D'Amato offends some with speech at business summit

At a smart-growth conference in Melville on Friday, former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato gave a salty keynote speech attacking unions and schools, leaving some of the 650 guests fuming.

He complained about the $28,000 school tax on his 4,800-square-foot Lido Beach home and said school districts "rape and pillage" communities. He blamed unions and public workers' pensions for high taxes and budget woes.

In his keynote speech to the Vision Long Island summit, D'Amato maintained that high taxes and big pensions needed to be addressed to keep the young on the Island. He urged bipartisan support for smart growth, which promotes walkable communities and homes near business. In the end, some stood and clapped and many were entertained.

But by then, John Durso, head of the Long Island Federation of Labor, had walked off the dais and left after the speech, kicking and damaging a door on his way out. He could not be reached for comment later.

Two teachers and some of their 18 students from West Islip High School didn't like D'Amato's use of profanity and remarks about educators. When he posed with students for a photo, one teacher walked off.

"I don't think it was the right environment for him to say that because we came with our teachers," said 11th-grader Kelsey Raschke, 16.

D'Amato friend Richard Kessel, New York Power Authority head, took some criticism during the speech. He declined to comment later, saying "No, no. I'm not getting involved."

"People walked out of the room either shocked or offended," said Mark Grossman of the state Labor Department.

Vision Long Island head Eric Alexander said it was "mission accomplished" with D'Amato arguing for smart growth: "We don't regret having him. He gave a dynamic speech."

His spokeswoman, Dana Sanneman, said, "Now that he's out of office, he feels free to speak his mind, and many find him refreshing."

With Newsday columnist Joye Brown, a moderator at the event