Name: Housing, taxes, childcare: Why Long Island costs so much
Uploaded: 2026-05-11T04:00:00Z
Duration: 11 min
Description: NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa, Andrew Ehinger and Newsday business reporter James T. Madore look at why everything seems to cost more on Long Island.

Newsday TV

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Knicks vs. Cavs Game 1 tonight ... LI Works: Hampton Ice ... Hot day on tap

Video

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Restarting LIRR system with strike over ... Commuters brave heat, delays ... What to know about school budget vote

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Newsday

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Restarting LIRR system with strike over ... What to know about school budget vote ... Knicks vs. Cavs Game 1 tonight ... Hot day on tap

LIRR STRIKE IS OVER: WHAT TO KNOW

BREAKING VIDEO FLEXIBLE SLOT

With the end of the LIRR strike and some trains set to start running at noon Tuesday, commuters faced one more early morning slog taking shuttle buses&nbsp;to subway lines in Queens reach their destinations.&nbsp;NewsdayTV&#39;s Virginia Huie speaks to commuters at the Hicksville train station.

Long Island

Transportation

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One more rough morning commute before LIRR resumes service

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End to chaotic morning commute in sight

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With the end of the LIRR strike and some trains set to start running at noon Tuesday, commuters faced one more early morning slog taking shuttle buses to subway lines in Queens reach their destinations. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie speaks to commuters at the Hicksville train station.

The MTA and the LIRR unions have reached an agreement to end the 3-day transit strike. NewsdayTV&#39;s Pat Dolan reports.

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MTA, LIRR unions reach deal to end strike: What to know

Manhattan

Hicksville

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Service restarts at noon Tuesday

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The MTA and the LIRR unions have reached an agreement to end the 3-day transit strike. NewsdayTV's Pat Dolan reports.

Some Long Islanders&nbsp;described a tiring commute&nbsp;to work, while picketing LIRR employees continued to make their voices heard. NewsdayTV&rsquo;s Shari Einhorn reports.&nbsp;

Commuters react to LIRR strike at Hicksville station

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'It's really tough'

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Some Long Islanders described a tiring commute to work, while picketing LIRR employees continued to make their voices heard. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Without the LIRR as an option because of the strike, Long Islanders in Plainview Monday felt frustrated about the amount of traffic and higher gas prices. Newsday travel writer&nbsp;Carissa Kellman reports.

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Forced to drive with no LIRR service, LIers frustrated by traffic, gas prices

Plainview

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'It's definitely annoying'

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Without the LIRR as an option because of the strike, Long Islanders in Plainview Monday felt frustrated about the amount of traffic and higher gas prices. Newsday travel writer Carissa Kellman reports.

Drivers might want to allot extra time for their morning drive on Monday during the LIRR strike as traffic builds on the Long Island Expressway. NewsdayTV&#39;s Carissa Kellman reports.

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Allow extra time for driving on LI roads

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Traffic building on LIE during morning drive

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Drivers might want to allot extra time for their morning drive on Monday during the LIRR strike as traffic builds on the Long Island Expressway. NewsdayTV's Carissa Kellman reports.

Frustration was mounting on Day 3 of the LIRR strike Monday,&nbsp;as commuters at the Hicksville station faced taking shuttle buses and subways to reach their jobs in New York City.&nbsp;NewsdayTV&#39;s Virginia Huie reports.

Frustration mounts on Day 3 of LIRR strike

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'It's hurting everybody, the strike'

Frustration was mounting on Day 3 of the LIRR strike Monday, as commuters at the Hicksville station faced taking shuttle buses and subways to reach their jobs in New York City. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Updates from the site of talks between the MTA and unions.

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MTA negotiators speak outside 2 Broadway

New York City

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LIRR strike update

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Updates from the site of talks between the MTA and unions.

With no end in sight to the LIRR strike, commuters need to know their options for getting around. NewsdayTV&#39;s Andrew Ehinger reports.

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How to get around without LIRR service

Queens

Long Beach

Ronkonkoma

Babylon

Elmont

Hempstead

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Breaking down your commuting options

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With no end in sight to the LIRR strike, commuters need to know their options for getting around. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Susi Nunez, of Coram, spoke Sunday about how she&#39;s trying get from Suffolk to Manhattan to visit her sick mother.

How one rider is trying get around

Brentwood

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'It's a headache'

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Susi Nunez, of Coram, spoke on Sunday about the lengths she needs to go to during the LIRR strike in order to get from Suffolk to Manhattan to visit her sick mother.

As LIRR union members picketed for a new contract, commuters and businesses weigh in ... and everyone&#39;s&nbsp;frustrated. NewsdayTV&#39;s Andrew Ehinger reports.

