Suffolk Legis. William J. Lindsay III will chair two committees this year, adding the parks committee to his previous assignment as head of the economic development panel.

Lindsay, a Bohemia Democrat, takes over the post from former Legis. Jay Schneiderman, who was term limited and became Southampton Town supervisor earlier this month.

The extra chairmanship for Lindsay is one of several changes in the annual reshuffling of assignments among the legislature’s dozen committees done each January after the election of the presiding officer, who controls the appointments.

New Legis. Bridget Fleming (D-Sag Harbor), elected last fall, will become chairwoman of the ways and means committee, previously led by Legis. Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills).

Several other committees were reorganized.

Stern, who...| read more ››

Four afternoons a week, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer drives to a warehouse gym in Farmingdale, where, in the company of mixed martial arts fighters, he sweats and punches through a 90-minute workout that would leave many a younger man gasping for breath.
The gym is called the Long Island Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness Center, a sparsely decorated space that draws amateur and professional fighters from around Long Island for sparring and strength training. Schaffer’s workout on a recent afternoon started with stretching, then moved into strength and agility exercizes. Toward the end, there was bag and pad work with a trainer.

In Babylon, Schaffer, 51, is a public figure. In Suffolk County, he is the Democratic Party...| read more ››

The process will be set in motion next week to acquire the 95-acre former duck farm in Riverhead valued by environmentalists one of the most important properties for preservation in the Peconic Estuary, County Legislator Al Krupski said today.

The former Celic duck farm site known as Broad Cove, situated on Terry Creek and Meetinghouse Creek, will be the subject of a procedural motion at the county legislature Tuesday, authorizing the county to make an offer to buy the site for preservation, Krupski said.

Riverhead Town in 1975 issued a prior landowner permits to build 500 condominium units and boat slips on the site. The permits were invalidated by a state court in the early 1990s in a lawsuit brought...| read more ››

The Suffolk County Democratic Committee Wednesday night officially nominated Southampton Town Councilwoman Bridget Fleming to be the party’s candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature’s Second Legislative District, a seat now held by Legislator Jay Schneiderman.

Ms. Fleming, who will have been on the Town Board for five years when her current term ends, announced earlier this month that she would be seeking the nomination. She would have been eligible to serve one more four-year term on the Town Board.

“Smart fiscal policy, defense of our environmental resources, and strong ethical reform in government have been key to protecting our community, and on the county government level, I believe I can extend this important work and make a positive impact in...| read more ››

WOODBURY - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone delivered his fourth and final State of the County address Thursday night.

Bellone focused on the challenges of stopping the so-called "brain drain" of young professional Long Islanders moving elsewhere because of the high cost of living and lack of opportunities on the Island.

The executive unveiled a project called "Connect Long Island," which would build a network of downtowns with transportation links to job centers, research centers, parks and open space. Connect Long Island would also encourage innovation companies to set up shop in those downtowns and construct affordable housing.

Bellone also touted his administration's efforts to restore the county's fiscal foundation. He reminded residents that when he took office three years...| read more ››

A Suffolk lawmaker has proposed a local law to expand rules to cover not only those who lobby on county legislative bills, but anyone who seeks decisions by county departments that involve spending public money.

Sponsor Legis. William Lindsay III (D-Bohemia) said the measure aims to make sure those who are hired to influence county legislation, executive orders, rate-making or fiscal decisions register with the county legislature and report their activities to the legislature's clerk.

"Right now when you look at the list there are very few people registered, and when you are sitting with someone, you'd like to know if they are in an advisory role or a lobbyist advocating for themselves or some organization."

Lindsay's push for an...| read more ››

Suffolk Marathon Designated as Boston Marathon Qualifier

(Long Island, NY) County Executive Steve Bellone joined Suffolk County Legislators Steve Stern, Kara Hahn, Bill Lindsay III, and Rob Calarco as well as local veterans, business owners, members of the running community and the Greater Long Island Running Club to announce that registration for the inaugural Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon is officially open to the public. Residents and visitors can register at SuffolkMarathon.com. The race will be held on Sunday, September 13.

“We want to do something specifically for local veterans, and we know that every dollar that we are able to donate and raise from the marathon will be going right back to the veterans in our community right...| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, who has no opponent yet for his fall re-election bid, has $1.4 million in campaign cash on hand, according to new state filings.

In Nassau, acting District Attorney Madeline Singas, a Democrat, has raised more than $400,000 for her expected campaign for a full four-year term, reports submitted late Thursday to the state Board of Elections show.

The reports cover periods from July 2014 through Jan. 15, or from late November, depending on whether the candidate ran for election last year.

Bellone, a Democrat seeking his second term, raised $555,960 and spent $69,224 between Nov. 29 and Jan. 11.

Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay LaValle said he is talking to potential candidates, and that he's...| read more ››

Suffolk County has announced new ammunition in the war against heroin addiction.
On Monday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced today a new, countywide model to provide residents with an alternative to combat heroin and other opiate abuse with the introduction of the FDA-approved drug, extended-release naltrexone, along with enhanced substance abuse treatment.
In 2012 and 2013, there were more than 400 opioid related deaths countywide, Bellone said — a scourge that has brought devastation to lives of young and old alike in the area.
“Our police department has appropriately noted that we cannot arrest our way out of the heroin and opiate epidemic that has affected our nation and our county,” Bellone said. “We need to...| read more ››