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Tag: Ed Romaine

  • Romaine Declares State of Emergency as Nor’easter Approaches Suffolk County

    Romaine Declares State of Emergency as Nor’easter Approaches Suffolk County

    HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced Friday afternoon that he has signed a state of emergency as Suffolk County prepares for an incoming nor’easter expected to affect Long Island through the weekend.

    Romaine announced the action alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, saying the declaration was issued in preparation for the storm’s expected regional impact.

    The move follows precautionary steps already taken by Suffolk County ahead of deteriorating weather conditions. On September 24, Romaine announced restrictions across the county parks system, including the suspension of beachfront camping and outer-beach driving, with conditions scheduled to be reevaluated as the storm progresses. 

    County officials said campers should prepare for heavy rainfall and strong, sustained winds. Hard-sided campers and RVs may remain at certain locations on a site-by-site basis, while tent camping and campfires were also scheduled for suspension during the storm period. 

    The state-of-emergency declaration gives county government additional flexibility to coordinate departments, emergency-management operations and public-safety resources as conditions develop.

    Suffolk’s geography makes coastal storms particularly significant. With communities stretching across both the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, strong winds and elevated water levels can affect beaches, low-lying roads, waterfront neighborhoods and marine operations across the county.

    Romaine’s announcement came from Suffolk County’s emergency operations setting with representatives from public safety and emergency-response agencies present.

    Residents are being urged to monitor official county alerts and adjust weekend plans as necessary. Suffolk County maintains its SuffolkAlert system for emergency notifications, while county officials continue to post storm-related updates through official government channels. 

  • Suffolk Officials Press Hochul to Expand Sunrise Highway, Cite Traffic and Emergency Response

    Suffolk Officials Press Hochul to Expand Sunrise Highway, Cite Traffic and Emergency Response

    PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — Suffolk County and New York State elected officials gathered alongside labor representatives and first responders Monday to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul and state government to move forward with a major expansion of Sunrise Highway.

    The September 15 press conference focused on a proposal to extend the existing three-lane portion of Sunrise Highway more than 10 miles east to Wading River Road at Exit 59, in both the eastbound and westbound directions.

    State Sen. Dean Murray, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo, and Legislators Jim Mazzarella and Dominick Thorne were among the elected officials participating.

    Representatives from South Country Ambulance, the Long Island Contractors’ Association and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138 also joined the call for action.

    A central message throughout the press conference was that Suffolk County residents send substantial tax revenue to Albany and should see more of that money returned to Long Island through major infrastructure projects.

    “We send a lot of money to the state, and the state therefore should reinvest back into Suffolk County and Long Island,” Romaine said.

    Officials repeatedly directed their appeal toward Hochul, calling on the governor to “do the right thing” for Suffolk taxpayers by advancing the proposed highway expansion.

    Murray said some studies examining traffic conditions in the region have already been conducted and argued that the next step is moving the project further into the state’s transportation planning process.

    He called for steps to be taken to have the proposed expansion included in the state’s five-year transportation capital plan, which would move the effort closer to the planning and funding process necessary for a project of this scale.

    Thorne focused on the public-safety implications of congestion along the corridor.

    He emphasized the need for additional highway capacity to help relieve traffic during emergency situations, when ambulances, fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles can face the same congestion as motorists while attempting to reach people who need assistance.

    The argument presented Monday went beyond reducing commute times.

    Supporters framed the expansion as an infrastructure, economic and public-safety issue for a portion of Suffolk County that has experienced significant transportation demands while continuing to depend heavily on Sunrise Highway as a primary east-west corridor.

    The proposed expansion would carry the highway’s three-lane configuration eastward for more than 10 additional miles until Wading River Road, providing additional capacity through a heavily traveled section of Brookhaven Town.

    Monday’s press conference, however, did not represent an announcement that the expansion has been approved or funded.

    Major questions involving state authorization, engineering, environmental review, funding and an eventual construction schedule would still need to be addressed before work could begin.

    For the coalition assembled in Patchogue, the immediate objective was to push the project higher on Albany’s infrastructure agenda.

    Their message to Hochul was consistent: Suffolk County sends significant revenue to New York State, its residents rely on Sunrise Highway for transportation and emergency access, and they believe it is time for the state to reinvest some of those resources into expanding one of Long Island’s most important roadways.

