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The Foggiest Idea

The Award-Winning Resource on Real Estate Development, Land Use, and Planning. Helping people about since 2010.

For media inquiries, policy questions, speaking engagements or general information on land use, please feel free to contact [email protected]. The Foggiest Idea is an award-winning resource on real estate development, land use, housing, transportation, and environmental issues. The Foggiest Idea's work includes:
- Guest lectures at universities, schools, civic groups and community libraries

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- Public advocacy on various development issues.
- Consultancy services for civic organizations on issues concerning real estate development.
- Published written work in prominent publications.
- Professional land use and community analysis for prospective homebuyers on Long Island. The Foggiest Idea is widely read by influential stakeholders, leaders in the real estate community, policymakers, elected officials and urban planners across the United States. Please visit www.TheFoggiestIdea.org for my collection of published work, media appearances, and more. Is there a land use or real estate development issue that you need unbiased, expert analysis on? Reach out at [email protected].

03/11/2021

It's Been Quiet On TFI's page. Here's Why.

Due to the recent revelations about Facebook’s harmful business practices that were brought forward by company whistleblower Frances Haugen, The Foggiest Idea will no longer be active on the platform.

In recent weeks, the information that has come to light is both damning and in hindsight, expected, when one looks back at how our collective political and civic discourse has been eroded by the volatile toxicity that spreads on Facebook’s suite of social platforms.

While Facebook and Instagram will no longer be updated, readers can still engage with TFI through a variety of other avenues, including on Twitter , on LinkedIn, or by emailing [email protected].

Read the entire note here: https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/11/01/editors-note-document-dump-shows-how-facebook-is-toxic-to-democratic-ideals-the-foggiest-idea-will-no-longer-use-the-platform/

13/09/2021

: While unassuming to most, 398 Townline Road in Suffolk County's Commack once stood at the center of the nation's Cold War with the U.S.S.R.

An exact replica of the Commack home served as an example of suburban prosperity during the American National Exhibition that was held in Moscow's Sokolniki Park during the summer of 1959. Dubbed "splitnik" by the international press due to it's cleaving down the middle to better accommodate tours, Soviet-era crowds marveled at the relatively luxurious home's G.E appliances and Macy's furniture.

In the replica's kitchen, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and then-U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon battled over the differences between communism and capitalism live on television. The house was designed by architect Stanley Klein, is still standing in it's mostly original form today. (Photo Credit: Patch.com)

11/09/2021

Never Forget. Ever.

07/09/2021

QUICK HITS: LONG ISLAND BUSINESS GROUPS TO MTA: MOVE YAPHANK LIRR STOP AND EXPAND ELECTRIC SERVICE - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/09/02/quick-hits-remnants-of-ida-tear-through-new-york-region-with-record-rains-killing-43/

"Business leaders on Long Island penned a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority urging the transit agency to relocate the Yaphank Long Island Rail Road station closer to Brookhaven National Lab and extend electric rail service further east.

The letter, signed by the heads of the Long Island Association , Association for a Better Long Island , Long Island Builders Institute, and other stakeholders argued that the moves would bolster the economy by increasing access to BNL and by stimulating development along the William Floyd Parkway corridor. You can read the group’s letter to the MTA here."

05/09/2021

This month, TFI will be hosting TWO upcoming events that explore the policy issues that shape our future -

1. TFI and the Connetquot Public Library present: AGING IN SUBURBIA
When: Thursday, September 9th at 7:00 PM
Award-winning real estate writer Richard Murdocco presents aging in suburbia. This program will explore adapting Long Island's housing inventory and transportation networks to fit the needs of an aging population. What challenges does Long Island's suburban landscape present? What opportunities for change are there in the region?

2. TFI and the Lindenhurst Memorial Library present: LI'S POWER GRID - Storms, Challenges, and the Future
When: Saturday, September 25th at 11:00 AM
Why does the power grid keep failing when wind blows? How can we rebuild our utilities to be stronger and more resilient ? What future challenges does Long Island face in the years ahead? Join Richard Murdocco, award-winning columnist and adjunct professor at Stony Brook, for this informational presentation.

