Local Pols Join Farmingdale State Students In Rallying Against Proposed SUNY Cuts

State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) recently joined over 100 Farmingdale State students in rallying against Governor Paterson’s proposed SUNY funding cuts which could cost Farmingdale State College over $1 million in state aid. State Senator Kenneth LaValle (1st Senate District) and Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (12th Assembly District) also joined Senator Fuschillo and the students in opposing the cuts.

Companies, Villages Shell Out Money for MTA Payroll Tax

If you didn’t know about the tax on payroll to help fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, you do now. The payroll tax has come due Nov. 2 with business owners and municipalities and school districts having to fork over 34 cents for every $100 of payroll. The tax affects all businesses and municipalities including school districts, nonprofit organizations that have a payroll and hospitals within the areas that are serviced by the MTA, including Nassau County.

New York Conference Of Mayors Calls For Amendments

‘The Devilish Details’ of New Law for Village Dissolution

The sponsors call it the Empowerment Act for short, but local governments are calling it the Disenfranchisement Act because the sweeping legislation passed this June, going into effect in March 2010, requires voters to vote to dissolve or consolidate local government before they know whether such actions would save money, or not.

“There’s a lot of confusion about the Act and it’s up to you to educate your residents so they’ll know that signing a petition for dissolution sets into motion a complicated, expensive process where the cart is before the horse,” said Wade Beltramo, special counsel for the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) to a roomful of mayors and village officials from Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties at a NYCOM meeting held at Mineola High School on Oct. 29. Beltramo spent the evening giving a quick course in the new act, which is summarized below.

Republicans Take Control of Legislature

Maintain Stronghold in Oyster Bay Town, County Exec Race Not Yet Called

(Editor’s Note: The election numbers contained in this story were from the Nassau County Board of Elections and were still unofficial as of press time.)

Residents headed for the polls on this past Tuesday, Election Day, to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Mangano, Suozzi Vie for Nassau County Executive

In the race for Nassau County Executive, Democrat Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove will attempt to retain the post he has held since 2002. He is running against longtime Republican Legislator Ed Mangano of Bethpage.

Belesi, Mejias Vie for 14th Legislative District Seat

The 14th Legislative District encompasses the communities  of Farmingdale and portions of Massapequa, Old Bethpage, Plainview, Levittown and North Wantagh. Democratic incumbent Dave Mejias is seeking election to his fourth consecutive term as legislator of the 14th District. Opposing Mejias is Republican Joseph Belesi. The same questions were asked to both candidates running for the two-year seat. There is no limit to the number of terms legislators may serve. Their stories appear below in alphabetical order. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Meet the Candidates for Nassau County District Attorney

On Nov, 3 voters in Nassau County will select their representative for Nassau County District Attorney. Joy Watson will challenge incumbent Kathleen Rice. The candidate’s profiles are listed below.

Scalia, Venditto Vie for Oyster Bay Town Supervisor

The same questions were asked of both candidates running for Oyster Bay Town Supervisor, which is a two-year term. Incumbent John Venditto is running on the Republican, Conservative and Working Families Party lines. Challenger Keith Scalia is running on the Democratic Party line. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Their stories appear below in alphabetical order.

Majid, Walker Vie For 17th L.D. Seat

On Nov. 3, residents of Nassau County’s 17th Legislative District will elect a new representative to the Nassau County Legislature. Rose Marie Walker and Arshad Majid are vying for the position, which is being vacated by Ed Mangano, who is running for County Executive. The district includes Island Trees, Bethpage, Hicksville, Levittown, North Massapequa, Plainedge, South Farmingdale and Syosset. The candidate’s stories are listed below in alphabetical order.

Six Vie for Three Spots on Oyster Bay Town Board

The same questions were asked of all candidates running for the Town of Oyster Bay Board, which is a four-year term. In the event a council member leaves office prior to completion of a full term, the Town Board appoints a replacement. That person serves until the next regularly scheduled election, at which time the voters elect an individual to serve the remainder of the term. There is no limit to the number of terms council members may serve.

Incumbent Republican councilmembers Chris J. Coschignano, Elizabeth A. Faughnan and Joseph G. Pinto are being challenged by Democrats Matt Meng, Erin Reilley and Doug Watson. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Their stories appear below in alphabetical order.