Nassau Notebook: 'Accelerate Nassau Now Plan,' Rally Aftermath

Mangano Announces "Accelerate Nassau Now Plan"

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano submitted his job creation and retention plan for Nassau County to Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council last Friday.

Mangano’s “Accelerate Nassau Now Plan” seeks to partner with New York State to enhance the present assets at each center of economic opportunity in Nassau’s Job Corridor including the Hub in Uniondale, the former United States Navy-Grumman Property in Bethpage and Belmont Park in Elmont.

The plan enhances the Hub’s present sports and entertainment center by addressing obstacles to redeveloping the full 77-acres site, while adhering to the Town of Hempstead’s mixed-use zoning requirements for the property.

The county is looking to attract developers to privately-finance a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, minor league ballpark, multi-purpose exposition center, multi-purpose track and field facility, a Bioscience Innovation Center, Research and Development Expo Center and residential housing options. For the first round of funding, the “Accelerate Nassau Now Plan” requests an initial $7 million from the Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council for design and construction of a Research and Development Expo Center on the site.

The “Accelerate Nassau Now Plan” also includes a plan for additional sports and entertainment opportunities on vacant land at Belmont Park. Nassau County has received interest from a developer with the financial means to establish a soccer stadium complimented by mixed-use development.

Mangano Responds to Monday's Union Rally

Dozens of unions from across New York State came together in front of the Nassau County Legislative Building on Monday to rally against what they called the “Anti-American and Anti-Union” agenda of County Executive Mangano.

On Thursday, Mangano released a statement declaring what needs to be done between the county and the unions.

"All union presidents will be informed that the 2012 budget must include $150 million in workforce savings," he said. "Together, the county and NIFA have asked the union presidents to work with us to achieve these savings through negotiations. If negotiations do not produce these needed savings, the budget will include automatic triggers to achieve the workforce savings through furloughs and layoffs."

Mangano added: "Furloughs will commence on Jan. 1, 2012, if negotiations fail to produce an agreement by Dec. 15, 2011. If furloughs are challenged in court or otherwise not achieved, additional layoffs will be implemented on Feb. 1, 2012. The county and NIFA are hopeful that workforce savings will be achieved voluntarily, but remain ready to achieve these savings through the budget."

Click here for a full video of the rally and what else Mangano had to say.

Sewer Treatment Plant Notification System Announced

Mangano, along with Legislators Denise Ford and Howard J. Kopel, announced Tuesday the creation of a new notification system designed to notify residents about reportable incidents at the county’s sewer treatment facilities. Events such as heavy rains and large storms similar to the ones that have affected Nassau County this year have the potential to cause overflows in the county sewage system, which may overflow onto the street or into the bays.

The communications system allows residents to sign up for Public Informational Updates through the Nassau County website. The system will become live on Oct. 25.

Juvenile Justice Reforms Announced

Tthe Department of Probation will be implementing a number of new initiatives designed to improve and reform Nassau County’s juvenile justice system, focusing on high-risk offenders under the age of 16 and based on recommendations made by the Nassau County Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force. Each of these initiatives will be funded by $729,000 in grants from New York State and will focus on Enhanced Diversion Services, Improved Supervision Outcomes, and Alternatives to Residential Placement.

Click here to read more about the juvenile justive reforms.

Mobile Town Hall Meetings Announced

Mangano’s Mobile Town Hall Meetings occur two days per week at various locations throughout the County. The meetings held on Tuesday’s run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Thursday’s from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The schedule through December is as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Levittown Library, located at 1 Bluegrass Lane in Levittown.
• Thursday, Oct. 27, at East Meadow Library, located at 1886 Front Street in East Meadow.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Uniondale Library, located at 400 Uniondale Avenue in Uniondale.
• Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Freeport Recreation Center, located at 130 E. Merrick Road in Freeport.
• Thursday, Nov. 10, at Rockville Centre Library, located at 221 N. Village Ave. in Rockville Centre.
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Hempstead Library, located at 115 Nichols Court in Hempstead.
• Thursday, Nov. 17, at Hewlett-Woodmere Library, located at 1125 Broadway in Hewlett.
• Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Syosset Library, located at 225 S. Oyster Bay Road in Syosset.
• Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Hillside Public Library, located at 155 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park.
• Thursday, Dec. 1, at Seaford Library, located at 2234 Jackson Avenue in Seaford.
• Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Bethpage Library, located at 47 Powell Avenue in Bethpage.
• Thursday, Dec. 8, at Great Neck Library, located at 159 Bayview Avenue in Great Neck.
• Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Port Washington Library, located at 1 Library Drive in Port Washington.
• Thursday, Dec. 15, at Jericho Library, located at 1 Merry Lane in Jericho.
• Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Merrick Library, located at 2279 Merrick Avenue in Merrick.
• Thursday, Dec. 22, at Lynbrook Library, located at 56 Eldert Street in Lynbrook.