Politics & Government

Dems Seeks Answers on Sandy Spending

A weekly look-in at the news of Nassau County.

Democratic lawmakers have recently spoken out against Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves, R–East Meadow, and her refusal to allow Comptroller George Maragos to appear at the Legislature to discuss millions of dollars in "poorly monitored" spending following Hurricane Sandy, according to a press release from the Nassau County Legislature's Democratic Caucus.

While Frank Moroney, spokesperson for Gonsalves, said that it is too early for Maragos to speak on the matter, the comptroller told Patch he was reviewing several Sandy-related sub-contractors to ensure that their records, billing and invoices were in proper order.

Final Police Precinct Merger Postponed Again

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The last police precinct merger in Nassau County has been postponed once again – this time, indefinitely, according to reports.

The First Precinct in Baldwin was originally slated to be absorbed by the Seventh Precinct in Seaford back in December, but was postponed at that point "due to ongoing Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts within several Nassau County agencies," police officials told Patch.

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sandy also played a role in the April postponement.

According to Newsday [paid link]:

Flooding to the Seventh Precinct building from superstorm Sandy has led officials to reconsider how policing on the county's South Shore should be managed.

"It's a possibility that we may realign the South Shore among three precincts rather than two precincts," First Deputy Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter told Newsday. "It may be that, at the end of the day, we build a new building at a better location."

The realignments were announced earlier in 2012 as a way to eliminate more than 100 desk jobs and cut in "costly" built-in overtime benefits, according to the county.

Mangano Welcomes Cosmos to Mitchel Field

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was joined Monday by Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature Norma Gonslaves, as well as Nassau County Legislators Fran Becker, Dennis Dunne, Rose Walker and Michael Venditto, as he welcomed the New York Cosmos to Mitchel Field.

Joined by New York Cosmos Chairman Seamus O'Brien and Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover, Mangano announced that the Cosmos soccer club, pending approval of the legislature, will invest $400,000 in rehabilitating a dilapidated, dry dirt field at Mitchel Field and transform it into the team's new practice facility.

The Cosmos, revived last year and the most storied soccer club in U.S. history, won a Request-for-Proposals issued by the county last month to develop the field.

The 10-year lease would require the Cosmos to make renovations to the facility and pay Nassau County rent on the land used at Mitchel Field.

"We believe this proposal is going to benefit the Long Island community tremendously," O'Brien said. We plan to make Mitchel Field an active destination by restoring it to prime condition, holding our practices there and opening access for public use."

Mitchel Field renovations are estimated to take two months to complete. The plan allows the Cosmos to use the renovated field for team training sessions during the soccer season, with the public allowed to use the facility at all other times.

Great Neck Synagogue Cancels Speech by Pamela Geller

Great Neck Synagogue cancelled a planned talk Sunday by activist Pamela Geller, Geller announced Wednesday.

"Due to relentless intimidation, bullying and threats, the Great Neck Synagogue is cancelling my talk," said Geller to Patch. "It is a very sad day for freedom-loving peoples when fascist tactics trump free speech."

But Geller rebounded quickly. She accepted an invitation to speak Sunday morning at Chabad of Great Neck – and in New Jersey Sunday night.

Craft and Gift Show

Nassau County will host its sixth annual Craft and Gift Show this weekend in Eisenhower Park. The craft show will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Field 8 of Eisenhower Park. For more information, click here.


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