Santos gets nasty with Suffolk GOP chairman

Daily Point

Expelled congressman consults ex-MTG treasurer

George Santos, the expelled congressman from Nassau’s 3rd District who is now seeking a new seat in the 1st District, has already jumped into a nasty row with Suffolk GOP chairman Jesse Garcia.

When Santos, who is under federal indictment on corruption charges, announced last week his primary bid against incumbent Republican Rep. Nicholas LaLota, Garcia treated Santos’ new attempt at elective office as a joke.

And on Wednesday, Garcia issued a news release attacking Santos again and criticized News 12 Long Island for doing a “Politics and Power” interview with the disgraced former congressman. Garcia called it a “terrible error” to give credence to a “complete fraud who lied to voters and supporters.” On Tuesday, Santos did a spot on NY1.

Shortly after Garcia’s missive, Santos issued a blistering screed on X, formerly known as Twitter, lambasting Garcia and accusing the chairman of “a desperate attempt at silencing me.” Santos then made a personal allegation against Garcia and called for him to step down as GOP chairman.

“Since the chairman wants to make it about personal politics I suggest that he look in the mirror,” Santos said in his message.

In response to a query by The Point, Garcia said “the people of the First District of Long Island have had enough of this clown show.” Santos has made no secret of his hatred for LaLota, who helped engineer his ouster.

Unlike during his stint as the 3rd District congressman, when Santos relied on advice from local GOP figures like his former treasurer Nancy Marks, this time around Santos is relying on the help of Georgia political strategist Jason Boles, who has served as campaign treasurer for another controversial GOP figure, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

This aggressive take-no-prisoners approach to politics is part of Boles’ own strategy. Boles has ties to allies of GOP presidential candidate, Donald Trump, also known for a tough personal style against opponents. As his profile on his firm’s website states, “Jason doesn’t take “No” for an answer and stops at nothing to get his clients exactly what they need: big wins.”

— Thomas Maier thomas.maier@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Paying for Trump

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Final Point

Fair housing concerns in Southampton

The Town of Southampton, which still hasn’t acted to approve a 50-unit residential development geared for veterans and those in need of affordable workforce housing, may soon find itself in the middle of a fair housing lawsuit.

Liberty Gardens, the proposed development by Concern Housing, formerly known as Concern for Independent Living, has come under fire from area residents and some elected officials, who in part cite crime and mental health needs as worries related to the housing for veterans.

The development is proposed for the Southampton Full Gospel Church property on County Road 39, also known as Route 27. It comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul is emphasizing the need to find new ways to add affordable housing, suggesting the use of state land and other properties. State lawmakers have proposed allowing religious organizations to more easily build affordable housing on their properties as well.

The proposal’s final environmental review was approved by the previous town board in December of last year under the leadership of former Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. That kicked off a three-month period — due to end at the close of March — during which the new town board is required to vote on whether to approve or deny Concern’s application.

But under new town Supervisor Maria Moore and a mostly new town board, the proposal has stalled.

Concern isn’t waiting. In a letter to Southampton Town Attorney Jim Burke that was also sent to the town board, attorney Harry Kelly with Nixon Peabody law firm suggested that comments made by the town board “raise concerns under the Fair Housing Act… and the New York State Human Rights Law.”

“Concern anticipates that many of the residents of the Apartments will be veterans with disabilities, at least some of whom may have received other than honorable discharges. In either case, those veterans are protected by the FH Act and the HRL, and statements indicating such persons are not welcomed may violate applicable fair housing laws,” Kelly wrote. “The Board and its members should be aware of the potential for liability under applicable fair housing laws when making statements about or considering action with respect to the Apartments.”

The letter does not directly say that Concern plans to sue the town. But it seems to be paving the way for such a move if the town votes against the development — or takes no vote at all.

Neither Moore nor Burke returned The Point’s calls for comment.

The 90-day deadline will come March 26 — unless Concern grants the town board an extension.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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