News

Suffolk bill aims to protect aquifers by banning fracking waste

May
15
2014

The sale and use of liquid waste from hydraulic fracturing will be banned in Suffolk County under an aquifer-protection bill expected to be signed by the county executive this month.

The legislation, sponsored by Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), is aimed at the byproducts of the hydraulic fracturing process, used to extract natural gas from rock formations using chemicals, water and pressure. The bill passed unanimously at the legislature's April 29 meeting.

New York has not issued rules on hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, so the procedure is not currently performed in the state. But it is done in other states, including neighboring Pennsylvania.

Spencer's legislation bans the sale of fracking byproducts within the county. It also prohibits the wastewater...| read more ››

Bellone Calls to Designate the LI Sound and Peconic Estuary a Critical Conservation Area

May
14
2014

The RCPP, created under the 2014 Farm Bill that President Obama signed into law in February, authorizes $1.3 billion in spending over five years to help farmers adopt conservation practices in regions of the country facing significant environmental challenges. Officials noted that designating the Long Island Sound and Peconic Estuary as one of eight national critical designation areas would help fund agricultural conservation efforts, habitat restoration efforts and the sustainable use of soil, water and other natural resources.

“We are perfectly situated to be designated as one of these conservation areas because we are a region that is vitally important to the future economic success of New York State,” County Executive Bellone said. “The steadfast leadership on agricultural issues from...| read more ››

Bishop, Bellone seek federal funds for East End farmers

May
12
2014

First District Congressman Tim Bishop and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone are calling for the L.I. Sound and Peconic Estuary to be designated as a region of critical importance under the U.S. Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The designation would provide the region access to federal funding intended to help farmers adopt conservation practices that will protect the surrounding bodies of water.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program was funded in the farm bill just passed by Congress, Bishop said. The program will receive $100 million per year over five years, he said.

The money will directly benefit farmers make improvements that benefit the watershed, said Cutchogue farmer Tom Wickham, who hosted the press conference today where Bellone and Bishop made the...| read more ››

Steve Bellone set to OK purchase of land in Selden for park

May
12
2014

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is expected to sign a bill today completing the purchase of 16 acres of land in Selden for a long-awaited county park.

Bellone is scheduled to sign the bill during a ceremony at Brookhaven Town Hall. The county has agreed to buy the parcel for $1.2 million from the Middle Country School District.

The new park, which does not yet have a name, will be combined with an adjacent town park to form a 24-acre complex of ballfields and playgrounds. The park, which will be managed by the town, will also be used for events and holiday celebrations, Town Councilman Kevin LaValle said.
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"We don't have much open space. It's a densely...| read more ››

Celebrating the Life of Otis G. Pike

May
9
2014

As Suffolk Democrats, we owe a great deal to the legacy of Congressman Otis G. Pike. He was a trailblazer for us for many years.

To this day, I think that we all can identify with him when he once said: “I’ve always said I’m surrounded on three sides by water and on the fourth by Republicans.”

His legacy of public service will not be lost on us. He was a decorated Marine pilot in WWII, a Riverhead Town Councilman and Justice and served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years, where he fought tirelessly for the environment and our quality of life here in Suffolk County.

Congressman Pike passed away earlier this year in Florida at the...| read more ››

Bellone: Riverside has ‘potential for great things’

May
6
2014

Steve Bellone, meet Riverside.

The Suffolk County Executive was given a bus tour of one of Southampton Town’s poorest, most crime-ridden, rundown neighborhoods Wednesday morning in hopes of getting his support for a number of ongoing efforts to revitalize the area.

And judging by Mr. Bellone’s comments following the tour, the plan may have worked.

“My overall impression is that it’s one of the more exciting planning opportunities and community revitalization opportunities that I’ve ever seen,” he said of the Riverside area in an interview. “It is something that has so much potential for great things.”

Southampton Town has a number of revitalization plans underway for Riverside, some of which will need county support in order to move progress forward...| read more ››

County Executive Bellone Tours East End

May
5
2014

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, accompanied by Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, toured the East End last Wednesday, declaring that “the county’s role should not be to second guess decisions made at a local level.”
Mr. Bellone’s day began with a question-and-answer session with government officials from Southampton, Southold, Shelter Island, Riverhead and East Hampton. Issues like public transportation and affordable housing were raised, but the panel also discussed water quality, which Mr.Bellone said he has made his priority.

Following the panel discussion, which took place in Riverhead, Mr. Bellone and Mr. Schneiderman were interviewed live on Sag Harbor’s WLNG. Dan Duprey conducted the interview and asked questions about air quality, water quality and the recent legislation that will...| read more ››

Anker Initiates Law to Require Warnings on Liquid Nicotine Labels

Apr
24
2014

Mount Sinai, NY - April 2014 - Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker today submitted legislation that will require all nicotine retailers to provide product information and warnings on the dangers of liquid nicotine (also known as e-liquid) on all liquid nicotine products. Used in smokeless cigarette devices, the liquid is available in many flavors and is typically smoked with a special electronic cigarette that burns the nicotine into a smokeless chemical.

In large doses, liquid nicotine is toxic, can cause nicotine poisoning, addiction, and in some cases, may be lethal. The use of liquid nicotine, which is also comprised of propylene glycol, flavoring and other chemicals, continues to increase in Suffolk County.

“Liquid nicotine is especially dangerous, as nicotine...| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone Talks Jobs, Housing, and Diversity with Latino and African-American Residents

Apr
17
2014

Brentwood, NY - April 17, 2014 - On Wednesday night, more than one hundred Suffolk County residents from Latino, African-American, and immigrant communities joined Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for a forum hosted by Make the Road New York, New York Communities for Change, the Long Island Civic Engagement Table, and the NAACP. Residents who came together at the Brentwood Public Library posed questions about the most pressing issues facing Suffolk’s diverse communities: jobs, housing, and diversity.
Participants in the event were thrilled to have the opportunity to ask questions on a wide range of topics affecting communities of color, including housing discrimination, addressing the foreclosure crisis, how to combat wage theft, and the status of efforts to welcome...| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone to Talk Jobs, Housing, and Diversity, at Forum with Community Organizations

Apr
16
2014

Suffolk County, NY - April 16, 2014 - On Wednesday night, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone will join scores of residents to answer questions about the most pressing issues facing Suffolk’s diverse communities: jobs, housing, and diversity. The event will feature remarks from the County Executive, who will then respond to questions from a wide cross-section of local residents on issues including Long Island’s foreclosure crisis, the need to generate more stable, high-paying jobs, and efforts to embrace the growing immigrant population.

WHAT: Community Forum with County Executive Steve Bellone on Jobs, Housing, and Diversity.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 16th, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Brentwood Public Library, 34 2nd Ave., Brentwood, NY
WHO: The event will feature Suffolk County...| read more ››