Author Archives: scottbrinton1

My latest liherald.com editorial…. “Justice for George Floyd came swiftly in New York.” So began our June 18-24 editorial last year. We were referring to a 10-bill raft of legislation that Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Among several measures, the legislation: •Continue reading “A year of progress on police reform.”

My latest liherald.com column looks at the amazing river otter. Here goes: By Scott Brinton “In wildness is the preservation of the world.”—Henry David Thoreau Last Nov. 8, I was kayaking in Emory Creek in Freeport, just north of the Narrows, when I spotted what I thought was a chunk of garbage floating in theContinue reading “Suburban Long Island getting wilder by the day”

Please, please, please, get vaccinated. Here’s my latest LIHerald.com column: By Scott A. Brinton As I made my way along Bay Parkway, headed to Jones Beach Field 3 on a recent Wednesday, I more than half-expected the worst. I anticipated a mile-long line and a five-hour wait, during which I would be spoken to brusquelyContinue reading “The joy — and hope — of being vaccinated”

By Scott Brinton I covered the Bellmore-JFK High School Homecoming parade in the fall of 2004, photographing the revelers and floats as they headed from the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station off Sunrise Highway to the Bellmore Avenue school. It was a sunny day, full of carefree teenagers.  I could never have imagined thenContinue reading “The story that haunts me all these years later”

In this #LIHerald.com editorial, I look back the #environmental progress that #LongIsland has made over the past 5 years, and I have to say, I’m hopeful: April 22 is Earth Day, when we come together as a nation — and a planet — to celebrate the natural world and renew our vows to protect theContinue reading “Long Island is making strides on the environmental front”

Here’s my latest liherald.com editorial, on a subject that is truly near and dear to my heart…. At the turn of the 20th century, environmental protection meant preserving wilderness so future generations might know nature as the great environmentalists Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir knew it — bountiful and largely pristine. Some 120 years later,Continue reading “Support the Mother Nature Bond Act”

No doubt, Nassau County residents — especially elected leaders — are breathing a sigh of relief after passage of the American Rescue Plan. Here’s my #LIHerald.com editorial: Nassau County got some very good news last week after passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan: The county will receive $397.7 million in federal aid toContinue reading “Federal aid gives Nassau a shot in the arm”

My latest liherald.com column: They rip roofs off houses under repair, wash dishes in restaurants and pick fruit and vegetables, among countless other jobs, working 12- and 16-hour shifts for poverty-level wages with no benefits. They often live in tiny illegal basement apartments, or in multi-family houses that are stretched beyond capacity, or, in someContinue reading “Undocumented immigrants need relief, too”

My latest liherald.com is my personal take on the coronavirus pandemic: How strange the past 12 months have been, for us all. Personally, I’ve been holed up for most of it at my desk in my bedroom, papers stacked up around me, my cellphone always at the ready, resting against my computer.  I’m not complaining.Continue reading “Reflections on a pandemic year”

In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s my latest LIHerald.com column: It’s been over 27 years since Colin Ferguson stepped onto a Long Island Rail Road train in Mineola and started indiscriminately firing a 9mm pistol at passengers. Six were killed, including Dennis McCarthy, of Mineola, and 19 were wounded. Dennis’s son, Kevin, then 26Continue reading “We need more women elected leaders”

The Press Club of Long Island will present an online panel discussion, “Covering the Courts,” on Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Join us as we delve into the legal system, breaking down aspects of the law for journalists, aspiring journalists and anyone interested in the inner workings of the courts. The panel includes twoContinue reading “PCLI to host ‘Covering the Courts’ panel March 4”

This coming week will mark one year since the #coronavirus #pandemic reached #LongIsland. Here’s my #LIHerald.com editorial to mark this grim anniversary: The coronavirus pandemic reached Long Island a year ago next week, at first bringing a handful of cases before it dug in and exploded, wreaking havoc. We failed to see it coming untilContinue reading “A year later, lessons learned from the pandemic”

My latest #LIHerald.com editorial…. During February, Black History Month, we celebrate the great African-American political and civil rights leaders, scientists, artists, poets, movie stars and athletes. But we must also pause to recall America’s dark past, stained by horrific acts against Black and brown people, at times perpetrated by our own government.  As the Covid-19Continue reading “Recalling injustice during Black History Month”

My latest #LIHerald column is an ode to President Barack Obama’s wonderful “A Promised Land.” Here goes…. Every life has its inflection points, moments that can steer you in one direction or another, and that direction, as poet Robert Frost would say, makes all the difference. That is especially true for former President Barack Obama,Continue reading “Obama, a kindred spirt in ‘A Promised Land’”

Here’s my latest #LIHerald editorial, once again on the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic…. Some 100,000 New Yorkers may face debilitating long-term health effects after falling ill to Covid-19, according to “What If You Never Get Better?” in the most recent issue of The New York Times Magazine. Yes, 100,000. That is a staggering numberContinue reading “Sadly, we’re in this pandemic for the long haul”

The Press Club of Long Island strongly condemns violence against journalists. Federal prosecutors are investigating threats and assaults on journalists covering the U.S. Capitol riot and its aftermath at home. No one should be threatened or harassed for doing their job. As reporters, we proudly serve our community because we are part of the community. To checkContinue reading “Press Club of L.I.: Staying safe after Capitol violence”

We have now entered the “dark winter” predicted by President-elect Joe Biden. Please — please — take care of your mental health during this trying time. Here’s my most recent #LIHerald editorial…. Let’s say it like it was: 2020 was miserable. It was a horrid year for us all. Everyone — everyone — was affectedContinue reading “Resolve to monitor your mental health in 2021”

Yes, we might have two Covid-19 vaccines, but we have a ways to go before we are rid of this deadly virus. Now is no time for apathy. Here’s my LIHerald editorial: The Food and Drug Administration last Saturday issued an emergency-use authorization for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, which is administered in a series ofContinue reading “We must remain vigilant about the virus”

I recently covered Northwell Health’s second Gun Violence Prevention Forum, and from that experience came this editorial…. Listening to Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords speak, you’re quickly overcome by the urge to cry. The former congresswoman was once known for her incisive rhetoric, delivered with a magnetic smile. Then, at age 40, she was shot one sunnyContinue reading “It’s time for America to come to its senses over guns”

Covered Vision Long Island’s Smart Growth Summit last week and penned this #LIHerald editorial from it: It is a frightening statistic: Pedestrian deaths shot up by nearly 56 percent nationally between 2009 and 2018, from roughly 4,000 lives lost to cars and trucks to 6,227. That followed a long period of steady decline, from aContinue reading “Bike paths: Build them and cyclists will come”