Latest news with #EdRomaine
New York Post
5 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
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suffolk jails forced to hold 125 prisoners set for transfer because of state chaos
Suffolk County's jails are being forced to hold onto 125 felons who were supposed to be transferred upstate — with officials blaming state government chaos for the delay, The Post has learned. County Executive Ed Romaine blamed Gov. Kathy Hochul and said housing a growing number of state prisoners is putting staff in a dangerous situation as taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of thousands in estimated extra costs. 'They've been convicted and are supposed to be in state prisons and they're not because the state is just not taking them,' Romaine told The Post. 'Now, why is the state not taking them?' the Republican added. 'Well, [Hochul] fired 2,000 corrections officers striking for better working conditions and she's closing prisons around the state.' Under state law, inmates sentenced to hard time in state prison are supposed to be transferred upstate within 10 business days. But Romaine said that has changed in the aftermath of labor unrest with the corrections officer union and Democratic governor. He said the delays are now causing headaches across the system, from administration to the inmates themselves. Most of the detainees in the two county jails — in Riverhead and Yaphank — are people accused of low-level crimes that are being held for trial and have not been convicted. They are now bunking alongside convicted criminals who were intended to only pass through the system. Romaine added that the influx of roughly 125 felons is raising serious safety and management concerns for staff. 'Our jail staff are already spread thin,' Romaine wrote in a letter to Gov. Hochul in May obtained by The Post. 'I understand that the state faces similar staffing challenges, but it is unfair to shift this burden to the County with minimal financial compensation and little to no collaboration.' The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision blamed the backlog on system-halting staffing shortages that were sparked after the state fired 2,000 corrections officers who participated in an unauthorized, nearly month-long strike in March. Romaine shot back that the staffing shortages should be Suffolk's problem. 'The law says they're state ready, then they need to be in state prisons, not local jails,' he said. New York State is reimbursing Suffolk $100 per day for every inmate stuck in the county jails, but Romaine said the county pays $250 per day for each, meaning taxpayers are on the hook for the extra $150. 'The warden and his staff calculate that we have expended approximately $280,000 in excess of what we have received from the state to house these state ready but unclaimed prisoners since February,' Romaine wrote in the May letter. More inmates in lockup means more guards are needed to work — with more overtime costs, he added. Romaine warned that if the backlog continues, it could lead to dangerous overcrowding and unravel the work the county has been doing to improve jail conditions. 'This is unsustainable long term,' he said.
New York Post
08-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Suffolk jails forced to hold 125 prisoners set for transfer because of state chaos
Suffolk County's jails are being forced to hold onto 125 felons who were supposed to be transferred upstate — with officials blaming state government chaos for the delay, The Post has learned. County Executive Ed Romaine blamed Gov. Kathy Hochul and said housing a growing number of state prisoners is putting staff in a dangerous situation as taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of thousands in estimated extra costs. 'They've been convicted and are supposed to be in state prisons and they're not because the state is just not taking them,' Romaine told The Post. Advertisement 'Now, why is the state not taking them?' the Republican added. 'Well, [Hochul] fired 2,000 corrections officers striking for better working conditions and she's closing prisons around the state.' 4 Suffolk County's jails are being forced to hold onto 125 felons who were supposed to be transferred upstate. New York Post Under state law, inmates sentenced to hard time in state prison are supposed to be transferred upstate within 10 business days. But Romaine said that has changed in the aftermath of labor unrest with the corrections officer union and Democratic governor. Advertisement He said the delays are now causing headaches across the system, from administration to the inmates themselves. Most of the detainees in the two county jails — in Riverhead and Yaphank — are people accused of low-level crimes that are being held for trial and have not been convicted. They are now bunking alongside convicted criminals who were intended to only pass through the system. 4 Under state law, inmates sentenced to hard time in state prison are supposed to be transferred upstate within 10 business days. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine pictured. James Messerschmidt Romaine added that the influx of roughly 125 felons is raising serious safety and management concerns for staff. Advertisement 'Our jail staff are already spread thin,' Romaine wrote in a letter to Gov. Hochul in May obtained by The Post. 