As Nassau County executive, I make tough decisions each and every day to ensure our government serves its residents without demanding any more money from our overtaxed homeowners. While I do not expect every County Legislator to support my decisions, I do expect elected legislators to fairly debate my decisions on the merits and debate rather than skew facts or hold immature press conferences funded by hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, that has not always been the case.
In the first six months of his career, Legislator Carrie Solages has spread false and misleading information about several of my efforts to create a more efficient government while protecting your wallet from a property tax hike. At first, I thought Legislator Solages received poor advice from his political boss, but I have now come to realize that he has simply resorted to dirty political trickery. Accordingly, please allow me to set the record straight on three important topics.
First, Legislator Solages claimed that the police reorganization plan would negatively impact local communities. This outrageous claim couldn’t be further from the truth. My plan took police officers from behind desks and assigned them to patrol. In fact, there are 88 more police officers assigned to patrol than before I took office. Simply put, residents pay dearly for police and I am making sure as many as possible are patrolling our streets rather than sitting in seats. Next time you see Legislator Solages, ask him what his plan is to protect your wallet and neighborhood.
Second, Legislator Solages stated that the public-private partnership for NICE bus operations would eliminate all bus service in many communities including Elmont. Clearly, his statements were false as bus service continues throughout western Nassau County today. Not only do buses continue to run in the Elmont community, but they are more reliable, fares have remained flat and riders are safer than ever before. Again, Mr. Solages was wrong.
Finally, Legislator Solages spent the last two months opposing my plan to balance the budget and maintain full funding for youth services throughout Nassau County. I spent weeks urging Democrats on the County Legislature to support my plan so that thousands of children would remain in their youth programs. Rather than protect the communities he was elected to help, Legislator Solages voted against these efforts because I refused to give into his self-interest political demands for a noncompetitive legislative district. While Legislator Solages has the potential to help the residents he represents and maintain youth programs by working in a bipartisan manner.
Legislator Solages should realize that the campaign is over and that as an elected official, he should focus on the hard work of doing the people’s business rather than please his political boss. Accordingly, I invite him to defy his political boss and meet with me to stay on Nassau’s plan for fiscal recovery while protecting taxpayers and keeping our youth programs going.
