John Avlon and Nick LaLota on the Environment | 1st District Matters

icon 1 Photo

The Express News Group & WLIW-FM on Oct 31, 2024

As we face ever more severe weather, Long Island is a frontline region in navigating climate change. Flood insurance, agriculture, and more are all at stake. What can Congress do to help Suffolk County move forward sustainably in this new world?

Hear 1st District Republican Congressman Nick LaLota and Democratic congressional candidate John Avlon share their views on the issue in their own words, recorded in two separate panel interviews September 2024 at WLIW-FM studios in Southampton.

These recordings have been lightly edited without changing the content of the candidates' statements during the panel interviews. Editing of the candidates has occurred only where a music bed is heard, as well as minor editing of the moderators.

1st District Matters is part of Your Election 2024, a special collection of programs, series, and resources from The WNET Group to illuminate election issues on-air, online, and on YouTube leading into the November 5th elections.

A production of Express News Group and WLIW-FM.

For WLIW-FM:
Moderator: Michael Mackey
Executive Producer: Diane Masciale
Producer: Delaney Hafener
Production: Kyle Lynch
Senior Engineer: Brian Bannon
Legal Services: Marta Castaing

For The Express News Group:
Executive Producer and Moderator: Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor
Managing Editor: Bill Sutton
Deputy Managing Editor: Brendan J. O'Reilly
Moderator and Staff Writer: Christopher Walsh
Production Managers: Kerri Cunningham, Sara Mannino Kent
Publishers: Gavin Menu, Kathryn G. Menu

Copyright 2024

Listen to 1st District Matters on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Spotify in the 27Speaks feed.

You May Also Like:

Southampton Town Police Announce 2026 Civilian Academy

The Southampton Town Police Department will launch its 2026 Civilian Police Academy on January 15, ... 5 Dec 2025 by Staff Writer

Sag Harbor Village Police Reports for the Week of December 4

SAG HARBOR VILLAGE — Sag Harbor Village Police arrested a Sag Harbor teenager on a charge of assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor, early Saturday morning. According to police, the victim, also a Sag Harbor teen, left work and was approaching his car parked on Rysam Street at about 10:30 Friday night when he noticed the interior light in a dark sedan go on, after which the suspect stepped out. The victim told police that the suspect had recently been photographing his car, then sending him threatening messages via social media. After getting out of the sedan, police said, ... 4 Dec 2025 by Staff Writer

A Day of Quiet

November 27, Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. Morning: I hear the screech owl, the great-horned owl, the Cooper’s hawk, Carolina wren, white-throated sparrow, chirps of the cardinal, red-breasted nuthatch, the cooo of the mourning dove; songs of rooster, flicker, dark-eyed junco. Titmouse, blue jay. Wind, barely a breeze, whispers haaaaaaaa in wind language, lovingly. Tranquility. Peace. I’m alive — ping of chill in the air, my skin zings. This sacred silence is why I moved here 40 years ago. But it’s completely gone now. And why? Was our designation of “green community” just a photo-op? A lie? Words co-opted like the phrase ... by Staff Writer

White House Confidential

There has been some consternation expressed about changes that the Trump administration is making to the White House, including the East Wing demolition, paving over the Rose Garden, and plans for a grand ballroom. Let’s put some historical perspective on this: The first president to occupy the White House, John Adams, did so 225 years ago last month, and the building and grounds have been undergoing change ever since. Construction of the White House had begun during George Washington’s first term — specifically, at noon on October 13, 1792, with the laying of the cornerstone. The main residence and foundations ... by Tom Clavin

The Nitrogen Threat

“Restore Our Waters” was the title of the invitation. Its subtitle: “Learn How To Switch Out Your Septic To Remove The No. 1 Threat to Groundwater, Nitrogen, From Our Septic Systems With Tax-Free Grant Funds.” Some 100 people packed into the auditorium of the Southampton Cultural Center two weeks ago for a “public education event” to learn about an issue that has deeply impacted Suffolk County: the migration of nitrogen from cesspools into groundwater, the sole source of potable water in Suffolk. The nitrogen also goes into surface waters, including lakes, ponds and bays. Spotlighted at the event was the ... by Karl Grossman

Vigor and Decay

Brown is the color of the days. We, at such an angle to the sun, give up our growing season and must tilt toward the melancholy color of mud. While finger-painting, brown might be the first color you make by mistake. In your enthusiasm, you blended all the colors on the pallet and ended up with nothing remarkable. In fact, it looks like excrement. Brown may not be a vibrant color, but it is generally a warm one. All living things are, at some point, brown. The goldfinch, as if reduced to rags, just dingy fluff where brightness had been. ... by Marilee Foster

Community News, December 4

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Santa on the Farm Weekend The Long Island Game Farm invites families to ... by Staff Writer

The Start of a New Era at The Express News Group, With a New Website and Focus on Digital Media, and Leadership Changes

The end of the year will be the start of a new era at The ... 3 Dec 2025 by Cailin Riley

Sag Harbor Planning Board Has Questions as Redevelopment of 2 Main Street and 22 Long Island Avenue Come Into Focus

The Sag Harbor Village Planning Board had a number of questions as the board reviewed ... by Stephen J. Kotz

Sign the Ban

Pity the poor horseshoe crab. It is, without question, a survivor almost beyond compare. Consider this: There are fossils of the creature dating back 445 million years. Dinosaurs arrived about 200 million to 250 million years ago — which means the time between us and dinosaurs is equal to the time between dinosaurs and the earliest horseshoe crabs. And they’re still here, nearly unchanged. But they finally may have met their match. The American horseshoe crab has “vulnerable” status, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The population faces a whole series of challenges, including sea-level rise, coupled ... by Editorial Board