RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 13, 2011, Merrick Life
First county legislative debate proves lively
Candidates discuss layoffs, bus privatization, etc.
More than 75 voters showed up to witness the recent Nassau legislative debates at the East Meadow Public Library last week, but some of the candidates didn’t make it.
Among the missing was incumbent 13th Legislative District county Legislator Norma Gonsalves, Republican, who was being honored at a dinner last week and was unable to attend, according to the League of Women Voters, the debate organizers. Ms. Gonsalves’ challenger, Patricia Maher, Democrat, was present.
Also missing was 19th District challenger Republican Fred Jones, who residents were told had a previous engagement. The district incumbent, county Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat, was there. District 15 incumbent Dennis Dunne Sr., Republican, and challenger Ethan Irwin, Democrat, were both present.
Many of the voters at the night session were residents of local retirement communities, and their questions were more about Nassau County in general than about the specific districts the candidates seek to represent.
Topics of discussion included the future of Long Island Bus, the on-going redistricting effort in Nassau County, and layoffs among county employees.
Participants in the 90-minute debate were each permitted two minutes to answer questions, but the format weighed against the sole Republican on the dais, Mr. Dunne. While Mr. Dunne had two minutes to answer a question, the Democrats were each able to use their two minutes to expound, explain and echo their shared points of view.
Missing the bus on privatization
When asked about the movement to privatize buses now managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Legislator Dunne said, “The Nassau bus system has been totally mismanaged.” He said the MTA proposed cutting the bus system by 52% while dramatically raising costs.
When asked if he had any knowledge about the company which may take over L.I. Bus, Mr. Dunne said, “The county executive put in a proposal to see who could run it better, but there’s nothing to see yet.”
Ms. Maher said the contract to manage L.I. Bus is already awarded to a French company, Veolia Transportation, with a U.S. headquarters in Illinois.
She said that Veolia has a poor record, including major accidents in California. An online search confirmed Veolia was involved in a train collision that killed 25 and injured 135 in 2008.
Legislator Denenberg expressed anger about the lack of a public hearing about the Veolia contract. “There was no hearing on this. It was decided it was not important enough to have a hearing on.”
He was also angry about the timing of the agreement. The MTA contract expires on January 1, at which time Veolia’s contract will go into effect.
Mr. Denenberg said the instant changeover removes any opportunity for the county to negotiate terms about expenses or bus routes. He said an effort should have been made to negotiate with the MTA first.
“To wait till you have a contract is like having a take-it-or-leave-it option. Does anyone love the MTA? No. Does anyone love the MTA payroll tax? No. But to wait until the MTA contract is up you have no other options,” said Legislator Denenberg.
District 15 candidate Irwin also expressed his objection to privatizing L.I. Bus. “We’ll be giving up $50 million in state aid if we privatize bus service,” said Mr. Irwin.
Redistricting attempt fails
A concerned resident raised the subject of legislative redistricting. Nassau Republicans submitted a plan to revise legislative districts this year. Democrats criticized the proposal as a “power grab,” and an attempt to limit minority representation.
A state appeals court recently ruled current district lines will remain in effect for this year’s elections.
Legislator Dunne said redistricting was proposed because of census results stating one legislator was representing an inordinately large number of residents.
But Mr. Denenberg said redistricting is to be done in the 10th year, not the eighth year as was attempted. He also said that in the most recent redistricting, in 2003, only 5% of residents had their districts changed.
According to Legislator Denenberg, in the recently proposed plan 50% of residents would be moved to another district. He also said the state Court of Appeals rejected the plan by a margin of 7- 0.
Both Ms. Maher and Mr. Irwin pointed out an irony about the current redistricting attempt, saying it seemed disingenuous for a candidate to petition residents for their vote, and then support a plan that would not permit them to represent the district.
County layoffs
On the subject of laying off hundreds of county workers, Legislator Denenberg said, “The backbone of any community is the services you provide.”
Mr. Denenberg said he would prefer to eliminate much of the money the county now spends that is spent on outside contracts. Candidate Irwin said, “Before we lay off anybody we need to go through the budget and eliminate waste.”
Ms. Maher said, “I’m not in office now, but my vote is no. I would not vote for those layoffs.”
Legislator Dunne offered a qualified answer about layoffs and county services, “There are niceties and necessities.We have to do without the niceties. I’m not going to raise your taxes.”
Candidate Irwin countered, “I submit that the police, sewer and bus are in fact necessities, not niceties.”
