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With a population of over 3 million residents, Island is home to more people than even some states. Statistics indicate that about 15% of any given population usually requires some sort of alcohol and/or drug treatment. Based on that statistic, about a half a million people on Island need to be enrolled into some type of substance abuse treatment program. Sadly enough, there are not enough facilities on to service all of these people.

In February of 2006, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) was successful in unjustly shutting down one of the largest and most respected treatment agencies on Island, Crossings Recovery Centers. Crossings had 9 clinics that spanned across both Nassau and Suffolk Counties treating over 1500 patients at any given time. Since their inception, Crossings hadn't had a single blemish on its record. However, out of nowhere, the State conjured up enough ridiculous, alleged violations to revoke Crossings' license and shut them down.

What's the result of this unspeakable act? Since the untimely demise of Crossings Recovery Centers, there has been a significant increase in alcohol and drug related deaths and crimes. There has also been a significant increase in DWIs in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. In addition, existing substance abuse treatment centers on Island now have a 6-8 week waiting period before admitting new patients. Whether people realize it or not, all this has left Island in a state of turmoil.

Who is responsible for these atrocities? His name is Henry F. Zwack. At the time Crossings was closed, Henry Zwack was the Head of the General Councils Office at OASAS, which is the licensing division responsible for regulating substance abuse treatment centers in New York. Zwack has a long history of political corruption, dating back to when he was County Executive of Rennselaer, which is a County just outside of Albany. There were reports of a verbal dispute between Zwack and Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Crossings Recovery Centers and in an act of retaliation, Zwack systematically destroyed the treatment agency by revoking their operating license and participating in a number of slanderous accusations that have not yet been handled in court.

Frank Buonanotte is now suing the State of New York, OASAS and Henry Zwack personally for unjustifiably destroying this treatment agency that so many people on Island counted on. The lawsuit is posted on Buonanotte's personal website (www.FrankBuonanotte.com) and lists the following causes of action:

(1) deprivation of their rights to property, liberty, due process and equal protect; (2) violation of due process; (3) violation of substantive due process; (4) violation of equal protection; and (5) Fifth Amendment-Taking. Plaintiffs also asserted several related State court causes of action, including: (1) breach of contract; (2) breach of fiduciary duty as receiver; (3) breach of statutory duty as receiver; (4) fraud; (5) interference with contract; (6) conversion; (7) defamation, libel and slander; (8) injurious falsehood; (9) abuse of process; (10) contribution and indemnification; and (11) an accounting.

"For as horrible as it was for me to lose my company," says Buonanotte. "The biggest loss was to the people on Island who truly need these services that are now no longer available to them." Crossings also offered the only dual focus program on Long Island for substance abusing sex offenders. Since these services are no longer available, reports have indicated that incidents of sex offences on Long Island have increased significantly. It's time people start to become aware of how political corruption effects all of us.