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Tag: Anthony Palumbo

  • Palumbo Targets Senior Scams With New Riverhead Fraud Prevention Seminar

    Palumbo Targets Senior Scams With New Riverhead Fraud Prevention Seminar

    RIVERHEAD — New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo is teaming up with Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for a senior-focused financial scam prevention seminar in Riverhead.

    The event is scheduled for Sept. 15 at the Riverhead Free Library and will focus on helping older residents recognize and avoid common financial scams, identity theft schemes and other forms of fraud targeting seniors.

    The program is designed to give residents practical information about how scams work, what warning signs to watch for and where to report suspicious activity.

    For Palumbo, the seminar fits into a broader emphasis on public safety and consumer protection, while addressing a problem that can have especially serious consequences for older residents living on fixed incomes.

    Protecting Seniors From Financial Fraud

    Financial scams targeting seniors have become increasingly sophisticated, often using phone calls, text messages, email, social media and impersonation tactics designed to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.

    The Riverhead seminar will give residents an opportunity to hear directly from officials and learn how to recognize some of the most common warning signs.

    Palumbo and Giglio are also working with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, bringing a law-enforcement perspective to the event and giving residents information about how suspected fraud can be reported and investigated.

    Local Outreach on the East End

    Holding the seminar at the Riverhead Free Library also gives East End residents a local opportunity to access fraud-prevention information without having to travel far from their communities.

    Palumbo represents New York’s 1st Senate District, which includes much of eastern Suffolk County.

    For seniors and their families, the event offers a straightforward public-service benefit: better information about how to protect personal finances before a scam succeeds.

    What Residents Can Expect

    The seminar is expected to cover issues including:

    • common financial scams targeting seniors
    • identity theft warning signs
    • suspicious phone and online activity
    • steps residents can take to protect personal information
    • how and where to report suspected fraud

    The event is part of a broader effort by state and county officials to raise awareness before residents become victims.

    For Palumbo, it is another example of bringing state and county resources directly into the district and focusing on an issue with an immediate impact on local families.

  • DeStefano Backs New Push to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud in New York

    DeStefano Backs New Push to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud in New York

    HAUPPAUGE — New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano is backing a new legislative push aimed at tightening Medicaid fraud enforcement, increasing local prosecutorial involvement and creating financial rewards for credible tips that lead to successful cases.

    DeStefano joined Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, state Sen. Dean Murray, Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Sen. Mario Mattera in Hauppauge to support a two-bill package targeting fraud within New York’s Medicaid system. 

    The first proposal would formally designate the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, or OMIG, as the statewide clearinghouse for Medicaid fraud tips submitted through the 1-877-87-FRAUD hotline. Credible allegations would then be referred to both the New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit and the appropriate local district attorney. 

    Under the proposal, authorities would have 30 days after receiving a tip to determine whether an investigation will move forward and which agency will lead it. OMIG would also receive the outcome of completed investigations and issue annual reports showing how many tips were received, referred, investigated and resolved. 

    A second bill would create a Medicaid Fraud Tip Reward Program funded with 1% of money recovered through Medicaid fraud investigations, seizures and forfeitures. People whose documented information directly leads to a guilty plea or criminal conviction could qualify for a financial reward. 

    DeStefano: Fraud Takes Money From People Who Need Care

    DeStefano framed the issue as both a taxpayer concern and a threat to people who rely on Medicaid.

    “Every dollar stolen from that system is a dollar taken away from someone who genuinely needs care.”

    He said the program exists to support seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and children, while arguing that New York does not have enough oversight to deal with waste, fraud and abuse. 

    The Medford Republican represents New York’s 3rd Assembly District and has previously supported legislation involving Medicaid fraud detection, including a proposal that would reimburse counties for fraud, waste and abuse detection software. 

    Suffolk Officials Want More Local Enforcement

    Tierney argued that local prosecutors need greater access to Medicaid fraud complaints.

    Under the proposed legislation, credible tips would no longer remain solely within the state-level enforcement structure. Local district attorneys with jurisdiction would receive the information and could take part in investigating and prosecuting cases. 

    Tierney said the additional authority could help Suffolk investigators pursue cases that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

    Romaine also backed the package, saying stronger Medicaid fraud enforcement could protect money intended for people who depend on the health-care program. 

    Fraud Fight Tied to Affordability

    Supporters are also framing the proposals as an affordability issue.

    Palumbo argued that waste and fraud ultimately increase pressure on taxpayers and reduce resources available for legitimate public programs. The lawmakers backing the package say stronger oversight and more aggressive prosecution could help recover taxpayer money while protecting the integrity of Medicaid. 

    The legislation has not yet become law. It would still need approval from the Legislature and the governor before the proposed referral and reward systems could take effect.

    For DeStefano, the argument is straightforward: Medicaid should remain available for the residents who genuinely need it, while those who exploit the system should face greater scrutiny and prosecution.

  • Senator Anthony Palumbo Visits Southampton Town Republican Committee, Highlights East End Priorities

    Senator Anthony Palumbo Visits Southampton Town Republican Committee, Highlights East End Priorities

    SOUTHAMPTON — New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo recently addressed members of the Southampton Town Republican Committee, discussing environmental protection, public safety, local control and several legislative accomplishments from the 2026 session.

    From left to right Raheem Soto, vice chairman Southampton town, Republican committee, New York State Senate Anthony Palumbo Southampton town Republican committee leader B.J.Carpenter.

    East End News Now attended the meeting, where Palumbo spoke about protecting Long Island’s natural resources while also raising concerns about proposals that could eliminate qualified immunity for public officials and broader state actions he said undermine the authority of local governments.

    Palumbo represents New York’s 1st Senate District and serves as Deputy Floor Leader and ranking member of the Senate Codes and Judiciary committees. He also serves on the Environmental Conservation Committee. 