'I understand that the state faces similar staffing challenges, but it is unfair to shift this burden to the County with minimal financial compensation and little to no collaboration.' The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision blamed the backlog on system-halting staffing shortages that were sparked after the state fired 2,000 corrections officers who participated in an unauthorized, nearly month-long strike in March. 4 Romaine added that the influx of roughly 125 felons is raising serious safety and management concerns for staff. Newsday via Getty Images Romaine shot back that the staffing shortages should be Suffolk's problem. Advertisement 'The law says they're state ready, then they need to be in state prisons, not local jails,' he said. New York State is reimbursing Suffolk $100 per day for every inmate stuck in the county jails, but Romaine said the county pays $250 per day for each, meaning taxpayers are on the hook for the extra $150. 'The warden and his staff calculate that we have expended approximately $280,000 in excess of what we have received from the state to house these state ready but unclaimed prisoners since February,' Romaine wrote in the May letter. 4 New York State is reimbursing Suffolk $100 per day for every inmate stuck in the county jails. New York Post More inmates in lockup means more guards are needed to work — with more overtime costs, he added. Romaine warned that if the backlog continues, it could lead to dangerous overcrowding and unravel the work the county has been doing to improve jail conditions. 'This is unsustainable long term,' he said.
New York Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
State DOT refuses to sign off on $10 land sale that could modernize Long Island's busiest LIRR line
The state Department of Transportation seems ready to run out the clock on a $10 deal to help electrify Long Island's busiest LIRR line, Suffolk officials charged Monday. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine called out the DOT for stonewalling an infrastructure project he said would clean up both the delay-ridden commute and the environment — all over a pending purchase between Suffolk and the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. If DOT does not sign off on the agreement by June 30, the contract will become void, according to Suffolk officials. Advertisement 6 Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine called out the state Department of Transportation for refusing to approve a $10 land deal that would help electrify the Long Island Railroad's busiest line. Brandon Cruz / NY Post 6 A map of the Lawrence Aviation Industries Site. Department of Environmental Conservation 'This should have been done, this whole line should be electrical,' Romaine, a, Republican, told The Post from Port Jefferson. 'This is the best land deal the MTA will ever make — which isn't exactly known for its fiscal responsibility.' Advertisement Romaine said the agency is ready to move forward with the project, but did not specify how much the project would cost. The vacant land, nearly 50 acres that was once part of the Lawrence Aviation Superfund site, is currently controlled by the Suffolk County Landbank. Landbank officials offered to sell it to the MTA last year for just $10 so the agency can begin building infrastructure to electrify the unreliable diesel-fueled, double-decker trains that still run through the Port Jefferson line — a LIRR route that 30% of all riders live along. 6 Romaine and other Suffolk County officials at an event for the symbolic cutting of red tape for the land sale. Brandon Cruz / NY Post Advertisement 6 The state DOT has until June 30 to approve the deal. Stefano Giovannini It's also the busiest branch on Long Island, according to MTA data. But the DOT balked at blessing the project, citing the need to complete an easement process as well as floating other potential options for the property, Suffolk officials charged. Stephen Canzoneri, DOT spokesperson representing Long Island, confirmed the agency 'is in the process of delivering a free property easement' to 'facilitate MTA's property acquisition,' and said the process will take several months. Advertisement 6 The 50-acre plot of land is owned by the Suffolk County Landbank. Department of Environmental Conservation 6 The Lawrence Aviation Superfund site seen in 2014. Department of Environmental Conservation Even state Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, a Democrat, offered to personally pay the $10 fee to get the deal done — but said she was told the state still wouldn't allow the sale. Romaine has even called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to step in. He argued DOT's stalling tactics go against Hochul's own green goals. 'Governor Hochul supports any effort to advance meaningful transportation investments in the region and will work with all stakeholders to resolve the complicated land use issues impacting this potential project,' Kara Cumoletti, a spokesperson for the governor, told The Post. The MTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
