Recent Expert Placement: GOP-Led LI Towns Challenge Moving Elections to Even-Numbered Years

Jun 12, 2024

1 min

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, spoke to Newsday about five GOP-led towns in Nassau and Suffolk that are challenging a new state law to move most local elections to even-numbered years.

Levy called the law “a mixed bag” for political parties and candidates. He said the candidate at the top of the ticket could impact many of the results.

“There is the risk that local issues will be drowned out … but it’s also an opportunity for a lot of people, who never bothered to pay attention to local races, to maybe do so if they don’t want to click a lever for just any old person without knowing something,” he said.

Lawrence Levy is the Executive Dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. He's available to speak with media - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

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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

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Oct 15, 2026

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People Likely to Turn to Influencers for Fitness and Nutrition Information

Martine Hackett, associate professor and chair of population health, spoke with Newsday about health and wellness advice disseminated by social media influencers. People looking to make a lifestyle change are likely to look at posts by influencers. Dr. Martine Hackett, chair of the population health department at Hofstra University, said posts from these influencers can be helpful to people looking for detailed wellness information that they might not be able to get at a routine office visit with their doctor. “You can go for your annual health checkup, but if you are younger and don’t have a chronic disease, you might be told to exercise, but they don’t have the time to tell you how,” she said. “And you may not be able to go to a nutritionist or a trainer.”

Oct 7, 2026

1 min

Auction of LI’s Oheka Castle Draws Bidders with Big Dreams

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, spoke to Newsday about the auction of Long Island’s Oheka Castle, which will take place later this month in Manhattan. The property has been called “a real-life Gatsby estate” and “one of the rarest trophy properties in the country.” Buyers could include hedge funds interested in developing condos, a boutique hotel chain or a catering company. “It would be broadly appealing once the economic backdrop improves in terms of being able to borrow to finance construction and purchasing,” Levy said.

Oct 1, 2026

1 min

Nor’easter Caused Widespread Damage, Worsened Beach Erosion

Following a rare September nor’easter, Dr. Jase Bernhardt, associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability, talked to Newsday about the damage caused by the storm, including its effects on beach erosion. The slow-moving storm, which began overnight on Friday, September 25, and continued through Monday, September 28, resulted in local flooding, power outages, and thousands of downed trees. “It is unusual but not quite unprecedented for a nor’easter to linger for so long,” said Dr. Bernhardt. “It is possible that the time of year played a role, as the ‘blocking’ pattern that allowed this storm to linger for so long would be more likely to occur at this time of year versus during the winter, when nor’easters are more common.”