Proud of the fact that he represents more villages than any other state senator "by far," New York State Senator Michael Balboni presented the Nassau County Village Officials Association with a $100,000 check, for all of the villages, for emergency communications. Senator Balboni, who chairs the state's Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, represents 32 of the county's 64 villages in his seventh senatorial district. And with a large turnout, and an exceptionally impressive turnout from Great Neck's nine villages, the senator said that it was "fun to come into this room" as he spoke before the NCVOA dinner last Tuesday evening, Sept. 14.

Smiling and energetic, the senator was quickly surrounded by a crowd as he entered the room. "I've known so many of you for so long," he said. "I've grown up in this position with so many of you." Senator Balboni praised the village officials for their work, saying that he has "the best perspective on how you do your jobs ... I get the phone calls if there's a problem, but I don't get many complaints."

Senator Balboni also spoke of the great partnership he has developed with the villages. "If you need me, you call and I take care of it; if I need you, I just have to call." The senator then spoke to the value of the local officials' bipartisan efforts, stating that "you are not all Democrats nor all Republicans, but we work in partnership, we coordinate." And such bipartisan work, he said, "is incredibly necessary."

The senator stated that he is looking forward to the day after election day "so we can all move forward ... we are all Americans and we should all work together." At that point Senator Balboni presented the $100,000 check to NCVOA President Anthony Panzarella, mayor of the Village of Malverne. The funds are to be divided among Nassau County's villages, for emergency communications such as the widely touted 800-megahurtz radio now owned by all of the villages on the Great Neck peninsula.

Turning to more day-to-day issues, the senator addressed the issue of parking surcharges and moving violations funds being transferred to the state. "We killed it both times," he told the officials, adding "let's repeal it village by village." Then Senator Balboni touched on pensions, asking his audience, "What do you want the state to do?"

Senator Balboni did spend a fair amount of time discussing the problem of keeping people in Nassau County; in particular how to help young people just starting out and how to keep older people. Affordability is the issue here. "I appreciate your candor, understanding and patience," he said, as he praised his friend, Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, "a great guy who is trying to push the envelope on this.

"It's about our children," the senator went on. And he spoke of the "quality of life" on Long Island and he spoke of "taking a different look, seeing what we want five years down the line."

"What should Long Island become?" Senator Balboni asked. "It's a challenge to look to the future, to plan for the future, to look at transportation and health care." He asked that the mayors and the trustees, the ones closest to the residents, help him get a "sense" of what is needed. And then, he said, "It is us, in government, who can help guide the quality of life here."

Some villages, he said have begun changes on their own, especially regarding workforce housing. Along these lines, Senator Balboni would like to help the villages "give incentives, not mandates."

"I swear to you, my friendship and my partnership, is there with you, not just for a future, for a promising future," Senator Balboni stated in closing. Before he left, the senator presented the NCVOA with a plaque, "for all you have done for your villages, for this county, for New York State."