Judy Jacobs Nassau County Legislative District 16

RECENT NEWS

PRESS RELEASE - March 1, 2012 - Last day to file a tax grievance.

Febuary 15th, 2012 - Mineola, NY -

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) is reminding residents that the last day to file a tax grievance with the Assessment Division is March 1st.

Jacobs held three public forums in the District each one attended by over 100 people. They were held at the Syosset Library, the Life Enrichment Center in Oyster Bay and the Plainview Library.

Jacobs said, "I urge anyone who wishes to file a grievance and did not participate in the forums to call my office at 571-6216 or e mail jjacobs@nassaucountyny.gov to receive forms and/or instructions for doing the filing on line. It is very simple to do and time is ticking away with March 1st around the corner."

PRESS RELEASE - Dems Object to Mangano's Lump Sum Request to Borrow $102m

Money Has Been Available to Pay 70% of Homeowners Refunds

Febuary 8th, 2012 - Mineola, NY -

Democratic Members of the Finance Committee in the Nassau County Legislature strongly objected to a lump sum proposal by County Executive Ed Mangano to borrow $102 million to settle tax certiorari cases.

During the hearing, Democrats questioned why the Administration has waited over a year to pay the refunds to residential homeowners when they currently have funding from a previous authorization available to pay these refunds now.

"I don't understand why Ed Mangano has sat on these funds for over a year when he could have paid almost seventy percent of the residential refunds", said Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury).

The $102 million borrowing request would cover 23,000 cases and is a dramatic departure from past practice where each settlement over $100,000 would come to the Legislature individually for a complete and thorough review. Members of the Legislature are now being asked to rubberstamp a lump sum of all settlements with absolutely no backup or supporting documentation detailing why the settlement makes sense. Some of these settlements are upwards of $6 million.

"This is an attempt to push through costly, egregious and questionable settlements without the legislative ability to review these cases. The Democratic Minority is wholly opposed to this process, especially when we are asked to borrow huge sums of money that our grandkids will be paying off", said Legislator Jacobs.

Although Republican members of the Finance Committee expressed some concerns about the change in process and lack of backup information, the item was passed 4-3 on a party line vote. Chairman Richard Nicollelo (R- New Hyde Park) did instruct County Attorney John Ciampoli to provide the Legislature more information on the settlements at the next meeting on February 27th or warned that his side would also have an issue with the lack of detail.

FULL PRESS RELEASE

SECOND PRECINCT TO REMAIN OPEN EIGHTH PRECINCT TO BECOME COMMUNITY CENTER UNDER MANGANO PLAN

January 31st, 2012 - Mineola, NY -

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) has expressed concerns over the plan unveiled by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano which calls for only four of the present eight police precincts in Nassau County to remain open. The four which will be closed, according to Mangano, will become policing centers, manned by two Police Officers, only.

Jacobs questioned the reality of the plan saving $20 million stating that it is difficult to believe. "This is the same Administration which has approximately 110,000 in traffic ticket fines not collected; had estimated $45 million in savings due to the recent layoffs while the Office Of Legislative Budget Review estimates a savings of approximately $24 million; estimated last year that the County would have projected revenue of $19 million from the sewer tax but to date not one dollar has been collected; under this plan the 1st precinct is being closed..the same precinct which the County borrowed $15 million to build; Jacobs argues that, "is it really good governing to decrease police presence in our communities, especially when we are in the midst of higher levels of crime in our communities. The so called, "Community policing centers", with only two officers present leaves open the question as to what their purpose actually is."

"Finally, said Jacobs, I am pleased that the 2nd precinct is to remain open and concerned that the eighth precinct is being closed. My concern is for the double work load that will occur in the second and also concern for the people who presently have the eighth precinct at full level in their area, losing the precinct which they value having.. "There will be more responsibilities given to the Sergeants at the 2nd having to function with fewer people processing a larger volume."

"A lot of research remains to be done on this proposal. What are the associated costs with these supposed savings? How does this really affect residents who pay high taxes and value their excellent police services? What will the cost be to tear down the closed precincts and build the new police community clubhouses? We need answers which are accompanied by documentation not just "pie in the sky" statements. I can promise the residents that I will do my homework working with financial minds and public safety experts, " concluded Jacobs.

AUXILIARY POLICE NEEDED

Febuary 8th, 2012 - Mineola, NY -

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs is making residents aware that volunteers are needed to serve as members of the Auxiliary Police. " Our Auxiliary Police Officers do a great job in assisting our Police Department in keeping our County one of the safest places in which to live in the entire nation," said Legislator Jacobs. "I urge interested residents to contact the Nassau County Auxiliary Police to gain more information about this important public service."

The Auxiliary Police are volunteers dedicated to making their community a safe place to live. Members patrol in marked cars, equipped with a two way radio and emergency equipment. Auxiliary Police officers patrol seven days per week in our communities in addition to assisting the Police Department with crowd control and traffic at community events.

Another function of the Auxiliary Police is to assist the Police Department at any disaster scene or during any countywide emergency.

Auxiliary Police Officers must be 18 years of age, a Nassau County resident, a U.S. citizen and have a high school diploma or G.E.D. All applicants must also have a valid NYS driver's license. A 29 session training course held at the Nassau County Police Academy must be completed.

For additional information on becoming an Auxiliary Police Officer, Legislator Jacobs urges interested parties to call 573-8830 or to e mail, recruit@pdcnaux.org. Legislator Jacobs may be reached at either 571-6216 or jjacobs@nassaucountyny.gov.

NEWS ARCHIVE .

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ABOUT JUDY JACOBS

Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) is in her eighth term as a legislator, making her the longest serving legislator in the Minority caucus. She is one of the original members of the first Nassau County Legislature in 1995. Jacobs served as Minority Leader from March until December 31, 1999, and Presiding Officer from January 2000 until December 31, 2007.

Legislator Jacobs serves as a member of the Rules Committee, Health & Social Services, Planning, Development & Environment and Minority Affairs.

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