News

Bellone Joins Beach Cleanup for World Water Day Celebration

Mar
26
2014

Mastic Beach, NY - March 26 - More than 120 youngsters turned out Saturday for World Water Day events, including a beach cleanup, at Smith Point County Park.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone hosted the event, along with Legislator Kara Hahn and the Girl Scouts. Youngsters spent about two hours picking up litter from the beach and learning how to test water for bacteria and nutrients.

Bellone, who has made water quality his No. 1 priority for the county, praised the children and noted the need to safeguard water resources. “These waters are essential to our wellbeing here in Suffolk County,” he said. “We need to protect our resources now and for the future, for drinking water, recreation, clamming and...| read more ››

Brownie Troop 3870 Debate the Issues with Legislator Lindsay III

Mar
25
2014

Bohemia, NY - March 20, 2014 - Earlier this month, Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III joined Brownie Troop 3870 of Bohemia and their troop leaders Wendy Tedeschi, Christine Miller, and Melissa Dellisola at the W.H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge to participate in a mock legislative debate. The young women of Troop 3870 took part in a heated debate about issues ranging from mandatory school uniforms to age restrictions on video games and received firsthand experience participating in the democratic process.| read more ››

Cuomo touts Bellone support for tax plan

Mar
25
2014

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone added his name Monday to the list of local government officials who say they support Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s property-tax plan.

“He recognizes that high property taxes remain a high burden on our homeowners and that we need to continue to attract new businesses to our region,” Bellone, a Democrat, said in a statement.
With the state budget due in a week, Cuomo, also a Democrat, has been trying to build support for his plan, even as it faces opposition in the state Legislature. The governor says his proposal effectively would “freeze” property taxes by offering rebates to homeowners to match increases in local property taxes – but only if their municipalities and...| read more ››

Equal Time: I’ve delivered for the 1st Congressional District

Mar
25
2014

I am proud to represent the North Fork in Congress and appreciate the opportunity to respond directly to recent criticism of my record in the local media.

I write knowing that reasonable people seek to form their opinions and statements based on facts, and I am confident that an impartial assessment of my record shows that I have been an effective representative of the interests of Southold and Riverhead.

First, experience has taught me that it is difficult to amend federal legislation to benefit a specific area. However, I was able to insert an amendment into the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act to permanently protect funding for the nationally renowned Navy Junior ROTC program operating in the Southold, Mattituck and...| read more ››

Bayport Resident, Chestene Coverdale, Nominated For Suffolk County's Senior Citizen of the Year Award

Mar
24
2014

Bayport, NY - March 24, 2014 - Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III recently nominated Bayport resident, Chestene Coverdale, as the Senior Citizen of the Year for the 8th legislative district. The Suffolk County Senior Citizen of the Year Award is given to a person who has enhanced the lives of older residents in Suffolk County through advocacy, leadership, volunteerism, and acting as a role model to all generations.

“Chestene is extremely deserving of this prestigious honor,” said Lindsay III. “She is constantly looking for ways to help her neighbors and improve the lives of all Suffolk County residents.”

In addition to being an educator, philanthropist, wife, mother, and grandmother, Chestene currently serves as the Executive Director of the Greater...| read more ››

Buy-back nets 10 handguns in Bellport

Mar
24
2014

Suffolk County officials collected 10 handguns and five assault weapons on Saturday at a gun buy-back program in Bellport.
Thirty high-capacity magazines were also turned in at the two-hour event at the Lighthouse Mission on Montauk Highway, according to the Suffolk County Police department.

The program was presented by County Executive Steven Bellone, the police department, county Leg. Rob Calarco and Brookhaven councilwoman Connie Kepert.

People who turned in unregistered guns received a $200 cash card for an assault weapon; a $100 cash card for a pistol/revolving hand gun; and a $20 cash card for high capacity clips (over 10).| read more ››

Trolleys on their way to the East End?

Mar
22
2014

Could the East End become the next San Francisco, with packed trolleys carrying passengers between Riverhead and Orient?

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone seems to think so.

While meeting with North Fork community leaders at the Southold Senior Services Center last Wednesday, Mr. Bellone discussed the need to update transportation systems throughout Suffolk County.

A “rapid trolley system,” he said — one that could run between train stations — would best connect East End communities.

“If we’re going to have sustainable economic growth, we can’t do it by just adding more cars to the roadway,” Mr. Bellone said in an interview Tuesday. “So we need to build upon the transportation infrastructure we already have in a way that will allow...| read more ››

Bellone, farmers look to bring agriculture studies programs to Suffolk

Mar
21
2014

County Executive Steve Bellone is in the process of forming a working group that will be tasked with pushing a vision for a skilled agricultural work force that’s trained and educated right here in Suffolk County.

The idea arose during a meeting Mr. Bellone had with farmers last week at Ivy Acres nurseries in Calverton under the notion that high school and college students shouldn’t have to travel far to study for jobs that are available in an industry already well-established in the county.

“We’re the largest agricultural county within the state in terms of sales and yet we have no real formal training opportunities [in agriculture] in this county,” Mr. Bellone said. “Our young people are forced to go...| read more ››

SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATOR APPROVES IR 1039-2014; RAISES LEGAL AGE TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO 21

Mar
20
2014

(Huntington, NY) Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer (D-Huntington) and his colleagues made history last night. After hours of testimony on both sides of the debate, the Suffolk County Legislature approved IR 1039-2014, A Local Law to Raise the Legal Age for the Sale of Tobacco Products in Suffolk County by a vote of 10 to 8. At times the debate became contentious but eventually, late into the night, Legislators took the historic vote and Suffolk became the first county in the nation to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21 years old. This is a measure that most agree will not only save lives but contain health care costs as well.

“This issue is...| read more ››

Measure seeking transfer of county park police to SCPD unanimously approved

Mar
20
2014

The Suffolk County Legislature Tuesday night unanimously approved a request to state lawmakers to allow existing county parks police officers to be transferred to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone plans to use a staff of 40 to 45 seasonal park rangers and security guards to maintain order in county parks during the peak summer season. He held a press conference yesterday to call on state legislators to amend Civil Service law to allow the transfer.

Bellone says replacing the parks police with part-time rangers and security guards, who will be paid $13 to $17 per hour without benefits, will save the county $13.4 million in police costs and provide better coverage and increased security in...| read more ››