News

Bellone Praises Passage of Historic Legislation

Jun
25
2011

BOHEMIA – Babylon Town Supervisor and Democratic Suffolk County Executive Candidate Steve Bellone today praised the historic passage of both gay marriage and the property tax cap.

“Marriage equality and the two-percent property tax cap are historic measures to protect civil rights and economic prosperity across New York State. In just a few short months, Governor Cuomo has shown real leadership and made New Yorkers proud. As County Executive, I will bring a similar style of leadership and work closely with Governor Cuomo to make Suffolk prosper.”| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Race Heats Up

Levy's mess and the tough job ahead
Jun
16
2011

Looking up it was hard to tell that the man in the blue helmet and yellow harness dangling backwards off the roof of the H. Lee Dennison Building was Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone. He was rappelling 12 stories down the north face of the concrete edifice, letting the long, strong ropes be his guide.

This was no political ploy to benefit Bellone, however; it was “Over the Edge for Charity,” a recent event to raise money and awareness for Long Islanders with autism and other special needs. Under the auspices of a nonprofit organization based in Old Bethpage called Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, hundreds of police, civic, community and business leaders—as well as a 22-year-old young man with...| read more ››

Steve Bellone Eyes County Seat

Apr
6
2011

Who's Steve Bellone? That's a question lots of East Enders are asking.

The Independent recently sat down with the Babylon Town Supervisor and Democratic candidate for Suffolk county executive. For close to an hour in the county Democratic headquarters office tucked in an upisland strip mall, Bellone discussed his record as supervisor, his governing style and desire to learn about the people and communities on the Twin Forks.| read more ››

Turn the tide on the county debt burden

Mar
17
2011

For the duration of the administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy taxpayers have been subjected to a campaign of budgetary rhetoric with the county legislature that is replete with name calling, finger pointing and, on occasion, an immature-- almost childish -- exchange of charges and counter charges about Suffolk County finances.

The end result of all this is a Democrat-turned-Republican county executive who sells himself as a fiscal conservative worth of higher statewide office who contends that he has been hamstrung by a big spending legislature. It sells. The Suffolk County Legislature is still perceived by the public as bumbling, while Mr. Levy is considered a watchdog of the public purse.

All the rhetorical infighting between the county...| read more ››

County exec hopeful gets ‘sex offender education’ in Riverhead

Mar
15
2011

Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, who is considering a run for Suffolk County executive, stopped in at Riverhead Free Library on Monday as part of his countywide “listening tour.”

He got an earful about the county’s homeless sex offender trailers, one of which sits outside the county jail in Riverside, just a short walk from the library.

“This has been a real education,” Mr. Bellone said. “We’ve been involved and very aggressive on the issue of sex offenders in Babylon for many, many years now, but what you are experiencing out here is unlike anything I’ve seen.”

Mr. Bellone, a Democrat who has been Babylon supervisor since 2002, said he is “seriously considering running for county executive” against incumbent Steve Levy,...| read more ››

Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone announces kickoff to the First Annual Attainable Green Home Competition

Steve Bellone kicks off First Annual Attainable Green Home Competition
Jan
21
2011

Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone is announcing the kickoff to the First Annual Attainable Green Home Competition at a press conference on Tuesday, January 25th at 11:00am. The press conference will be held at 54 N. 15th Street in Wyandanch where Supervisor Bellone will be joined by Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of the United Way of Long Island, and Vince Capogna, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council, Long Island Chapter.| read more ››

Most towns avoid tax hikes; 7 on LI plan to either reduce or hold rates steady; But falling revenue, rising costs prompting layoffs

Oct
1
2010

Despite grappling with plummeting revenue and swelling pension and health-care costs, most Long Island towns intend to hold the line on taxes in 2011.

Flat tax rates will not come without a cost in towns such as Brookhaven, which intends to lay off 69 workers, and Islip, where officials expect to continue their effort to reduce the workforce, which will be 24 percent smaller than it was in 2006.

With 10 Long Island towns revealing proposed 2011 budgets by the end of yesterday, Brookhaven and Islip were among seven to report that town taxes will either hold steady or drop. Town taxes are a relatively small part of a homeowner's overall tax bill; in Brookhaven, they are less than 7...| read more ››

Steve Bellone Named by ICLEI as one of Eight Mayors in the Country Driving Green Initiatives

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Sep
9
2010

Supervisor Bellone's success underscores the fact that big cities aren't the only ones who can hatch innovative ideas and become national leaders on local sustainability. Bellone, a LEED AP, led the launch of Long Island Green Homes in 2008, the nation's first property assessed clean energy (PACE) program to help homeowners surmount the upfront costs of making energy efficiency improvements - and dramatically save money and reduce GHG emissions. The town lends homeowners a sum of money, and they pay it back via property taxes.| read more ››