03/09/2021

REMNANTS OF IDA TEAR THROUGH REGION WITH RECORD RAINS, KILLING 43 - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/09/02/quick-hits-remnants-of-ida-tear-through-new-york-region-with-record-rains-killing-43/
"Days after a near miss from Hurricane Henri, the post-tropical remnants of Hurricane Ida tore through the New York metropolitan region, leaving in the storm’s wake forty-three deaths and a crippled transportation network.

The system brought with it record-shattering rains that turned expressways into rivers and spawned vividly destructive EF-3 tornadoes that spun across suburban New Jersey. The storm’s driving rains were so severe that the National Weather Service declared a Flash Flood Emergency in both New York and New Jersey for the first-time ever. Rainfall rates were as high as three to five inches per hour, with some areas receiving more than nine inches of rain at an alarmingly rapid pace."

22/08/2021

HENRI SWEEPS PAST LONG ISLAND, LOSES STEAM AFTER HITTING RHODE ISLAND (UPDATE AS OF 1:15 PM, SUNDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 2021) https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/21/the-latest-updates-on-hurricane-henri-for-the-new-york-metro-region/

After being forecast as a pending storm with weighty historic significance for Long Island, Tropical Storm Henri amounted to little more than a breezy rain event for a majority of the New York metro region. Even Long Island's East End, slated to be the epicenter of the storm's impact, was spared the worst.

Instead of smacking directly into Suffolk County as forecasted, the storm shifted further eastward, passed over Block Island, and made landfall at 12:15 PM Sunday near Westerly, Rhode Island.

This is the final update related to Tropical Storm Henri - Thank you for following The Foggiest Idea! # # #

22/08/2021

HENRI DOWNGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM - LONG ISLAND NARROWLY AVOIDS DIRECT HIT (UPDATE AS OF 8:45 AM, SUNDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 2021) https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/21/the-latest-updates-on-hurricane-henri-for-the-new-york-metro-region/

Long Island narrowly avoided a direct strike from a downgraded Tropical Storm Henri on Sunday morning, as latest tracks now show the system making landfall along the coast of Rhode Island.

With the storm weakening, the hurricane warnings that were issued for Long Island, the southern coast of New England, and Block Island have been changed to a tropical storm
warnings.

The National Weather Service said early Sunday that the colder waters north of the Gulf Stream weakened Henri, which now boasts maximum sustained winds of 70 mph with higher gusts.

Originally, Henri was slated to be the first hurricane to directly hit Long Island since Hurricane Gloria, which struck the region as a Category 1 storm in 1985.

22/08/2021

HURRICANE HENRI SHIFTS EAST, BRUNT OF STORM EXPECTED EARLY SUNDAY (UPDATE AS OF 9:15 PM, SATURDAY, AUGUST 21st, 2021) - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/21/the-latest-updates-on-hurricane-henri-for-the-new-york-metro-region/

While Hurricane Henri's predicted track has shifted slightly eastward, it doesn't much matter - experts say that the majority of Suffolk County will face hurricane conditions early Sunday morning.

Craig Allen On-Air, chief meteorologist for WCBS Newsradio 880, stated Saturday evening that Long Islanders shouldn't focus on Henri's exact track because tropical conditions radiate from the storm up to 110 miles out. Instead, Allen says that residents should be wary of Henri's prolonged rains, storm surges, and likelihood of extended power outages, which PSEG Long Island warned could last upwards of 14-days in hardest hit areas.

As of writing, Hurricane Henri was churning 235 miles south of Montauk, and moving at a steady 18 mph north towards the region. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Henri is expected to further strengthen through this evening, followed by some weakening right before landfall is made.

Regardless, the agency notes that Henri will be at or near hurricane strength when it eventually strikes Long Island and southern New England. Henri's hurricane-force winds radiate out roughly 45 miles from the storm's eye, while tropical storm-force winds extend up to 150 miles. Forecasters expect the peak of the storm to hit roughly late Sunday morning through the afternoon, and warn that the East End and coastal southeast Connecticut face the highest storm surge threats.

