Remember when LI Democrats said they DIDN'T roll over for NYC?
Remember last year in April when Long Island's new Democratic senate delegation stood proudly together before cameras in Garden City to announce: "We didn't roll over for NYC."
Newsday reported that the Long Island Six said Republicans had it wrong when they predicted a Democratic majority in Albany would cater to the interests of New York City.
"For eight years, four election cycles, we heard from our friends on the Republican side that there would be calamity and catastrophe if the New York State Senate went to the Democrats in the majority," Nassau and state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said. "All sorts of terrible things would happen, and of course we would be owned lock, stock and barrel by New York City..." Newsday reported.
But the Democratic senators that day made no mention of the new bail reform laws they had just approved as part of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget.
You know, the bail reform and criminal justice changes that took effect Jan. 1 and which are sending alleged drug dealers, gang members, repeat drunk drivers and repeat bank robbers back out onto the street after arrest to commit more crimes. A new poll released Monday showed that 65 percent of downstate suburban voters don't like the new bail law.
Last April, Long Island's new senators also didn't mention that the Democratic majority in Albany had essentially approved a new MTA tax by ordering a city-only discount on LIRR tickets. The city-rider 20-percent discount takes effect in May while Long Island commuters face a 4 percent fare increase next year. Newsday reported that the MTA board approved the discount program yesterday.
Maybe you remember the MTA payroll tax. It was approved in 2009 when then-Democratic senators Brian Foley of Blue Point and Craig Johnson of Port Washington, voted with city Democrats to impose a 34 cent levy on every $100 earned by suburbanites, including those in Nassau and Suffolk,
Voters remembered and ousted Foley and Johnson at their next election.
When the Democratic Six took office last year, they insisted they would not repeat the same mistake.
Hempstead Republicans today called on them to remember their promise and stand up for Long Island constituents by stopping the new "backdoor" tax hike.
Supervisor Don Clavin and other elected town officials, as well as Nassau Legis. John Ferretti (R-Levittown) blasted the MTA-approved discount program at a news conference outside the Merrick train station.
"We need our representatives in Albany to do whats right and actually represent the interests of all Long Islanders instead of looking at Long Islanders...as a pocket book or wallet to pay for city residents," Clavin said.
Councilman Anthony D'Esposito said, "Our elected representatives in New York State are allowing those in New York City to govern how we live in here in the suburbs."
Ferretti said, "Albany is jumping off the deep end once again. They've already made our streets less safe in Nassau County with their heinous criminal justice reforms. Now they're hitting us in the wallets and pocket books and its unacceptable."
Ferretti called for Democratic County Executive Laura Curran to fight against the city-rider discount plan instead of putting her efforts into getting a job for her husband.
Politico first reported in December that John Curran, an attorney, was secretly hired for up to $240,000 a year to represent the MTA board. He withdrew from the position amid public outcry about potential conflicts of interest
A Curran spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment on Ferretti's remarks.
Newsday reported that the Long Island Six said Republicans had it wrong when they predicted a Democratic majority in Albany would cater to the interests of New York City.
"For eight years, four election cycles, we heard from our friends on the Republican side that there would be calamity and catastrophe if the New York State Senate went to the Democrats in the majority," Nassau and state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said. "All sorts of terrible things would happen, and of course we would be owned lock, stock and barrel by New York City..." Newsday reported.
But the Democratic senators that day made no mention of the new bail reform laws they had just approved as part of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget.
You know, the bail reform and criminal justice changes that took effect Jan. 1 and which are sending alleged drug dealers, gang members, repeat drunk drivers and repeat bank robbers back out onto the street after arrest to commit more crimes. A new poll released Monday showed that 65 percent of downstate suburban voters don't like the new bail law.
Last April, Long Island's new senators also didn't mention that the Democratic majority in Albany had essentially approved a new MTA tax by ordering a city-only discount on LIRR tickets. The city-rider 20-percent discount takes effect in May while Long Island commuters face a 4 percent fare increase next year. Newsday reported that the MTA board approved the discount program yesterday.
Maybe you remember the MTA payroll tax. It was approved in 2009 when then-Democratic senators Brian Foley of Blue Point and Craig Johnson of Port Washington, voted with city Democrats to impose a 34 cent levy on every $100 earned by suburbanites, including those in Nassau and Suffolk,
Voters remembered and ousted Foley and Johnson at their next election.
When the Democratic Six took office last year, they insisted they would not repeat the same mistake.
Hempstead Republicans today called on them to remember their promise and stand up for Long Island constituents by stopping the new "backdoor" tax hike.
Supervisor Don Clavin and other elected town officials, as well as Nassau Legis. John Ferretti (R-Levittown) blasted the MTA-approved discount program at a news conference outside the Merrick train station.
"We need our representatives in Albany to do whats right and actually represent the interests of all Long Islanders instead of looking at Long Islanders...as a pocket book or wallet to pay for city residents," Clavin said.
Councilman Anthony D'Esposito said, "Our elected representatives in New York State are allowing those in New York City to govern how we live in here in the suburbs."
Ferretti said, "Albany is jumping off the deep end once again. They've already made our streets less safe in Nassau County with their heinous criminal justice reforms. Now they're hitting us in the wallets and pocket books and its unacceptable."
Ferretti called for Democratic County Executive Laura Curran to fight against the city-rider discount plan instead of putting her efforts into getting a job for her husband.
Politico first reported in December that John Curran, an attorney, was secretly hired for up to $240,000 a year to represent the MTA board. He withdrew from the position amid public outcry about potential conflicts of interest
A Curran spokesman did not immediately return a call for comment on Ferretti's remarks.
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| Hempstead Republican lawmakers at news conference today |
The TofH elected officials need to stay in lane and handle their responsibilities first before butting into State matters.
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