A balanced Examination of Nassau County Government

[Mineola Observer]

The self-inflicted feeding frenzy on Peter Schmitt deserves some common-sense perspective. While I have had my differences with Peter and would have preferred he waited on giving himself a raise, I would accuse the Nassau Democrats of Amnesia and the media for failing to hold them accountable.

BACKGROUND: It has come to light that the Nassau Republican Party would not permit a well known Newsday political news reporter, Sid Cassesse into their "Victory Brunch" last Sunday.

BACKGROUND II: Peter Schmitt referred to Diane Yatauro as "Dumb" for attempting to pass questionable legislation in the last session as the new Minority leader. Yatauro was and remains incensed. Was this payback?

ISSUE: PETER SCHMITT'S 47% PAY RAISE

Both Newsday and News 12 which are owned by Cablevision dedicated segments of their news coverage to Peter Schmitt's pay raise.

Do I smell the influence of Democratic leader Robert Zimmerman?

LET'S ADDRESS THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS AND NASSAU GOP BASHING:

Last night's "LI Talks" episode covering Nassau County Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt was fair. However, former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro made some very misleading and possibly false assertions during the broadcast that the public and the media need to consider. In fairness to former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, I am paraphrasing her comments from the first 20 minutes of last night's January 26,2010 episode of "Long Island Talks" seen in Nassau and Suffolk Counties at 7pm on News 12 / Channel 712 on Cablevision.

Former Nassau County Presiding Officer and current minority leader Diane Yatauro informed Cablevision viewers last night that Nassau County workers had not received a pay raise in three years. Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D) Glen Cove, further had the audacity to accuse Peter Schmitt and the Republican Majority of providing themselves with pay raises while Nassau County faces $400 million in deficits.

It is easy to see why the man in the street would be down on the Nassau County GOP if this premise was valid?

The truth is that the Suozzi Administration steered the Municipal Labor Unions / CSEA to a 25% arbitration award in the summer of 2009 that will not become effective until 2010-2011 and run for several years forward and is the single largest contributor to the $400 million deficit that Nassau County now faces.

As the former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, how Diane Yatauro could seek to place the $400 million deficit on the Republicans was disingenuous. In the fall of 2009, Yatauro as the Presiding Officer with a Democratic majority in the 19 seat Nassau County Legislature approved this excessive compensation award fully aware of the deteriorating economic assumptions that supported the award while the economy has slipped into a deep Recession. This was fiscally irresponsible!

The Nassau Democrats are responsible for providing the CSEA with a 7 year award without providing funding to meet these financial obligations. This is why there are new and severe structural deficits in excess of $400 million now facing Nassau County taxpayers.

Legislator Diane Yatauro stated that the County Executive, District Attorney, Comptroller and Tax Assessor all gave back their raises last year, 2009. While somewhat true, her statement lacked proper context.

County Executive Suozzi, Comptroller Weitzman, D.A. Rice and the Tax Assessor Ted Jankowski all gave back their annual Cost of Living Increases (estimated 5-7%). This came after all of the above titles were given large pay raises a year earlier. Let's examine the pay raises that they received in 2008.
- County Executive Suozzi went from $106,000 a year to $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Weitzman went from $100,000 to $165,000 a year.
- D.A. Rice went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.
- Tax Assessor went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.

CONCLUSION: Notice how the above are all Nassau County Democrats?

Former Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson who failed to fix the broken Certiorari problems that have plagued Nassau County, who challenged his own property assessment in Garden City and retired off a bigger paycheck all while failing to implement any significant changes to the Tax Assessment Office.

For the record, I am on the record as having publicly criticized the earlier attempt by Peter Schmitt to provide pay raises to legislative staff in a letter to the editor in November 2009 published in Newsday.

I would have recommended that Peter Schmitt gone on "LI Talks" and defended himself and the GOP from such political theatre. Furthermore, the GOP under CE Managano and a GOP majority in the Nassau County Legislature can claim the following success within their first thirty days: In less than a month as Presiding Officer / Majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, the Legislature proposed successful legislation that rolled back the 2.5% Energy Tax passed by Yatauro and the Democrats.

Democrat supporters can say - well the Democrats in the Legislature voted to repeal the 2.5% Energy tax they codified into law ater the 2009 election which saw them become the minority party. Former CE Suozzi vetoed the legislation.

Only the GOP was able to repeal the 2.5% Energy Tax because CE Managano was willing to keep his Non-Civil service appointments to 150 hires instead of the more than 400 that occupied the Suozzi Administration for the last three years. Reducing the size og government by 250 people, saved Nassau taxpayers $20 million in salaries and another $10 million in Health Care benefits. The 2.5% Energy Tax was estimated to bring in about $35 to $40 million.

COMPARING SCHMITT'S COMPENSATION / DIFFERENTIAL

In the past, the compensation differential was smaller between various important titles within Nassau County. When County Executive Suozzi earned $106,000 a year, the Presiding Officer earned $59,500 - a $47,000 difference. Even with Peter Schmitt's new pay raise to $99,500, the differential now stands at a larger $70,000.

CONCLUSION
It is more than fair to examine public officials and the decisions they make with the Public Taxpayer's money. However - if you are relying on Diane Yatauro to provide you with an honest assessment of Nassau County Finances, you will be unable to reach valid conclusions.

OPINION - Newsday continues to diminish their journalistic standing. Newsday News published a piece many years ago that demonstrated Long Island was pretty evenly split among Democrats and Republicans. Despite that reality, from time to time such as this media event demonstrates, Newsday falls back on old political favoritism of Nassau Democrats without providing context to their readership.

To the credit of News 12, they have attempted to be fair brokers. Lea Tyrell pointed out what comparative legislators earn. However, former Nassau County Presiding Officer knew the "Long Island Talks" format is a 30 minute show with approximately 6-7 minutes of commercials and limited challenges from folks who do not recall the recent political history of Nassau County as easy as I do.

While I agree that Peter Schmitt may be tone deaf and there has to be a better time than now to do this, when you review the context of the decision it is not as outrageous as this is being portrayed as.

MY CONCLUSION: Peter Schmitt and any other elected official from the Governor to the President can give themselves a double digit pay raise if they knock a couple hundred of dollars back into my pocket every year by reducing taxes and balancing the budget.

SUGGESTION: Peter Schmitt should return the favor by repealing the bailout of Glen Cove which ocurred while Glen Cove reisdent Diane Yatauro was the Majority leader and Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Yatauro pushed through over GOP objections, legislation that placed the Glen Cove Water facilities under Nassau County jurisdiction saving City of Glen Cove residents $ 6 million a year for 15 years. Costs to Nassau County taxpayers will be over $80 million.

Come on Peter- let's repeal this legislation!

[Unregistered1234]

You forgot to include the County Clerk in the list of the elected officials who received a raise (Comptroller, DA and Clerk received them all at the same time)

[Unregistered4567]

Ok so the smoking gun is pay back by Yaturo to Schmidt.

The opposition couldn't have been the 47% pay raise for what is essentially a part time job when the county is near default.

It could not have had anything to do with the fact that we are asking for concessions from the unions in terms of layoffs and pay cuts.

