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Calarco Bill Creates County’s First Traffic Bureau

Dec
18
2012

Localizing a Traffic, Parking Violations Agency Weds Convenience with Cost-Effectiveness

Hauppauge, LI—Tuesday, December 18: Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill to create the infrastructure to finally establish a Suffolk County Traffic Violations Bureau (SC TVB) passed today at the General Meeting of the Legislature in a vote of 16-0. The bill was co-sponsored by Legislator Kate Browning.

The SC TVB, which is similar to the Nassau County model, not only will make the process easier for local residents who have received a traffic or parking violation but also reduce the need for police overtime and help generate revenue.

Leg. Calarco, who chairs the Government Operations Committee, pushed hard for the creation of the SC TVB and how it would be implemented. As...| read more ››

Calarco, SCPD 5th Precinct, Village Public Safety Address Problems Connected with Growing Village Night Life

Dec
11
2012

Police Acting Aggressively to Stem Drunk and Disorderly Conduct

Patchogue, LI—Thursday, December 5: Legislator Rob Calarco met with the Commanding Officer of SCPD 5th Precinct, Director of Patchogue Village Public Safety James Berberich and Patchogue Village Attorney Brian T. Egan to discuss how law enforcement will continue to address problems that have arisen with the increase of bars, restaurants, and music venues throughout the downtown.

All law enforcement noted that the problems begin at 11 pm as people begin leaving the bars and flares back up again at 4 am after last-call and when there is a dearth of taxi cabs available to get them off the streets and ferry them home safely.

The SCPD 5th Precinct has increased police...| read more ››

Suffolk First on LI to Adopt County-Wide Complete Streets

Leg. Rob Calarco at the podium discusses passage of his bill, IR 2025, requiring county roadways to be designed to accommodate all users. (left to right) Legislators Wayne Horsley and Kara Hahn (a co-sponsor of the bill); Leg. Calarco, Will Stoner of the AARP; Leg. Ricardo Montano. (Rear left to right) Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island; Sal Russo, 2nd vice president of SCAME; and Leg. William (Doc) Spencer.
Dec
4
2012

Calarco’s Bill Will Take Region’s Roadways into the Future

Hauppauge, LI—Tuesday, December 4: Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill (IR 2025) establishing a Complete Streets Program for Suffolk County roadways passed unanimously at the General Meeting of the Legislature today. The bill, which directs the Department of Public Works to consider all modes of travel when designing a road project, requires the DPW to evaluate the feasibility of using a host of features to accommodate not only motorists, but also pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders, senior citizens, people with disabilities etc.

The Complete Streets program is fully supported by the AARP/Livable Communities, Vision Long Island, and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Roadways designed as complete streets change everything—from the way people move about and...| read more ››

Calarco Prohibits Use of Hydrofracking Brine and Protects Waterways

Nov
20
2012

Bill Targets Use on County Property and Roadways

Hauppauge, LI—Legislator Rob Calarco’s bill (IR1939) prohibiting the use of hydraulic fracturing brine (fracking brine) commonly used to melt ice on roadways, will go up for a vote of the Legislature at the November 20 General Meeting. The measure is expected to pass with bi-partisan support.

Fracking brine is obtained through the highly controversial process of hydraulic fracturing mining which uses pressurized fluid to break rock formations in order to release natural gas. The gas is collected for use, but in the process, brine is produced as a toxic waste product, posing both a health and environmental concern. Specifically, some of the chemicals found in fracking brine have been linked to respiratory...| read more ››

Brookhaven Seeks to Buy Blue Point Property for Open Space Use

Photo credit: Judy Motti
Oct
16
2012

Blue Point could soon be home to one of the largest open areas in Brookhaven Town as a councilman is advocating a town purchase of 17 acres along Maple Street, once known as the Kurt Weiss Greenhouse/Scro property.

But while most residents favor a park effort, not all are in agreement to the exact type of park should be created. The Blue Point Civic Association is holding an informational meeting on November 13 at the James Wilson Young Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m., to discuss why the site should be an ‘active’ park rather than a ‘passive’ park.

