Politics

On the road: A political diary

Stonehill navigates aftermath of presidential election

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Jan. 6: Public Swearing-In Ceremony, State Senator John Brooks — Seaford High School, Seaford


Elected officials have private swearing-in ceremonies just prior to their assuming whatever position they have been elected to. They also commonly have public ceremonies where friends, supporters, the public and the media can share in the occasion.
I am attending the local public swearing-in ceremony for our new District 8 New York State Senator John Brooks, elected as a Democrat. District 8 stretches along the South Shore from Baldwin Harbor to southwest Suffolk County.
Due to the importance of his victory to the Democrats, the auditorium at Seaford High School is full of political notables and community leaders. There are a number of speakers including U.S. Senator and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Brooks is sworn-in as Senator by New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Leader of the Senate Democratic Conference.

Three Democratic county executive candidates are present and busy networking. One of them, County Legislator Laura Curran, tells me that she is “delighted that John’s Senate District overlaps my own Legislative District” and “can’t wait to work together on behalf of our communities.”

Jan. 10: State of the State Address, Long Island Regional Edition — Farmingdale State College SUNY


Governors of New York usually make their annual State of the State addresses in Albany. However, this year Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided to make region-specific addresses around the state. Several hundred political, labor and community leaders are here from Nassau and Suffolk Counties for the Long Island speech. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is here as well.
After the Freeport Chorale sings the National Anthem, the governor goes on to sketch his 2017 priorities concerning Long Island. These include infrastructure projects, job creation, water supply clean-up, wastewater treatment plant repairs, sewage connection in Suffolk County, lower property and other taxes, free tuition to public colleges and cost sharing agreements between county and local governments. This all sounds fine, but naturally, in Albany, the Devil is in the details. How will these programs be planned and implemented? How will they be financed? We shall see!

Jan. 30: Press Conference and Rally for Laura Curran — Marriott Hotel, Uniondale


It’s a busy day but I take some time out and head for Nassau Legislator Laura Curran’s press conference at the Uniondale Marriott.
Several hundred supporters and members of the media squeeze into a meeting room not really designed for this crush. Signs touting the new Curran-Schnirman slate have been handed out and are being held around the room.
Nassau County Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs has recently endorsed Curran for county executive as well as Jack Schnirman for comptroller. Schnirman has ended his campaign for county executive. He is currently city manager of Long Beach.
Curran notes that there is a “mess in Mineola and it’s time we started talking about how we’re going to clean it up and return Nassau County to the taxpayers.” She stresses that this will be a “different type of campaign and we’re going to have to tell the hard truths and challenge the culture. But I’m ready to do it because we simply can’t go on like this.” She goes on to note that “cleaning up the government isn’t a conservative idea or a progressive idea. It’s the moral, honest and ethical thing to do. And it’s what we must do to move Nassau County into the 21st Century.”
So, my takeaway from the event? The field of Democratic contenders for County Executive drops to three. The presser shows the depth of Curran’s support within the leadership of the Nassau County Democratic Party. But, with the primary being held in September, there is a long way to go, and no candidate can take victory for granted.

Feb. 3: #NoBanNoWall, Long Island Political Demonstration — Massapequa Park


Welcome to the 2017 Political Marching Season where virtually every day since President Trump’s inauguration has seen rallies and marches around the country and world. Long Island is no exception to this.
Today I am joining several hundred protesters outside the district office of Republican Congressman Peter King in Massapequa Park, near the Long Island Rail Road. King is a fierce conservative who is famous for not tolerating people who disagree with him. Since King supports the President’s anti-Muslim travel ban, we have gathered by his office to express our displeasure with him. We also denounce the president’s plan to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
We peacefully parade within police barriers around and around the block. We chant slogans and talk among ourselves about why we are here and what we need to do to preserve basic civil liberties. Sam Wachtel, of Merrick, observed, “Almost all of our families emigrated to America for a better life in a better country. It isn’t any different for the refugees — we need them as much as they need to come here. That’s what keeps America great.”
Many of us have prepared our own signs welcoming refugees to this country. There are individuals as well as members of groups such as Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish organization. I spot two politicians marching with us: the presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, DuWayne Gregory, and Assemblyman Chuck Lavine.
Sadly, Congressman King is not here to greet us. Nor are there any members of his staff. We do, however, have about 30 or so counter-protesters marching and chanting nearby. This all-white group of assorted ages screams out support for President Trump and Congressman King while calling us all sorts of unkind names. I find them amusing, considering that all of their ancestors came to this country for a better life. However, they do not find it a problem to be slamming the door shut now. Every once in a while, a car races down Park Boulevard. Lowering the car’s windows, the occupants scream out nasty things like “go home.” We wave back in a friendly, inclusive fashion, which no doubt infuriates the screamers further. Moreover, since virtually all of our group are American citizens, we also are home. I guess you can’t please everyone! After 90 minutes, I decide it’s time to go home and get ready for the next march.

Feb. 14: Press Conference for Laura Curran — Baldwin


Today is Valentine’s Day. I get a treat in the form of a press conference by Nassau Legislator Laura Curran. The Democratic candidate for county executive is emphasizing her ideas for contracting reform. In a nutshell, her idea is to fight corruption within the contracting process of county government. This sounds dry and dull but significant amounts of money have been misspent in wasteful and fraudulent government contracts. Political cronies and donors have benefitted by this arrangement, but not the beleaguered taxpayer. Curran wants to shut down the current system of contracting, which has permitted contracts to be awarded without independent verification, and often without any oversight or even competitive bidding.
Curran’s plan starts with recent recommendations by Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and expands from that, advocating the creation of an independent Office of the Inspector General, as well as a complete legislative review of large county contracts. Other points essentially provide for far greater disclosure of information on contract bids than we have now.
Curran emphasizes that her reform plan is the “moral, honest, ethical thing to do.” She contrasts her plan with the current state of affairs, which she calls “an insult to the people of this county.”
“It is shameful,” she notes, “that the legislative majority has stonewalled on reform.” This all sounds good to me, and I take my leave at the end of the press conference.

— Merokean David Stonehill served as a Hillary Clinton campaign volunteer during the primary season, and continues work as a Democratic political activist.