Isaiah Berlin’s tale of the Fox and Hedgehog is an apt metaphor for Mangano and his opponents.
Like the Hedgehog, Mangano has a few large ideas i.e. privatizing Long Island Bus, consolidating police precincts, re-developing the Nassau Coliseum, partnering with a private firm to manage the Sewer/Water system etc; all derivative of the harsh reality that Nassau County, which has lived way beyond its means for decades, is now broke with neither New York State nor the Feds coming to the rescue.
In contrast, the fox gang, led by the tag team of Abrams, Bosworth and Wink have a plethora of small ideas which ignore economic reality in the county.
Further they insist that bipartisanship; viz. when you agree with them; is the answer to our problems.
Sure. Whether Mangano is successful or not, time will tell but at the very least he’s playing the cards he’s been dealt wtih reality.
In contrast, his relentless opponents fill the ether daily, with their kvetching and whining screed.
It should be obvious by now that they have neither answers nor ideas, only ill informed and cranky criticism.
But one thing is for sure. The taxpayers and voters have noticed.
Tom Coffey
Herricks
