DECEMBER 30, 2016–JANUARY 5, 2017 I OUR 63RD YEAR I NO. 53 I $2.00 I LIBN.COM libn.com WHILE THE COUNTRY BATTLED OVER A DIVISIVE THE GREAT ELECTION, LI FACED ITS OWN ISSUES OF CORRUPTION, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND AN ECONOMY THAT WAS SLOW TO IMPROVE. DIVIDE LIBN LOOKS AT THE YEAR IN REVIEW ›› 4 REAL ESTATE FINANCE HEALTHCARE REAL PROGRESS MAJOR HOSPITALS MERGE MADE ON NEW TAX CODE AS INSURANCE RATES DEVELOPMENTS CHANGES RISE AND ACA LARGE AND SMALL ON THE HORIZON IS IN QUESTION ›› 8 ›› 12 ›› 16 2 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I December 30, 2016-January 5, 2017 I LIBN.COM LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I December 30, 2016-January 5, 2017 I LIBN.COM I 3 NEWSMAKERSOFTHEYEAR EVERYWEEK 18 Calendar 22 On Our Island Law and Government 20 Nonprofit Spotlight 25 Classifieds 1B Public/Legal Notices 4 LI COPES WITH ITS SHARE OF PROBLEMS Corruption scandals, changes to wage-and- hour rules and immigration issues THEPOLL: Real Estate 6 REMEMBERING JUDY JACOBS TAKING A HOLIDAY AND OTHERS WHO DIED IN 2016 8 IT JUST GOT REAL Long-awaited projects move forward; commercial and residential markets improve Special Feature, Jan. 6: COMING THE FIRST 100 DAYS: SOON A NEW ADMINISTRATION Finance 12 2016 BY THE NUMBERS Reprints Capitalize on positive news and grow your business. Major tax code changes on the horizon Get the word out with reprints, e-prints and commemorative plaques. We are the only authorized provider of reprinted LIBN products. Call us today at 631.737.1700. Healthcare Do you plan to work during the holi- Events Long Island Business News hosts networking, award and days? 16 MORE QUESTIONS THAN young-professional events throughout the year. View the schedule and register for events at libn.com/eventsdirectory. ANSWERS • No - Holidays are for celebration, not work! 35% ›› 40 Under 40 Dinner – Jan. 19, 2017 • Yes - But only for as long as is necessary. 35% Hospitals merge as insurance rates rise and ›› Book of Lists Gala – March 7, 2017 • Yes - My business is open during the holidays! ACA is thrown into question ›› LIBN Business Growth Expo – March 15, 2017 16% ›› Excellence in Communication Breakfast – March 23, 2017 ›› Real Estate Awards – April 3, 2017 • Yes - I’ll be playing catch-up for much of the ›› Diversity in Business Luncheon – April 25, 2017 holiday. 13% ›› State of the Real Estate Industry – May 9, 2017 Follow us: ›› Executive Circle Dinner – May 18, 2017 Nominations Nominations for our 2017 award programs are now open: libn.com/eventsdirectory LIBN welcomes your comments and participation in online polls. Visit libn.com 4 I LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I December 30, 2016-January 5, 2017 I LIBN.COM NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR LAW&GOVERNMENT LI COPES WITH CORRUPTION, IMMIGRATION STRUGGLES AND OTHER MATTERS A look back at the year in law and government By ADINA GENN And in November, James Burke, the former Suffolk County police chief, was Like elsewhere in the country, Long sentenced at the federal courthouse in Island dealt with its share of corruption Central Islip after pleading guilty in as well as questions on overtime rules, po- tential changes to immigration regulations February to a civil rights violation and and more. conspiracy to obstruct justice. Burke was Meanwhile, the Island figured promi- sentenced to 46 months. The civil rights nently into this year’s presidential cam- violation pertained to Burke beating a paign with various candidate visits, as Smithtown man who was arrested in well as a nationally televised debate from connection with stealing property and Hofstra University. breaking into Burke’s SCPD-issued SUV In addition, there were several notable in December 2012. For the following three deaths of Long Islanders who made a dif- years, Burke and other Suffolk County ference to the region. law enforcement authorities moved to ob- struct the federal civil rights investigation into the assault, the Justice Department Bribery, corruption, sentencings said. Nassau County Executive Edward Earlier in the year, Dean Skelos, the Mangano, his wife, Linda Mangano, and ex-New York senator from Rockville Cen- Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Ven- tre, was sentenced to five years in prison ditto pleaded not guilty after they were after he was convicted of using his posi- arrested by the FBI in October. The three tion as Senate majority leader to pressure were charged with conspiracy to commit companies to provide hundreds of thou- bribery and honest services fraud, accord- sands of dollars for his son. ing to the U.S. Department of Justice. Mangano was also charged with extortion, Clinton, Trump on Long Island authorities said. The indictment of the three also in- All eyes were on the region for the first cluded obstruction of justice and making 2016 presidential debate at Hofstra Uni- false statements. As alleged in the indict- versity, where Hillary Clinton and Donald