Mangano Tweets for Support... I DO want to "Help Protect" my "Wallet."

Before you go any further, I have two words.. "Carnell" and "Foskey."
A career Judge who lost his election so he gets at $136,000/year job running Nassau County parks.

A Petition to Make Mangano Part of the Solution

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How About This Budget Solution..

Before Ed Mangano and Peter Schmitt try to get more concessions from the County unions, they should give a little too.

Perhaps Schmitt will give up his leadership stipend and Mangano can cut his salary along with all of his appointees.

Mangano can cut his salary to $105,000 and no appointee can make more that $100,000.

Peter King Reacts to Shooting with Ridiculous Legislation

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You Too Can Be Cool Like This Guy

I have no idea who this is but golly, they voted the right way.

Get yours at the Nassau GOP Watch Gift Shoppe...

Long Island Press Wakes Up and Realizes Mangano is Failing

After being practically an arm of the Mangano campaign in 2009 and virtually ignoring Nassau problems in 2010, the LI Press wakes up and takes a whack at Mangano.
Welcome to the party guys!

"Is Nassau Exec Ed Mangano In Over His Head?"

“He won and fucked up everything,” says a Nassau County political insider. “This is a man who was never used to being disliked. He was in the minority for years and you don’t piss people off when you’re in the minority. When you can’t get anything done, when you can’t kill a contract or you can’t hurt anyone, everyone likes you, and Ed was a really nice guy. I think he really wanted the county executive job but he didn’t want the job. Maybe he really is over his head.”

Re-Arranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic - Mangano Replaces Spokesman

It's not the messenger, it's the message. That's what Mangano doesn't get. His spokesman Martino is talented and ran alot of interference for Mangano most of last year. But things are getting tougher for Mangano to handle and Martino came from the outside.
Mangano has circled the wagons and pushed spokesperson Mike Martino to Department of Public Works and brings in Katie Grilli-Robles, a connected local GOPer.
Martino was very adept in his messaging, I don't think Mangano realizes that the problem is he is just not suited to be County Executive.

A picture from happier times...

Newsday Calls for State Control Board Take-over of Nassau County

Newsday joins NYPost in pointing out the failure of Mangano. But the control board take-ver will effectively end Mangano's term as County Executive and put the republicans in the legislature back into the minority.

Mangano needs NIFA control board

"The longer you wait to fix a problem, the worse it gets and the greater the damage. The same scenario applies to a leaky roof or to Nassau County's looming 2011 budget gap.

The speculative budget approved for next year is unsafe for taxpayers. It could put bond ratings at further risk and result in tax increases or draconian cuts in services. But who should execute the fix? Should it be done now or later?

County Executive Edward Mangano doesn't yet have the situation in hand. The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, the state oversight board, sidestepped a decision last night on taking control. That was the right call. By next week, NIFA should make public its justification for a control period and the urgency for it.

Yet while a NIFA control period isn't the desired solution, it might be the only one.

Mangano's contradictory behavior is eroding confidence in his skills. He alternately claims the budget is balanced and then turns around the next minute to shake his tin cup. His efforts to get concessions from the police unions have been amateurish. He got slapped down by his fellow Republicans when he sought a sales tax increase.

NIFA, which was created for a much greater fiscal crisis in 2000, remains, but with reduced powers. It's clear that state law requires NIFA to take control of the county's finances when there is a substantial likelihood that the budget is out of balance by 1 percent, which amounts to $26 million for next year. While there are estimates that the budget is out of whack by more than $60 million, the law is vague about when the control period is triggered.

A control board would give Mangano the hammer power he needs to freeze wages, reopen contracts and cut staff. Besides, the leaders of the police and civil service unions are reluctant to make any givebacks unless NIFA gives them cover.

Mangano working with NIFA control could be effective. But politically, it's a hit the GOP doesn't want to take in the New Year, when the county legislature is up for election. If Mangano refuses to work with NIFA - or if the legislature refuses to cooperate - NIFA can turn the screws by halting all short-term borrowing, the county's fiscal lifeline.