    Environment Remains an East End Priority

    Palumbo emphasized protecting the environment as a central concern for the East End, pointing to the importance of clean water, open space and preserving the region’s natural resources.

    His recent legislative record includes local measures affecting Southampton and other East End communities, including legislation involving the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton. That measure passed the Senate in June following a home-rule request. 

    Qualified Immunity and Public Safety

    Palumbo also warned committee members about efforts in Albany to eliminate qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that can shield government officials from personal liability in certain civil-rights lawsuits.

    Legislation currently before the Senate would prohibit qualified immunity for public officials and authorize additional enforcement mechanisms. The bill remains in committee. 

    Palumbo framed the issue as one with direct implications for law enforcement and other public officials, arguing that removing those protections could make recruitment and retention more difficult and expose officers to greater personal legal risk.

    A Fight Over Home Rule

    Another major theme of Palumbo’s remarks was home rule — the principle that local governments should retain authority over matters primarily affecting their own communities.

    Palumbo criticized what he described as increasing interference from Albany and the Hochul administration in local decision-making.

    That concern is reflected in several bills he has sponsored involving local governments, including legislation affecting Southampton’s trustees, North Haven speed limits and Riverhead property use — all measures that specifically involved local home-rule requests. 

    Palumbo has also backed legislation aimed at restoring greater legislative checks on gubernatorial emergency powers and requiring more specificity when state actions affect municipalities. 

    Legislative Accomplishments

    Palumbo also highlighted recent accomplishments from his work in Albany, including legislation affecting local government, public safety and East End institutions.

    His 2026 record includes Senate passage of legislation restoring state recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation, as well as measures involving Southampton’s trustees, the Sag Harbor Volunteer Exempt Firemen’s Benevolent Association and other local institutions. 

    Bringing Albany Back to Southampton

    The Southampton Town Republican Committee meeting gave local members an opportunity to hear directly from their state senator about issues being debated in Albany and how those decisions could affect East End communities.

    For Palumbo, the message was broader than any single bill: protect the environment, preserve public safety protections and resist state policies that weaken local control.

  • Palumbo Pushes Estate-Law Change Aimed at Preventing Wills From Failing on a Technicality

    Palumbo Pushes Estate-Law Change Aimed at Preventing Wills From Failing on a Technicality

    By East End Now | Auxio.tv News

    New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo is pushing legislation that would change how witness signatures are handled when a person dies shortly after signing a will.

    Palumbo introduced S.10684, a bill that would allow an attesting witness to sign a will within the existing 30-day period even if the person who made the will has died before the witness completes that signature. The measure is currently before the Senate Rules Committee.

    The issue sounds technical, but the consequences can be significant.

    A will exists to record a person’s wishes about what happens to property after death. When a document fails because of a procedural defect, the result can be that the legal system produces an outcome the person never intended.

    Palumbo’s proposal is aimed at narrowing that gap.

    The basic argument is straightforward: if a person properly executed a will and a witness is still operating within the legally permitted timeframe, the death of the person who made the will should not automatically prevent the witness from completing the process.

    That does not eliminate safeguards.

    It changes how one deadline operates.

    This is where the distinction between rules and outcomes matters.

    Procedural requirements exist for a reason. They help prevent fraud, establish authenticity and create a clear record.

    But when a technical requirement defeats an otherwise valid expression of someone’s wishes, the rule can begin working against the purpose it was designed to serve.

    Palumbo’s role as the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee also places him close to the kinds of legal and court-related issues this bill addresses.

    For families dealing with estates, the practical question is simple:

    Should a valid will fail because a witness completed a lawful step after the person died, even though the witness was still within the permitted 30-day window?

    Palumbo’s bill says no.

    Whether the Legislature agrees will determine if the proposal advances beyond committee.

    East End Now — Your East End. Your News.

  • Palumbo Launches Reelection Bid With Public Safety and Affordability at the Center

    Palumbo Launches Reelection Bid With Public Safety and Affordability at the Center

    By Auxio.tv News | August 28, 2026

    New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo has launched his 2026 reelection campaign with a familiar message: public safety, affordability and stronger representation for Long Island in Albany.

    Palumbo kicked off the campaign in Riverhead on August 26. He represents the 1st Senate District, which includes much of the East End and parts of Brookhaven.

    He currently serves as Deputy Floor Leader and as the ranking Republican on the Senate Codes and Judiciary committees.

    Those positions matter because many of Albany’s most consequential fights over criminal law, courts and public safety pass through those committees.

    Palumbo also enters the race with recent legislative accomplishments. One is Karilyn’s Law, a guardianship reform measure designed to give families a faster way to seek visitation with loved ones under court-appointed guardianship.

    That kind of legislation is not flashy. But politics is often judged too much by speeches and too little by whether government actually solves a problem.

    Palumbo’s campaign is also likely to focus heavily on affordability.

    That is an issue with a simple test.

    If families earn more but still cannot afford housing, taxes, energy and everyday expenses, then economic statistics mean little to them.

    For East End residents, affordability is not an abstract policy debate. It determines whether young families stay, whether retirees can remain in their homes and whether local workers can afford to live near the communities they serve.

    Palumbo’s political argument is therefore straightforward: Albany needs more voices willing to challenge policies that increase costs or weaken public safety.

    The difficulty is that Republicans remain in the minority in the State Senate.

    That limits what any individual senator can accomplish.

    But it also gives Palumbo a clear role to campaign on: not control of Albany, but resistance to policies he believes are harmful to Long Island.

    That is the choice voters will eventually make.

    Not whether Palumbo agrees with Albany.

    But whether they want someone representing the East End who is willing to push back against it.

    Auxio.tv News Now