By Phil Andrews
Millennium Magazine asked Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano 5 questions on What Matters most for Residents on Long Island now that he has been re-elected to Office.
MM: Now that you have been re-elected, what should Nassau County residents expect from you if they decide to vote you back in to office?
EM: While there is more work to be done, my policies have set Nassau on the right path and are helping make our County a better place to live, work and raise a family. In a second term, I will continue to hold the line on property taxes, expand our economic development team to attract even more new companies and help victims of Hurricane Sandy continue to rebuild their lives.
MM: What efforts are being made to restore the shore after hurricane Sandy and how will you play a role in helping to revitalize Long Island?
EM: Nassau County continues to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy in accessing State and Federal benefits to rebuild their lives and homes. Not a single day goes by in which I don’t work on these efforts. Nassau County is working with local municipalities on regional plans to mitigate infrastructure against future storms and ensure we rebuild our County better and stronger than ever before.
MM: Tell us about the redevelopment plans for Nassau Coliseum. Who is going to be the next developer and help stimulate the economy for Long Island in that area?
EM: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Forest City Ratner Companies will transform the Coliseum into a world-class sports-entertainment destination at no cost to taxpayers. The facility will host the Islanders, Nets, Yankees Coaching Clinics, Children Shows, Heavyweight Boxing, minor league hockey and college basketball games as well as an exciting array of star-studded performers. Plaza development will include a performing arts theater, movie theater, bowling alley and theme restaurants.
MM: What do you feel is the most important issue to Long Islanders in terms of its growing in this new economy?
EM: Upon being sworn into office as County Executive in 2010, I kept my pledge by repealing Tom Suozzi’s Home Energy Tax – the equivalent of a 5% property tax reduction for homeowners. I am the only County Executive to place money back in our residents’ pockets. I believe that high taxes kill jobs. That is why I also froze County property taxes every year since taking office, eliminated Tom Suozzi’s plans for a 16.5% property tax increase and even stopped Suozzi’s plans for a Food Tax. Nassau was the highest-taxed county in the nation before I took office – that is no longer the case.
MM: What would you like to say to Long Islanders on what you feel is most important to them?
EM: As County Executive, I have helped create and retain more than 19,000 private sector jobs and recently won a heated competition with New Jersey for the Headquarters of Hain Celestial. We have also attracted new homeland security jobs, high-tech jobs, as well as film and television industry jobs to the former Grumman-Navy property in Bethpage. Recently, the State Department of Labor reported that Nassau leads the State in terms of job growth and employment. In fact, Nassau has the lowest unemployment rate in the region. To support these jobs, my administration is helping convert empty commercial office space into 1,000 new rental units for young people and seniors. Together, my economic development and tax freeze policies are most important to growing our economy.