By Andrew Hackmack
Challenging Barra is 27-year-old Joe Ferrara, a Democrat and a resident of Valley Stream. Ferrara once worked for the Tanglewood Preserve in Lakeview, and is now with Long Island Blood Services. He said that if elected, he would be a strong advocate for the residents of his district and listen to their concerns. "That is essential to being a good elected official," Ferrara said, "to really connect with people."
Barra said he isn't the typical Albany politician, and has pushed for change since his first days in the state Assembly. He said he fights for what is best for his district, not what is best for Republicans. And though he is a member of the minority party, he said, he works with Democratic assemblymen to get the job done. "You have to be able to play ball with the other side, and that's what I do," Barra said.
Ferrara said he is concerned about the multi-billion-dollar state deficit, and that there must be ways to cut back on spending without reducing essential government services. One way of saving money, he said, is through Medicaid reform. He also suggested setting up an independent, nonpartisan commission to monitor state finances and find ways to save. "Ultimately," Ferrara said, "if you don't cut the budget, you're going to have to raise taxes."
He wants to see the state become a leader in producing "clean and green" energy. The government should offer incentives for people to buy hybrid vehicles, solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, he said. He is also intrigued by the idea of building a wind farm. "We have an island, we have a lot of wind on the South Shore," Ferrara said. "We just need to find a place to put those windmills."
Barra said he works to improve the quality of life for people in his district. He has assisted in efforts to refurbish local parks, and most recently secured funding to begin the revitalization of downtown Valley Stream. Rockaway Avenue should be a model for other communities, he said.
A resident of Rockaway Avenue, Ferrara said he wants to see an investment in area downtowns. He supports projects that would create "walkable" downtowns, where people have access to services, cultural opportunities and transportation without needing their cars.
Property taxes are the primary concern of residents in his district, Barra said. He explained that the School Tax Relief, or STAR, rebate checks have been a big help to homeowners. "It's something we do instead of taking more money from you," he said. "We're trying to give some back."
He supports a property tax freeze to let people's incomes "catch up," and favors a "circuit breaker" that would cap property taxes based on income.
Ferrara also supports the circuit breaker because it is targeted relief. He does not support the school tax cap, however, because it could compromise funding for local schools. "We need to invest in education," he said, adding that he would want to boost funding to SUNY schools and community colleges.
Barra said he would continue to fight for more school aid and is not afraid to challenge other state leaders to bring Long Island its fair share. As for the state deficit, Barra noted there are ways to save money. He said that there won't be a lieutenant governor for the next two years, yet the state pays more than $1 million to staff the office. There is also a capital defender's office being funded by the state, though there is no capital punishment. Barra also supports a hiring freeze, except for police officers.
He would like to see zero-based budgeting, which funds state departments based on how much money is needed rather than just automatically giving them set percentage increases.
Barra said he wants to bring video lottery terminals to Belmont Park, explaining that each machine brings in about $1 million per year. Aqueduct already has 4,500 VLTs, he noted, so why can't Belmont? If that and the Hub project at the Coliseum property in Uniondale are both approved, he said they would be a big boost to the area's economy and create numerous jobs.
Ferrara said he is interested in campaign finance reform in New York to give more people the opportunity to run for office, especially those going up against well-funded incumbents. If elected, he said, he would like to find ways to fix how Albany works. "I want to go up there because I really want to make a difference," he said.
Barra said he is always there for the people of his district, available to meet with constituents on short notice. He said that few, if any, are more dedicated than he is to the job. "I'll put my attendance record up against anyone who's ever served in the history of the New York State Assembly," he said.
Ferrara has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 11, the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 16 and Planned Parenthood of Nassau County. Barra's endorsements include the Long Island Federation of Labor, New York State United Teachers, CSEA Local 1000, the New York State Public Employees Federation and several law enforcement unions.
The 14th District covers Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead and parts of Malverne, East Rockaway, North Lynbrook, Baldwin and Oceanside.