Initially the land was going to be bought from the current owner by both Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town with potential...| read more ››

Calarco Pushes for Progress on Traffic Violation Bureau

Sep
11
2012

Hauppauge, LI—Thursday, September 6: Legislator Rob Calarco, Chair of the Government Operations Committee, put the implementation of the Suffolk County Traffic Violations Bureau front and center at the most recent meeting of his Government Operations Committee. At the request of Leg. Calarco, Tom Melito, Director of Performance Management, made a presentation about TVB progress.

“The next steps will involve location of the TVB office; the issuance of an RFP for the software; and a decision as to whether we handle the processing in-house or use an outside firm. I strongly support the idea of doing it in-house as it would enable the county to rehire some of the staff that has been laid off. This would be a win-win...| read more ››

Foley Facility Serves a Very Special Need (Op Ed)

Sep
10
2012

Today the Suffolk County Legislature is scheduled to vote as to whether the County should sell the John. J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility. Those supporting the sale of the facility feel that Suffolk County no longer needs to provide long-term skilled nursing care given that there are many private sector facilities providing such services on a regular basis. The argument has merit; government should not be providing services that the private sector is perfectly capable and willing to meet. However, this argument ignores something vital when it comes to the population served by the JJFSN Facility.

The JJFSN Facility meets a critical need for the community that is absolutely not being met by nursing homes in the private sector....| read more ››

Carnegie Library Move “Getting Back to Patchogue’s Roots”

(left to right): Mayor Paul Pontieri; County Executive Steve Bellone; TRITEC COO Rob Loscalzo, and Legislator Rob Calarco
Aug
8
2012

Patchogue, LI—Wednesday, August 8: Legislator Rob Calarco, Mayor Paul Pontieri and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone were on hand to celebrate the first leg of the actual move of the iconic Patchogue Carnegie Library from its original location on Lake Street to its new home on Sixth District Court property on West Avenue and West Main Street.

The historic building, which has been sitting on steel girders and primed for the special day, effected the move rather quickly to the corner of Havens Avenue and Lake Street. At midnight the building will complete its journey across the Caroll and Henrietta Swezey Medical Pavillion, down West Avenue to the southeast corner of the county court property, a temporary location. The goal is...| read more ››

Medford Summer Concert Series Returns for 2012 Music in the Park Set for August

Medford Summer Concert Series Returns for 2012
Aug
7
2012

Patchogue, LI— Legislator Rob Calarco is proud to join with the Medford Chamber of Commerce in announcing the Medford Summer Concert Series for 2012. The series will take place the last three Wednesdays in August at Medford Memorial Park, located at Peconic Avenue and Route 112. The series are brought to the Medford community through the generosity of three local businesses: Winters Brothers, McManus-Lorey Funeral Home and Gershow Recycling. The concerts are free to the community.

Medford Summer Concert Series 2012 Featuring:

  • August 15, 7 pm: E3 the Band (80s and 90s Rock)
  • August 22, 7 pm: Something the Band (Beatles Cover Band)
  • August 29, 7 pm: The New York Exceptions (50s, 60s, 70s, Doo-Wop)
    • | read more ››

Come Witness Carnegie Library Make its Move

Aug
7
2012

WHO:

Legislator Rob Calarco; Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri; County Executive Steve Bellone; Rob Loscalzo, COO of TRITEC Real Estate Co.; Wolfe House & Building Movers.

WHAT:

Wolfe House & Building Movers will be moving the historic Carnegie Library building located on Lake Street in downtown Patchogue to its new location, the Sixth District Court property located on West Avenue. TRITEC will supervise the move being executed by Wolfe Movers, a prominent structural moving company from Bernville, PA. The day move will constitute the first leg of the relocation from the library’s original site to a recently cleared lot across Havens Ave. The second and final leg of the move will begin at midnight and take the building through...| read more ››

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