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Call to move on with state's diesel conversion law

Jennifer Smith on L.I., Chau Lam on Long Island, James T. Madore in Albany, Reid J. Epstein on L.I.

August 4, 2008

DIESEL CONVERSION

Fueling up to urge on the Guv

Worried that a 2006 law to cut diesel emissions from state vehicles could become a casualty of New York's fiscal woes, environmental and public health advocates on Friday urged Gov. David A. Paterson to move forward with the measure.

The law requires the state's diesel-powered dump trucks, snowplows and other heavy vehicles to be retrofitted to reduce tailpipe emissions by 2010. Thirty-three percent of those owned, operated or leased by the state must be converted by year's end.

Citing the costs of treating diesel-pollution-related ailments such as asthma and lung cancer, the American Lung Association, Renewable Energy Long Island and others insisted in a letter that the measure's public health benefits outweighed its burdens. The advocates chided the state Department of Environmental Conservation, now under Paterson, for failing to enact regulations for the retrofits.

Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said the governor was "committed" to the law but "we just have to make sure ... given the fiscal crisis the state is facing, that implementation is feasible."

Conversion costs $1,000 to $20,000 per vehicle, said Kieran Broderick of the state Office of General Services. "It will cost us about $1 million in equipment purchases this year," added Jennifer Post, a Transportation Department spokeswoman. Both said the agencies were on track to convert a third of their fleets by the deadline.

- Jennifer Smith on L.I.

MESSY BUSINESS

Trash talk in babylon

Last month, a spokeswoman for Babylon Supervisor Steven Bellone declined to say if the town is doing business with Winters Brothers Waste Systems Inc., a refuse-hauling company that three customers charged in court with violating antitrust laws.

But while the answer was unavailable inside town hall, at least it was available behind town hall. There, large decals slapped onto the sides of two large green garbage containers proclaimed: WINTERS BROS Under Contract with TOWN of BABYLON, SUFFOLK CO., NY.

- Chau Lam on Long Island

THE PATERSON WATCH

Gov. David A. Paterson has shattered another record.

In a speech to the National Press Club in Washington last week, Paterson noted "the first legally blind governor of a state served for 11 days. I already have him beat."

Paterson was referring to fellow Democrat and former Lt. Gov. Bob Cowley Riley of Arkansas. In January 1975, Riley was sworn in to serve out the unexpired term of Gov. Dale Bumpers, who had been elected to the U.S. Senate. In mid-January, Riley was succeeded by David Pryor, who had defeated him in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Riley was blinded in 1944 attacking a Japanese machine-gun position on Guam, said his widow, Claudia.

Paterson's New York gubernatorial records include first African-American to hold the office, longest tenure in the State Legislature before becoming chief executive and first governor to complete the 31-year-old Boilermaker 15-kilometer road race in upstate Utica.

- James T. Madore in Albany

TODAY ON THE BLOG

Forget about Republican John McCain's attack ad deriding Barack Obama as "the biggest celebrity in the world." The Hamptons fundraising season has taken off, with the famous and the near-famous leading the way in raking in dough for the Democrat. Star Jones, the formerly fat co-host on " The View" - she lost 160 pounds after gastric bypass surgery and then was fired by Barbara Walters - is hosting an Obama shindig at her Hamptons home Saturday that's dubbed "Under Star's Tuscan Sun." But Jones, who filed for divorce in March and has been spotted this summer with NBA star Dwyane Wade, looks like a C-lister compared to the roster hosting a brunch Aug. 17. Billy Joel, Alec Baldwin, Russell Simmons, Barry Sonnenfeld and Gwyneth Paltrow are among 40 co-hosts for the Sagaponack event that has Caroline Kennedy as the star attraction. Obama won't be at either event - nor will he be at a Sunday Fire Island brunch with Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean. But the fundraisers are talking of a hefty haul.

- Reid J. Epstein on L.I.

NAKED AMBITION

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion by a power player? Vote at newsday.com/

spincycle.

1. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy on the Montauk Monster: "If this could be certified ... we'd sell tickets and get a lot of revenue."

2. Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi spending industrial-development funds to promote local tourism at a Manhattan news conference with singer Ashanti.

3. Nassau Legis. Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) saying of the tourism expenditures: "This does nothing more than promote Tom Suozzi."

Last week's "winner": John McCain's campaign blog, with 41.7 percent, for using Barack Obama's wreath-laying in Israel to attack him for once saying the U.S. can't always use troops to prevent genocide.