Suffolk County Democrats
A proposal to have Suffolk County's parks patrolled by seasonal and part-time officers and transfer 36 existing park cops to the police department would save taxpayers an estimated $13.4 million through 2018, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Wednesday.
The county legislature unanimously passed a home rule message Wednesday night asking state lawmakers to back the legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port...read more ››
The administration of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone wants lawmakers for the first time to agree to turn over a county health center to a nonprofit operator and move county workers to jobs in other parts of the Health Department.
The move would put Hudson River Healthcare Inc., a federally qualified health center, in charge of the Maxine Postal Tri-Community Health Center in Amityville.
The proposal will provide net...read more ››
Having already delivered their state of the county speeches earlier this month, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone addressed a crowd of more than 400 business leaders Wednesday at an event billed as the annual State of Long Island.
During the gathering at the Crest Hollow Country Club hosted by the business planning group Action Long Island, Mangano, a Republican, and Bellone, a Democrat,...read more ››
Suffolk County lawmakers made eastern Long Island the first place in the nation to forbid 19 and 20 year olds from buying cigarettes and other tobacco products starting next year following an intense debate.
The county legislature voted 10-8 late Tuesday night to raise the legal age for buying tobacco products from 19 to 21 within Suffolk, imposing $1,000 fines for retailers that violate the new law.
“This is about preventing...read more ››
The Suffolk County Legislature voted on Tuesday night to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 19 to 21, effective Jan. 1 next year.
The legislation, sponsored by Legislator William "Doc" Spencer (D-Centerport), was approved by a vote of 10-8, with mostly Democrats in the Democrat-controlled Legislature voting in favor of the bill, and all of the Legislature's Republicans voting against the measure.
The bill...read more ››
RIVERHEAD (WABC) -- Some of the toughest smoking and dipping restrictions in the country are going into effect in Suffolk County.
Legislators voted Tuesday night to raise the age for tobacco sales from 19 to 21.
Stores that violate the law will pay a $1,000 fine.
The county could lose more than $400,000 in tax revenue, but the change is expected to save $3 billion in health care costs.
"This will save lives," bill...read more ››
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Lawmakers Suffolk County on Long Island voted Tuesday night to raise the age for tobacco sales to 21.
The vote among Suffolk County legislators was 10-8, according to a Newsday report. The minimum age for tobacco sales currently stands at 19.
Last year, New York City became the first large city or state in the country to prohibit sales to young adults.
City lawmakers approved raising the age...read more ››
Suffolk County raised the age for tobacco sales from 19 to 21 last night, passing a bill with some of the tightest restrictions over cigarette sales in the country.
"This will save lives," Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), the bill's sponsor and a pediatric surgeon, said after the 10-8 vote.
The bill restricts stores in Suffolk County from selling cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, herbal cigarettes, rolling papers, pipes...read more ››
Curbing decades of nitrogen pollution on the ground and surface waters in Suffolk is a top priority, County Executive Steve Belllone says.
Editor's Note: The following is an op-ed from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, D-Babylon.
This is the time for action. Recently, I announced the single most important initiative of my administration and what should be the single most important goal for all Long Islanders: curbing...read more ››
While cars sped by on North Ocean Avenue Saturday morning, Assemblyman Edward Hennessey called on New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo to provide funding to make area roadways safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Our roadways are dangerous and we need to slow people down,” said Hennessey, standing at the corner of North Ocean Avenue and Shaber Road, where 29-year-old Melinda Resto was killed after she was struck by a car while walking...read more ››