"F" youth Svces

[Sue Simmons]

May 14, 2008
Search Newsday.com Web enhanced by Login or register Home Delivery Updated: 9:40 a.m.


Nassau Legislature at impasse over youth services money
BY WILLIAM MURPHY | william.murphy@newsday.com
9:40 AM EDT, May 14, 2008
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: A political impasse continued Wednesday between Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and his usually supportive Democratic allies in the Nassau County Legislature.

The presiding officer of the legislature, Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), said through a spokeswoman that she would not act at Wednesday's session on Suozzi's request for one of his pet projects until he explained why he was not spending $950,000 the legislature allocated for youth services and other programs.

"She is not going to call it for a vote at today's meeting," Yatauro spokeswoman Zefy Christopoulos said.

Suozzi has asked for a budget modification to pay $807,000 to seven social service agencies to counsel women against unwanted pregnancies and against having abortions. He announced the program in 2005, calling it "Common Sense for the Common Good," as he got ready to run for governor, and it was funded for the first time in 2007.



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Yatauro, a close ally of Suozzi, has been under intense pressure from legislators who feel that the county executive had committed to spending the youth services money because it was in the budget he negotiated with them last fall.

"Until the youth board money is solid, we will not be addressing these items," Yatauro said at the April 29 meeting of the legislature.

Aides to Suozzi have said they intend to spend the money, but are waiting on state approval on a request that would allow the county to get matching funds from the state.

[what a waste of money]

why should the county spend money to pay agencies to ther talk women into or out of abortions? This is not a proper function of government.

Government should only be in the business of protecting public safety, providing necessary services- protecting water, food, and air, keeping streets and parks clean and safe and other quality of life issues.

GET OUR GOVERNMENT OUT OF VERY DISCRETIONARY SOCIAL SERVICES. If the mother to be isn't starving or homeless, we shouldn't be paying for anything to do with her. This expenditure is beyond the scope of reasonable government.

[Dumas]

why should the county spend money to pay agencies to ther talk women into or out of abortions? This is not a proper function of government.

Government should only be in the business of protecting public safety, providing necessary services- protecting water, food, and air, keeping streets and parks clean and safe and other quality of life issues.

GET OUR GOVERNMENT OUT OF VERY DISCRETIONARY SOCIAL SERVICES. If the mother to be isn't starving or homeless, we shouldn't be paying for anything to do with her. This expenditure is beyond the scope of reasonable government.

That's your focus? Young women and abortions? While that issue may creep into it, you don't think that the Youth Bureau and it's agents contribute to a multitude of other areas, some of which you just mentioned? The actual atrocity is, is how this County and Suozzi ignores the needs of our children until they make the front pages of Newsday. Then the slime and the pandering come out of the woodwork. (See DSS, CPS, juvenile delinquency). Look how Suozzi treated the previous director of the Youth Bureau.

Newsday, Channel 12...You should hang your heads in shame. The ball was in your court. You let it drop.