19th L.D.
Posted
'Regular guy' runs in 19th L.D.
Bellmore town laborer and firefighter challenges Denenberg
By Scott Brinton
A Town of Hempstead laborer and Bellmore Fire Department volunteer, Republican John Podolski, is challenging Democratic incumbent David Denenberg for Nassau County's 19th Legislative District seat.
Podolski said he is running to represent "the regular guy." "I can't afford a house right now because it's just impossible in Nassau County," said Podolski, 34, who lays concrete for the town and is a Republican Party committeeman. "We need people in [elected office] who know what it's like not to live on a six-figure salary."
Even though the county has frozen property taxes for five straight years, Podolski believes they remain too high. "It's no better than it was six years ago," he said. Repeating an oft-heard refrain among Republican candidates, Podolski said he believes the county should reassess homes every five years, rather than annually, to hold the line on taxes.
Denenberg, 43, an attorney in private practice, said that consolidation of government services is the best way to reduce costs and, ultimately, property taxes. He said the county has pursued a number of successful consolidation projects so far, particularly with the Town of North Hempstead. He would like to explore additional consolidation opportunities wherever they can be found, including with the Town of Hempstead.
Denenberg noted that the county recently reached an agreement with the Village of Freeport in which the county spent $6.4 million to fix up Guy Lombardo Boulevard and then the village took control of the road, including maintenance. That means the county no longer needs to send plows down the street when it snows or deploy maintenance crews to repair potholes there, saving Nassau taxpayers in the long run.
In particular, Denenberg said, he has focused on environmental preservation during his tenure, sponsoring 20 pieces of conservation legislation. He also authored both of the county's open space bonds, one for $50 million and the other for $100 million. In total, the bonds raised residents' property taxes $21 a year.
Denenberg said he has played a key role in ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse held over from the previous Republican administration. When he first won office in 1999, he said, the county was running a $300 million structural deficit. Now the county balances its books, thanks in part to consolidation of services, but also because it has significantly reduced its work force, eliminating a number of patronage positions, Denenberg said.
Podolski said the county has eliminated too many maintenance jobs in the Parks Department, leaving parks and preserves understaffed. He believes the county should look to cut administrators, not workers. "They have more deputy commissioners where they can hire more laborers," Podolski said.
Denenberg said he has won millions of dollars in funding for parks maintenance and downtown revitalization efforts throughout his district, including renovation projects on Merrick Avenue and Merrick Road. He said that additional projects are now in the planning stages.
Additionally, he said he has maintained county funding for any number of nonprofit social service agencies, including the Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore and the Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks.
Podolski said he would like more money for the Nassau County Youth Board. He wants to see more programs for teenagers in all the parks, including movie nights similar to those offered at Eisenhower Park during the summer. "We have a huge number of kids hanging out," Podolski said. "The gang problem is here. There are groups of organized kids."
The challenger said he is qualified to be a legislator because "I'm a resident of Nassau County. I have a desire to help the community."
Denenberg said he enjoys serving as a legislator because "it's a great way to help people and be in a position to make a difference. You get to help people every day."
Finally, Denenberg said, he has made accessibility a cornerstone of his tenure in the Legislature. He is the only legislator to pay for an office in his district, in Bellmore. And he has sponsored more than 230 community meetings to keep residents informed about critical issues.
Denenberg earned a degree in chemical engineering from Cooper Union in 1984. He is now a partner in and the intellectual property chairman of a New York City law firm. He was a legal adviser in the fight to shut down the Long Beach incinerator, and was the lead attorney for Stop Cedar Creek and Recover Our Environment, a local civic group.
Podolski is a graduate of Kennedy High School in Bellmore. He has served as a Republican Party committeeman for 10 years. He has been a member of the Bellmore Fire Department since 1990 and is secretary of Engine Company No. 2.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
Bellmore town laborer and firefighter challenges Denenberg
By Scott Brinton
A Town of Hempstead laborer and Bellmore Fire Department volunteer, Republican John Podolski, is challenging Democratic incumbent David Denenberg for Nassau County's 19th Legislative District seat.
Podolski said he is running to represent "the regular guy." "I can't afford a house right now because it's just impossible in Nassau County," said Podolski, 34, who lays concrete for the town and is a Republican Party committeeman. "We need people in [elected office] who know what it's like not to live on a six-figure salary."
Even though the county has frozen property taxes for five straight years, Podolski believes they remain too high. "It's no better than it was six years ago," he said. Repeating an oft-heard refrain among Republican candidates, Podolski said he believes the county should reassess homes every five years, rather than annually, to hold the line on taxes.
Denenberg, 43, an attorney in private practice, said that consolidation of government services is the best way to reduce costs and, ultimately, property taxes. He said the county has pursued a number of successful consolidation projects so far, particularly with the Town of North Hempstead. He would like to explore additional consolidation opportunities wherever they can be found, including with the Town of Hempstead.
Denenberg noted that the county recently reached an agreement with the Village of Freeport in which the county spent $6.4 million to fix up Guy Lombardo Boulevard and then the village took control of the road, including maintenance. That means the county no longer needs to send plows down the street when it snows or deploy maintenance crews to repair potholes there, saving Nassau taxpayers in the long run.
In particular, Denenberg said, he has focused on environmental preservation during his tenure, sponsoring 20 pieces of conservation legislation. He also authored both of the county's open space bonds, one for $50 million and the other for $100 million. In total, the bonds raised residents' property taxes $21 a year.
Denenberg said he has played a key role in ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse held over from the previous Republican administration. When he first won office in 1999, he said, the county was running a $300 million structural deficit. Now the county balances its books, thanks in part to consolidation of services, but also because it has significantly reduced its work force, eliminating a number of patronage positions, Denenberg said.
Podolski said the county has eliminated too many maintenance jobs in the Parks Department, leaving parks and preserves understaffed. He believes the county should look to cut administrators, not workers. "They have more deputy commissioners where they can hire more laborers," Podolski said.
Denenberg said he has won millions of dollars in funding for parks maintenance and downtown revitalization efforts throughout his district, including renovation projects on Merrick Avenue and Merrick Road. He said that additional projects are now in the planning stages.
Additionally, he said he has maintained county funding for any number of nonprofit social service agencies, including the Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore and the Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks.
Podolski said he would like more money for the Nassau County Youth Board. He wants to see more programs for teenagers in all the parks, including movie nights similar to those offered at Eisenhower Park during the summer. "We have a huge number of kids hanging out," Podolski said. "The gang problem is here. There are groups of organized kids."
The challenger said he is qualified to be a legislator because "I'm a resident of Nassau County. I have a desire to help the community."
Denenberg said he enjoys serving as a legislator because "it's a great way to help people and be in a position to make a difference. You get to help people every day."
Finally, Denenberg said, he has made accessibility a cornerstone of his tenure in the Legislature. He is the only legislator to pay for an office in his district, in Bellmore. And he has sponsored more than 230 community meetings to keep residents informed about critical issues.
Denenberg earned a degree in chemical engineering from Cooper Union in 1984. He is now a partner in and the intellectual property chairman of a New York City law firm. He was a legal adviser in the fight to shut down the Long Beach incinerator, and was the lead attorney for Stop Cedar Creek and Recover Our Environment, a local civic group.
Podolski is a graduate of Kennedy High School in Bellmore. He has served as a Republican Party committeeman for 10 years. He has been a member of the Bellmore Fire Department since 1990 and is secretary of Engine Company No. 2.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
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