News

Bellone Honors Veterans and Others for Their Service to Veterans

Mar
10
2014

At a recent veterans appreciation ceremony, Suffolk County honored veterans for their accomplishments and others who have supported former military personnel after their return home.

“Every single soldier deserves our undying respect,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “We honor individuals, many of whom have served our country in uniform, and some non-veterans as well, but all have dedicated themselves to serving our returning veterans. These are people who have stepped up and gone above and beyond to serve our veterans; they’re doing God’s work in their service.”

Among those honored were John Sehejong Ha of Plainview, a veteran of the Korean War and second vice president of the Korean War Veterans Central Long Island Chapter. He was honored for...| read more ››

Daniel Flanzig Appears with State Assemblyman Hennessey on behalf of NYBC for a call for more Complete Street funding in Albany

Mar
10
2014

Assemblyman Edward Hennessey (D-Brookhaven) called Saturday for $20 million in additional state funding to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians and for tougher penalties for hit-and-run drivers.

"Our roadways are dangerous, people are getting killed at almost epidemic rates," Hennessey said at a news conference in Patchogue. "It's time to complete our streets and make things safer and strengthen penalties."

Hennessey said increased spending is needed to help make roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians and slow down drivers. Advocates called for streets to be designed with pedestrians and bicyclists in mind, not just motorists, with measures including bicycle lanes, sidewalks and medians.

"More people are walking, more people are biking," said Eric Alexander, executive director at Vision Long...| read more ››

Safer roads demanded for bikers and walkers

Mar
8
2014

Assemb. Edward Hennessey (D-Brookhaven) called Saturday for $20 million in additional state funding to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians and for tougher penalties for hit-and-run drivers.

"Our roadways are dangerous, people are getting killed at almost epidemic rates," Hennessey said at a news conference in Patchogue. "It's time to complete our streets and make things safer and strengthen penalties."

Hennessey said increased spending is needed to help make roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians and slow down drivers. Advocates called for streets to be designed with pedestrians and bicyclists in mind, not just motorists, with measures including bicycle lanes, sidewalks and medians.

"More people are walking, more people are biking," said Eric Alexander, executive director at Vision Long...| read more ››

Spencer: First Responders Were 'Put to The Test' Recently

Mar
6
2014

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Suffolk County Leg. William R. Spencer, M.D., who represents the 18th District.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for our police department and emergency responders. They have certainly been put to the test with the carbon monoxide tragedy, the shooting at Oheka Castle and the devastating fire which ravaged numerous local businesses in Huntington Village.

I would like to thank and commend our first responders, police officers and fire fighters for the outstanding job that they have done and continue to do. If it had not been for the quick response and brave actions by the large number of volunteer firemen and women to the Village fire call, the...| read more ››

Bellone Calls for Action on Suffolk’s Septic Crisis

Mar
6
2014

There were a lot of up island issues on County Executive Steve Bellone’s agenda in his state of the county address last night, but the bulk of his talk had real implications for East Enders: The nitrogen pollution in the county’s ground and surface waters.

After a summer that saw a record number of harmful algae blooms in Long Island bays, Mr. Bellone denounced the culprit: nitrogen, which is leaching primarily from failing septic systems surrounding the bays, wreaking havoc in the ecosystem of our coastlines.

“For the health of our region today and the sake of future generations, we must address this water quality crisis,” he said. “Nitrogen is public water enemy number one.”

Mr. Bellone said about 360,000...| read more ››

SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE BELLONE DELIVERS STATE OF THE COUNTY TO PACKED ROOM IN HAUPPAUGE

Mar
6
2014

Address Highlights Water Quality & Economic Development as Priorities for the County; Bellone: We need to ‘Reclaim our Water’ together

(Hauppauge, NY) Last night, County Executive Steve Bellone delivered his third State of the County address to a packed room at the William H. Rodgers Legislative Building in Hauppauge.
During his address, Bellone prioritized the imperative need to focus on threats to Suffolk County’s water quality from failing septic tanks and cesspools.

“There is no greater challenge to our future than the water quality crisis that we must now begin to confront as a County. Nitrogen poisoning of our surface and ground waters is the greatest crisis this County has faced in a generation,” said County Executive Bellone. “Clean...| read more ››

Suffolk Exec. Bellone tackles clean water, brain drain in State of the County address

Mar
6
2014

HAUPPAUGE - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone delivered the State of the County address to the Suffolk County Legislature Wednesday evening.

The county executive says Suffolk gained about 18,000 jobs in the past year, but more must be done to help thwart brain drain in the county’s communities.

He also spoke about the importance of cleaning up Long Island's water supply.

"This is a year of action for our water,” said Bellone. “By the end of this year, we will have firmly identified the scope of the problem, begun work to sewer critical areas, have a clear roadmap as to what type of technology we need for every impacted home."

Bellone says there are 360,000 un-sewered homes in Suffolk. The...| read more ››

Bellone State of the County speech targets water quality

Mar
5
2014

Suffolk is preparing a home-by-home analysis of areas to be connected to sewers as part of the county's push to address nitrogen pollution in local waterways, County Executive Steve Bellone said in his State of the County address Wednesday night.

Bellone devoted the largest portion of his 58-minute speech at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge to the issue of water quality.

He also said the county has made progress in reducing its structural budget deficit, noting that the county payroll has declined by 1,000 workers since he took office in 2012.

Bellone has made nitrogen pollution from septic tanks and cesspools his top priority this year. Suffolk will have "firmly identified the scope of the problem"...| read more ››

Hennessey Bill Would Permanently Secure Aim Funding For Village of Mastic Beach

Mar
5
2014

Assemblyman Edward Hennessey (D-Medford) has introduced legislation that would allow newly incorporated villages, towns, or cities post 2005 to permanently receive AIM (Aid and Incentives for Municipalities) funding (A.8761).
AIM funding seeks to provide real relief to ease the financial burden towns and villages have been facing while continuing to provide essential services to residents.

Last year Assemblyman Hennessey secured AIM funding in the budget for the Village of Mastic Beach for the first time since being incorporated. “This funding, which every other village in the state receives, should have come to Mastic Beach three years ago when it was incorporated. It simply wasn’t fair that they didn’t receive any state assistance like every other village in NY, Hennessey...| read more ››

Anker Introduces Legislation to Launch Comprehensive Bullying Awareness Website

Mar
4
2014

Riverhead, NY - March 2014 - Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker has introduced legislation to launch a new bullying awareness website providing support and guidance for children who are, or have been, bullied. The legislation will be submitted at the March 4th General Legislature meeting.

“According to 2010 Bullying Statistics, 160,000 children miss school each day for fear of being bullied,” said Legislator Anker, County Chairwoman of Education and Information Technology Committee. “Having been a victim of bullying myself, I understand how important it is to speak up. I’ve worked closely with many bullying awareness groups including New York State Families Against Bullying and Get a Voice, supporting their efforts to get the word out on what students, parents...| read more ››