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New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signs off on longer terms for lawmakers — now voters get to decide
Suffolk lawmakers could soon serve twice as long — from two to four years — under a new measure signed Friday by County Executive Ed Romaine. But voters will still need to approve the term-limit change on the November ballot. The 'Term Limit Preservation Act' will ask voters on Nov. 4 whether they support doubling the term length for county legislators, while still capping their total time in office at 12 years. Advertisement Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signed a new measure Friday that could lead lawmakers in the county to serve twice as long. Brandon Cruz / NY Post Romaine signed the bill to place the measure on the ballot in Hauppauge, framing the move as a way to give residents more control over how local government functions due to a new controversial state law dictating election schedules. 'This is an opportunity,' Romaine said. Advertisement 'If you think that less politics and more government is a good thing, then this is something to support.' The proposal, first passed by the legislature in early July, stems from a 2023 state law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul that moves all local elections in New York to even-numbered years to coincide with state and federal races — which Hochul said would reduce voter fatigue and save taxpayer dollars. But Long Island politicians, especially Republicans, say they're worried about important local issues being drowned out by the national noise, and argue the shift has created confusion and could wreak havoc on the county's election calendar. The legislation signed by Romaine will allow lawmakers to serve four-year terms, but voters still need to approve the term-limit change on the November ballot. Suffolk County Government Advertisement 'If the elections stay in even years, I am concerned that local issues will get lost in the shuffle of national and state politics,' Romaine told reporters. He said this amendment would allow legislators to spend less time campaigning and more time doing the work of local government, as they would essentially win in November and have to start immediately campaigning again due to the changes. If the ballot measure passes, current lawmakers would be allowed to serve out their final term if it goes beyond the 12 year maximum — a move politicians claimed was to avoid the 'chaos' of midterm resignations. Advertisement Although lawmakers used the shift in election years as justification to beef up the length they could serve without campaigning, Suffolk recently pushed to stretch lawmakers' terms from two to four years in 2020. More than 70% of voters voted against the measure on ballots. Westchester County's Board of Legislators similarly tried to extend term limits in 2024, with voters promptly voting against the measure.
New York Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Suffolk lawmakers vote to give themselves more time in office — but voters could still say no thanks
Suffolk County lawmakers voted to give themselves extra time in office by stretching their two-year terms to four-year terms — but voters will have the final say come November. The county Board of Legislators sought to justify the permanent extension by tying it to a switch in New York State that is moving local elections to even years so that they line up with federal elections. The change would prevent lawmakers elected this year to have to run again next year and then again in 2028, but voters will get to decide if they agree on their November ballots. While Suffolk County lawmakers approved a measure to lengthen their terms in office from two to four year terms, voters will have the final say on Election Day. Brandon Cruz / NY Post 'This is important legislation,' Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine told The Post. 'It saves taxpayer dollars and protects fair elections. Most importantly, the measure will be put to the voters, unlike the state that decided to change elections without bringing it to the people.' Romaine said he intends to sign the legislation as soon as it hits his desk. The state passed the controversial law to consolidate elections in 2023, with local officials claiming it unfairly tied county, town or village elections to national issues while benefiting Democrats in the largely blue state. The change has so far survived legal scrutiny and this year's races will see candidates who win serve shortened terms as a result. Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine told The Post, 'This is important legislation,' while County Legislator James Mazzarella in a statement acknowledged that the extended time in office has to do with 'preserving the will of the voters.' Jim Mazzarella For Suffolk County Legislator James Mazzarella (R) said the extended time in office was 'about preserving the will of the voters.' 'Without this act, we risk midterm resignations, causing costly special elections and political instability,' he said in a statement. The county's bill would not change a long-standing 12-year limit for serving in the legislature, but it tweaks the rules for current legislators. If the ballot measure passes, current lawmakers would be allowed serve out their final term if it goes beyond 12 years — a move politicians claimed was to avoid the 'chaos' of midterm resignations. Although lawmakers used the shift in election years as justification to beef up the length they could serve without campaigning, Suffolk recently pushed to stretch lawmakers' terms from two to four years in 2020. More than 70% of voters voted against the measure on ballots. Westchester County's Board of Legislators similarly tried to extend term limits in 2024, with voters promptly voting against the measure.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York's Nassau County seeks to ban standing within 15 feet of cops under bill panned as unconstitutional
Lawmakers in Nassau County, New York, are pushing a measure to make it illegal to stand within 15 feet of police officers or other first responders during an emergency, although critics of the proposal argue that it is unconstitutional. People who enter the "buffer zone" for first responders during an emergency would face a misdemeanor charge and a $1,000 fine along with the possibility of up to a year behind bars, according to the bill introduced by the county Board of Legislators. The measure seeks to protect first responders from "threats, harassment, and physical interference," lawmakers say. "It is important that first responders are not obstructed during emergency situations and that our frontline heroes are allowed to engage in the lifesaving actions they are trained to perform without distractions," legislator John Ferretti, a Republican, told the New York Post. New York Proposal Would Ban Police From Making Traffic Stops For Minor Violations To Pursue 'Racial Equity' State law already subjects people who interfere with first responders to up to a year in jail, three years of probation or a $1,000 fine. Read On The Fox News App The new bill was introduced by Republicans but has garnered support from some Democrats, according to the newspaper. "Our cops and first responders shouldn't have to fight crowds