It could not have anything to do with the lack of oversight by the legislature the past 10 years (both parties) that caused the placement of a fiscal review board for the county.

It could not have been because the unemployment rate for their constituents is almost 10%.

It could not have been because the foreclosure rate is the highest it has been in over 50 years.

You are right this is a conspiracy by Newsday, Cablevison, Yaturo after all Suozzi received a raise 6 years ago. This group is more than deserving of the same after all times are good. Big deal about nothing.

[bob e zimmerman]

what me worry? I have contracts ALL OVER NASSAU AND SUFFOLK and get bigggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg $ to start any contract.

Because Im Bob E ZImmerman. And Im a man!

[Unregistered 15987]

I VOTED REPUBLICAN THIS NOVEMBER. I WAS PROUD TO STAND BEHIND THE GOP. BUT AFTER THESE RASIES I QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE GOP AND THE DIRECTION OF JOE MONDELLO. MONDELLO CAN NOT THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.... HIS WAS JUST GETTING US BACK ON TRACK



jOE..... DO NOT LET PETER SCHMITT DE-RAIL US.

[Enraged Tea Partier]

Calling your examination balanced doesn't make it so. This is a GOP hatchet job to deflect anger away from the real issue, Schmitt and the GOP stuck it to the taxpayer in order to enrich themselves.

Just because the Dems did the same doesn't justify or excuse it. A pox on both houses.

If he didn't like the salary, he shouldn't take the job.

Repeal the raises now!

The self-inflicted feeding frenzy on Peter Schmitt deserves some common-sense perspective. While I have had my differences with Peter and would have preferred he waited on giving himself a raise, I would accuse the Nassau Democrats of Amnesia and the media for failing to hold them accountable.

BACKGROUND: It has come to light that the Nassau Republican Party would not permit a well known Newsday political news reporter, Sid Cassesse into their "Victory Brunch" last Sunday.

BACKGROUND II: Peter Schmitt referred to Diane Yatauro as "Dumb" for attempting to pass questionable legislation in the last session as the new Minority leader. Yatauro was and remains incensed. Was this payback?

ISSUE: PETER SCHMITT'S 47% PAY RAISE

Both Newsday and News 12 which are owned by Cablevision dedicated segments of their news coverage to Peter Schmitt's pay raise.

Do I smell the influence of Democratic leader Robert Zimmerman?

LET'S ADDRESS THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS AND NASSAU GOP BASHING:

Last night's "LI Talks" episode covering Nassau County Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt was fair. However, former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro made some very misleading and possibly false assertions during the broadcast that the public and the media need to consider. In fairness to former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, I am paraphrasing her comments from the first 20 minutes of last night's January 26,2010 episode of "Long Island Talks" seen in Nassau and Suffolk Counties at 7pm on News 12 / Channel 712 on Cablevision.

Former Nassau County Presiding Officer and current minority leader Diane Yatauro informed Cablevision viewers last night that Nassau County workers had not received a pay raise in three years. Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D) Glen Cove, further had the audacity to accuse Peter Schmitt and the Republican Majority of providing themselves with pay raises while Nassau County faces $400 million in deficits.

It is easy to see why the man in the street would be down on the Nassau County GOP if this premise was valid?

The truth is that the Suozzi Administration steered the Municipal Labor Unions / CSEA to a 25% arbitration award in the summer of 2009 that will not become effective until 2010-2011 and run for several years forward and is the single largest contributor to the $400 million deficit that Nassau County now faces.

As the former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, how Diane Yatauro could seek to place the $400 million deficit on the Republicans was disingenuous. In the fall of 2009, Yatauro as the Presiding Officer with a Democratic majority in the 19 seat Nassau County Legislature approved this excessive compensation award fully aware of the deteriorating economic assumptions that supported the award while the economy has slipped into a deep Recession. This was fiscally irresponsible!

The Nassau Democrats are responsible for providing the CSEA with a 7 year award without providing funding to meet these financial obligations. This is why there are new and severe structural deficits in excess of $400 million now facing Nassau County taxpayers.

Legislator Diane Yatauro stated that the County Executive, District Attorney, Comptroller and Tax Assessor all gave back their raises last year, 2009. While somewhat true, her statement lacked proper context.

County Executive Suozzi, Comptroller Weitzman, D.A. Rice and the Tax Assessor Ted Jankowski all gave back their annual Cost of Living Increases (estimated 5-7%). This came after all of the above titles were given large pay raises a year earlier. Let's examine the pay raises that they received in 2008.
- County Executive Suozzi went from $106,000 a year to $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Weitzman went from $100,000 to $165,000 a year.
- D.A. Rice went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.
- Tax Assessor went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.

CONCLUSION: Notice how the above are all Nassau County Democrats?

Former Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson who failed to fix the broken Certiorari problems that have plagued Nassau County, who challenged his own property assessment in Garden City and retired off a bigger paycheck all while failing to implement any significant changes to the Tax Assessment Office.

For the record, I am on the record as having publicly criticized the earlier attempt by Peter Schmitt to provide pay raises to legislative staff in a letter to the editor in November 2009 published in Newsday.

I would have recommended that Peter Schmitt gone on "LI Talks" and defended himself and the GOP from such political theatre. Furthermore, the GOP under CE Managano and a GOP majority in the Nassau County Legislature can claim the following success within their first thirty days: In less than a month as Presiding Officer / Majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, the Legislature proposed successful legislation that rolled back the 2.5% Energy Tax passed by Yatauro and the Democrats.

Democrat supporters can say - well the Democrats in the Legislature voted to repeal the 2.5% Energy tax they codified into law ater the 2009 election which saw them become the minority party. Former CE Suozzi vetoed the legislation.

Only the GOP was able to repeal the 2.5% Energy Tax because CE Managano was willing to keep his Non-Civil service appointments to 150 hires instead of the more than 400 that occupied the Suozzi Administration for the last three years. Reducing the size og government by 250 people, saved Nassau taxpayers $20 million in salaries and another $10 million in Health Care benefits. The 2.5% Energy Tax was estimated to bring in about $35 to $40 million.

COMPARING SCHMITT'S COMPENSATION / DIFFERENTIAL

In the past, the compensation differential was smaller between various important titles within Nassau County. When County Executive Suozzi earned $106,000 a year, the Presiding Officer earned $59,500 - a $47,000 difference. Even with Peter Schmitt's new pay raise to $99,500, the differential now stands at a larger $70,000.

CONCLUSION
It is more than fair to examine public officials and the decisions they make with the Public Taxpayer's money. However - if you are relying on Diane Yatauro to provide you with an honest assessment of Nassau County Finances, you will be unable to reach valid conclusions.

OPINION - Newsday continues to diminish their journalistic standing. Newsday News published a piece many years ago that demonstrated Long Island was pretty evenly split among Democrats and Republicans. Despite that reality, from time to time such as this media event demonstrates, Newsday falls back on old political favoritism of Nassau Democrats without providing context to their readership.

To the credit of News 12, they have attempted to be fair brokers. Lea Tyrell pointed out what comparative legislators earn. However, former Nassau County Presiding Officer knew the "Long Island Talks" format is a 30 minute show with approximately 6-7 minutes of commercials and limited challenges from folks who do not recall the recent political history of Nassau County as easy as I do.

While I agree that Peter Schmitt may be tone deaf and there has to be a better time than now to do this, when you review the context of the decision it is not as outrageous as this is being portrayed as.

MY CONCLUSION: Peter Schmitt and any other elected official from the Governor to the President can give themselves a double digit pay raise if they knock a couple hundred of dollars back into my pocket every year by reducing taxes and balancing the budget.

SUGGESTION: Peter Schmitt should return the favor by repealing the bailout of Glen Cove which ocurred while Glen Cove reisdent Diane Yatauro was the Majority leader and Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Yatauro pushed through over GOP objections, legislation that placed the Glen Cove Water facilities under Nassau County jurisdiction saving City of Glen Cove residents $ 6 million a year for 15 years. Costs to Nassau County taxpayers will be over $80 million.

Come on Peter- let's repeal this legislation!

[all mangano]

I VOTED REPUBLICAN THIS NOVEMBER. I WAS PROUD TO STAND BEHIND THE GOP. BUT AFTER THESE RASIES I QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE GOP AND THE DIRECTION OF JOE MONDELLO. MONDELLO CAN NOT THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.... HIS WAS JUST GETTING US BACK ON TRACK



jOE..... DO NOT LET PETER SCHMITT DE-RAIL US.

Actually when the Mangano train left the station, Mondello was still in Albany. Mangano and Walker with a whole slew of college kids and freelance volunteers (aka - not committee people) pulled the train into third base. Thats when Mondello got kicked out of the State & the committee people started running to jump on the train as it was crossing the finish line. Schmidt just got lucky is all.

[Professor Von Drake]

QUOTE....BACKGROUND: It has come to light that the Nassau Republican Party would not permit a well known Newsday political news reporter, Sid Cassesse into their "Victory Brunch" last Sunday.

So, what! Do we really need to read about all the chest puffing at this $5,000 a person fund raiser?

BACKGROUND II: Peter Schmitt referred to Diane Yatauro as "Dumb" for attempting to pass questionable legislation in the last session as the new Minority leader. Yatauro was and remains incensed. Was this payback?

Peter Schmitt has all the grace and class of a boil on your butt. Over the years we have come to know that the alcohol content of his favorite beer is hire than his IQ.

ISSUE: PETER SCHMITT'S 47% PAY RAISE

No matter how you spin this, it is still insulting to the electorate. To say you are literally working for free at a part time job, representing 1/19th of the County, paying nearly $70,000. There are plenty of people out of work that would gladly take a job for the amount of the raise alone, if it meant keeping a roof over his/her family's head and warm food in his/her chidlren's stomachs.?

LET'S ADDRESS THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS AND NASSAU GOP BASHING:

The truth is that the Suozzi Administration steered the Municipal Labor Unions / CSEA to a 25% arbitration award in the summer of 2009 that will not become effective until 2010-2011 and run for several years forward and is the single largest contributor to the $400 million deficit that Nassau County now faces.

As the former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, how Diane Yatauro could seek to place the $400 million deficit on the Republicans was disingenuous. In the fall of 2009, Yatauro as the Presiding Officer with a Democratic majority in the 19 seat Nassau County Legislature approved this excessive compensation award fully aware of the deteriorating economic assumptions that supported the award while the economy has slipped into a deep Recession. This was fiscally irresponsible!

The Nassau Democrats are responsible for providing the CSEA with a 7 year award without providing funding to meet these financial obligations. This is why there are new and severe structural deficits in excess of $400 million now facing Nassau County taxpayers.

Do you even know what you are talking about? The new contract for CSEA was a product of arbitration, yes, but the County was stuck with it because it was a product of arbitration.

Shortly after this arbitrated contract was released, it was reported that Suozzi hit the ceiling. In fact, there are some of the inner circle that say the whole February announcement last year about the economic woes of Nassau was merely an effort to force the Union to roll back that which they won through unalterabale arbitration. Suozzi boxed the Union in by saying he'd have to lay people off - and the Union fell for it.

Legislator Diane Yatauro stated that the County Executive, District Attorney, Comptroller and Tax Assessor all gave back their raises last year, 2009. While somewhat true, her statement lacked proper context.

County Executive Suozzi, Comptroller Weitzman, D.A. Rice and the Tax Assessor Ted Jankowski all gave back their annual Cost of Living Increases (estimated 5-7%). This came after all of the above titles were given large pay raises a year earlier. Let's examine the pay raises that they received in 2008.
- County Executive Suozzi went from $106,000 a year to $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Weitzman went from $100,000 to $165,000 a year.
- D.A. Rice went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.
- Tax Assessor went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.

CONCLUSION: Notice how the above are all Nassau County Democrats?

It seems to me that:

- County Executive Mangano is making $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Maragos is making $165,000 a year.
- County Clerk O'Connell is still earning her $165,000 salary

CONCLUSION: Nassau Republicans are all hypocrits - they criticize the Democrats for implementing excessive raises, but then glad take those raised salaries when they win the office instead of rolling back those salaries to the pre-raise dollars. That clearly would have sent a message to the voters that they really meant what they said during the campaign about cutting the cost of government.


For the record, I am on the record as having publicly criticized the earlier attempt by Peter Schmitt to provide pay raises to legislative staff in a letter to the editor in November 2009 published in Newsday.

If, as you say, you are on the record as having publicly criticized the earler attempt by Schmitt to line his pockets, then why have you hidden behind the shrouds of anonymity here by not posting your real name?

I would have recommended that Peter Schmitt gone on "LI Talks" and defended himself and the GOP from such political theatre. Furthermore, the GOP under CE Managano and a GOP majority in the Nassau County Legislature can claim the following success within their first thirty days: In less than a month as Presiding Officer / Majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, the Legislature proposed successful legislation that rolled back the 2.5% Energy Tax passed by Yatauro and the Democrats.

Democrat supporters can say - well the Democrats in the Legislature voted to repeal the 2.5% Energy tax they codified into law ater the 2009 election which saw them become the minority party. Former CE Suozzi vetoed the legislation.

Only the GOP was able to repeal the 2.5% Energy Tax because CE Managano was willing to keep his Non-Civil service appointments to 150 hires instead of the more than 400 that occupied the Suozzi Administration for the last three years. Reducing the size og government by 250 people, saved Nassau taxpayers $20 million in salaries and another $10 million in Health Care benefits. The 2.5% Energy Tax was estimated to bring in about $35 to $40 million.

Be that as it may, but when Mangano ran for County Executive, he said he had a plan to reverse the current financial malaise of Nassau. One facet of that 'plan' was to repeal the 2.5% fuel tax - which has been done amidst a great deal of political grandstadning. However, does anyone know the details of the 'plan' where it addresses how Mangano makes up the $20 million in revenues this tax created? With the repeal of the tax came a $20 million deficit - not $40 million as the revenue claims in the budget, since we'll still be paying the tax through June of this year, long after the cold of this heating season has become just a memory.

