Money Money: Part Two of Three
State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck), who requested campaign contributions from her financially squeezed constituents last Thursday, is just one of Long Island's Democratic elected officials looking to leverage other people's money, including other governments' funds.
Kaplan and three other Democratic state senators earlier this month sent Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin a letter suggesting he should spend at least some of $133 million in federal funds on their constitutents.
Hempstead had applied for--and received--the federal dollars to help the town's 800,000 residents through the coronavirus pandemic.
State Sens. Kaplan, Todd Kaminksy of Long Beach, Kevin Thomas of Levittown and John Brooks of Seaford requested "sufficient funding" for villages in their districts.
"The villages we represent are in severe fiscal distress due to the economic ramifications from COVID-19, " they wrote. "Villages provide essential services for Nassau County residents such as law enforcement, emergency services,sanitation and maintaining water systems, among others, all of which have been stretched to the limit during this public health crisis."
"To ensure that the federal funds go to those most in need, we ask that you continue
your commitment to establishing a transparent and equitable process for allotment, and that you
include a diverse group of village mayors as well as state representatives in your decision-making, " they wrote.
The four didn't name names but it's likely that Kaplan, Kaminsky, Thomas and Brooks are the state representatives they want to be part of the decision making.
"A bi-partisan and open process will give Town of Hempstead residents confidence that this
unprecedented level of federal money is being spent appropriately, " the senators concluded.
Clavin wrote back that he was already communicating to the villages about their needs. (See letter below.)
Then he reminded the state senators that they should take care of their own house first: Fix New York state's bogged down and backlogged unemployment system.
"The Town of Hempstead has received numerous calls from desperate residents who
have lost jobs during the pandemic. They have bills to pay, groceries to purchase and families
to support. Sadly, many of these individuals have confronted difficulties in contacting the New
York State Department of Labor in a quest to secure unemployment benefits," Clavin wrote. He cited a New York Times story about a woman who waited eight weeks for her first check.
"This is just not fair, and people need your help," Clavin wrote.
Newsday reported yesterday that nearly 316,000 Long Islanders have filed unemployment claims since the health crisis began nine weeks ago.
"P.S. On a side note, I am eager to hear from you on your efforts in the State Legislature to provide financial assistance to the villages you represent," Clavin added.
A Republican spokesman said the senators have not responded to Clavin's letter.
Kaplan and three other Democratic state senators earlier this month sent Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin a letter suggesting he should spend at least some of $133 million in federal funds on their constitutents.
Hempstead had applied for--and received--the federal dollars to help the town's 800,000 residents through the coronavirus pandemic.
State Sens. Kaplan, Todd Kaminksy of Long Beach, Kevin Thomas of Levittown and John Brooks of Seaford requested "sufficient funding" for villages in their districts.
"The villages we represent are in severe fiscal distress due to the economic ramifications from COVID-19, " they wrote. "Villages provide essential services for Nassau County residents such as law enforcement, emergency services,sanitation and maintaining water systems, among others, all of which have been stretched to the limit during this public health crisis."
"To ensure that the federal funds go to those most in need, we ask that you continue
your commitment to establishing a transparent and equitable process for allotment, and that you
include a diverse group of village mayors as well as state representatives in your decision-making, " they wrote.
The four didn't name names but it's likely that Kaplan, Kaminsky, Thomas and Brooks are the state representatives they want to be part of the decision making.
"A bi-partisan and open process will give Town of Hempstead residents confidence that this
unprecedented level of federal money is being spent appropriately, " the senators concluded.
Clavin wrote back that he was already communicating to the villages about their needs. (See letter below.)
Then he reminded the state senators that they should take care of their own house first: Fix New York state's bogged down and backlogged unemployment system.
"The Town of Hempstead has received numerous calls from desperate residents who
have lost jobs during the pandemic. They have bills to pay, groceries to purchase and families
to support. Sadly, many of these individuals have confronted difficulties in contacting the New
York State Department of Labor in a quest to secure unemployment benefits," Clavin wrote. He cited a New York Times story about a woman who waited eight weeks for her first check.
"This is just not fair, and people need your help," Clavin wrote.
Newsday reported yesterday that nearly 316,000 Long Islanders have filed unemployment claims since the health crisis began nine weeks ago.
"P.S. On a side note, I am eager to hear from you on your efforts in the State Legislature to provide financial assistance to the villages you represent," Clavin added.
A Republican spokesman said the senators have not responded to Clavin's letter.
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