a statement: "Only in today’s politics could a group claim to fight for justice by opposing the very laws that uphold it."

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Long Islanders and businesses borrowing money will benefit from the Federal Reserve’s decision this week to lower its benchmark interest rate, economic experts said.

But they said the Fed’s cut will deliver limited relief to Long Island homebuyers seeking out mortgages.

Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWSDAY that The Fed lowered the key rate by a quarter point on Wednesday to between 4% and 4.25%.

That decision will help borrowers taking on short-term loans, but the Fed has less influence over long-term debt, such as 30-year mortgages, said Stephen Kates, a financial analyst at Bankrate. A new report yesterday from Mortgage News Daily also showed mortgage rates may not continue their decline that started earlier this summer. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hasn't dipped below 6% since September 2022.

The federal funds rate is the interest rate banks use to lend from one another overnight. The Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee sets this rate and uses it as a monetary policy tool to advance its dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices, according to the Fed.

Essentially, the Fed wants to promote job creation and keep inflation in check, said Steven Kent, chief economist for the Long Island Association, the Melville-based business group.

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The East End Seaport Museum’s 35th annual Maritime Festival in downtown Greenport is this weekend. Folks from the north fork and beyond will be celebrating Greenport’s rich maritime history with their annual “Merry Merfolk” parade, street fair, local food, live music, a cardboard boat race, and an abundance of artisan vendors throughout the Village of Greenport!

Sailor, painter, designer, rigging specialist, volunteer, community leader and all around good guy, Paul Kreiling is this year’s Maritime Festival Grand Marshal!

That's the 2025 Maritime Festival this Saturday and Sunday from 10AM - 5PM in Greenport, U.S.A.

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The chairman of the New York State Democratic Party said yesterday that he would not support Zohran Mamdani, his party’s nominee for mayor of New York City, citing fundamental disagreements over Israel