NIFA has armed itself with a powerful law firm and auditors. Mangano responded by hiring his former law firm. Republican leaders are sending out Comptroller George Maragos to bang the partisan drums and discredit NIFA. What we don't need is an ugly, partisan battle and costly litigation. That's a fight the taxpayer loses no matter who wins.

After Tuesday's NIFA meeting, Mangano said he would partner with NIFA unless he got union concessions. That's a step in the right direction. If NIFA needs to execute a hostile takeover, however, it must make a persuasive case that a control period is urgently needed and justified. A control board actually controlling the county puts us in uncharted waters. But a county executive who finds himself lost at sea would be worse. hN"

NY Post Rips Mangano

Naughty in Nassau

Last Updated: 10:09 AM, December 20, 2010

Who does Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano think he's kidding?

Mangano is scrambling as a state monitoring board eyes a takeover of his county's finances. The board, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, plans a key meeting tomorrow; if it believes Nassau is likely to run a budget deficit, it can act.

Things are iffy: Mangano's budget contains "ongoing structural deficits" and $158 million in risks, warns Moody's, the credit-rating agency. And NIFA declines to declare Mangano's budget balanced.

So, on Thursday, Mangano announced $23 million in new budget "cuts," including a hiring freeze meant to "save" $15 million.

But wait.

The so-called "freeze" follows an early-retirement buyout program funded with $86 million that Mangano issued bonds to cover.

That temporarily cleared 500 employees off the books (though at a cost of as much as $600,000 per departee), but Mangano never ditched the payroll slots themselves. And he apparently was preparing to fill some of them with the $15 million he "froze" Thursday.

Good government?

Three-card monte is more like it.

Mangano told The Post he kept the

jobs to preserve an important "managerial tool" and that he may need to

fill them again one day.

No wonder NIFA's growing impatient.

Let's face it: Nassau is a wealthy county; its taxes are among the highest in America. A revenue shortage is not Nassau's problem.

"The county raised spending to unsustainable levels during the boom years," and then used stimulus funds to spend even more, the Manhattan Institute's E.J. McMahon wrote here recently.

Sweetheart deals with labor under Mangano's predecessor, Tom Suozzi, now have Nassau hemmed in. The agreements call for wholly unaffordable compensation for county employees -- cops alone average $126,000 a year -- and no layoffs through next year.

But rather than, say, actually slice jobs once and for all, Mangano wants to preserve his options.

Rather than play hardball with the unions, he offers generous -- unnecessary -- buyouts.

It gets worse: Though he took office vowing to cut taxes amid nationwide anti-tax fervor, he's now eyeing a hike in Nassau sales taxes in 2011.

Anything to avoid real reform.

NIFA needs to make it crystal clear to Mangano that it no longer will abide such flim-flammery.

Tomorrow would be an excellent time to deliver the message.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/naughty_in_nassau_STsEmkb9aQDC8BydyvizfM#ixzz18mkndg2t

It's Always Good to Remember Who You Represent. I'm Looking at YOU, Legislator Belesi

Seems the Legislator from the 14th District (Joe Belesi) doesn't quite remember that he's Legislator from the 14th District and...well... not the 13th District (pssst... it's Norma Gonsalves).

Belesi sent out one of his e-mail "newsletters" and, well, it's always good to give an e-mail a once-over before sending it out.... to hundreds of constituents.

Mangano has MORE Plans to Raise Taxes

From the NY Post:

That's the depressing message coming from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who's reportedly pushing for a hike in the county's sales tax, perhaps by a quarter of a point.

That would bump the local rate from 8.625 percent to 8.875 percent -- tying New York City for the highest levy in the state (and that's saying something).