COMPARING SCHMITT'S COMPENSATION / DIFFERENTIAL

In the past, the compensation differential was smaller between various important titles within Nassau County. When County Executive Suozzi earned $106,000 a year, the Presiding Officer earned $59,500 - a $47,000 difference. Even with Peter Schmitt's new pay raise to $99,500, the differential now stands at a larger $70,000.

If you know Schmitt, then you know that any amounty of compensation for this bafoon is too much. A part time job is a part time job and to claim that the Presiding Officer, who is still only responsible to 1/19th of the county electorate, should be paid relationally to County Executive, who is answerable to the entire electorate, is laughable at best.

MY CONCLUSION: Peter Schmitt and any other elected official from the Governor to the President can give themselves a double digit pay raise if they knock a couple hundred of dollars back into my pocket every year by reducing taxes and balancing the budget.

I agree, they should be allowed to vote themselves raises. However, as with Governors, Presidents and the Congress, those raises should not take place until the first day of the next term. In Schmitt's case, the raise would be effective January 1, 2012 - AFTER he faces the electorate to defend his actions and his vote.

SUGGESTION: Peter Schmitt should return the favor by repealing the bailout of Glen Cove which ocurred while Glen Cove reisdent Diane Yatauro was the Majority leader and Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Yatauro pushed through over GOP objections, legislation that placed the Glen Cove Water facilities under Nassau County jurisdiction saving City of Glen Cove residents $ 6 million a year for 15 years. Costs to Nassau County taxpayers will be over $80 million.

Come on Peter- let's repeal this legislation!

Actually, Peter should repeal the raises, blame it on brain cells fried by alcohol abuse and then check himself into the Betty Ford Clinic or some place to get help. END QUOTE

[Mineola Observer]

For the record, I think Peter Schmitt and the Nassau County GOP were wrong to have a discussion about pay raises now. I have not wavered from that one iota.

In Long Island, there are pockets of hyper-unemployment. It has been alleged that as many as 35% of the Trade Unions in Long Island are unemployed. In the African American Communities, Unemployment has skyrocketed to as high as 40% under President Obama.

Peter Schmitt and the GOP fail to understand that for many in Long Island, life has become incredibly difficult and prospects are not likely to improve.

I would have preerred the GOP fix Nassau County which is well under way.
Repealing the 2.5% Energy Tax and freezing Assessments has the possibility of saving Nassau County residents as much as $130 million a year alone. This may be enough to allow Nassau County to afford the generous Arbitration award fully supported by former County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and the Nassau Democrats led by Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro.

Peter Schmitt is correct that the salary of the Presiding Officer - a full time job at the Nassau County Legislature should pay more. The Presiding Officer is a critical position with serious input into the $2.7 billion annual County Budget. For that Peter should earn almost $60,000?

The City Manager of Long Beach - Charles Theofan earns $158,000 a year and oversees a budget of $75 million. A Legislator in Suffolk County earns $70,000 a year.

I think Schmitt and the GOP should wait until they have restored Nassau County's finances. Then they can address compensation issues with the support of the taxpayers. Now is not the time. Schmitt should rescind the raise, apologize to Long Islanders and wait till the economy improves. Plain and simple!

I am speaking out because the Nassau County Democrats led by Diane Yatauro are incredibly disingenuous and excessive in their attack over this issue which may make for good politics but fails to hold Nassau Democrats responsible for the state of Nassau County finds itself in today.

The idea that every office holder except the Presiding Officer received a 50-60,000 pay raise and now they all take their political frustration out on a rich political target like Peter Schmitt has gone too far.

Peter - people are hurting. This is a white collar Recession. Rescind the raise and wait till the economy and Nassau's finances improve.

[Observer20]

Except...the Majority Leader post is part time by charter. Just because Schmitt can not or does not have another job, does not mean that he should unilaterally pay himself to compensate. Also, he knew what the pay was when he was elected. There are many many (more) qualified people who would take the job if offered at the orignal pay.

As you said, the job is a serious job, so it requires a serious occupamnt, and Schmitt is not it.

[Mineola Observer]

Listen - this is not something new. Peter Schmitt has a long history in politics in Nassau County. Schmitt has enjoyed political success and known political failures - but survived them.

Thus - when someone such as myself suggests a course of action, someone who does not hold public office, the idea has even less merit.

Many people overlook that Peter is also the former Presiding Officer and understands all too well the 60 hour plus weeks that the position requires.

Former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro who many people felt was unqualified both politically and in terms of experience to be the Presiding Officer even stated that the position is a 60 plus hours a week job on Tuesday evening's "Long Island Talks" seen on Cablevision's channel 12 or HD 712 at 7pm.

New Minority leader Diane Yatauro contradicted herself by criticizing the pay-raise but acknowledged the long hours dedicated into performing oversight of the $2.7 billion dollar budget.

My suggestion is to review Legislator Diane Yatauro's record as a member of the Glen Cove City Council. Did Yatauro support the Mayor receiving a significant pay raise? Does the Mayor of Glen Cove currently earn more than the Presiding Oficer of the Nassau County Legislature - Peter Schmitt?

You bet your ass he does!

All this episode has become is an effort by Nassau Democrats and New York State Democrats to change the political dialogue. Nationally, State wide and locally in Long Island - Democrats are feeling the political heat after failing to make good on any of their political promises.

That frustration and anger was reflected in Massachussets electing a Republican to replace the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. Folks like Peter Schmitt are wrong to think that this populist anger gives him the cover to take a pay raise no matter how justified.

That is the issue. I have observed Diane Yatauro and she is an embarrassment of political riches for the Nassau GOP. Peter Schmitt wants the raise - go before the media and make your case. Your silence lends itself to political cowardice and worse - you have hurt every member of the GOP in Nassau County by this move.

Hell - I would justify this pay raise before the media; I have the courage of my convictions. But I am unelected and politically irrelevant. I don't agree with the timing but I would vigorously defend a pay raise for the Presiding Officer of Nassau County.

News 12 want to put me on "LI Talks" - I'm in. Invite Diane Yatauro and we can debate. By the time I am finished with Diane - Democrats will be looking for a new minority leader.

[Unregistered6767]

If you don’t think the money is enough and think the hours are too long then don’t run for office. Sorry but I just don’t see this as a 60 hour a week job with the staffs that the legislators have. Just about every one of the legislators has outside jobs that are full time.

You don’t like the pay then quit the job but don’t try top sneak through an exorbitant pay raise a few weeks after the election, especially in this type of economy with people out of work. That is an insult to the office and the public trust.

Based on the talent that is in the legislature I don’t see anyone deserving of a salary increase based on their performance. I always thought raises were to be earned based on performance anyway, not just tenure

[Unregistered 516]

For the record, I think Peter Schmitt and the Nassau County GOP were wrong to have a discussion about pay raises now. I have not wavered from that one iota.

In Long Island, there are pockets of hyper-unemployment. It has been alleged that as many as 35% of the Trade Unions in Long Island are unemployed. In the African American Communities, Unemployment has skyrocketed to as high as 40% under President Obama.

Peter Schmitt and the GOP fail to understand that for many in Long Island, life has become incredibly difficult and prospects are not likely to improve.