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How union workers, riders and businesses are feeling about the LIRR strike

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'We just want to get paid for what we deserve'

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As LIRR union members picketed for a new contract, commuters and businesses weigh in ... and everyone's frustrated. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

LIRR unions have&nbsp;gone on strike for the first time since 1994. NewsdayTV&#39;s Andrew Ehinger reports.

Latest on what's happening with the LIRR strike

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'Parties were unable to reach a deal'

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LIRR unions have gone on strike for the first time since 1994. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

&quot;It&#39;s not just about the wages&quot; said&nbsp;Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen General Chairman&nbsp;Michael Sullivan. He spoke about the LIRR contract negotiations&nbsp;while on the picket line Saturday morning.

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Union official describes how negotiations with MTA broke down

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'It was egregious'

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"It's not just about the wages" said Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen General Chairman Michael Sullivan. He spoke about the LIRR contract negotiations while on the picket line Saturday morning.

Things to Do

Holidays

Memorial Day

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Army of volunteers preserving LI's cemeteries where America's original patriots are at rest

Coram

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'We don't want to forget any of these people'

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The Long Island Cemetery Preservation Group gathered to clean and repair the headstones at Old Baptist Cemetery in Coram, which is the resting place of many Revolutionary War veterans. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

NewdayTV&#39;s Ken Buffa visits Hampton Ice in Southampton as they get ready for the summer season.

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LI Works: It's twice as nice when you're making ice!

Southampton

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'You need a lot of passion. You need a lot of grit.'

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NewdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Hampton Ice in Southampton as they get ready for the summer season.

Hofstra seniors Jaime Yoos and Riana Kamath speak about the difficulties college graduates face in the competitive job market on LI.

Education

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LI college grads face a tough job market

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'It felt like my resume went into a dark hole'

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Hofstra seniors Jaime Yoos and Riana Kamath speak about the difficulties college graduates face in the competitive job market on LI.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Ken Buffa is joined by Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou&nbsp;and executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association&nbsp;Bob Vecchio to discuss what&#39;s at stake for districts in this year&#39;s budget vote.

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What to know about this year's school budgets and voting

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Breaking down what's at stake with this year's school budgets

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NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa is joined by Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou and executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Bob Vecchio to discuss what's at stake for districts in this year's budget vote.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Doug Geed&nbsp;takes us out to Mattituck and visits a free-range chicken farm&nbsp;where sheep are being sheared.

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Out East: Home on the free range at Browder's Birds

Mattituck

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NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us out to Mattituck and visits a free-range chicken farm where sheep are being sheared.

A &quot;super El Ni&ntilde;o&quot;&nbsp;is&nbsp;predicted to develop by the summer. NewsdayTV&nbsp;meteorologist Geoff Bansen looks at the likely effects.

Environment

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What a 'super El Niño' could mean for LI

Huntington

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'A big change in weather patterns'

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A "super El Niño" is predicted to develop by the summer. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen looks at the likely effects.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Elisa DiStefano and Newsday entertainment reporter David J. Criblez have your look at Long Island&#39;s 2026 concert season.

Entertainment

Music

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The hottest tickets: Jones Beach and more summer concerts

Wantagh

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Rod Stewart, Pitbull and more must-see 2026 concerts

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NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday entertainment reporter David J. Criblez have your look at Long Island's 2026 concert season.

From celebrating America&#39;s 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV&#39;s Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday&#39;s summer FunBook.

Long Island Events

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Get ready for sun and fun with NewsdayTV's summer FunBook special!

Oyster Bay

Greenport

Farmingdale

Manorville

Aquebogue

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From celebrating America's 250th birthday to a new ride at Adventureland, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your inside look at Newsday's summer FunBook.

Suffolk County property owners have untli May 19 to file a tax grievance. Newsday towns reporter Alek Lewis explains how.

Towns

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How to grieve your taxes in Suffolk

Southampton Town

East Hampton Town

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'Demonstrate a market value of your home'

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Suffolk County property owners have untli May 19 to file a tax grievance. Newsday towns reporter Alek Lewis explains how.

Median home prices rose 7.8% in Nassau and 6.7% in Suffolk in April. Newsday business reporter Jonathan LaMantia has more.&nbsp;

Business

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Single-family home prices continue to rise on LI

Nassau

Suffolk

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'Things are looking up in terms of the number of new listings'

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Median home prices rose 7.8% in Nassau and 6.7% in Suffolk in April. Newsday business reporter Jonathan LaMantia has more.

NewsdayTV&#39;s Elisa DiStefano explores &quot;Sean Kenney&#39;s Nature Connects&quot;&nbsp;Lego exhibit at Old Westbury Gardens.

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Connect with nature brick by brick at Old Westbury Gardens

'This is such a great thing for families'

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano explores "Sean Kenney's Nature Connects" Lego exhibit at Old Westbury Gardens.