News | Suffolk County Democratic Committee

Calarco Passes Bill to Begin Relocation of Carnegie Library

Mar

2012

Hauppauge, LI—Tuesday, March 13: Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill to help move the historic Carnegie Library to a new location in Patchogue passed unanimously at the General Meeting of the Legislature today. The landmark building needs to be moved from its current location on Lake Street in order to accommodate the New Village project, which will transform and revitalize the Four Corner area of the Patchogue downtown. Leg. Calarco’s resolution is the first of two resolutions that will ultimately relocate the structure at no cost to taxpayers.| read more ››

Smithtown Democrats Call for Ethics Investigation

Feb

2012

Smithtown Democrats are calling for the town's ethics board to open an investigation based on findings of a Suffolk grand jury released earlier this month.

Newsday reports Smithtown Democratic Committee chairman Ed Maher, in a letter read before town board on Thursday, asked the town's ethics board to determine which officials may used a promised $40,000 tax break to pressure developers to illegally demolish the abestos-laced Nassau Suffolk Lumber and Supply Company.| read more ››

'SPOOKY' Island Stars In Budget Fight

Feb

2012

WASHINGTON—For decades, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center has been a source of anxiety, intrigue and rumor for Long Island's East End.

Located on a quotation-mark shaped island at the mouth of Long Island Sound, politicians have called it a potential terrorist target, conspiracy theorists have weaved intricate plots around it, and locals once speculated that an unidentifiable animal carcass dubbed the Montauk Monster found on the beach in 2008 came from the facility.

Now, the island is the latest source of political tension between New York and the American heartland—namely, Kansas, which wants the research center and its high-paying jobs.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been trying to close the center, where researchers study rare,...| read more ››

Bishop and Israel Announce $112,500 Federal Grant for Holbrook Fire District

Feb

2012

Congressmen Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) and Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) announced today that Holbrook Fire District has been awarded $112,500 in federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The AFG award will allow Holbrook Fire District to purchase two new radio base stations to replace old and obsolete equipment, allowing for interoperability with several spectrums of frequencies and more effective coordination among local public safety agencies.| read more ››

Bishop and Israel Announce $112,500 Federal Grant for Holbrook Fire District

Feb

2012

The following information was released by the office of New York Rep. Tim Bishop:

Last fall, Bishop and Israel both wrote letters of support for Holbrook Fire Districts application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers the AFG program.

Holbrook Fire District protects some of Suffolk Countys most important transportation infrastructure as...| read more ››

Calarco Initiates Agreement to Relocate Famed Carnegie Library in Patchogue

Feb

2012

Patchogue, LI—February 6: Legislator Rob Calarco introduced a resolution at the February 7 Meeting of the General Legislature authorizing Suffolk County to enter into an agreement with Patchogue Village to relocate the historically significant Carnegie Library from its current location on Lake Street, at no cost to taxpayers.

The resolution seeks to relocate the Patchogue Village landmark to the 6th District Court property located on West Avenue and West Main Street. Leg. Calarco, who along with Patchogue Village officials has already met with 6th District Court representatives, describes the meeting as productive.

“We are now evaluating the best spot on the court property to place the library while still preserving parking capacity to meet the needs of court...| read more ››

NYWEA Honors Congressman Tim Bishop With Nelson A. Rockefeller Award For Environmental Stewardship

Feb

2012

Southampton - The New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), a statewide, non-profit organization comprised of water quality management professionals, has selected Timothy Bishop, US Congressman for New York's First Congressional District, to be the recipient of its distinguished Nelson A. Rockefeller Award.

The Rockefeller Award was created by NYWEA to honor an elected official, on a state or national level, who has made substantial and meaningful contributions to advancing the quality of the water environment.

The award was presented at the NYWEA 84th Annual Meeting in New York City at the Marriot Marquis.

"NYWEA is very impressed with Congressman Bishop's commitment to funding our aging infrastructure. He has been a steward for environmental issues on Long Island,...| read more ››

Bishop-Altschuler Rematch Looms After Tight Race

Feb

2012

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) with his wife, Kathy by his side gives the thumbs at the Islandia Marriott on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, in Islandia, N.Y.

It was the last congressional race in the country to be decided in 2010.

Now, the Democratic incumbent who eked out a 593-vote victory and the millionaire Republican challenger are preparing for a blistering rematch in 2012, vying to represent a diverse eastern Long Island district that encompasses suburbia, rural wineries, and the high-end Hamptons.

“Nothing should be taken for granted; this is not going to be a walk in the park,” said five-term U.S. Rep. Timothy Bishop, a former college administrator. “We’re expecting an extremely difficult race and preparing for that. I...| read more ››

Joe Dujmic Announces Run For NY’s 10th A.D.

Feb

2012

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 mandate. If you want to change Albany, you have to change the people who work there.”

Mr. Dujmic, who resides in Huntington Station touts the fact that he is a husband, father, homeowner and life-long resident of Suffolk County and believes that his previous government experience...| read more ››

Schaffer loans $200,000 to Suffolk Dems

Jan

2012

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 Democratic Committee's Jan. 15 campaign finance report.

"I had $211,000 in savings," said Schaffer. "Now I have $11,000 left."

Schaffer said he only became aware of the potential tax liability when the party hired an expert to handle processing and payments for the 650 canvassers, who made calls and knocked on doors to get Democratic supporters to the polls.| read more ››