No further updates are expected until Sunday. Stay safe! – RJM

21/08/2021

Pictured: Muted crowds gather at Robert Moses State Park to look at the sizable waves from approaching Hurricane Henri on Saturday afternoon. (Photo Credit: Richard Murdocco/The Foggiest Idea)

21/08/2021

LONG ISLAND BRACES FOR HENRI, FIRST HURRICANE TO STRIKE REGION SINCE 1985 - Read the latest update as-of 8:00 AM, 8/21 - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/21/the-latest-updates-on-hurricane-henri-for-the-new-york-metro-region/ "Suffolk County is currently under a Hurricane Warning for the first time in a decade, as Tropical Storm Henri (pronounced Ohn-ree) is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane somewhere on Long Island’s south shore early Sunday afternoon. Further west, both Nassau County and New York City are under a Tropical Storm Warning.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service expect Henri to bring life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding, hurricane force winds from 75 mph and above along Long Island and across southern Connecticut. Tropical force winds can arrive as early as Saturday night, meteorologists said.

Henri will be the first hurricane to directly strike Long Island since 1985’s Hurricane Gloria, and policymakers, residents, and PSEG Long Island are bracing for the worst.

16/08/2021

QUICK HITS: CENSUS DATA IS IN, CUOMO IS OUT - AND HISTORY WILL BE MADE - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/13/quick-hits-latest-census-shows-population-growth-on-long-island/ "

The latest U.S. Census figures show that both Nassau and Suffolk Counties grew in population since 2010. The rate of growth within Nassau had accelerated compared to the period from 2000 to 2010, while Suffolk had noticeably slowed. As the region's headcount grew these past ten years, Long Island became more diverse.

WITH HOCHUL, A SEISMIC SHIFT IN ALBNY
With the pending resignation of Andrew Cuomo, New York sits on the cusp of a historic milestone as the first female governor waits to assume executive power. (Source: Associated Press)

05/08/2021

TFI TO SMITHTOWN - PUBLIC OUTREACH HELPED IMPROVE DRAFT COMP PLAN https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/08/03/public-comments-amendments-to-smithtowns-draft-comprehensive-plan/ "Troublingly, the discourse surrounding land use and developmental policies has become increasingly toxic in recent years as both misinformation and fear-mongering about the practice of urban planning propagates across the echo chambers of social media.

The fact that Smithtown successfully conducted outreach and solicited civic participation is impressive in today’s political climate that prioritizes tribalism over cooperation."

16/07/2021

: The Long Island Expressway is missing both Exit 47 and Exit 54. In total, the LIE has numbered exits that begin at Exit 13, Borden Avenue in Queens, to Exit 73, County Road 58 in Riverhead.

According to reports in Newsday, Exit 47 was originally intended for Robert Moses' proposed extension of the Bethpage State Parkway, which was formally axed by policymakers in 1986.

Meanwhile, Exit 54 was in use at one time for westbound travelers headed towards Wicks Road in Brentwood, but the New York State Department of Transportation reconstructed Exits 52, 53, and 54 to better accommodate traffic flow in 1990, and Exit 54 was delisted.

08/07/2021

TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR TRI-STATE REGION
The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the downstate New York region and parts of Connecticut, with Tropical Storm Elsa expected to bring winds and driving rain later today through Friday. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is being forecast alongside sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph possible.

Areas along the south shore of Long Island and across southeast Connecticut will likely be the most impacted by the system, and the NWS cautions against associated marine hazards in coastal areas.

Stay tuned to your local NWS office for more details and the latest forecasts.

04/07/2021

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

02/06/2021

THE FOGGIEST IDEA WINS MULTIPLE PRIZES AT 2021 PCLI MEDIA AWARDS - The Press Club of Long Island has once again recognized The Foggiest Idea's reporting and web design during their 2021 PCLI Media Awards competition. Learn more here: https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/06/01/the-foggiest-idea-wins-multiple-prizes-at-2021-pcli-media-awards/

12/05/2021

AS FEATURED IN NEWSDAY - HIGH-SPEED RAIL ON LONG ISLAND? NOT SO FAST! https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/05/11/featured-in-newsday-high-speed-rail-on-long-island-not-so-fast/ The latest efforts to bring high-speed rail to Long Island fail to meet the region’s more immediate infrastructural needs." Read the entire Letter to the Editor from TFI by clicking the link above. (Photo Credit: SHoP Architects/ndok)

21/04/2021

TFI presents - THE FUTURE OF TRASH: GARBAGE, LANDFILLS, AND A LOOMING CRISIS - Thursday, 4/22 (tomorrow!) at 7:00 PM hosted by Connetquot Public Library via Zoom. There is still time to register - secure your spot now by calling the library at 631-567-5079, and !

