By Norman Gersman
On March 26th, the Republican minority in the Nassau County Legislature was fighting hard to delete, yes...I said delete, the sewage consolidation plan from the next fiscal year's capital budget. They would not approve the capital budget while the consolidation plan was still there. The Democrats anxious to have the consolidation plan and the capital budget approved brought in the big, top labor union officials to pressure the Republican legislators. Each union bigwig got up to speak and told the Republicans to approve the budget so their workers can go out and earn a living. The pressure was on and I felt very uneasy, not knowing whether or not the Republicans could stay strong and continue their support for the people in Nassau County and our oceans. Thanks to minority leader Peter Schmitt, they did stay strong and the matter was tabled until April 7th.
Some of you may have heard that at this legislative session of the Nassau County Legislature, I sort of lost my temper at the legislators during public comment. Well, as I sit here before my computer screen I am still so angry that writing this article is difficult; so now you know my mood. I was sitting near Connie and Kristin watching as the people of Nassau County and our polluted oceans get sold down the river by the Democrats, Legislator Toback, and two so-called "environmentalists" and it was more than I could take.
First of all I had to sit and listen to Legislator Jeff Toback put his absurd spin on what happened during the public meeting at East Rockaway H.S. to the entire Nassau County Legislature. He was selling the biggest BS line of the day to the other legislators. According to the brillant Mr. Toback the meeting successfully proved to the public that consolidation plan of dumping millions of more sewage into Reynolds Bay before any upgrades to the Bay Park plant or an ocean outfall pipe is constructed is wonderful, and environmentally sound. That everything is great...Suozzi was great...the public loves the idea of consolidation...and the County can proceed without delay in dumping on Bay Park. And to top it all, our wonderful benevolent County Executive has bestowed his grandness on the residents of Bay Park and East Rockaway by stopping the trucks filled with scavenger fats, oils and grease from the Bay Park facility. Of course, we Nassau residents had no clue that many of such trucks were coming in from Suffolk County, so it wasn't even our garbage, and secondly, the Commissioner of Public Works still has no idea where the trucks will go instead of Bay Park.
I attended the public meeting at East Rockaway H.S. And in case you were not there, the crowd of residents, which numbered at least 600, bristled with anger at the thought of the consolidation. The public's displeasure at the County's plan was obvious, dispite the number of County employees forced to attend at the behest of the County Executive to give him support sitting in front of me. And in case you are not aware, Legislator Toback sent written invitations for the meeting to his constitutents in the five town area and nothing to his constitutents in Bay Park or East Rockaway. What a great guy !
But listening to Toback was irritating, but did not anger me. What did?
Just before I was to speak, the Presiding Officer of the session noticed two environmentalist sitting in the first row and asked them if they would like to speak. They said yes. These so-called environmentalists SOLD YOU DOWN THE RIVER !! AND PISSED ME OFF
First was the famous Rob Weltner, President of Operation SPLASH, out of Freeport. He walks in a room and everyone kisses his butt (just for the imagery). The god of the environmental movement on the south shore is in the room...make way. He tells the Nassau County Legislature he supports a feasibility study for an ocean outfall pipe; and gives his whole-hearted support to the consolidation plan as the County wishes it to be. FEASIBILITY STUDY...what the heck do we need a feasibility study for? Studies have requested an ocean outfall pipe for 30 years. Yeah, well, the god of the environmental movement on the south shore is now a piece of crap. (excuse me)
I am crushed, stunned and shocked. What a blow to our cause of building an ocean outfall pipe. I am looking at Weltner....and I am saying to myself..."but he's an environmentalist, he is supposed to be a radical, he is supposed to be in favor of the best way of cleaning up our polluted waters". What the HELL is he doing. Shame on him.
Then the next "environmentalist" gets to speak. He is from the Long Island Sierra Club and I am sorry, but I did not get his name. But another birdbrain. He gives his full support for the consolidation. The Sierra Club...gee thanks for the support for clean water.
After these two spoke, some of the faces of the Republican legislators were crestfallen. I was watching them very closely and I could clearly see that the testimony of the two so-called environmentalists had hurt our effort to build an ocean outfall pipe now, and not sometime in the future.
I was shortly called to speak and my anger burst out.
On April 7th we need 300 people to show at the Nassau County Legislative session. Just myself, Kristin and Connie is not going to help.
We have to show that the so-called environmentalists like Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign For The Environment; Rob Weltner of Operation SPLASH; and the Long Island Sierra Club; that we understand that they have been purchased by Suozzi and we will find out one day what the price was. We have to show the legislature that the upgrades must be done now, and the ocean outfall pipe has to be built now by a massive show of force.
For your information, the City of Sydney, Australia built an ocean outfall pipe in the 1990's. The increase in water quality was immediate and "dramatic". That could be Reynold's Bay. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Weltner.
Name: Norm
E-mail: norm@longislandreporter.com
Date posted: April 08, 2008 - 07:08 am
Message: The ocean outfall pipe and further upgrades to the Bay Park plant must be done before the diversion can proceed. Mr. Weltner did not support this point at all. He only hopes the county will do something in the future. Meanwhile, the County continously approaches Great Neck with a diversion plan to Cedar Creek that must cost at least $45 million dollars...but not a single red cent for even the planning stage of the
ocean outfall pipe....what an outrage.
Name: SHAME ON YOU!
E-mail: Private
Date posted: April 07, 2008 - 07:24 pm
Message: Sorry Joey, If Mr. Weltner was so great lately HE WOULD NEVER NEVER HAVE SUPPORTED THIS CONSOLIDATION. UPGRADES OR NOT. Look what a small group of residents from ER/BP were capable of doing in such a short period of time. How long is it going to take our so called SAVE THE BAY Enviornmentalist to SAVE THE BAY?
Guess what we are not waiting for MR. SPLASH we will procede as we did on the first day of legislature. Spreading awareness without the consent of Mr. Deneburg and the other cronies that pledge their phoney support.
FYI - At the ERHS meeting MR. SPLASH SAT WITH HIS DEMOCRATIC CRONIES. FRONT ROW INFACT. INSTEAD OF WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE BEING DIRECTLY EFFECTED BY THIS CONSOLIDATION. What message does that SEND?
Mr. Splash and CCE do not represent this community. In fact many many people are confused at this point what do they represent???????
I guess whatever is convenient at that moment.
Name: Joey Pignataro
E-mail: joeydiver@yahoo.com
Date posted: April 07, 2008 - 06:37 pm
Message: Norman, I'm as p'od as you are about this whole situation, and how bad the waters in our backyards have gotten, especially being a person raising a family in Freeport, NY. However, I dont think you realize that Rob Weltner of SPLASH only is for consolidation WITH UPGRADES. Period. He really has done a remarkable job in the past number of years bringing the situation to light. I guarantee if you spoke to him you'd have a difference of opinion....
Joey
PS - Love your site!!
Name: Bruce Greif
E-mail: greifb@longisland.com
Date posted: April 01, 2008 - 01:53 pm
Message: call me or email
Bruce Greif
516 661-1216
greifb@longisland.com
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