The two presidents that we celebrate on this holiday were unique in their times. George Washington was extraordinary in his mission to win our independence was also humble enough to walk away from the seat of power that he held as president.

Abraham Lincoln, on the other hand, held the Union together through a brutal civil war and then signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

We respect these leaders — Washington, because he set the example of power that embraced humility and respect for the architects of the republic that they led and served, and Lincoln, because he was able to guide — and preserve — the nation during one of the most tumultuous times in U.S. history.

These leaders possessed the courage, intellect and moral fabric to serve.

Lincoln’s basic morality helped him evolve into the leader who could learn and transform this great nation into an even better one. I see them both as brave and intellectually equal to the tasks they were given.

But let’s consider some of the presidents that followed them. I will only speak of the presidents who served in my lifetime. Franklin Delano Roosevelt led this country through an economic collapse and a war — that was a great feat — and created an America that the leaders who followed gave us peace and prosperity that lasted 80 years. Thank you!

Then there were the presidents who served in the military in the last century. Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, and Jimmy Carter. There were others who served, but these presidents not only served honorably, they served courageously, demonstrating character and bravery. Thank you all.

I married into a Jewish family and soon learned that there is not much difference in the basic ideas. One of those basic ideas is to love thy neighbor.

Understanding that thought has made me very wary of the antisemitism that is poisoning the environment. We are all one. I believe the core of all the world’s religions is to teach us to live in peace, and care for each other.

Years ago, LIMBA hosted two men of the cloth. They were Rabbi Marc Gelman and Father Tom Hartman. They called themselves “The God Squad.” Their message was that there is more than one path to the pinnacle. I agree. We of faith and those of no particular faith will stand shoulder to shoulder and protect each other, and we will be blessed.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

I’m thinking of the 1960’s, World War 2, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War that established this country. Those past times could all have been the end of this great experiment we proudly call the United States of America, but those events only made us stronger. “We will overcome” were the words of Dr. King and when President Lyndon Johnson spoke those words MLK cried. He cried tears of joy because he knew he had won the day. We will win the day again.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ernie Fazio

I left the diner and went to help my brother on a project he was working on in Howard Beach. I turned the radio on and heard that this was a large passenger plane. I wondered how this could happen.

My brother John’s house is on Jamaica Bay, with a clear line of sight to the towers. We watched them fall. When that happened, John’s head dropped and he said, “Three hundred firemen just died.” He was wrong; it turned out to be 354. He was a retired firefighter, but remained close to the firemen and he was distraught by what we saw.

The impact on all of us was terrible. A few days later, I went to Oneonta, New York. While there, I needed something from a hardware store and the lady who was helping me asked me where I was from. I told her I just came from New York City. She held my hand firmly and her eyes filled with tears. “Sorry, so sorry,” she said. I realized that pain was spreading far and wide on that sad occasion.

Over the years, I began to appreciate the historical significance of this great celebration. My mother was an immigrant from Sicily and her love and respect for this country became part of my upbringing. America was almost as important as her Catholic faith.

It wasn’t just a blind allegiance to the concept of our country; it was being a contributing member of this experiment. Her politics were conservative, and she worked for the election of several Republican judges in New York City.

Politics in our house was sometimes part of the discussion. Harry Truman was president after FDR’s death and sometimes, she was critical of him. On the other hand, she and my dad would speak respectfully about the president.Am I speaking romantically of the era in our history? I’m not sure, but I believe it to be true. My wish for all of us on this great holiday is that we retain the civility that I believe existed. I wish us all a great celebration that President Lincoln describes in his closing remarks of the Gettysburg address, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

— Ernie Fazio

Although we were not “the more perfect union” our founders challenged us with being, but we were pretty darn good. We must never forget those who died and those that returned, but without all their parts and sometimes without their sanity.

We need to come to the path that is embraced by all the world’s religions and take care of each other. The cynics among us will say that I am a fool. Yes, I am, if being a fool they mean I care about my fellow human beings. Guilty as charged!

When you celebrate this holiday, count your blessings. Surround yourselves with the people and things that make you happy.

While contemplating the sober thoughts of this holiday, rejoice in being an American. It didn’t come easy.

Ernie Fazio

The PSC regulates all utilities to ensure they are “safe, reliable and affordable,” Gallagher said. The Long Island regional office was established in 2013 as part of the LIPA (Long Island Power Authority) Reform Act due to the utility’s poor response to Superstorm Sandy. 

Gallagher discussed the state’s move toward clean energy and its attempt to meet the goals set under the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. “We have become more ambitious” in this area, she said, despite negative factors such as high prices, tariffs, the fluctuation of commodity prices and disruptions in the market. “New York State is not backing down from its climate goals, although it might take a little longer [to achieve them].”

She mentioned that the state achieved its goal of 6,000 megawatts of distributed solar ahead of schedule. Some of the other goals include:

• energy efficiency by reducing 185 trillion BTUs of electricity by 2025
• 10,000 megawatts of distributed solar energy by 2030
• 70% renewable energy by 2030
• 3,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2030
• 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035
• 100% emission-free energy production by 2040
• an 85% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050

“The 2040 goal, we’re still managing it,” Gallagher said. “The timeline might be slightly delayed.” In order to achieve zero emissions, she said, the focus must shift to solar, wind, hydrogen, nuclear energy and biogas. There is also the use of DEFRs (Dispatchable Emission Free Resources), but, Gallagher said, the viability of that technology is “yet to be determined.”

The problem with the current energy infrastructure is that “it’s old,” she said. One solution is bidirectional energy so that it would come down from upstate New York to Long Island  “and then come back up as needed.”

She also discussed the RAPID Act, a proposal to streamline the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy generation and electric transmission facilities. There have been misnomers regarding the state taking control over the permitting process, but Gallagher said that is not the case.

“It doesn’t take away the ability of local governments to participate,” Gallagher said. “It also enhances public participation, so you get the best of both worlds.”

She noted that Long Island is at the forefront of the clean energy movement, with houses being powered by solar energy, wind and solar farms on the island and more motorists switching to electric and hybrid vehicles. 

“Electricity is so critical,” Gallagher said. “We need that power to run our devices, our phones, our homes and our healthcare systems. … We need to be prepared. … There is no transition with transmission.”

The meeting was sponsored by North American Water Technologies, Inc. and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049.

The event is being sponsored by North America Water Technology, Inc. (NAWT) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1049.

Ms. Gallagher has 25 years of experience in government leadership roles in New York State and on Long Island, including Incident Commander of the New York State COVID Test Site at Stony Brook, Regional Director of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation on Long Island, Chief Sustainability Officer for the Suffolk County Water Authority, Commissioner of Environment and Energy for Suffolk County, and, most recently, serving as Deputy Secretary for Energy & Environment in the Governor’s Office before returning back home to her family to assume leadership of the NYS Public Service Commission’s Long Island Office.

In her current role, Ms. Gallagher and her regional staff provide increased regulatory oversight of LIPA and PSEGLI and ensure fair and reasonable electric rates for ratepayers, while also safeguarding access to secure, resilient, reliable, and sustainable electric, gas, water, cable and telecommunications services in the region. The office also facilitates the development of the clean energy infrastructure in the region necessary to implement the state’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act.