Elmont Online

5th Precinct Update 3.27.2012

After the disastrous move by the County Executive and the Republican Majority to close half of the police precincts in Nassau County, the Democratic caucus was successful in pushing Ed Mangano's back against the wall so that he gave us a signed guarantee that there would not be one less patrol car in any neighborhood. The agreement additionally stated that there would be more law enforcement personnel in all of the policing centers.

As Newsday reported, “Democrats also demanded that the amount of borrowing be cut nearly in half from the $50 million requested by Mangano, saying the $26.5 million would cover the cost of officers expected to retire."

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The Art of Listening

Like many of you, I’m up early, reading the news and making breakfast before the rest of the family wakes up. Later, I manage to grab a few minutes to get ready between my wife and four children before embarking on daddy’s a.m. taxi service. This day, I’m a little late to an 8 a.m. meeting with union officials to discuss issues impacting them, but I’m sure I’ll make up the time somewhere in the day’s schedule.  By 9:30 a.m., I’m at a grammar school in another part of the district explaining how a bill becomes law to 200 fourth graders. They prove remarkably well-informed and pursue an analysis as to what recent legislation is likely to work and what they believe will not. I take mental notes.

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