MTA lead negotiator says deal to avoid strike is within reach

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lead negotiator said yesterday a deal to avoid a commute-crippling Long Island Rail Road strike was within reach, as the transit agency put a $134 million offer on the table that would pay workers "all of the money that was requested," and that the unions have budged from their previous demands.The MTA, however, is relying on a lump-sum payment to meet some of the unions' demands. A union source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, said the unions would not accept a deal made up of a one-time payment.Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that progress in the talks, acknowledged by both the MTA and the unions representing about half of the LIRR’s 7,000-member organized labor force, came as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged both sides to "find a middle ground" to avoid disrupting the commutes of 270,000 daily railroad riders. A strike could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. this Saturday if no deal is reached.Following a Manhattan bargaining session, MTA chief negotiator Gary Dellaverson offered new details of management’s latest offer at a news conference at the authority's headquarters. He said the compensation package worth — $133,788,000 — is "the exact same amount" as a proposal recommended by White House mediators.That recommended settlement would have paid workers 4.5% raises in the fourth year of their contract. The unions have demanded 5%, but Dellaverson said the unions, for the first time in recent negotiations, "actually made a move" at Wednesday’s bargaining session."All of the money that was requested is now on the table," Dellaverson said. "I believe firmly that a deal is present. It’s available. It’s doable. And we should reach it tomorrow."In the event of a strike, the MTA is encouraging commuters to work from home if possible. Those who can’t will have to drive to work or rely on limited public transportation options, including shuttle buses running between six locations on Long Island and two subway stations in Queens.***The public will get its first look this morning at long-anticipated plans for the Petrocelli hotel proposed for the Riverhead town square.Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Riverhead Town Board members are expected to review plans for a 94-room hotel filed by J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC at today’s work session at 10 a.m. in Riverhead Town Hall.The application calls for construction of a five-story, 69,738-square-foot hotel building at 117–127 E. Main St., adjacent to the planned town square and East End Arts campus. Plans submitted to the town show the project would include a 116-seat restaurant with bar and outdoor terrace overlooking the riverfront, a coffee shop, nearly 2,900 square feet of retail space, hotel lounge and fitness facilities and 94 guest rooms, including 14 fifth-floor suites with balconies or terraces.The “Peconic River Hotel” proposal replaces an earlier concept reviewed during the town’s downtown revitalization environmental review process that included 76 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units.The plan represents one of the most significant vertical development projects tied to the town’s broader downtown redevelopment initiative, which includes construction of a new public town square, flood mitigation improvements and a planned parking garage.Among the most significant are questions involving sewer and water system capacity.Parking and traffic operations are also expected to be key discussion points during this morning’s Riverhead Town Board work session.***The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Southold Flotilla holds its annual National Safe Boating Week event in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this coming Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities to promote safety on the water will include paddlecraft & safety equipment, knot tying, and life ring toss. Free vessel safety checks will be given on the water in Greenport Harbor.Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that U.S. Coast Guard statistics show drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2024, and that 87 percent of those who drowned were NOT wearing life jackets.The NY State Annual Report reflects that the most common cause of accidents is collision between boats. “With over 60,0000 registered recreational vessels in Suffolk County, boaters must be constantly aware of what is happening,” said Andrew Tarantino, Division Commander, Eastern Long Island. “Auxiliary safety classes point out the changes in the laws, as well as best practices to keep boating safe and fun.” Learn more as the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates Safe Boating Week in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.***Tired of delay, an Amagansett property owner has sued the East Hampton Town Building Department after five months of waiting for a building permit to construct a house on Bendigo Road.Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that the East Hampton Town Building Department has been in the spotlight for much of the past year, having battled a backlog, a handful of lawsuits and staff turnover — all as the district attorney’s office conducted a bribery investigation, and ultimately, charged two staffers.Highly credentialed Principal Building Inspector Richard Normoyle, who came on board with the Town of East Hampton after 30 years of experience in municipal building operations last September, has looked to right the ship and told the Town Board this week that he has a one-year plan for cutting down the backlog, which right now stretches back to September.The goal is to cut the wait time down to three months by January 1 and reduce the wait time for smaller, accessory permits down to two weeks. By May 1 of next year, Normoyle is targeting a four-to-six-week wait for permits. Staffers are wrapping up applications from September; they are about to dive into October, November and December, which they plan to have worked through by mid-July.“We’re all aware of the challenges we’re facing, and this board has been tremendously supportive of rebuilding this department,” Normoyle told the Town Board at a work session on Tuesday.But the department is now faced with another lawsuit, this time concerning that very same application backlog that has been the subject of much scrutiny.Dominating the conversation about moving forward, is expanding the department with extra staffing, which Normoyle says will be critical for getting additional eyes on applications and keeping pace with the rate of applications. East Hampton Town officials have been working with Suffolk County Civil Service on that, with the current ask being two new plans examiner positions.Normoyle has also been quick to sing the praises of the new staffers. “The department is expanding and changing and growing…The more we expand, the more we train, the more we deal with the architects, the faster things move, and this only increases our momentum as we continue down this path,” said East Hampton Town’s Principal Building Inspector Richard Normoyle.***The Long Island Rail Road, America’s busiest passenger rail service, will be forced to shut down on Saturday if transit officials and workers cannot come to terms on a contract and avert a strike.Stefanos Chen reports in THE NY TIMES that five unions representing more than 3,500 workers — including engineers, signalmen and machinists — about half of the LIRR’s unionized work force - are preparing to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, if they don’t receive bigger raises than they are currently being offered. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the railroad, has said such an increase could lead to higher fares, higher state taxes or service cuts.A strike on the Long Island Rail Road, which carries more than 270,000 passengers a day between Long Island and New York City, on average, could cause chaos for travelers with few other options. Many commuters cannot work remotely and rely on the service.The threat of a strike comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, seeks re-election later this year. The governor, who lost Long Island in the last election, is being challenged by the Nassau County executive, Bruce Blakeman, a Republican with close ties to the region.Ms. Hochul said at a news conference yesterday that she did not want a strike, but that the unions’ salary demands could jeopardize the M.T.A.’s finances at a time when the authority is finally on stable ground.“I’m not willing to ask Long Islanders to pay unnecessary fare hikes or higher taxes,” she said. “So we have to be ready for whatever happens.”"Both sides must continue to negotiate in good faith toward a deal at the table. Now, I've directed the MTA to do just that, to negotiate in good faith, and they are," Hochul said. "But they need a partner."Following a Manhattan bargaining session yesterday, MTA chief negotiator Gary Dellaverson offered new details of management’s latest offer at a news conference at the authority's headquarters. He said the compensation package worth — $133,788,000 — is "the exact same amount" as a proposal recommended by White House mediators.Dellaverson said the MTA’s latest offer, which has been revised several times in the last week, would be the same financial outlay in the fourth year of workers’ contracts as mediators recommended. But because it would consist of lump-sum payments, rather than wage increases, it would be more affordable for the MTA in the long run, and not a precedent for negotiations with other, larger transit unions, he said.A...