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Nassau Notebook: NIFA Rejects County Spending Plan, Chambers Support New Sports Complex

A weekly look-in at the news of Nassau County.

The following is a look back at some of the top stories in Nassau County over the past week:

NIFA Rejects Nassau's Multi-Year Spending Plan

One day after Nassau County officials announced a desire to partner with the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) in mapping the financial future of the struggling county, NIFA reported that Nassau's multi-year spending plan requires some $225 million in adjustments.


The decision to reject Nassau's 2012-2014 plan was rendered at NIFA's Thursday meeting. Officials say the county needs to show more concrete sources of revenue, rather than relying on items such as red-light cameras and union concessions.

NIFA also reported that it would not ask the state to restructure the county's debt, as had been done back in 2000. The county had made that request on Wednesday.

A new multi-year plan must be submitted to NIFA by July 28. A 2012 budget proposal is due Sept. 15.

Nassau Chambers Voice Support for New Sports Complex

On Tuesday, members of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce (NCCC) announced their support for a new sports and entertainment complex to replace Nassau Coliseum.

“We cannot allow the Islanders to leave Nassau County along with the thousands of jobs and secondary jobs they generate for our community," said E. Christopher Murray, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. "The shuttering of the Coliseum doors would be devastating for our local businesses and those we employee.”

A vote on the proposal is scheduled for Aug. 1.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
beentheredonethat May 21, 2013 at 12:45 pm
My data is factual it came from the NYS Report Card. You can check it out yourself.
RVCLongIslander May 21, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Since the Middle Years IB program is in direct correlation to the Common Core Curriculum, which NYSRead More has adopted for all NYS public school students, and the new NYS ELA exams are based on the Common Core Curriculum as well, it would seem that the Middle Years IB program would HELP the MS students, assuming your data is factual. Glad you pointed that out!
beentheredonethat May 21, 2013 at 02:58 pm
Well put Nora. PTA advocacy is not only extreme but it appears misguided. I got another email blastRead More today from high school PTA and again they used last years rankings. It seems they are more intent on explaining the districts shortfalls than actually advocating for their children. The same goes for this business with McGinn. No one can honestly say that insinuating that school uniforms are on the horizon is a lesson in ones duties as a citizen to vote. Yet PTA members try their best to defend. It seems as an organization their mission has been muddled. When parents can't air their concerns without feat of retaliation we are living in a toxic environment.
maribeth frankini May 21, 2013 at 02:53 pm
I was at the middle school last night and Ms McGinn reminded the parents to vote.. not yes or no,Read More just VOTE. She mentioned the children voting but really, you think she is trying to buy yes votes, REALLY???? come on now. The kids vote EVERY YEAR!!!! smh....
nora maresca May 21, 2013 at 02:26 pm
Debra, you know perfectly well why commentators opt to remain anonymous. We fear there will beRead More retaliation against our children. Frankly, the fact that we have this concern is, in itself, an indictment of the environment that has been created in this district. When school administrators manipulate our children for self-serving purposes, PTA advocacy appears borderline extreme and those who dare to question the infallibility of the administration are not warmly received, it is logical for us to infer such retaliation could occur. Also, don't make assumptions about what has or hasn't been discussed with the administration in another forum.
dpf May 17, 2013 at 10:27 pm
And many of them will leave because the job pays next to nothing. Proctoring will be turned into aRead More complete nightmare
nora maresca May 16, 2013 at 09:13 pm
Many companies and municipalities are doing the same, as was predicted when the ACA was debated.Read More Logical business decision.
Janet Shainis Cisario May 20, 2013 at 04:09 pm
Well been there, I haven't explained anything about AP, I told you I don't know. I also did not sayRead More I think that our SAT's are not good, only that you cannot compare them to Jerichos. I said that our kids scores are obviously more than good enough to get them into great schools year after year and have them be successful in college and beyond, and that you should not get caught up in the statistic. I also have not said I think we are a rich district, the state treats us as such along with much of LI....I thought I made clear that I disagree with them. I am not trying to explain away anything, I think the actual facts of our schools' success tell the story.
RVCLongIslander May 20, 2013 at 01:40 pm
Janet, you really seem to know so much about how the district operates, and not just this year, butRead More also the history of decisions made by past Boards. Thank you for presenting facts clearly and intelligently, without sarcasm and threats, and with true knowledge. Kudos to you!!
beentheredonethat May 20, 2013 at 01:17 pm
Problem is Janet you can't have it both ways. When you want to explain away our poor showing on APRead More and SAT, you look to demographics and state that parents in Jericho spend so much more privately on their children. When you want to explain the budget mess you look to the state and say that we are being penalized for being a wealthy district.
Fred Stapleman May 17, 2013 at 10:44 am
Hey Matt Hogan, While I don't buy into posts that you are Johnson's press secretary and him havingRead More a hand in running this publication, I do believe myself and many other readers here would appreciate an in depth, unbiased and objective interview w/ him asking the tuff questions your readers asked here. He always seems available to comment on and inflate the slightest bit of positive news, perhaps he would like the opportunity to comment on and explain his take on the latest rankings, etc. Have you or any member of your staff ever directly interviewed him or requested and interview w/ him and would you consider requesting such an interview?
Fred Stapleman May 17, 2013 at 09:57 am
It is nothing short of amazing that people are still rushing to the defense of Johnson/Burris andRead More their minions at the PTA. What's wrong w/ you people? When the rankings come out positive they do everything they can to publicise them from plaques on the wall to streaming video on the district website and everything in between. Yet not a peep on the latest rankings. 500+ ranking in NYS, people thats based solely on test scores not the # of kids taking the test and how many free lunches the district provides. Do any of you wonder at all why Johnson encouraged kids to "opt out" of NYS testing? If so let me help you out...The scores are going to be awful and would have been worse had all the kids participated. The quality of life in this town and its education system is circling the bowl, we need positive change not the same old go along to get along mentality. Pls think about voting for Ms Rubino, we need some balance and accountability on that board not a bunch of Johnson puppets. Not sure when Johnson's contract is up but he too has got to go, he is slowly destroying this district. We might try to hire Baldwin's superintendant as he really seems to know what he is doing when it comes to AP.
mb May 15, 2013 at 03:33 pm
This is the funniest blog post ever. Someone thinks Patch is run by Johnson, another should haveRead More used the more appropriate pseudonym "know it all" and the most recent thinks the PTA is ruining our neighborhood. Go to a meeting, get involved, educate yourself. If you can't go to a meeting watch the local government and school channel. Then perhaps you would know that the bulk of the school budget is dictated by NY state.