On Tuesday, the Glenwood / Glen Head Civic Association submitted questions to Wayne Wink (D, I, WF) and Louis Chisari (R, C), the two candidates seeking to represent Nassau County Legislative District 11 in the special election secheduled for Tuesday, March 27.
Mr. Chisari has submitted his responses; they are posted below exactly as they were received. Mr. Wink has notified us that his answers will be submitted shortly. For more information about the special election, consult previous postings; there are several.
As has been noted in many previous postings, all of Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor and part of Glen Head and Sea Cliff make up the northeasternmost portion of Nassau County Legislative District 11.
Be sure to vote. This election determines which party takes the majority in the Nassau County Legislature. Make your opinion known. Local elections turn on a dime. Your vote, whatever it is, counts—and it is no secret that turnout is often appallingly low.
Our right to vote has been won by people who have died, been injured, or been maimed over generations to protect this democracy. Vote! It is the patriotic thing to do! Besides, did you know that if you don't vote, your license to complain expires—and you have to zip it up and wait until November to renew?
The questions for the Nassau County Legislative District 11 candidates and Mr. Chisari's answers follow exaclty as there were received. Mr. Wink's answers will be posted exactly as they are received as soon as they arrive:
1) What is the most important single contribution you hope to make as a county legislator?
Chisari: First, to stop any and all property tax increases and second improve county services that the current County Executive and Legislature has cut while expanding their staffs.
Wink: Response pending.
2) What differences and similarities do you perceive among the communities in District 11, and how might these factors impact your service to those communities?
Chisari: The biggest similarity is the issue of property taxes, the County through the Legislature and the County Executive are oppressively taxing all communities in District 11 to the point that the people can no longer afford. Furthermore, each community is different with their own special needs, which as a County Legislator it would be my obligation to list and address each of those special needs.
Wink: Response pending.
3) What is your view of the county's role on the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, and how would you advance the water quality improvement efforts of these inter-municipal organizations?
Chisari: I would led and effort by the County to secure more Federal and State grants to help further fund the projects.
Wink: Response pending.
4) How can the decay of the historic structures and gardens under county jurisdiction be reversed, and what would you do to encourage historic preservation in general?
Chisari: This is one area I feel very strongly about. I believe that preserving the County's historic sites is extremely important. First, the County must secure Federal and State grants that are available for this effort and second, stop the County Executive from cutting the staffs of these sites so he can hire political operatives for his personal staff as he has done in the pass with the full blessing of the Democratically control Legislature.
Wink: Response pending.
5) What is your policy on open space, and how would you protect open space in Glenwood Landing and Glen Head?
Chisari: I believe at this juncture in the County's development we must preserve the little open space that is left. The County must either fund an open space acquiring program or secure federal and state grants to fund such a project.
Wink: Response pending.
6) What role can the county play in reducing traffic congestion and sprawl, both countywide and in Glen Head and Glenwood Landing in particular?
Chisari: No answer provided.
Wink: Response pending.
7) What would you do to ensure that payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) and/or taxes on utility properties in Glenwood Landing are paid and not reduced?
Chisari: This is more an issue for the State Legislature than for the County Legislature as for the payments. The PILOTs are agreements that the utility has with either, the state or county and/or the local municipality. As for the amounts they are contractual and if they are reduced it is agreed upon by the parties involved. As a County Legislator I would make sure that the any amount owed under a PILOT will not be reduced and I would insure the utility pays the amount it originally agreed upon.
Wink: Response pending.
8) What is the county's most significant public safety and disaster vulnerability, and how would you address it?
Chisari: No answer provided.
Wink: Response pending.
9) What measures would you introduce to make county government more efficient and more accessible to the public?
Chisari: First, I believe that County government is very accessible to the public, but I feel that a Public Advocates Office charged with helping the citizens of the county navigate the municipal system is needed. Second, to make County government more efficient one party rule must end. In the last six years county government has cut the staffs of the Buildings Dept., Parks Dept. and Highway Dept., but the staffs of the County Executive and County Legislature has grown. I agree with the Governor waste must be sought out and stopped.
Wink: Response pending.
10) Are you willing to work in a bi-partisan manner, and what will you do to encourage bi-partisan cooperation among your colleagues?
Chisari: Yes, absolutely, but the thing I will never work bi-partisan on is any issue that would result in any type tax or county fee increase. I feel there will always be a better solution then raising taxes of county charged fees.
Wink: Response pending.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment