By Cris Italia and Kimberly Acevedo
"I'm running for re-election because [I want] to be able to represent people and give them a voice," Weisenberg said of his race against Republican challenger Peter McDonald. "I want to help people get quality of life, dignity, health care, and help them protect our environment as well as help our children."
McDonald did not return several phone calls for comment for this article.
Weisenberg insists there is always plenty of work to be done and problems arise everyday, leaving a vague picture of what the most pressing issues are. "Everyday is a different day," he said, but immediately pointed to Long Beach's beach restoration program, which will cost $85 million. He also mentioned his record on the environment, which he proclaims, is one of the best in the state.
The assemblyman spoke passionately about the growth of autism in his district and his concern about having the staff to address the widespread problem. Autism is a developmental learning disability that hampers an individual's ability to function normally.
"This is a new epidemic that we have that has gone up 70 percent in the last three years." Weisenberg added that more and more children are being diagnosed at an early age and he fears that there are not enough trained personnel to handle it. "Parents are being told to keep their children home," Weisenberg said. "This is not the way it's supposed to happen."
He added that some school districts have had lawsuits filed against them, because they are required by law to give each student a fair education, no matter what it costs. Oceanside is already well underway with a program for students with special needs, but he wants something similar for all school districts.
Going into this election, Weisenberg's assembly district has taken on 6,000 more residents than in years' past. "I set the world record for redistricting," Weisenberg joked. "Oceanside and Island Park should have always been part of the 20th Assembly District. And I know all the community leaders well. Everybody knows everybody, and I've always been involved in all the civic organizations."
In Lawrence, Weisenberg said he was instrumental in bringing together the school board and Peninsula Public Library board to begin plans for a new state-of-the-art parking facility for the library on Central Avenue. "I got them whatever funds I could get them, but that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was getting them together. The money is there now," he said. School board members were recently presented with three plans, which they are currently considering.
In past years he has made an effort to make sure each educational facility has a defibrillator on hand for staff, in case of an emergency. "This is a $2,000 item, but how much is a kid's life worth? The function of a school is to keep all people safe, whether it is staff, students, or parents," Weisenberg said.
With all these issues on tap for next year, Weisenberg still says he will make education his top priority. "It will always be to maintain quality education," he said.
A supporter from the beginning, Weisenberg said, he has worked to secure funds for the $85.2 million United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Long Beach Barrier Island Storm Damage Reduction Project. He has, he added, fought to watch the project come to fruition. And, his main concerns were the protection of the people, the island and its beaches.
"What we have to do is restore the barrier beach," Weisenberg said. The barrier beach has a purpose, he added, and it's to protect the main land.
Project details include installing a new dune 15 feet above sea level along the back of the beach; a 110 foot-wide berm of sand will be added to 10 feet above sea level, refurbishing the beach with dredged sand, refurbishing 15 jetties in Long Beach and adding four new jetties on the Eastern End of the island.
Since the beach would be raised to 10 feet above sea level, the dune would only be five feet in height. Still, according to USACE project officials during an earlier interview, the width of the dune at the top would be about 25 feet and the bottom width will measure about 75 feet.
Asked if the USACE track record, which hasn't been the cleanest, worried him when it came to Long Beach. Weisenberg said he wasn't bothered by it, especially since Long Beach needs something to protect its shores.
Several weeks ago he pointed out he was on the beach looking at the high tide watermark. It was underneath the boardwalk, he said, and he believes the tidal action was caused by a storm 500 miles away.
Still, it's the Long Beach City Council that must make the decision, Weisenberg said. According to him, a majority of the council is on board with the project.
"Long Beach should definitely be on board," Weisenberg said.
It's never easy to get what he wants in Albany, but admits he still has fight in him. "It's difficult to get the funds you want because politics takes over government and that is scary," he said. "It does wear on me now and then . . . and I will admit this is going to be a difficult year for the budget.
Weisenberg has nearly 30 years experience as an elected official. His opponent, Peter McDonald, is currently a county attorney, and has run against Weisenberg before, only to lose by a wide margin. "He's a nice guy. My opponent's a good man, but this is my district," Weisenberg said.
On Nov. 5, residents in the 20th Assembly District will have the option to vote for Weisenberg, someone who is looking to continue to help Nassau County pull away from its financial crisis and continue to work for the South Shore in Albany, the long-time assemblyman said.
