Suffolk County Democrats
Joe Dujmic, a local attorney and former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Executive, announced his candidacy for the New York State Assembly.
Dujmic, 32, is running for the State Assembly in response to the continuing increase in the cost of living on Long Island and the need for bold reforms in the State Capitol. “The Long Island Taxpayers deserve a strong, independent voice in Albany who will question every single unfunded...read more ››
Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer has loaned the party $200,000 to pay withholding taxes for hundreds of paid canvassers who got out the vote for Steve Bellone's election as county executive in November.
Schaffer tapped personal savings for two no-interest loans -- $150,000 on Dec. 23 and another $50,000 on Jan. 9, the day before the $158,321 payment of the state and federal taxes. The loans were disclosed in the Suffolk...read more ››
Suffolk County Executive-Elect Steve Bellone's comments on Governor Cuomo's agreement with the State Legislature on his economic stimulus plan and middle class taxpayer relief:
"Governor Cuomo's jobs plan recognizes that the best approach for state and local governments to balance their budgets is through economic growth. By providing relief to middle class taxpayers, the plan will help businesses large and small here in Suffolk County...read more ››
Suffolk County Executive-elect Steve Bellone sat scribbling notes in a legal pad yesterday morning in a Cooperative Extension meeting room on Griffing Avenue, as he listened to two dozen farmers and fishermen talk about what's important to sustain the East End's oldest industries.
"I believe the East End is critically important for our regional economy, that it is an extraordinary and special place in our county and in our region,"...read more ››
As part of his transition into a new seat, Suffolk County Executive-elect Steve Bellone held one of the first of many small business roundtable discussions in Kings Park Monday. There, business leaders told him that without county-funded infrastructure improvements, small businesses won't thrive in Suffolk County.
Over 20 business leaders from communities like Kings Park, Smithtown, Bay Shore and Copiague came to the Kings Park VFW to...read more ››
Suffolk County Executive-elect Steve Bellone has chosen corporate fraud attorney Regina Calcaterra, who as a child lived in homeless shelters and foster homes in the county, as his chief deputy.
Calcaterra, 44, co-director of Bellone's transition team and an unsuccessful candidate for state senate last year, would be the first woman to hold the top post. She accepted the job earlier this week.
Bellone said Calcaterra will earn...read more ››
Small-business growth in many Suffolk communities won't happen without significant, county-supported infrastructure improvements, chambers of commerce leaders told County Executive-elect Steve Bellone Monday night.
More than two dozen chamber representatives attended a roundtable discussion at a VFW hall in Kings Park, part of the Bellone transition team's topical listening tour.
Monday...
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At a meeting of Suffolk minority leaders Tuesday night who represent a wide range of interest groups, County Executive-elect Steve Bellone promised them they'd not be forgotten by his administration.
"I believe in not only celebrating our diversity but seizing upon it as the greatest asset we have," Bellone told the crowd inside the Long Island Portuguese American Center in Brentwood. "I want...
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The slow-moving county permitting process poses a significant roadblock to economic growth in Suffolk, delaying construction projects and hampering job creation, business leaders told County Executive-elect Steve Bellone Monday.
About 40 people -- representing local companies and trade groups -- attended a Melville forum hosted by Bellone and the Long Island Association.
Participants...
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Democrats and their allies maintained their 12-6 majority over Republicans in the Suffolk County Legislature as Democrats William Spencer, Rob Calarco and Legis. Sarah Anker all won tight races, according to final election returns.
County election officials said yesterday that Spencer beat Republican Elizabeth Black 50.8 percent to 49.1 percent.
Spencer will succeed Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), who reached his term limit...read more ››