while they're saving lives," Democrat legislator Seth Koslow, who is running for county executive, told the New York Post. "This bill gives them the authority to keep chaos out and do their jobs without interference. It's backed by both parties — because protecting those who protect us shouldn't be political." Despite the bipartisan support among lawmakers, critics say the bill goes too far and could be abused to curb people's constitutional rights. "Floating buffer zones offer yet another way for police to keep their activities hidden from public scrutiny," New York Civil Liberties Union senior policy counsel Justin Harrison told the New York Post. "Laws that make it harder to monitor the police don't make anybody safer — in reality, they violate the Constitution, run counter to government transparency principles, and foster distrust in law enforcement." Some other states have passed similar laws that were later struck down by the courts. Video Captures New York Grandmother, Children Narrowly Avoiding Manhole Explosion Louisiana passed a law last year prohibiting people from being within 25 feet of police after being told to back up. But last month, a federal judge blocked the measure, finding that it violated the 14th Amendment's due process regulations and could infringe on journalists' press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment that grants them the right to film officers. Similar laws in Arizona and Indiana have also been blocked by federal judges. "We expect that Nassau's law, if passed, will meet the same fate," Harrison article source: New York's Nassau County seeks to ban standing within 15 feet of cops under bill panned as unconstitutional
Fox News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
New York's Nassau County seeks to ban standing within 15 feet of cops under bill panned as unconstitutional
Lawmakers in Nassau County, New York, are pushing a measure to make it illegal to stand within 15 feet of police officers or other first responders during an emergency, although critics of the proposal argue that it is unconstitutional. People who enter the "buffer zone" for first responders during an emergency would face a misdemeanor charge and a $1,000 fine along with the possibility of up to a year behind bars, according to the bill introduced by the county Board of Legislators. The measure seeks to protect first responders from "threats, harassment, and physical interference," lawmakers say. "It is important that first responders are not obstructed during emergency situations and that our frontline heroes are allowed to engage in the lifesaving actions they are trained to perform without distractions," legislator John Ferretti, a Republican, told the New York Post. State law already subjects people who interfere with first responders to up to a year in jail, three years of probation or a $1,000 fine. The new bill was introduced by Republicans but has garnered support from some Democrats, according to the newspaper. "Our cops and first responders shouldn't have to fight crowds while they're saving lives," Democrat legislator Seth Koslow, who is running for county executive, told the New York Post. "This bill gives them the authority to keep chaos out and do their jobs without interference. It's backed by both parties — because protecting those who protect us shouldn't be political." Despite the bipartisan support among lawmakers, critics say the bill goes too far and could be abused to curb people's constitutional rights. "Floating buffer zones offer yet another way for police to keep their activities hidden from public scrutiny," New York Civil Liberties Union senior policy counsel Justin Harrison told the New York Post. "Laws that make it harder to monitor the police don't make anybody safer — in reality, they violate the Constitution, run counter to government transparency principles, and foster distrust in law enforcement." Some other states have passed similar laws that were later struck down by the courts. Louisiana passed a law last year prohibiting people from being within 25 feet of police after being told to back up. But last month, a federal judge blocked the measure, finding that it violated the 14th Amendment's due process regulations and could infringe on journalists' press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment that grants them the right to film officers. Similar laws in Arizona and Indiana have also been blocked by federal judges. "We expect that Nassau's law, if passed, will meet the same fate," Harrison said.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nassau County wants to make it illegal to stand within 15 feet of cops — but critics say ‘buffer zone' is unconstitutional
Nassau County lawmakers want to make it illegal to stand within 15 feet of cops and other emergency workers — but critics say the 'buffer zone' would be unconstitutional. Civilians who enter the 'zone' for police, firefighters and other first responders during an emergency would be slapped with a misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine — with the possibility of up to a year behind bars, according to a new bill introduced by Republicans in the county Board of Legislators. The goal of the bill aims to protect emergency responders from 'threats, harassment, and physical interference' while on the job, according to lawmakers. 'It is important that first responders are not obstructed during emergency situations and that our frontline heroes are allowed to engage in the lifesaving actions they are trained to perform without distractions,' Legislator John Ferretti said. The proposed law has bipartisan support from some Democrats, including Seth Koslow, who is running for county executive against Republican incumbent Bruce Blakeman. 'Our cops and first responders shouldn't have to fight crowds while they're saving lives,' Koslow told The Post. 'This bill gives them the authority to keep chaos out and do their jobs without interference. It's backed by both parties — because protecting those who protect us shouldn't be political.' State law already punishes people who interfere with first responders with up to a year in jail, three years of probation, or a $1,000 fine. But the county's 15-foot buffer goes a step farther, blocking anyone from even walking near an emergency worker — a distinction that riled critics, who said it could easily be abused. 'Floating buffer zones offer yet another way for police to keep their activities hidden from public scrutiny,' Justin Harrison, senior policy counsel at the NYCLU, told The Post. 'Laws that make it harder to monitor the police don't make anybody safer — in reality, they violate the Constitution, run counter to government transparency principles, and foster distrust in law enforcement.' Harrison referenced other states that have passed, and then blocked, similar laws throughout the country. Louisiana passed a law last year banning people from getting within 25 feet of police after being told to back up — but a federal judge blocked it last month, ruling it violated the 14th Amendment's due process regulations and could infringe on a reporter's First Amendment right to film officers and gather news. Similar laws in Arizona and Indiana have also been struck down by federal judges. 'We expect that Nassau's law, if passed, will meet the same fate,' Harrison said.