I would have preerred the GOP fix Nassau County which is well under way.
Repealing the 2.5% Energy Tax and freezing Assessments has the possibility of saving Nassau County residents as much as $130 million a year alone. This may be enough to allow Nassau County to afford the generous Arbitration award fully supported by former County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and the Nassau Democrats led by Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro.

Peter Schmitt is correct that the salary of the Presiding Officer - a full time job at the Nassau County Legislature should pay more. The Presiding Officer is a critical position with serious input into the $2.7 billion annual County Budget. For that Peter should earn almost $60,000?

The City Manager of Long Beach - Charles Theofan earns $158,000 a year and oversees a budget of $75 million. A Legislator in Suffolk County earns $70,000 a year.

I think Schmitt and the GOP should wait until they have restored Nassau County's finances. Then they can address compensation issues with the support of the taxpayers. Now is not the time. Schmitt should rescind the raise, apologize to Long Islanders and wait till the economy improves. Plain and simple!

I am speaking out because the Nassau County Democrats led by Diane Yatauro are incredibly disingenuous and excessive in their attack over this issue which may make for good politics but fails to hold Nassau Democrats responsible for the state of Nassau County finds itself in today.

The idea that every office holder except the Presiding Officer received a 50-60,000 pay raise and now they all take their political frustration out on a rich political target like Peter Schmitt has gone too far.

Peter - people are hurting. This is a white collar Recession. Rescind the raise and wait till the economy and Nassau's finances improve.

If you think the residents of Long Beach don't think that Charles Theofan is overpaid you are wrong. The man "oversees" a budget of 75 million which is put together by a Comptroller who isn't a CPA. He was appointed to the position of City Manager by the City Council who are democrats that ran on the republican line. This cross endorsement stuff is silly - if you want to vote for democrats, vote for them. To vote on the republican line means that a person doesn't want to vote for democrats; Long Beach residents got screwed on that deal - we got to vote for democrats on the democrat line, democrats on the republican line, democrats on the independence line and best of all democrats on the conservative line.

As for the GOP in the County, I voted for Mangano and hope he really does have a plan. The County was in bad shape after Gulotta and is in bad shape after Suozzi - the weight of the world is on Mangano's shoulders - I don't envy him at all.

Peter Schmitt should be ashamed of himself. Not saying that the position doesn't deserve a raise, but not now. Not when people who have never asked for anything from the government or local charity are now going to soup kitchens and food pantry's and are waiting on very long lines for government assistance just to make ends meet.

It is very sad but on a local level all of these politicians are the same - no ideals at all. Republicans and Democrats are all the same!

[Pete - Pt. Lookout]

Listen - this is not something new. Peter Schmitt has a long history in politics in Nassau County. Schmitt has enjoyed political success and known political failures - but survived them.

Thus - when someone such as myself suggests a course of action, someone who does not hold public office, the idea has even less merit.

Many people overlook that Peter is also the former Presiding Officer and understands all too well the 60 hour plus weeks that the position requires.

Former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro who many people felt was unqualified both politically and in terms of experience to be the Presiding Officer even stated that the position is a 60 plus hours a week job on Tuesday evening's "Long Island Talks" seen on Cablevision's channel 12 or HD 712 at 7pm.

New Minority leader Diane Yatauro contradicted herself by criticizing the pay-raise but acknowledged the long hours dedicated into performing oversight of the $2.7 billion dollar budget.

My suggestion is to review Legislator Diane Yatauro's record as a member of the Glen Cove City Council. Did Yatauro support the Mayor receiving a significant pay raise? Does the Mayor of Glen Cove currently earn more than the Presiding Oficer of the Nassau County Legislature - Peter Schmitt?

You bet your ass he does!

All this episode has become is an effort by Nassau Democrats and New York State Democrats to change the political dialogue. Nationally, State wide and locally in Long Island - Democrats are feeling the political heat after failing to make good on any of their political promises.

That frustration and anger was reflected in Massachussets electing a Republican to replace the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. Folks like Peter Schmitt are wrong to think that this populist anger gives him the cover to take a pay raise no matter how justified.

That is the issue. I have observed Diane Yatauro and she is an embarrassment of political riches for the Nassau GOP. Peter Schmitt wants the raise - go before the media and make your case. Your silence lends itself to political cowardice and worse - you have hurt every member of the GOP in Nassau County by this move.

Hell - I would justify this pay raise before the media; I have the courage of my convictions. But I am unelected and politically irrelevant. I don't agree with the timing but I would vigorously defend a pay raise for the Presiding Officer of Nassau County.

News 12 want to put me on "LI Talks" - I'm in. Invite Diane Yatauro and we can debate. By the time I am finished with Diane - Democrats will be looking for a new minority leader.

My thanks Mineola Observer as I did not realize that Democrats gave generous raises to County Executive Suozzi from $106,000 to $170,000; to Comptroller Weitzman from $100,000 to $165,000; to DA Rice from $100,000 to $165,000; County Clerk O'Connell and former Assessor Levinson from $100,000 to $165,000 in 2008.

It is galling that Democrats have the sheer contempt to target the Presiding Officer's position without any respect for the important role it plays in Nassau County Government.

Which is more important - the Presiding Officer or the County Clerk?

[Elephant groomer]

Unsubstantiated rumors have suggested that at least two current part-time legislators have obtained generous, cushy jobs at the Nassau Health Corporation formerly NUMC.

Both are Democrats.

Let's put all the cards on the table folks and see how the Democrats make out?

I'm in - let's play this game!

[who are they 6]

spill it?
im guessing...........Scannell and Troiano.

[Unregistereddr]

Unsubstantiated rumors have suggested that at least two current part-time legislators have obtained generous, cushy jobs at the Nassau Health Corporation formerly NUMC.

Both are Democrats.

Let's put all the cards on the table folks and see how the Democrats make out?

I'm in - let's play this game!

Also is it true that Gianelli got a big contract from the board? What's going on over there? Who's watching the store?

[Head Nurse]

It's not Leg. Kevan and Leg. Judy?

Oink-oink....

[Mr. Ed]

The self-inflicted feeding frenzy on Peter Schmitt deserves some common-sense perspective. While I have had my differences with Peter and would have preferred he waited on giving himself a raise, I would accuse the Nassau Democrats of Amnesia and the media for failing to hold them accountable.

BACKGROUND: It has come to light that the Nassau Republican Party would not permit a well known Newsday political news reporter, Sid Cassesse into their "Victory Brunch" last Sunday.

BACKGROUND II: Peter Schmitt referred to Diane Yatauro as "Dumb" for attempting to pass questionable legislation in the last session as the new Minority leader. Yatauro was and remains incensed. Was this payback?

ISSUE: PETER SCHMITT'S 47% PAY RAISE

Both Newsday and News 12 which are owned by Cablevision dedicated segments of their news coverage to Peter Schmitt's pay raise.

Do I smell the influence of Democratic leader Robert Zimmerman?

LET'S ADDRESS THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS AND NASSAU GOP BASHING:

Last night's "LI Talks" episode covering Nassau County Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt was fair. However, former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro made some very misleading and possibly false assertions during the broadcast that the public and the media need to consider. In fairness to former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, I am paraphrasing her comments from the first 20 minutes of last night's January 26,2010 episode of "Long Island Talks" seen in Nassau and Suffolk Counties at 7pm on News 12 / Channel 712 on Cablevision.

Former Nassau County Presiding Officer and current minority leader Diane Yatauro informed Cablevision viewers last night that Nassau County workers had not received a pay raise in three years. Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D) Glen Cove, further had the audacity to accuse Peter Schmitt and the Republican Majority of providing themselves with pay raises while Nassau County faces $400 million in deficits.

It is easy to see why the man in the street would be down on the Nassau County GOP if this premise was valid?

The truth is that the Suozzi Administration steered the Municipal Labor Unions / CSEA to a 25% arbitration award in the summer of 2009 that will not become effective until 2010-2011 and run for several years forward and is the single largest contributor to the $400 million deficit that Nassau County now faces.

As the former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, how Diane Yatauro could seek to place the $400 million deficit on the Republicans was disingenuous. In the fall of 2009, Yatauro as the Presiding Officer with a Democratic majority in the 19 seat Nassau County Legislature approved this excessive compensation award fully aware of the deteriorating economic assumptions that supported the award while the economy has slipped into a deep Recession. This was fiscally irresponsible!

The Nassau Democrats are responsible for providing the CSEA with a 7 year award without providing funding to meet these financial obligations. This is why there are new and severe structural deficits in excess of $400 million now facing Nassau County taxpayers.

Legislator Diane Yatauro stated that the County Executive, District Attorney, Comptroller and Tax Assessor all gave back their raises last year, 2009. While somewhat true, her statement lacked proper context.

County Executive Suozzi, Comptroller Weitzman, D.A. Rice and the Tax Assessor Ted Jankowski all gave back their annual Cost of Living Increases (estimated 5-7%). This came after all of the above titles were given large pay raises a year earlier. Let's examine the pay raises that they received in 2008.
- County Executive Suozzi went from $106,000 a year to $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Weitzman went from $100,000 to $165,000 a year.
- D.A. Rice went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.
- Tax Assessor went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.

CONCLUSION: Notice how the above are all Nassau County Democrats?

Former Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson who failed to fix the broken Certiorari problems that have plagued Nassau County, who challenged his own property assessment in Garden City and retired off a bigger paycheck all while failing to implement any significant changes to the Tax Assessment Office.

For the record, I am on the record as having publicly criticized the earlier attempt by Peter Schmitt to provide pay raises to legislative staff in a letter to the editor in November 2009 published in Newsday.

I would have recommended that Peter Schmitt gone on "LI Talks" and defended himself and the GOP from such political theatre. Furthermore, the GOP under CE Managano and a GOP majority in the Nassau County Legislature can claim the following success within their first thirty days: In less than a month as Presiding Officer / Majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, the Legislature proposed successful legislation that rolled back the 2.5% Energy Tax passed by Yatauro and the Democrats.

Democrat supporters can say - well the Democrats in the Legislature voted to repeal the 2.5% Energy tax they codified into law ater the 2009 election which saw them become the minority party. Former CE Suozzi vetoed the legislation.

Only the GOP was able to repeal the 2.5% Energy Tax because CE Managano was willing to keep his Non-Civil service appointments to 150 hires instead of the more than 400 that occupied the Suozzi Administration for the last three years. Reducing the size og government by 250 people, saved Nassau taxpayers $20 million in salaries and another $10 million in Health Care benefits. The 2.5% Energy Tax was estimated to bring in about $35 to $40 million.

COMPARING SCHMITT'S COMPENSATION / DIFFERENTIAL

In the past, the compensation differential was smaller between various important titles within Nassau County. When County Executive Suozzi earned $106,000 a year, the Presiding Officer earned $59,500 - a $47,000 difference. Even with Peter Schmitt's new pay raise to $99,500, the differential now stands at a larger $70,000.

CONCLUSION
It is more than fair to examine public officials and the decisions they make with the Public Taxpayer's money. However - if you are relying on Diane Yatauro to provide you with an honest assessment of Nassau County Finances, you will be unable to reach valid conclusions.

OPINION - Newsday continues to diminish their journalistic standing. Newsday News published a piece many years ago that demonstrated Long Island was pretty evenly split among Democrats and Republicans. Despite that reality, from time to time such as this media event demonstrates, Newsday falls back on old political favoritism of Nassau Democrats without providing context to their readership.

To the credit of News 12, they have attempted to be fair brokers. Lea Tyrell pointed out what comparative legislators earn. However, former Nassau County Presiding Officer knew the "Long Island Talks" format is a 30 minute show with approximately 6-7 minutes of commercials and limited challenges from folks who do not recall the recent political history of Nassau County as easy as I do.

While I agree that Peter Schmitt may be tone deaf and there has to be a better time than now to do this, when you review the context of the decision it is not as outrageous as this is being portrayed as.

MY CONCLUSION: Peter Schmitt and any other elected official from the Governor to the President can give themselves a double digit pay raise if they knock a couple hundred of dollars back into my pocket every year by reducing taxes and balancing the budget.

SUGGESTION: Peter Schmitt should return the favor by repealing the bailout of Glen Cove which ocurred while Glen Cove reisdent Diane Yatauro was the Majority leader and Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Yatauro pushed through over GOP objections, legislation that placed the Glen Cove Water facilities under Nassau County jurisdiction saving City of Glen Cove residents $ 6 million a year for 15 years. Costs to Nassau County taxpayers will be over $80 million.

Come on Peter- let's repeal this legislation!

Well - is this true Diane Yatauro? Is this true Tom Suozzi?

No damn wonder the Democrats lost but I agree that Peter Schmitt should step up to the plate and inform the folks. Put the Democrats on notice! I am pissed that I was starting to get mad with this Peter Schmitt stuff. I should have realized that Newsday slanted the story to suit a political agenda.

[Unregistered728]

Listen - this is not something new. Peter Schmitt has a long history in politics in Nassau County. Schmitt has enjoyed political success and known political failures - but survived them.

Thus - when someone such as myself suggests a course of action, someone who does not hold public office, the idea has even less merit.

Many people overlook that Peter is also the former Presiding Officer and understands all too well the 60 hour plus weeks that the position requires.

Former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro who many people felt was unqualified both politically and in terms of experience to be the Presiding Officer even stated that the position is a 60 plus hours a week job on Tuesday evening's "Long Island Talks" seen on Cablevision's channel 12 or HD 712 at 7pm.

New Minority leader Diane Yatauro contradicted herself by criticizing the pay-raise but acknowledged the long hours dedicated into performing oversight of the $2.7 billion dollar budget.


*THE JOB EARNS NEARLY $70,000 HOW MUCH MORE DOES SCHMITT WANT?*



My suggestion is to review Legislator Diane Yatauro's record as a member of the Glen Cove City Council. Did Yatauro support the Mayor receiving a significant pay raise? Does the Mayor of Glen Cove currently earn more than the Presiding Oficer of the Nassau County Legislature - Peter Schmitt?

You bet your ass he does!