  • Suffolk Officials Call for 10-Mile Expansion of Sunrise Highway to Wading River Road

    Suffolk Officials Call for 10-Mile Expansion of Sunrise Highway to Wading River Road

    PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — A coalition of New York State and Suffolk County elected officials is calling for a major expansion of Sunrise Highway, proposing that its three-lane configuration be extended more than 10 additional miles east to Wading River Road.

    According to a media advisory issued by New York State Senator Dean Murray, officials are holding a press conference in Patchogue to advocate for widening the highway in both the eastbound and westbound directions.

    The proposal would continue the existing three-lane portion of Sunrise Highway for more than 10 miles, reaching Wading River Road at Exit 59.

    Murray is expected to be joined by New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo, and County Legislators Jim Mazzarella and Dominick Thorne.

    Representatives from South Country Ambulance, Long Island Contractors’ Association Executive Director Marc Herbst, and representatives from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138 are also scheduled to participate.

    The involvement of elected officials, emergency-service representatives and organized labor gives the proposal a broader focus than simply adding another travel lane. The press conference is expected to make the case for extending the highway’s capacity farther east as officials push for action on one of Suffolk County’s major east-west transportation corridors.

    The proposal is particularly significant for communities in the Brookhaven and greater eastern Suffolk area, where Sunrise Highway serves residents, commuters, commercial traffic and emergency responders traveling across the region.

    The media advisory describes the initiative as a call for the widening of Sunrise Highway. It does not indicate that construction has been approved, funded or scheduled.

    That distinction is important: the officials are advocating for the expansion, but the press conference itself does not constitute state authorization for the project.

    The event is scheduled to take place at the southwest portion of the ShopRite parking lot at 95 Sunrise Highway in Patchogue.

    Additional details about the proposed expansion, including potential costs, engineering requirements, environmental review, funding sources and a possible construction timeline, could emerge as officials publicly present their case.

    For now, the central proposal is clear: extend the three-lane section of Sunrise Highway more than 10 miles eastward in both directions and carry it to Wading River Road at Exit 59.

  • DeStefano Backs New Push to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud in New York

    DeStefano Backs New Push to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud in New York

    HAUPPAUGE — New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano is backing a new legislative push aimed at tightening Medicaid fraud enforcement, increasing local prosecutorial involvement and creating financial rewards for credible tips that lead to successful cases.

    DeStefano joined Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, state Sen. Dean Murray, Sen. Anthony Palumbo and Sen. Mario Mattera in Hauppauge to support a two-bill package targeting fraud within New York’s Medicaid system. 

    The first proposal would formally designate the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, or OMIG, as the statewide clearinghouse for Medicaid fraud tips submitted through the 1-877-87-FRAUD hotline. Credible allegations would then be referred to both the New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit and the appropriate local district attorney. 

    Under the proposal, authorities would have 30 days after receiving a tip to determine whether an investigation will move forward and which agency will lead it. OMIG would also receive the outcome of completed investigations and issue annual reports showing how many tips were received, referred, investigated and resolved. 

    A second bill would create a Medicaid Fraud Tip Reward Program funded with 1% of money recovered through Medicaid fraud investigations, seizures and forfeitures. People whose documented information directly leads to a guilty plea or criminal conviction could qualify for a financial reward. 

    DeStefano: Fraud Takes Money From People Who Need Care

    DeStefano framed the issue as both a taxpayer concern and a threat to people who rely on Medicaid.

    “Every dollar stolen from that system is a dollar taken away from someone who genuinely needs care.”

    He said the program exists to support seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and children, while arguing that New York does not have enough oversight to deal with waste, fraud and abuse. 

    The Medford Republican represents New York’s 3rd Assembly District and has previously supported legislation involving Medicaid fraud detection, including a proposal that would reimburse counties for fraud, waste and abuse detection software. 

    Suffolk Officials Want More Local Enforcement

    Tierney argued that local prosecutors need greater access to Medicaid fraud complaints.

    Under the proposed legislation, credible tips would no longer remain solely within the state-level enforcement structure. Local district attorneys with jurisdiction would receive the information and could take part in investigating and prosecuting cases. 

    Tierney said the additional authority could help Suffolk investigators pursue cases that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

    Romaine also backed the package, saying stronger Medicaid fraud enforcement could protect money intended for people who depend on the health-care program. 