If that happens, it would stab Nassau residents in the back. After all, they dumped the prior county exec, Tom Suozzi, precisely because they were sick of high taxes -- and Mangano ran on a staunch anti-tax platform"

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/tax_first_cut_maybe_zqccCRvzB4miwh4ny4XIMN#ixzz175ksUjQk

What's Old is New Again: Mangano Budget Channels Tom Gulotta

If Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano wasn't just bad on his own, now he's cribbing ideas from former County Executive Tom Gulotta... and this is just ONE example.
From Newsday Spincycle:
"Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's proposed $2.6 billion budget is precariously balanced on three financial legs: $61 million in labor concessions, which the unions so far have refused to concede; $60 million in new fees or increased fees, even though Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) promised in his inaugural address that the legislature would not approve any fee increases; and an end to the county's guarantee to pay school districts' and towns' share of $100 million in property tax refunds each year because of erroneous assessments.

Although the county receives only about $17 million of the $100 million in taxes collected-- the rest went to schools, towns and special districts--Nassau must repay the full $100 million because of the guarantee.

Proposals to end the guarantee are new:

Consider this Newsday headline from Oct. 2, 2000 when a fellow Republican, County Executive Thomas Gulotta, was also trying to find ways to fill a multi-million dollar budget hole.

"GULOTTA: SCHOOLS SHOULD PAY SHARE OF REFUNDS / PLAN FACES OPPOSITION FROM DISTRICTS, ALBANY"

Gulotta's plan went nowhere."

Who is Jack Martins? New Website will Tell You

Mineola Mayor Jack Martins is running for State Senate this year against Sen. Craig Johnson. A new website has emerged to make sure voters know the REAL Jack Martins - the one who gave himself a 61% raise amd raised taxes 31% in Mineola.
You Don't Know Jack Martins is full of useful information before you go to vote.

Visit:
http://www.youdontknowjackmartins.com/

Which Brings Us to Kate Murray

With Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano falling flat on his face or stepping on a rake with every move he makes, has Kate Murray ordered her "Murray for County Executive 2013" signs yet?

Mangano's Favorite Felon

A reminder of the quality brought to Nassau County by Ed Mangano..

"Of all the appointments made by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano since taking office in January, one in particular is drawing questions: a $90,000-a-year minority affairs job that went to a man convicted of participating in a scam to sell patient information from Nassau University Medical Center.

"Prosecutors said in announcing the arrests in 2004 that three hospital employees were bribed to pass along personal information about patients, mostly Hispanics who were admitted to the emergency room after car crashes.

Flores and the others "solicited accident victims, referred them to attorneys, coached them to exaggerate their injuries and transported them to appointments with attorneys and medical providers," according to the felony complaint.

Flores served as the liaison between the employees and lawyers, prosecutors said. The complaint said Flores "gave a cash payment to . . . a public servant employed by the Nassau University Medical Center. . .with the understanding that. . . would provide the defendant with patient records belonging to NUMC."

He was sentenced on Nov. 9, 2005, to 60 days in jail and five years probation on his plea to a D felony, attempted bribery of a public servant, records show."

This man is allowed to represent Nassau County. How sad. This is patronage at its worse.. payback to a campaign worker who can't be trusted.

Irony Escapes Ed Mangano

There certainly is a disconnect with Mangano going on...
On his desk is a plaque that says "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
How do I know this?
It's in a picture on the full-color, four page mailing that Mangano sent out listing his so-called "accomplishments" in his first 100 days. These brochures are also piled up for the public all over the county.
He doesn't mind who gets the credit, as long as it's him.
Even if Tom Suozzi did it already.




Nothing like a huge banner to prove your humility.

Conservative Columnist Slams Mangano

Raymond Keating in the NY Post let loose a volley of shots against Mangano that should have him and his supporters worried about a primary in a couple of years..

"Are New York Republicans any better than Democrats? It's not looking that way in Nassau County. After six months of GOP control in Nassau, things are largely business as usual. Rather than face the fiscal music, new County Executive Edward Mangano and the GOP-run Legislature are borrowing big-time, mistreating businesses -- and even gambling that gambling will bail out county government...

