Some of the most contentious transportation discussions in the region are taking place on Long Island. For this reason, TSTC sent surveys to the incumbents and challengers in every state legislative district in Nassau and Suffolk counties. MTR has highlighted each district from which at least one candidate responded.
Democrat Roy Simon is challenging Republican State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (also running on the Conservative and Independence tickets) in New York’s 9th Senate District which encompasses parts of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County. TSTC received no response from Sen. Skelos, but Mr. Simon provided TSTC with a completed questionnaire that highlighted his stances on particular transportation issues:
Roy Simon
Mr. Simon supports the LIRR Third Track project and said increased transit funding should be devoted to better connections between different bus services and between the LIRR and bus systems.
Mr. Simon argues that more carpool lanes are needed, as well as better enforcement of carpool lanes and financial incentives to expand carpool programs. To cut down on cyclist fatalities, he calls for more and better bike lanes, with physical separation between the cycle and traffic lanes.
In terms of land use, the candidate wrote that “we need to begin designing and building shopping, living, and business centers that are not dependent on auto-mobility.” He wrote that shopping centers and transit stations needed more secure bicycle parking.
In addition to the LIRR Third Track, Mr. Simon supports East Side Access and the Route 347 widening. He is undecided on the Long Intermodal at Pilgrim State.
State Sen. Dean Skelos
Sen. Skelos was named Senate Majority Leader in June of this year, giving him broad control over the State Senate’s direction, if state Republicans can hold onto their slim Senate majority. He was a member of the MTA Capital Plan Review Board until this year, which he says allowed him to fight for money for LIRR station upgrades. In 2000, Sen. Skelos was influential in winning additional state aid for Long Island Bus after then-Nassau County Executive Tom Gulotta slashed funding (MTR # 263).
Sen. Skelos authored legislation repealing the commuter tax in 1999, voted against creating a state commission to study congestion mitigation last year, and voted against NYC’s congestion pricing plan. He has publicly supported the East Side Access project to bring the LIRR into Grand Central Terminal
Question: Did the Senate pass the End to Home Rule Bill? What are the ramifications of such a bill being passed and does this bill cover all aspects of community service–supplies, sewers, electric, sanitation and schools? Or does this bill just enable the County to cut costs in villages and towns by ordering in larger quantities for multiple municipalities. If this is the case, who will control the issuing and accountability for the items included?