    Fraud Fight Tied to Affordability

    Supporters are also framing the proposals as an affordability issue.

    Palumbo argued that waste and fraud ultimately increase pressure on taxpayers and reduce resources available for legitimate public programs. The lawmakers backing the package say stronger oversight and more aggressive prosecution could help recover taxpayer money while protecting the integrity of Medicaid. 

    The legislation has not yet become law. It would still need approval from the Legislature and the governor before the proposed referral and reward systems could take effect.

    For DeStefano, the argument is straightforward: Medicaid should remain available for the residents who genuinely need it, while those who exploit the system should face greater scrutiny and prosecution.

  • Romaine Puts Public Safety, Taxes and Suffolk’s Future at Center of State of the County

    Romaine Puts Public Safety, Taxes and Suffolk’s Future at Center of State of the County

    SUFFOLK COUNTY — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine used his 2026 State of the County address to lay out an agenda centered on public safety, fiscal restraint, infrastructure, environmental protection and what he described as the long-term quality of life of Suffolk County residents.

    Suffolk News Now attended the address and heard Romaine outline a series of priorities that touched nearly every major area of county government.

    Among the biggest announcements was Romaine’s call for a new Suffolk County Police Department headquarters in Yaphank, near the department’s existing facility. He argued that the current building was never designed to serve as a modern police headquarters and said the county needs a facility capable of supporting present-day law-enforcement operations.

    The proposal is part of a broader public-safety agenda Romaine highlighted throughout the speech.

    He spoke in support of strengthening law enforcement, increasing staffing where needed and continuing to invest in technology, equipment and county resources tied to policing, corrections and probation.

    Romaine also pushed back against calls to reduce the role of police and correctional institutions, framing his administration’s approach as one focused on maintaining public safety while improving the systems that support it.

    No Increase in County General Taxes

    Affordability was another major theme.

    Romaine said Suffolk County residents should not expect an increase in county general taxes next year, positioning fiscal restraint as a central part of his administration’s approach.

    That pledge comes as Long Island residents continue to face high housing, utility and property-tax costs.

    The county portion of a homeowner’s total property-tax bill is only one component, but Romaine emphasized that Suffolk County government should avoid adding to those pressures wherever possible.

    New Investments in Public Safety and County Services

    Romaine also highlighted plans involving the county’s medical examiner’s office, crime laboratory and environmental laboratory.

    He said Suffolk needs modern facilities capable of handling the county’s growing forensic, public-health and environmental testing responsibilities.

    Those investments are expected to support both criminal investigations and efforts to identify environmental threats, including contaminants that could affect drinking water.

    The speech also touched on child welfare.

    Romaine said New York State has approved Suffolk County to create a child welfare review board, and he described protecting children as one of government’s most important responsibilities.

    Water Quality and Sewer Expansion

    Environmental issues remained a significant part of the address.

    Romaine spoke about Suffolk’s continued reliance on cesspools and septic systems and the need to expand sewer infrastructure in areas where wastewater has contributed to water-quality problems.

    He pointed to ongoing and planned sewer projects in communities including Holbrook, Oakdale and Smithtown.

    For a county surrounded by water and heavily dependent on its underground aquifer, Romaine presented wastewater infrastructure as both an environmental and economic issue.

    He also discussed preserving farmland, protecting working waterfronts and continuing county investment in open space.

    Parks, Transportation and Infrastructure

    Romaine said Suffolk should continue improving its extensive county park system, including upgrades to electrical service, Wi-Fi and camping facilities.

    Transportation was another focus.

    He called for improvements to public transit and greater use of rail freight as a way to reduce the number of trucks traveling on Suffolk County roads.

    That proposal reflects one of the broader challenges facing the county: moving people and goods across a geographically large region while reducing congestion and pressure on local infrastructure.

    Looking Ahead

    The State of the County address gave Romaine an opportunity to define what he sees as Suffolk’s priorities for the coming year.

    His message combined traditional county responsibilities such as policing, public health and infrastructure with longer-term concerns over affordability, environmental protection and the county’s ability to retain working families.

    For residents, the most immediate takeaway may be the tax pledge.

    For county government, however, Romaine laid out a much broader agenda: modernize public-safety infrastructure, expand sewer systems, protect natural resources, improve parks and transportation and continue investing in the services he says are necessary to keep Suffolk County viable for future generations.