Wallet Watch newsletter: Hello from your friendly neighborhood watchdog
Hello, my name is Matt Hooke. I'm the new consumer watchdog reporter here at Newsday.
In my career, I've covered everything from an airline that defrauded customers out of $15 million, an alleged national price fixing "cartel," and exposed healthcare companies that experts believe failed to live up to their promises to consumers.
I've brought this same focus on white-collar crime and bad business practices here to Newsday. In just three weeks on Long Island, I've written about an airline that the FAA alleges was flying without proper safety personnel, a guide to Medicare enrollment highlighting common pitfalls and scams and about court settlements that could give reimbursements to Long Islanders.
Wallet Watch is not just about helping you spend your money or understanding what things cost, it's also about protecting the money you already have. Newsday wants to shine a light on the scams and shady business practices that are trying to separate you from your hard earned cash.
Do you have a crazy bill you can't explain? Are there business practices you can't believe are legal? A contract with fine print that you wish you knew about before you signed up? A contractor who charged you thousands of dollars only to leave you with a mess of incomplete work? Have you been outright scammed?
If you've ever experienced any of the above situations, tell us about it. Your questions might be answered here in Wallet Watch, or they could inform our future coverage at Newsday.
From our readers
Kim Genovese Dell'Olio from Facebook asks:
How about asking native Long Islanders why they have plans to leave?
Hi Kim! Brianne chiming in here. I asked Long Islanders this question for an article that ran a few weeks ago.
People described a lot of different reasons for leaving, but a common theme was affordability. Folks told me they left looking for cheaper housing, lower taxes or more room in the budget.
Some said they liked the slower pace they found elsewhere. But some said they missed Long Island, where they still have family and friends.
It's also worth noting that, while there has been a "general pattern of domestic migration loss" since at least 2010, according to a 2024 report from the Long Island Association, everybody isn't leaving.
The housing market remains fiercely competitive and Long Islanders are willing to pay "through the proverbial nose" for the local education system, said Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.
You can read more about Long Islanders who left here.
Have a question you'd like to submit? Confused by a bill? Spotted a price hike? Ask our team and we might answer it in the next edition. Email walletwatch@newsday.com or click here.
