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                                                                               Political appointee firings on the eve of Thanksgiving are very common during a change in administrations. In Nassau, it appears the Thanksgiving eve massacre has come early. Or at least the demand for resignations. All  of lameduck Democratic County Executive Laura Curran's political appointees were asked yesterday to submit resignation letters. If they want to continue in their jobs, they must submit a resume through the Nassau portal. As you can see in the attached memo, the transition chairman for incoming Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman requested the letters from the appointees, formally called ordinance employees. The county budget office reports there are 605 ordinance employees on board with the county as of the end of October. However there are 73 appointees working for the county legislature. Blakeman has no control over them. Only the legislative leaders can hire and fire their sta

                                                                                                                                                                    Remember? Nassau Democratic legislator Carrie Solages on Friday -- the day before the official grand opening of the $1.1 billion UBS arena in Belmont Park-- said he wouldn't be celebrating because the project developers had ignored the Elmont community in terms of community improvements, safety and jobs. Solages, who represents Elmont, pointedly complained that the Elmont train station wasn't even in Elmont, but in Bellerose Terrace. His sister, Michaelle Solages, a Democratic member of the state Assembly from Elmont, had no such qualms. Three days before Carrie Solages issued his statement, Michaelle Solages tweeted her appearance at the ribbon-cutting and celebration of the very train station that disappointed her brother. "We are celebrating the grand opening of the new #Elmont @LIRR station,," she twee

  Elmont train station circled in yellow: Elmont indicated in red . Source is Nassau Legislative Democrat office   While most Nassau politicians are celebrating the official opening tomorrow of the new UBS Arena in Elmont, the county legislator who represents Elmont is not turning cartwheels. Democrat Legis. Carrie Solages says he will not attend the grand opening and cannot support the $1.1 billion arena located on the grounds of Belmont Park because his Elmont constituents were cut out of its planning and development. "When this project was first presented," Solages said in a statement, "I was hopeful that we could strike a balance that benefits local residents, the developer and Nassau County as a whole." "Unfortunately, this project seemed to have been pushed through by former Governor (Andrew) Cuomo at the expense of local residents, who have been forced to contend with traffic, garbage, pollution and construction noise at all hours of the day -- all while

                                                                             Mark Herbst Although many conservatives were angry when U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino joined with 12 other House Republicans to pass the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill pushed by President Joe Biden administration, the companies who build Long Island's bridges, highways, sewers, parks and other big public works projects strongly support him. In fact, Mark Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractor's Association, said in an email today that the group intends to honor the Bayport Republican next month: " Our group heavily lobbied Garbarino to support this bill, and we are very grateful he voted favorably," Herbst wrote. "As a result, LICA is announcing on December 1 st , at our annual meeting, we have selected the Congressman as the recipient of the 2021 LICA Leadership Award.  This recognition is essentially our “person of the year” award." Andrew Garbarino Garbarino ha

                                                                                      Robbie Walker The federal judge overseeing the corruption case of former Nassau Chief County Executive Rob Walker has delayed sentencing again until Dec. 7. After hearing arguments about "enhancements and relevant conduct," District Court Judge Joan M. Azrack today reserved decision until next month, according to the case docket. Walker, who was the top deputy for former Republican County Executive Ed Mangano, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in May, 2019 after federal prosecutors accused him of taking $5,000 from an unidentified county contractor , returning the money and then lying about it. In a sentencing memo, the U.S. Attorney's office asked for a four-year sentence -- more than federal guidelines call for -- ie "enhancements" -- while Walker's attorney, Brian Griffin, requested probation. In asking for a longer sentence, prosecutors cited "

                                                                              Bruce Blakeman        Twenty-two years after voters ejected Republican Bruce Blakeman, then presiding officer of the four-year old Nassau legislature, voters have brought him back into the county again. Republicans say the final count of absentee ballots has put Blakeman ahead of incumbent Democratic County Executive Laura Curran by 2,150 votes. Curran called Blakeman and congratulated him on his victory after the votes were tabulated, a Republican spokesman said. The results really are a shocker: Democrats were confident that Curran was far ahead in the polls before Election night, despite Republican predictions that Blakeman was within striking distance. But there was a red wave on Long Island this month, probably a result of voters angry with Democrat President Joe Biden's blunders in office since he took office in January. Not only did Blakeman win,  but the absentee vote count also affirmed the vict

                                                                                    Red line points out Laura Curran on the left and Todd Kaminsky on the right                                                                                   Spotted in Elmont this morning: Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and State Sen. Todd Kaminsky of Long Beach. Both attended a ribbon cutting at the opening of the Long Island Railroads' Elmont station for the new UBS arena. Until today, neither Democrat had been seen nor heard from publicly since Election night when they apparently lost their respective elections Nov. 2: Curran for re-election to another four year term and Kaminsky for the open seat of Nassau District Attorney. Absentee votes are still being counted. Curran is a long shot. Kaminsky definitely lost, but remains a state senator. Curran didn't even appear in regard to the tornado that smacked Nassau on Saturday although her counterpart in Suffolk, County Executive Steve Bel

                                                                              Joshua Lafazan   Like every election in the the last four years, Nassau Democrats appear to be winning disputed races through absentee ballots. Though not official, Republicans and Democrats say  Legis. Joshua Lafazan, a nonaffiliated voter from Woodbury who runs and votes with Democrats, has won his re-election by about 200 votes once absentee ballots were counted today.  Lafazan this afternoon put out an email saying he had won:                                                                                        Republicans and Democrats also say it appears that Legis. Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview) has won through absentees though he was down on Election Day.  Arnold Drucker Now let's see if Democrats can pull off a near miracle with County Executive Laura Curran, who lost to Republican Bruce Blakeman, by nearly 12,000 votes on Election Day with about 20,000 absentee votes to be counted. Or a real mir

                                                                              Joseph Saladino Four tornadoes touched down on Long Island on Saturday, including three locations in the Town of Hempstead: Woodmere, Uniondale and Levittown. Tornadoes are rare events on Long Island, particularly in November. But the only Nassau elected official who seemed concerned was Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. The Republican was interviewed by phone on News12 as the tv station's meteorologists reported live on the eery and frightening weather. Some Suffolk town supervisors also weighed in. Again, lame duck County Executive Laura Curran was no where to be seen. The Baldwin Democrat has been out of the public eye since she lost her election Nov. 2 --though absentee ballots still must be counted. While running for re-election, it seemed Curran would have a news conference with emergency officials every time it rained hard, cautioning residents to be careful. Laura Curran But not for tornado w

                                                                                      Internet Ad From a public relations point of view,  an alleged death threat over his vote for a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was one of the best things that has ever happened to U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Bayport Republican. It has garnered more media attention and name recognition in the last few days for the little-known Congressman than he received in his previous eight years as an undistinguished Republican in New York's Democratic-controlled state assembly or during his past year and a half in the U.S. House representing the South Shore of Long Island from Massapequa to Sayville. His vote, followed by the alleged death threat from an angry constituent,  has prompted multiple stories in Newsday and on News12 as well as appearances and mentions on national new broadcasts. Unfamiliar organizations are running internet ads supporting the Congressman, such as the one posted above