**YATAURO HAS NEVER SERVED ON THE GLEN COVE COUNCIL**




All this episode has become is an effort by Nassau Democrats and New York State Democrats to change the political dialogue. Nationally, State wide and locally in Long Island - Democrats are feeling the political heat after failing to make good on any of their political promises.

That frustration and anger was reflected in Massachussets electing a Republican to replace the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. Folks like Peter Schmitt are wrong to think that this populist anger gives him the cover to take a pay raise no matter how justified.

That is the issue. I have observed Diane Yatauro and she is an embarrassment of political riches for the Nassau GOP. Peter Schmitt wants the raise - go before the media and make your case. Your silence lends itself to political cowardice and worse - you have hurt every member of the GOP in Nassau County by this move.



**YATAURO IS A PROVEN LEADER, SCHMITT IS THE POLITICAL LOSER***



Hell - I would justify this pay raise before the media; I have the courage of my convictions. But I am unelected and politically irrelevant. I don't agree with the timing but I would vigorously defend a pay raise for the Presiding Officer of Nassau County.

News 12 want to put me on "LI Talks" - I'm in. Invite Diane Yatauro and we can debate. By the time I am finished with Diane - Democrats will be looking for a new minority leader.


**I KNOW HER, YOU COULDN'T SHINE HER HIGH HEELS, BRING IT ON**

[Unregistered3453]

My thanks Mineola Observer as I did not realize that Democrats gave generous raises to County Executive Suozzi from $106,000 to $170,000; to Comptroller Weitzman from $100,000 to $165,000; to DA Rice from $100,000 to $165,000; County Clerk O'Connell and former Assessor Levinson from $100,000 to $165,000 in 2008.

It is galling that Democrats have the sheer contempt to target the Presiding Officer's position without any respect for the important role it plays in Nassau County Government.

Which is more important - the Presiding Officer or the County Clerk?

Do you realize that the Nassau County Supervisors salary in 2007 was $109,394 while Levy in Suffolk County had a budgeted salary of $185,754 although he only accepted $174,600. Same diparity in the DA and Comptroller. There were Nassau County pollice officers making in excess of Suozzi's base salary. I thought he deserved a raise but probably not that much and I think Levy is overpaid.

By the way Kate Murray's salary in 2007 was $140,000 or $30,000 more than the County Executive. Kate Murray, Yaturo and Schmidt are part time jobs and are undeserving of those type of salaries.

These are civil service positions not corporations.We need to take step back and stop paying these type of salaries and benefits for civil service jobs. You don't like the salary, don't run.

Sheer contempt, I think not.Get all the facts before you judge.

[Unregistered6767]

If you think any county legislator is working 60 hour weeks you have truly had too much of the Kool aide. Time to step away from the keyboard and come back to reality.

[Breaking News!]

If you think any county legislator is working 60 hour weeks you have truly had too much of the Kool aide. Time to step away from the keyboard and come back to reality.

Guess what was uncovered??? Suozzi's father's firm got a $10 million dollar no-bid contract from Nassau County.

Its over Tommy Boy!!!!!!!

[Unregistered1131]

Guess what was uncovered??? Suozzi's father's firm got a $10 million dollar no-bid contract from Nassau County.

Its over Tommy Boy!!!!!!!


anything over 25,ooo has to be approved, peddle your bullsh*t somewhere else.

[Dum Question Number Three]

I see you sign as "mineola observer" but youre not from there, right?

According to Noozday Archives, that letter you wrote places you in Hempstead Town.

I guess the jig is up when you go on News 12... again.

[PassThrough]

It's not Leg. Kevan and Leg. Judy?

Oink-oink....

They work for North Shore-LIJ don't they? Doesn't NUMC have an affiliation with NS-LIJ?

The only thing to look out for is if NUMC is passing money to NS-LIJ to reimburse NS-LIJ for the salaries they pay to the legislators if this is indeed true.

That is potentially an issue on many levels.

[Knoll Thief]

By the way Kate Murray's salary in 2007 was $140,000 or $30,000 more than the County Executive. Kate Murray, Yaturo and Schmidt are part time jobs and are undeserving of those type of salaries.

These are civil service positions not corporations.We need to take step back and stop paying these type of salaries and benefits for civil service jobs. You don't like the salary, don't run.

Sheer contempt, I think not.Get all the facts before you judge.

I have all the facts and conclude that Kate Murray is a crook...yet the sheep keep re-electing her.

What's her dad's name?

[Dem Trolls]

Legislators have part time jobs. Township Supervisor is obviously a full time job. Kate is doing a great job, and her salary is in line with what a metropolitan township pays for the job. What does Kaiman make?

[yup, prolly trolls]

Kaiman makes $7K less. Yeah, folks can be a bit too critical. Maybe it's Kristy posting again with a dual case of sour grapes and pms. She can be so immature too.

[Unregistered567]

Legislators have part time jobs. Township Supervisor is obviously a full time job. Kate is doing a great job, and her salary is in line with what a metropolitan township pays for the job. What does Kaiman make?

Kate has a full time job doing photo ops and mailings. I sincerely doubt that her position is even full time. What decisions does she have to make? The majority of the work in TOH is garbage collection, parks, street maintenance and much of that is done by the Villages within the township. No police force, hospital, etc. Not a very demanding position.

[guest 44]

Kaiman makes $133,000 a year. Salary same since 2005.

[PayMe1212]

Kaiman makes $133,000 a year. Salary same since 2005.


So Kate Murray should be making 266,000 and Venditto should be making around 225,000 based upon the size of the towns (North Hemp is mostly incorporated villages and special districts) roughly the amount of one of the lower paid school superintendents.

[Unregistered8477]

They work for North Shore-LIJ don't they? Doesn't NUMC have an affiliation with NS-LIJ?

The only thing to look out for is if NUMC is passing money to NS-LIJ to reimburse NS-LIJ for the salaries they pay to the legislators if this is indeed true.

That is potentially an issue on many levels.

No, they don't have an affiliation with NS-LIJ. I don't know where you got that.

[Unregistereddumcluk]

The self-inflicted feeding frenzy on Peter Schmitt deserves some common-sense perspective. While I have had my differences with Peter and would have preferred he waited on giving himself a raise, I would accuse the Nassau Democrats of Amnesia and the media for failing to hold them accountable.

BACKGROUND: It has come to light that the Nassau Republican Party would not permit a well known Newsday political news reporter, Sid Cassesse into their "Victory Brunch" last Sunday.

BACKGROUND II: Peter Schmitt referred to Diane Yatauro as "Dumb" for attempting to pass questionable legislation in the last session as the new Minority leader. Yatauro was and remains incensed. Was this payback?

ISSUE: PETER SCHMITT'S 47% PAY RAISE

Both Newsday and News 12 which are owned by Cablevision dedicated segments of their news coverage to Peter Schmitt's pay raise.

Do I smell the influence of Democratic leader Robert Zimmerman?