ment and other court filings, between Jan. Trump squared off. 2010 and Feb. 2015, Mangano, Venditto The televised showdown was the most and others engaged in a scheme to receive anticipated moment in an election cam- bribes and kickbacks from restaurateur paign that was both historic and unpre- Harendra Singh for their assistance in ob- dictable in the race to become America’s taining the town’s guarantee of four loans 45th president. for Singh totaling about $20 million. The The candidates sparred over trade, EDWARD MANGANO pleaded not guilty in October, along with his wife, Linda Mangano, feds say Linda Mangano got a “no-show” taxes and how to bring high-paying jobs and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. job from April 2010 to August 2014, at a back to the United States. restaurant owned and operated by Singh, Also this year, the candidates made Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs. Former Secretary of State Colin Pow- which netted her at least $450,000. their rounds on Long Island. Clinton In April, Trump spoke to a crowd of ell made headlines at Crest Hollow in If convicted, each faces up to 20 years appeared at the Landmark Theater in an estimated 10,000 at a rally in Beth- October at the Long Island Association in prison on fraud charges and up to 10 Port Washington in April with Rep. Steve page, and then to a smaller audience at a years on the bribery charge. Israel, D-Huntington, for a discussion on fall luncheon when he told the crowd he And while some Republican leaders gun violence protection. She also spoke Suffolk GOP fundraiser in Patchogue at would vote for Clinton and accused Trump urged Mangano to resign, Nassau Re- at the Suffolk County Democratic Com- The Emporium. He was back, this time in of repeatedly and regularly insulting publican Joseph Mondello made no such mittee’s spring dinner at Villa Lombardi Woodbury at the Crest Hollow Country Americans. pledge. Mangano said he will stay in office in Holbrook later that month. And she Club, in May for what was billed as the Ultimately, the financial impact of while fighting the charges, while Venditto headlined a campaign fundraiser at Tim- Nassau County Republicans’ annual “Pa- Trump’s victory has raised hopes but also has not commented. ber Lake, a Glen Cove day camp owned by triots’ Reception.” concerns about the impact of a number of LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I December 30, 2016-January 5, 2017 I LIBN.COM I 5 the tax breaks, which include a $14 mil- lion PILOT. At the time, board members claimed a pending report from Camoin Associates, a consulting firm, would demonstrate the merits of the Green Acres Mall project. The IDA maintained in a press release that the project would produce more than $13.5 million in new sales tax revenue for the county, more than $450,000 of new revenue for the Town of Hempstead and 850 new jobs. In October, Hempstead Town Super- visor Anthony Santino called on the town board to remove its IDA board members, saying he was “outraged by the IDA’s hearing process and handling of the Green Acres Mall PILOT agreement.” Feds: LI Welcome Center in violation of federal law The Federal Highway Administration said a new multimillion-dollar rest stop along the Long Island Expressway is in violation of federal law because it is con- ducting over-the-counter sales. According to published reports, the $20.2 million Long Island Welcome Cen- ter in Dix Hills has been selling locally produced food and drinks to visitors in HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY was the site of a presidential debate this year. part to promote tourism in New York. FHA officials say federal law allows wide-ranging policies. porary protection from deportation. And turing, commercial demonstration manu- states to place vending machines for trav- Trump will enjoy a Republican ma- there are questions about the future of facturing and house corporate offices. elers at similar rest areas but prohibits jority in both houses of Congress. In the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, • $1 million to support Luminati Aero- over-the-counter sales. Senate, Republicans maintain a two-seat a program, recently blocked by a federal space: Luminati Aerospace will expand New York Department of Transporta- majority. New York Democrat Charles court in Texas, that protected parents the development and manufacturing of tion officials believe the sales are permit- Schumer will serve as the Senate’s mi- whose children are U.S. citizens. unmanned aerial vehicles at Riverhead’s ted, saying the welcome center supports nority leader. But experts recommend a proactive Calverton Industrial Park. The project tourism and isn’t a commercial facility. Many Long Island leaders said the big stance, so companies and individuals can will enhance the renewal of Long Island’s FHA officials say the agency intends to winner in the race was infrastructure, prepare in the face of an uncertain future, aerospace industry.