Suffolk Legis. Joseph T. Caracappa (R-Selden) is miffed at County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, for not inviting him to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Raynor Beach County Park, which is heavily used by Caracappa’s constituents.
Caracappa, a former presiding officer, would have been there if he had known about the event, though he said Tuesday that he rarely seeks such recognition. He also said he lobbied for many years for money to upgrade the park, which includes two playgrounds, fields for soccer and baseball, and courts for tennis and handball.
The ceremony, attended by Levy, Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) and community leaders, was held June 7 to mark the completion of $2.2 million in renovations.
Caracappa blasted Levy’s press office and the Parks Department, saying "this was a major slight…shame on them for that." He called for a second ceremony to be held in order to include himself and Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset) who also didn’t receive an invitation, though he wasn’t in the legislature when the work was approved.
The park lies in the districts represented by Kennedy and Lindsay.
"If it’s any comfort…it couldn’t have rained harder," Lindsay replied during the legislative session in Riverhead. "But I agree it should be done again and done right."
Levy’s communications director Ed Dumas today apologized to Caracappa, saying "it was a definite oversight on my part for which I will apologize to him personally."
Dumas also said he had no problem with holding a second news conference. "Joe should be able to take a bow and if we can work it out, I have absolutely no problem doing that."
Separately, Levy plans to join another GOP legislator, Jay Schneiderman, tomorrow for a ceremony marking the start of renovations to an historic building at the Theodore Roosevelt County Park in Montauk.
To read Levy’s news release about Raynor Beach County Park and see a photo of the ribbon cutting (featuring Levy prominently) click on: http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/County%20Executive/raynorbeach.pdf.
- James T. Madore