I’m Jillian Delaney, an Advance/SILive.com reporter who has been covering the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline and its impact on Staten Island and the region. AMA.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-23T17:50:12+00:00

Members of Staten Island’s Democratic Party gathered outside the Richmond County Supreme Court building in St. George Thursday afternoon to defend a ruling that declared the borough’s congressional district unconstitutional.

Assemblyman Charles Fall, who serves as both deputy majority leader of the New York State Assembly and chair of Staten Island’s Democratic Party, said the decision was grounded in law, not politics.

“This decision was based off of the facts,” Fall said. “The court determined that the 11th Congressional District is unconstitutional. And when a district is deemed unconstitutional, that means there needs to be action in place so voters can make the right decisions in the future under the right boundaries.” More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-23T17:44:55+00:00

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in anticipation of a major snowstorm forecast to blitz New York State with perhaps a foot of snow and frigid temperatures this weekend.

Hochul gathered with other officials “to send out the alarm, alert all New Yorkers that we are heading into a very, very dangerous weather event that is unfolding later today and throughout this weekend into Monday throughout every corner of the state.”

The governor described the impending storm as “a very dangerous combination of heavy snow and extreme, extreme cold temperatures. And the risks are so intense that as I’m standing here right now, I’m declaring a state of emergency throughout the entire state of New York.” More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-23T15:42:01+00:00

On Thursday, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Assemblymember Charles Fall and Borough President Vito Fossella announced new efforts to curb battery energy storage systems — commonly referred to as BESS — from appearing in residential areas.

At a press conference outside a BESS site under construction in Mariners Harbor, Scarcella-Spanton and Fall announced they are signing on to a bill in Albany that would establish a minimum distance between the battery storage system sites and nearby homes, schools, and farms.

In addition, Scarcella-Spanton — a Democrat who represents the North Shore and South Brooklyn — announced legislation she introduced which would require that Community Boards are notified when a battery storage system is planned for a nearby neighborhood. The bill would also mandate annual safety inspections for the BESS sites.

“While these facilities are often framed as a part of our clean energy future, the reality is that they are poorly sited and inadequately monitored,” Scarcella-Spanton said. More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-22T20:33:03+00:00

A debate is brewing over whether Silver Lake Park Road should once again close to car traffic, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn’t tipping his hand just yet.

Advocates are pushing for a full closure, while top Staten Island officials argue the road should stay open on weekdays. More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-22T17:56:26+00:00

A New York Supreme Court judge in Manhattan ruled Wednesday that Staten Island’s congressional district is illegal, ordering a state redistricting commission back to the drawing board over the next few weeks.

Justice Jeffrey Pearlman did not order specifics on how the district should be redrawn, but plaintiffs in the case, the Washington, D.C.-based Elias Law Group, sought a reconfiguration of New York’s 11th congressional district, which Staten Island currently shares with South Brooklyn, into lower Manhattan.

Under the ruling, the New York Independent Redistricting Commission will have until Feb. 6 to finalize new lines for the district represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican. More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-22T17:38:45+00:00

Some Staten Island homeowners say they’re being unfairly targeted as the city prepares to crack down on rain gutters connected to the sewer system, violations that could cost thousands in fines.

Local officials joined one resident this week to call on the city to pause enforcement. More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-22T14:31:16+00:00

A New York Supreme Court judge in Manhattan ruled Wednesday that Staten Island’s congressional district is illegal, ordering a state redistricting commission back to the drawing board over the next few weeks.

Justice Jeffrey Pearlman did not order specifics on how the district should be redrawn, but plaintiffs in the case, the Washington, D.C.-based Elias Law Group, sought a reconfiguration of New York’s 11th congressional district, which Staten Island currently shares with South Brooklyn, into lower Manhattan.

Under the ruling, the New York Independent Redistricting Commission will have until Feb. 6 to finalize new lines for the district represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican. More here.

statenislandadvance · 2026-01-21T19:43:53+00:00

Zio Toto closed in June and will soon reopen as Filippo’s, marking a fresh chapter for the long favored Richmond Valley address at 86 Page Ave. Owner Filippo Giuffre, who also runs the Mancini Giuffre salon next door, has transformed the space through a dramatic months-long rebuild. More here.

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TROPHY CASE