News

SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE BELLONE DELIVERS STATE OF THE COUNTY TO PACKED ROOM IN HAUPPAUGE

Mar
6
2014

Address Highlights Water Quality & Economic Development as Priorities for the County; Bellone: We need to ‘Reclaim our Water’ together

(Hauppauge, NY) Last night, County Executive Steve Bellone delivered his third State of the County address to a packed room at the William H. Rodgers Legislative Building in Hauppauge.
During his address, Bellone prioritized the imperative need to focus on threats to Suffolk County’s water quality from failing septic tanks and cesspools.

“There is no greater challenge to our future than the water quality crisis that we must now begin to confront as a County. Nitrogen poisoning of our surface and ground waters is the greatest crisis this County has faced in a generation,” said County Executive Bellone. “Clean...| read more ››

Suffolk Exec. Bellone tackles clean water, brain drain in State of the County address

Mar
6
2014

HAUPPAUGE - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone delivered the State of the County address to the Suffolk County Legislature Wednesday evening.

The county executive says Suffolk gained about 18,000 jobs in the past year, but more must be done to help thwart brain drain in the county’s communities.

He also spoke about the importance of cleaning up Long Island's water supply.

"This is a year of action for our water,” said Bellone. “By the end of this year, we will have firmly identified the scope of the problem, begun work to sewer critical areas, have a clear roadmap as to what type of technology we need for every impacted home."

Bellone says there are 360,000 un-sewered homes in Suffolk. The...| read more ››

Bellone State of the County speech targets water quality

Mar
5
2014

Suffolk is preparing a home-by-home analysis of areas to be connected to sewers as part of the county's push to address nitrogen pollution in local waterways, County Executive Steve Bellone said in his State of the County address Wednesday night.

Bellone devoted the largest portion of his 58-minute speech at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building in Hauppauge to the issue of water quality.

He also said the county has made progress in reducing its structural budget deficit, noting that the county payroll has declined by 1,000 workers since he took office in 2012.

Bellone has made nitrogen pollution from septic tanks and cesspools his top priority this year. Suffolk will have "firmly identified the scope of the problem"...| read more ››

Bellone Speaks on Downtown Revitalization Efforts to Members of the Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce.

Feb
26
2014

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone spoke to members of the Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce as well as students of the Bayport-Blue Point Business Class Wednesday morning as part of Bayport-Blue Point High School’s School-To-Business program. Over 100 students, teachers and members of the Chamber attended the meeting where the County Executive spoke about Suffolk County’s water quality initiative, improving transportation infrastructure, and downtown revitalization projects throughout Suffolk County. In addition, County Executive Bellone discussed efforts to reverse the trend of young adults leaving Long Island.

“In order to make our County a model for sustainable economic growth, we need to focus on ways to attract young people to stay on the Island,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “We need...| read more ››

BELLONE AND LEGISLATOR MARTINEZ ANNOUNCE OPENING OF SUFFOLK COUNTY RESOURCE CENTER IN COLLABORATION WITH MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK

Feb
20
2014

(Brentwood, NY) County Executive Bellone was joined by Legislator Monica Martinez, Javier Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY, the Departments of Social Services, Labor and the Human Rights Commission to announce on-site county services to be offered at Make the Road New York in Brentwood, NY.

“Ensuring that all residents have access to County services is of the utmost importance to my administration,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “Today, we have the opportunity to do just that in the Brentwood and Central Islip communities. We have created a county resource center in Brentwood that will be staffed one a week with representatives from the Departments of Labor, Social Services and the Human Rights Commission. These services are made...| read more ››

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone to Join NY Metropolitan Transportation Council

Feb
16
2014

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) will elect Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone as co-chair at the annual meeting Feb. 27.

The meeting comes at a time where there is an increasing need for the tri-state regions to work together in planning and transit partnerships, according to the NYMTC website. The theme will be addressed by the Council, and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

Bellone has recently pushed for many traffic safety measures in Suffolk County, saying there was a need for safer transportation alternatives in the suburbs of Suffolk after a fellow legislator said the County was not one for biking. He also asked the State to allow for speed cameras in 20 school zones, similar...| read more ››

Steve Bellone pushes plan for speed cameras near schools

Feb
12
2014

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone Tuesday asked state legislators for the power to install cameras to catch speeders in school zones, an initiative that would expand the current system that nabs drivers who run red lights.
Bellone proposed putting cameras near 20 school sites during a meeting with Long Island's state lawmakers in Albany. He said the initiative would bring in $2 million a year in revenues.
"Speed cameras are used in cities across the nation and have proved effective in reducing traffic accidents and saving lives," Bellone said in his pitch to state lawmakers. He said his initiative resembles a pilot project in New York City that has just started.

Bellone wants authority to put the new...| read more ››

Steve Bellone Announces Release of the 2013 Suffolk County Food Policy Council Annual Report

Feb
11
2014

Hauppauge, NY - February 11, 2014 - Today, the Suffolk County Food Policy Council (SCFPC) released its annual report to the Suffolk County Legislature and to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. This report summarizes the actions and steps taken by the Council over the course of 2013. It also identifies future steps and actions to be investigated in 2014.

The SCFPC is made up of members of the Department of Health Services, the Department of Economic Development & Planning, the Department of Social Services, food equity advocates, community-based groups, food growers, retailers, and distributors, and Legislator Kara Hahn, the Chair of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Environment, Planning, and Agriculture Committee.

The mission of the Food Policy Council is to:
...| read more ››

Bellone Congratulates Suffolk Olympians

Feb
5
2014

Lugers, Skeleton Slider Competing in XXII Games.

Bellone Congratulates Suffolk Olympians
Haupauge, NY - February 5th, 2014 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone sends congratulations to local athletes who are participating in the XXII Olympic Winter Games.

Among the estimated 2,500 athletes competing in the games in Sochi, Russia are: lugers Aidan Kelly of West Islip and Matt Mortensen of Huntington Station and skeleton slider John Daly of Smithtown.

“We are proud to have such a strong contingent of Suffolk County residents who will represent their country on such an international stage,” Bellone said. “They have all worked hard to get where they are and deserve a great deal of credit for their achievements. We will all be rooting...| read more ››

BELLONE’S WATER QUALITY AGENDA

Jan
30
2014

When I first heard that Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was making Long Island’s water quality the number one priority of his administration, I was skeptical. And rightfully so. In the past I’ve argued that Long Island is entering the “age of the mega-project.”

As I wrote this past December:

Long-stalled projects within the Town of Islip (and across Long Island) are getting new life thanks to pro-growth government incentives, focused implementation and the perceived growing acceptance of multi-family developments. What once seemed impossible to build in a suburban setting is now being proposed with new zeal, paired with ample mention of this column’s favorite terms: “smart growth” and “brain drain.” Add to these the need for “housing for Long...| read more ››