LET'S ADDRESS THE ISSUE DEMOCRATS AND NASSAU GOP BASHING:

Last night's "LI Talks" episode covering Nassau County Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt was fair. However, former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro made some very misleading and possibly false assertions during the broadcast that the public and the media need to consider. In fairness to former Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, I am paraphrasing her comments from the first 20 minutes of last night's January 26,2010 episode of "Long Island Talks" seen in Nassau and Suffolk Counties at 7pm on News 12 / Channel 712 on Cablevision.

Former Nassau County Presiding Officer and current minority leader Diane Yatauro informed Cablevision viewers last night that Nassau County workers had not received a pay raise in three years. Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D) Glen Cove, further had the audacity to accuse Peter Schmitt and the Republican Majority of providing themselves with pay raises while Nassau County faces $400 million in deficits.

It is easy to see why the man in the street would be down on the Nassau County GOP if this premise was valid?

The truth is that the Suozzi Administration steered the Municipal Labor Unions / CSEA to a 25% arbitration award in the summer of 2009 that will not become effective until 2010-2011 and run for several years forward and is the single largest contributor to the $400 million deficit that Nassau County now faces.

As the former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, how Diane Yatauro could seek to place the $400 million deficit on the Republicans was disingenuous. In the fall of 2009, Yatauro as the Presiding Officer with a Democratic majority in the 19 seat Nassau County Legislature approved this excessive compensation award fully aware of the deteriorating economic assumptions that supported the award while the economy has slipped into a deep Recession. This was fiscally irresponsible!

The Nassau Democrats are responsible for providing the CSEA with a 7 year award without providing funding to meet these financial obligations. This is why there are new and severe structural deficits in excess of $400 million now facing Nassau County taxpayers.

Legislator Diane Yatauro stated that the County Executive, District Attorney, Comptroller and Tax Assessor all gave back their raises last year, 2009. While somewhat true, her statement lacked proper context.

County Executive Suozzi, Comptroller Weitzman, D.A. Rice and the Tax Assessor Ted Jankowski all gave back their annual Cost of Living Increases (estimated 5-7%). This came after all of the above titles were given large pay raises a year earlier. Let's examine the pay raises that they received in 2008.
- County Executive Suozzi went from $106,000 a year to $170,000 a year.
- Comptroller Weitzman went from $100,000 to $165,000 a year.
- D.A. Rice went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.
- Tax Assessor went from $100,000 a year to $165,000 a year.

CONCLUSION: Notice how the above are all Nassau County Democrats?

Former Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson who failed to fix the broken Certiorari problems that have plagued Nassau County, who challenged his own property assessment in Garden City and retired off a bigger paycheck all while failing to implement any significant changes to the Tax Assessment Office.

For the record, I am on the record as having publicly criticized the earlier attempt by Peter Schmitt to provide pay raises to legislative staff in a letter to the editor in November 2009 published in Newsday.

I would have recommended that Peter Schmitt gone on "LI Talks" and defended himself and the GOP from such political theatre. Furthermore, the GOP under CE Managano and a GOP majority in the Nassau County Legislature can claim the following success within their first thirty days: In less than a month as Presiding Officer / Majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, the Legislature proposed successful legislation that rolled back the 2.5% Energy Tax passed by Yatauro and the Democrats.

Democrat supporters can say - well the Democrats in the Legislature voted to repeal the 2.5% Energy tax they codified into law ater the 2009 election which saw them become the minority party. Former CE Suozzi vetoed the legislation.

Only the GOP was able to repeal the 2.5% Energy Tax because CE Managano was willing to keep his Non-Civil service appointments to 150 hires instead of the more than 400 that occupied the Suozzi Administration for the last three years. Reducing the size og government by 250 people, saved Nassau taxpayers $20 million in salaries and another $10 million in Health Care benefits. The 2.5% Energy Tax was estimated to bring in about $35 to $40 million.

COMPARING SCHMITT'S COMPENSATION / DIFFERENTIAL

In the past, the compensation differential was smaller between various important titles within Nassau County. When County Executive Suozzi earned $106,000 a year, the Presiding Officer earned $59,500 - a $47,000 difference. Even with Peter Schmitt's new pay raise to $99,500, the differential now stands at a larger $70,000.

CONCLUSION
It is more than fair to examine public officials and the decisions they make with the Public Taxpayer's money. However - if you are relying on Diane Yatauro to provide you with an honest assessment of Nassau County Finances, you will be unable to reach valid conclusions.

OPINION - Newsday continues to diminish their journalistic standing. Newsday News published a piece many years ago that demonstrated Long Island was pretty evenly split among Democrats and Republicans. Despite that reality, from time to time such as this media event demonstrates, Newsday falls back on old political favoritism of Nassau Democrats without providing context to their readership.

To the credit of News 12, they have attempted to be fair brokers. Lea Tyrell pointed out what comparative legislators earn. However, former Nassau County Presiding Officer knew the "Long Island Talks" format is a 30 minute show with approximately 6-7 minutes of commercials and limited challenges from folks who do not recall the recent political history of Nassau County as easy as I do.

While I agree that Peter Schmitt may be tone deaf and there has to be a better time than now to do this, when you review the context of the decision it is not as outrageous as this is being portrayed as.

MY CONCLUSION: Peter Schmitt and any other elected official from the Governor to the President can give themselves a double digit pay raise if they knock a couple hundred of dollars back into my pocket every year by reducing taxes and balancing the budget.

SUGGESTION: Peter Schmitt should return the favor by repealing the bailout of Glen Cove which ocurred while Glen Cove reisdent Diane Yatauro was the Majority leader and Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature.

Yatauro pushed through over GOP objections, legislation that placed the Glen Cove Water facilities under Nassau County jurisdiction saving City of Glen Cove residents $ 6 million a year for 15 years. Costs to Nassau County taxpayers will be over $80 million.

Come on Peter- let's repeal this legislation!

You are soooooo wrong. Did Suozzi or any other democrat get a raise when unemployment was 10%? NO. Did they get a raise during the toughest recession since the 1930's? NO. Did give Schmitt give himself a raise RIGHT AFTER AN ELECTION, WHICH SHOWS WHERE HIS FOCUS WAS ALL ALONG?? YES!! You've been exposed as nothing more than a self-serving republican hack.

[Unregisteredsnooze]

No, they don't have an affiliation with NS-LIJ. I don't know where you got that.

From Newsday and the LI Business News from sometime last year or the year before. They made a big deal out of it. Look it up.

[Unregistered8477]

From Newsday and the LI Business News from sometime last year or the year before. They made a big deal out of it. Look it up.

Sorry, no affiliation.

[Unregisteredceecee]

Sorry, no affiliation.

Nassau University Medical Center In Partnership with the North Shore-LIJ Health System
July 1, 2009
Nassau University Medical Center In Partnership with the North Shore-LIJ Health System to Integrate And Regionalize Cardiology Services and Provide Clinical Expertise To Help Transform NUMC’S Cardiology Services Program

EAST MEADOW, NY - Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, announced the partnering, integration and regionalization of the Nassau University Medical Center’s cardiology services with its clinical partner, the North Shore-LIJ Health System, a world class health network, to provide the clinical expertise, quality program to assure the success of the NUMC cardiology services and help to further its mission.........



http://www.northshorelij.com/NSLIJ/Nassau+University+Medical+Center+