"In his State of the County Address in March, Mangano criticized the county's growing debt and blamed his Democratic predecessor, Tom Suozzi, for not budgeting enough to cover the annual refund costs. But Mangano is shifting the full cost of the refunds out of the operating budget onto long-term borrowing. That's a return to the bad budgeting of the past...

Then there is Mangano's plan to help the local economy -- or, rather, the lack of any real plan. He made a splash in April by making Nassau another hopeful in the game to get a Shinnecock Nation casino, which he'd put next to a new arena for the NHL's Islanders in Uniondale.

Casino revenues would help in closing the county's annual budget deficit, which is expected to top $200 million next year. But a Shinnecock casino is a long shot, at best -- and wouldn't be in place for years. In any case, gambling facilities come with costs to the community as well as benefits.

Borrowing to fund operating expenses; strong-arming businesses; placing a long-shot bet on landing a casino to close budget deficits: It all points to an unwillingness or inability to do the hard work of reining in county spending. That spells trouble for taxpayers"

Read the whole thing HERE.

Taking Credit for Something You Didn't Do is Lying, Ed. Part 2

And the taxpayer funded mailing of lies continued with this great entry as an "accomplishment" for Mangano "Day 39 - February 8th: Announced the County's purchase of Grossman's Farm, a five-acre family farm located on Hempstead Avenue in Malverne."

Maybe Mangano announced the finalized purchase but it was County Executive Tom Suozzi who sought to buy it and started the process that led to the vote in January. In fact, some in the community were afraid that with Suozzi out and the republicans in, the sale would fall through.

Announce the purchase but don't list this as some sort of incredible 100 Day Accomplishment. It was Suozzi's Accomplishment, not yours.

GOP Assembly Candidate Rob Germino Needs Remedial U.S. Constitution Lessons

Once again we see reactionary republicans have little knowledge of the document they say they hold so dear. Rob Germino, the republican candidate for the 13th Assembly District is upset but doesn't quite understand that his argument is false.

We''ll let Rob tell you why he's angry "Rob Germino asks that he join him in protesting a news ban on his campaign by the Anton chain of newspapers. This while the publisher continues to carry a weekly column by the incumbent, Charles Lavine.
"How can the publisher of Anton news continue to print a weekly column by my rival in the current campaign for assemblyman while refusing even a simple letter to the editor by me in reply? I think any fair minded person has to be aghast at such a policy, particularly at a time when censorship is behind us."

Germino is upset that the sitting Assemblyman is afforded space in a weekly newspaper to communicate with his constituents and that newspaper won't print his letter to the editor.

I doubt there is a "news ban" on Germino's campaign. My experience with the Anton papers is that they are more that happy to publish stories about upcoming elections.

And just so Germino gets a better understanding of the Constitution and Freedom of Speech, a private company cannot be accused of "...an egregious abridgment of the freedom of speech clause..".
The First Amendment deals specifically with what the GOVERNMENT cannot deny you.

Germino continues his assault on constitutional scholarship "As an attorney it must be immediately apparent to you that the Anton response, with its huge First Amendment implications, is not sustainable as a point of law."

In fact, Germino with is demands is attacking the First Amendment right to a Free Press.
For some light reading, Germino needs to check out Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974), where the Court unanimously struck down a state law requiring newspapers criticizing political candidates to publish their responses.

Taking Credit for Something You Didn't Do is Lying, Ed

In Accidental County Executive Ed Mangano's expensive 4-color mailing pat on his own back, it says on the front "100 Days in Office Goes by Quick when you're been busy.... getting guns... off the streets."
Lie # 3: Mangano is referring to "Day 26 - January 15th... Announced with law enforcement officials, a "Gun Buy Back" initiative to combat illegal handgun violence."
Sounds like Mangano is starting a whole new program, right?
Well, he's just taking credit for a program that CE Suozzi started FOUR YEARS AGO.

So to pad his list of (cough-cough) "accomplishments, Mangano takes credit for something Suozzi did. And he hopes voters are suckers enough to buy it.
How very sad, Ed.