Trump war with Iran causes daily expenses to rise significantly for Long Islanders

A potential Long Island Rail Road strike could have a “catastrophic” impact on local economy and employees’ ability to get to work sites, shops and offices. The region could see a daily loss of $70 million in economic activity, according to past analysis adjusted for inflation. Local employers, both large and small said they are weighing contingency plans on how to get employees to job sites.Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that the Long Island Rail Road transports more than 270,000 weekday riders each day, and a strike would disrupt the local economy and create ripple effects on businesses that rely on rail access, business leaders and economists said. Businesses, from restaurants and hospitals to retail, construction and tourism, could stand to lose tens of millions in economic activity, experts said.“The LIRR is an economic lifeline for Long Island and a critical artery for the entire downstate economy,” said Stacey I. Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group. “A strike could create immediate disruptions for hundreds of thousands of commuters and employees.”Steven Kent, chief economist for the Long Island Association said, “We on Long Island have not experienced this kind of disruption for a very long time,” said Kent, an associate professor of economics at Molloy University’s School of Business. The LIRR last went on strike in June 1994. The next LIRR strike could start this coming Saturday at 12:01 a.m.While businesses in certain professional services, such as accounting, the legal field, or IT support, have tools in place for remote work following the pandemic, many industries, including construction and retail don't, Kent said. Many workers will still need to travel within Long Island or to the city "whether the railroad is working or not."As a result, Long Island's highways may become even more gridlocked, leading to lost productivity even for businesses with local staff, Kent said. Kristen Porciello, vice president of operations at the Hotel Indigo in Riverhead said the loss of any modes of transportation ahead of Memorial Day weekend posed a risk to hotel stays. Industry officials said it could also slow the collection of hotel and motel taxes.“This is our busy season. This is the season that people come out for,” Porciello said. “Anything that could stop that could hurt bookings.”***Gasoline prices on Long Island and in the metropolitan area overall rose a whopping 33.9% last month compared with a year ago as the war with Iran continued to disrupt oil production and transportation.That was the fastest rate in nearly four years — and followed March’s 18.2% increase in the cost of gas.James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that the surge in pump prices led to higher inflation overall in the metro area and nationwide last month with the consumer price index rising at its quickest pace in three years. The index was released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.The acceleration of war with Iran which began Feb. 28, has reversed the year-over-year decline in the cost of gas seen in January and February, as well as in much of 2025.Prices on Long Island have continued to climb this month. The average price of a gallon of unleaded was $4.53 yesterday, up from $4.35 on May 1, according to AAA.Economists predicted more of the same at least in the short term, with some saying inflation will peak next month."Shoppers face a costly summer ahead," said John A. Rizzo, an economist and Stony Brook University professor, adding the higher gas prices coincide with the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported goods."Businesses are passing on the import taxes directly to customers. At the same time, high oil prices and summer gas fees are making it pricier to ship food and store goods," which leads to increases in retail prices, Rizzo said.The overall consumer price index for the 25-county region, including Long Island, rose 4.6% last month compared with April 2025. That was the fastest pace in three years.***Riverhead High School’s honor music students returned home from Philadelphia with some of the top honors awarded at the Music in the Parks festival earlier this month. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the R.H.S. wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, chamber orchestra and chamber choir all earned superior ratings at the regional competition, with the wind ensemble and jazz ensemble each being named best overall in their categories.The wind ensemble captured first place and Best Overall Concert Band, while the jazz ensemble earned first place and Best Overall Jazz Ensemble honors. The chamber orchestra also took first place with a superior rating, and the chamber choir earned second place with a superior rating.Two Riverhead High School students also received individual recognition for their performances. Senior Christian Seymour was named Best Overall Jazz Soloist and junior Jarell Gilliam earned Best Overall Vocalist honors.“This trip was an extraordinary experience for all involved, one that showcased the dedication, talent and hard work of our student-musicians,” said jazz ensemble director Crystal Crespo.***The Town of East Hampton yesterday adopted legislation barring its police from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration enforcement.Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the East Hampton Town Board voted unanimously to approve the bill during its meeting on Tuesday. The new law prohibits town police from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in civil immigration enforcement. The measure allows town police to cooperate in criminal cases or when officers are presented with a judicial warrant.East Hampton Town officials framed the measure as a step to strengthen public safety by reinforcing trust between members of law enforcement and immigrant communities. About 27% of the town's population is Hispanic or Latino, and about 23% are foreign-born, according to U.S. census estimates. The percentage of "documented" foreign born East Hampton residents has not been officially published. Advocates have said the threat of deportation can deter residents from reporting crimes or cooperating with police. The legislation bars the Town of East Hampton from entering into 287(g) agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which allows police departments to partner with ICE on immigration enforcement. Such agreements have been used in Nassau County, where local detectives have been deputized to assist federal agents.Latino and immigrant neighbors are “part of the fabric of East Hampton,” Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said before the vote. “I want them to hear this clearly: You are not alone and you belong here. You should not have to choose between your health and your fear.”In response to East Hampton Town’s adoption, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to Newsday that ICE has had “tremendous success” when working with local law enforcement.“Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country…When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with ICE, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities,” the I.C.E. spokesperson said. “Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.”The new East Hampton Town legislation follows a period of heightened illegal immigration enforcement nationwide by the Trump administration including on Long Island.New York State lawmakers are looking to ban municipalities from entering 287(g) agreements statewide. President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to “flood the zone” with immigration agents if New York passes those bills.***Two of the most prominent commercial real estate properties in downtown Sag Harbor Village are officially under new ownership. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the U-shaped building at 2 Main Street — sometimes referred to as “Fort Apache” — which is currently home to K-Pasa and Yummylicious, and 22 Long Island Avenue, the former home of the 7-Eleven, were purchased last week by Mavik Capital, a New York City-based real estate investment firm.Mavik is now the sole owner of the properties, but has been involved in them for several years. Mavik was one of the original lenders when developer Jeremy Morton purchased both properties in 2024 for a total of $30 million.After making the purchase, Morton presented grand plans for the properties to the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board, looking to extend an existing second floor at both buildings. But the fate of those buildings has been in flux for months, after the news, earlier this year, that Morton had defaulted on more than $5 million in loans, many that he had personally guaranteed, and had failed to pay various local contractors as well. Mavik closed on a deal last week to assume full control of the two properties. While details of the company’s plans for the buildings have yet to be released, the company has hired local attorney Denise Schoen of Adam Miller Group and local architect Chris DiSunno, signaling a desire to engage in a thoughtful way with the community.A press release sent from Adam Miller Group outlined the approach the company plans to take in its ownership of the buildings.“As the gateway assets to the Village, Mavik is focused on delivering a thoughtful, community-focused approach by engaging local expertise to help shape the project’s vision,” the release stated. “Mavik has confirmed it will...