Featured Post from Hofstra University

Pay Raises for LI Town Officials

Feb 20, 2025

1 min

Lawrence Levy

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, is featured in a Newsday article about pay raises for Long Island town officials. Among Long Island’s 13 towns, all but three gave raises to their town supervisors and council members, and all but two gave raises to their town clerks and tax receivers.



Levy explained that many officials like the idea of telling voters each year that they aren’t getting a pay hike, but that means when they do enact a raise, the increase will be a big dollar amount, even if its average, over 10 years, is in line with cost-of-living increases. That big increase “looks awfully scary in a headline,” he said.
Connect with:
Lawrence Levy

Lawrence Levy

Associate Vice President and Executive Dean of the National Center for Surburban

Dean Levy works close with Hofstra’s academic community to shape an innovative agenda for suburban study

Suburban Spaces and DevelopmentSuburbsEducationTaxationPolitics of the Suburbs
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Hofstra University

1 min

Blizzard of ’26 – One for the History Books

“The blizzard of ‘26 will be remembered in meteorology circles,” Dr. Jase Bernhardt told Newsday about the historic storm this week that dropped approximately 30 inches of snow on parts of Long Island. The Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology explained the blizzard hit what’s known as the “70/40 benchmark." That’s 40 degrees north latitude and 70 degrees west longitude, geographic coordinates for a spot over the Atlantic Ocean: “That’s the sweet spot,” said Dr. Bernhardt. “Say it tracks 50 miles south and east, that means the heaviest snow shifts farther away. If it tracks closer, oftentimes, it’s bringing in warm air closer to the center [of the storm], and if it tracks too close, it might yield heavy precipitation, but it’s going to be too warm for all snow.”

1 min

Pennsylvania Officials Highlight Snow Squall Safety

Research by Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability, was recently highlighted during a press conference held by several state agencies in Pennsylvania on snow squall safety. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the National Weather Service (NWS) highlighted investments by Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration that have led to an average of 7% fewer winter crashes and a 34% decrease in serious injuries and fatalities in those crashes. Media outlets that covered the press conference included the Times News Online.

1 min

School District Faces an Impossible Choice in Fight Over Mascot Name

Education Professor Alan Singer was interviewed by Newsday about the Connetquot School District on Long Island being threatened with funding cuts if it does not reinstate its old mascot name, the Thunderbirds. The name change to T-Birds was made in 2022 to comply with the state’s ban on Native American mascots and other imagery in public schools.

View all posts
Powered by