A plan by Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi to consolidate sewer systems in the county has become mired in politics. (Readers can insert their own mental pun here.)
And it has once again revealed the joined-at-the-hip relationship between Democrat Suozzi and his allies in the Nassau County Legislature, where Democrats hold a 10-9 advantage.
Legis. Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside) held a press conference Tuesday to criticize Republicans, whom he and Suozzi blame for holding up funding for the sewer plan and for the $200 million county capital budget.
However, while Toback was holding his press conference in Cedarhurst, rumors were swirling back at the county seat in Mineola that Suozzi and the Republicans had cut a deal that would sever the sewer plan from the capital budget, and allow a vote in favor of the the capital budget at next Monday’s meeting of the legislature.
Questioned later by a Newsday reporter, Toback said he had heard nothing about any deal and would have to check with “my people.”
Suozzi telephoned the reporter minutes later to deny a deal had been struck. Toback never called back.
--Bill Murphy
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