Brentwood, NY - April 4, 2014 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today joined New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to announce the AG’s Community Overdose Prevention (COP) program, which extends the availability of the opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone or Narcan, to all law enforcement officers in New York State.

"As heroin use continues to rise in Suffolk County, we need to engage in a multi-pronged approach to address the epidemic,” County Executive Bellone said. “I thank Attorney General Schneiderman for securing funding to purchase Naloxone for all law enforcement in the State and ensuring that all personnel will be trained in the administration of naloxone...| read more ››

Suffolk County has joined New York State and hundreds of communities throughout the nation in observing National Public Health Week, April 7 -13. This week -- as New York State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH states, "promotes the key components of the state's Prevention Agenda 2013-2017." County Executive Steve Bellone calls attention to some of Suffolk County's programs that help to protect and improve community health and quality of life.

"The focus of public health is prevention, so when it works, residents are not aware of it," said Bellone. "The Suffolk County Department of Health , under the direction of Dr. James Tomarken has been offering innovative and model programs to assist Suffolk County residents."

The Suffolk County...| read more ››

Public transportation, roadway safety and connecting Long Island communities are vital on Long Island, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said during a keynote speech Thursday at the second annual Complete Streets summit.

Bellone addressed nearly 130 leaders from transportation groups, non-profit organizations, municipalities and developers at the conference, held at Molloy College.

He said his Connect-LI plan would connect universities and downtowns through public transportation on major north-south corridors and create opportunities for innovation, which would help stop the exodus of Suffolk County residents. The program also emphasizes walkable downtowns, rail and bus service and economic development.

“We need to make it easier and safer for people to travel around Suffolk County, for our young people and to strengthen the...| read more ››

(New York State – June 2013) To address the dangers of distracted driving and deter texting while driving among young drivers, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver joined with lead sponsor Assemblyman Edward Hennessey to announce Assembly passage of a bill that would strengthen penalties for texting while driving and using a hand-held cell phone. Conviction of doing either of the two would be added to the list of violations for which probationary and junior license holders would have their permit or license suspended for 60 days upon a first conviction (A.7739/Hennessey).

“Distracted driving is a dangerous, prevalent problem that affects every New Yorker and not only threatens, but has taken, far too many lives in recent years,” Silver said. “I applaud...| read more ››

(New York, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey is calling on the New York State DOT to design and deliver streets that are safer, more usable and welcoming for everyone. New York State adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2011.

Completing the streets requires planners and engineers to design and operate roadways with all users in mind, including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, motorcyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

“It is time to make our roadways more accommodating to the growing number of bicyclists, walkers and runners. It happens with smarter, safer complete streets that are tailored to communities’ usage and needs,” said Assemblyman Hennessey.

“Depending on the community, complete streets could mean sidewalks, bike lanes, special bus lanes,...| read more ››

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 ››

Republican Assemb. Dean Murray led challenger Ed Hennessey by 36 votes on election night, but a recount has turned the tables and Hennessey, a former Brookhaven Town councilman is now headed to Albany.

Officials confirmed that Murray, of Patchogue, conceded the 3rd Assembly District race to Hennessey after a second day of recanvassing Thursday put the Democrat on top.

Newsday reported that Hennessey, a lawyer, won by 226 votes when all the ballots were counted Friday.

Murray, who took office in 2010 after winning a special election and won a full two year term later that year, posted a note on his Facebook page Friday morning thanking his supporters.

"It has truly been an honor and...| read more ››

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 ››

Assemblyman Edward Hennessey (D-Medford) has introduced legislation that would eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) rate for 2014-15 and thereafter and provide school districts with the full amount of aid generated by all existing budget funding formulas (A.8720).
“I want to thank Assemblyman Englebright, who is prime co-sponsor of this bill, for joining me in this effort. The school districts here in Brookhaven are diverse in their needs,” Assemblyman Hennessey said. “This year alone, the districts I represent are losing out on $51.7 million in school aid because of the Gap Elimination Adjustment. This is entirely unacceptable. In addition to giving the schools their fair share, this legislation would also help undo the burden of high property taxes.

•...| read more ››

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 ››