Come for bad garbage-related puns, stay for the chance to learn about the coming waste crisis here on Long Island!

19/04/2021

A Long Island institution located on Merrick Road in Massapequa, All American Hamburger Drive-In first opened in 1963, and quickly became a go-to spot for hungry families that were returning from Jones Beach. Today, lines still wrap around the building on warm summer nights as throngs of hungry people wait for their classic Quarter Pounders made from fresh beef sourced from local area butchers, and hand-cut fries. The founding Vultaggio family still owns the business. (Photo Credit: Richard Murdocco/The Foggiest Idea) #🍔

14/04/2021

QUICK HITS: TRANSIT EXPERTS TO NEWSDAY – LIRR RIDERSHIP MAY NEVER FULLY REBOUND FROM PANDEMIC LOWS https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/04/11/quick-hits-experts-say-new-yorks-high-taxes-will-hurt-pandemic-recovery/
"The Long Island Rail Road has been fundamentally transformed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic – and many of the service changes riders have experienced throughout the last year are likely here to stay, experts recently told Newsday‘s Alfonso Castillo.

Currently, the LIRR’s weekday ridership is down by roughly 73%, with overall train service running around 80% that of pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, the railroad carried a record 91.1 million passengers, generating $771 million in ticket sales. The LIRR at the time ran 740 trains per day."

12/04/2021

QUICK HITS: NEW YORK'S HIGH TAXES WILL HURT PANDEMIC RECOVERY - https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/04/11/quick-hits-experts-say-new-yorks-high-taxes-will-hurt-pandemic-recovery/
"As part of the recently approved $212 billion New York state budget plan, elected officials voted to raise the tax rates on top earners and corporations. Now, top earners in New York City are being charged the highest combined tax rate in the nation – a fact that experts say will drive away the businesses and wealthy individuals that both the state and city rely upon to fund essential public services." (Photo Credit: Hans Pennink/AP)

17/03/2021

AS SEEN IN TODAY'S NEWSDAY: A MYOPIC VIEW OF LONG ISLAND DEVELOPMENT https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/03/17/newsday-a-myopic-view-of-long-island-development/ "School districts across Long Island are taking a more active role in critiquing real estate development proposals — acting more like local zoning boards than the stewards of childhood education.

While local schools deserve a seat at the table as much as any other community stakeholder, these entities cannot singularly determine our region’s developmental future by holding projects accountable outside of their purview." (Photo Credit: John Carbone/Newsday)

14/03/2021

ICYMI: IS SUFFOLK'S PROPOSAL TO CHARGE WATER CONSUMERS TO HELP PAY FOR SEPTIC UPGRADES ALL WET? https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/03/01/is-suffolks-proposal-to-charge-water-consumers-to-help-pay-for-septic-upgrades-all-wet/ "Some Suffolk County residents could be paying as much as $200 more per year at the tap if a County proposal to create a new water consumption charge that was floated last spring is officially enacted." (Photo Credit: Richard Murdocco/The Foggiest Idea)

12/03/2021

Now is as good a time as any to re-up this excellent Matt Davies political cartoon that was first published in Newsday in October 2020.

03/03/2021

ALL-NEW FROM TFI: WILL SUFFOLK COUNTY'S PROPOSED WATER FEE SOAK RESIDENTS? https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2021/03/01/is-suffolks-proposal-to-charge-water-consumers-to-help-pay-for-septic-upgrades-all-wet/ "Some Suffolk County residents could be paying as much as $200 more per year at the tap if a County proposal to create a new water consumption charge that was floated last spring is officially enacted.

The recommendation, which was formally released last week, was part of a feasibility study to create a Countywide Wastewater Management District (CWMD) that Suffolk County authored back in May 2020 with little fanfare. The goal of the new district is to address the region’s longstanding serious water quality issues."

Pictured: The county feasibility study makes a firm recommendation for new fees to pay for septic upgrades. The proposed fees would either be fixed or tied to water use. The chart pictured is the fixed price structure. (Photo Source: Suffolk County)

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