"Overdevelopment, Corruption" Define Huntington GOP Primary

By Leader Staff

Huntington Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci launched her campaign for Huntington Town Supervisor to "protect our neighborhoods against Ed Smyth's mass apartment overdevelopment and to have zero tolerance for municipal corruption..." 

Brooke Lupinacci is challenging incumbent Supervisor Ed Smyth in the Republican primary for Supervisor on June 24th.

Huntington has been rocked by a series of corruption scandals over Smyth's attempt to push-through a massive re-zone of 700 acres in Melville to build thousands of high-density apartments - the largest apartment development in the history of Long Island - and charges of bribes, kick-backs, and selective re-zoning worth millions of dollars to corrupt developers.

Smyth's associate, developer Gregory DeRosa, was arrested last week for fraud, after numerous Court actions and newspaper reports fingered DeRosa for running a "$50 million Ponzi land fraud" and stealing millions from Huntington residents.

DeRosa worked closely with Smyth to plot the redevelopment of Melville into high-density four story apartment blocks.  The cramped apartments under Smyth and DeRosa's re-zone - only 750 square feet for a two bedroom rental apartment - would mean thousands of low income - or no income - migrants.

The Half Hollow Hills School District denounced Smyth's apartment plan, charging that he would impose a $21 million annual tax increase on residents, to pay for new schools, staff and school security. 

The arrest of DeRosa has sent shock waves through Suffolk politics.  DeRosa's business partner - Huntington Councilman Sal Ferro - announced he is leaving the Town Board, after being tied to millions in cash being wired between him and DeRosa.

The FBI and NYS have been investigating Huntington corruption for months.

Smyth ran for election four years ago, pledging to stop overdevelopment, but then flip-flopped to open Huntington to an unprecedented wave of mass apartment construction. Under Smyth, high density housing projects are now being developed in East Northport; Cold Spring Hills; downtown Huntington; Fort Salonga; Huntington Station, Melville; Elwood; and several other Huntington locations.