Politics & Government

GOP, Dems Feud Amidst Bay Park Recovery Effort Outlines

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

Nassau County Repubicans and Democrats took aim at one another this week after County Executive Ed Mangano outlined a $1.2 billion Post-Hurricane Sandy Recovery Plan for the Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Mangano joined earlier this week by local elected officials, environmental groups Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Operation SPLASH to discuss his plan.

Last week the plant suffered a power outage and it continues to run on generator power due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Many problems remain at the Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, including unpleasant odors and problems with the electrical system, according to Mangano.

The latest incident occurred last week at the plant when an electrical failure, caused by salt water corrosion in the electrical system, shutdown the plant. Engineers expect issues such as this to continue until major repairs are undertaken.

However, Democrats questioned Mangano and pointed fingers in his direction for the problems with the Bay Park facility.

“Mangano spent only $70 million of the $400 million the legislature authorized in 2009 for 2010-2013 sewer master plan upgrades,” said Legis. Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick. “The plan and approved expenditures included $11 million for installing a new influent pumping system at Bay Park by December 2011 and $26 million for complete digester rehabilitation at Bay Park and Cedar Creek by early 2012. If these projects were timely implemented instead of delayed, it is likely the damage caused by Sandy would not have been as severe.

“We all welcome federal and state aid and an outflow pipe, but Nassau must implement these long-planned and long-delayed projects,” he added.

County spokesman Brian Nevin refuted the statement from Denenberg and said that the legislator should have acted on it when he had the chance.

“It’s shameful that Legislator Denenberg is lying about the facts in an attempt to cover up his own failure to fix the plant when he served as Chairman of Nassau County's Public Works Committee,” Nevin said.

Click here to read more about the plan to fix Bay Park.

Bay Park Sewage Leak

Three million gallons of wastewater leaked from the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plan in East Rockaway last Thursday during a power outage. Read more about the leak here.

Democratic Leader Calls for Hearing on Sandy-Related Work Payments

The following is from Nassau County Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, D-Hempstead:

“It’s been over six months since Superstorm Sandy devastated Nassau County, and while hundreds of millions of dollars has flowed in to help rebuild our county and the lives of our residents, today we are left with more questions than answers about the work conducted by the Mangano administration.

Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves has refused our repeated requests for a public hearing into the clean-up process and how the federal aid we received has been spent.

We commend the effort by other officials to investigate the procurement and payment of Sandy contractors hired by the county. However, it would be an abdication of our responsibility as Legislators to refuse to hold a public hearing and get answers to these questions, especially since the limited answers we have received from Mangano administration officials has proven to be factually incorrect and misleading.

It is imperative that we receive answers now because improper, erroneous or fraudulent documentation could jeopardize Nassau’s FEMA reimbursement and leave county taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in bills.”

Memorial Day Weekend NICE Bus Service

NICE Bus will offer two routes to Jones Beach beginning Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 25. The Nassau Inter-County Express will operate:

  • The non-stop n88 departing from Freeport LIRR station to the Jones Beach State Park’s two Bathhouses and the Central Mall.
  • The new n87 departing from Hicksville LIRR to Jones Beach Bathhouses and Central Mall, with stops at Newbridge Road, East Meadow, and Wantagh.
For more information and fares, click here.

Mangano Announces Free, Family-Friendly International Music Nights

County Executive Mangano announced last week that the County Parks’ International Music Nights Concert Series will kick off this year on Sunday, June 2 at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park. The summer concert schedule is as follows:
  • Sunday, June 2: Indian American Night
  • Sunday, June 9: Israeli American Night
  • Sunday, June 16: Armenian American Night
  • Sunday, June 23: Ukrainian American Night
  • Monday, June 24: Italian American Night
  • Thursday, June 27, Russian American Night
  • Friday, June 28, Greek American Night
  • Sunday, June 30, African American Night
  • Sunday, July 7, South Asian American Night
  • Monday, July 8, German American Night
  • Friday, July 12: Polish American Night
  • Sunday, July 14, Latino American Night
  • Sunday, July 21, Punjabi American Night
  • Sunday, August 4, Chinese American Night
  • Monday, August 5, Irish American Night
  • Sunday, August 11, Pacoli Night
  • Monday, August 12, Scandinavian American Night
  • Friday, August 16, Korean American Night
  • Sunday, August 18, Bangladeshi American Night
  • Sunday, August 25, Pakistani American Night
There is no formal seating, so concertgoers are urged to bring folding chairs. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and if doubtful weather conditions arise, call (516) 572-0355 after 7 p.m. for updated performance information.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here