Rick Brand

Cost of Suffolk land preservation programs questioned

October 5, 2008

After three decades, Suffolk's smorgasbord of land preservation programs have delivered 34,000 acres into the public domain, but they've come at an eye-popping price tag of $3.5 billion. Or so says Martin Cantor, head of Dowling College's Long Island Economic and Social Policy Institute.

    Recent columns

  • Levy administration questions ex-deputy's union work

    September 28, 2008

    The Levy administration has launched a broadside at former top deputy Paul Sabatino, claiming any work he does for the county union to stop the closing of the John J. Foley nursing home is a "blatant violation of our ethics laws."

  • Levy's move raises sheriff's profile

    September 21, 2008

    When County Executive Steve Levy first raised the idea of doing away with the entire county police highway patrol, Sheriff Vincent DeMarco says he told Levy he "didn't think it was a good idea."

  • Islip GOP infighting may jeopardize Trunzo's seat

    September 14, 2008

    State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos cannot be happy.

  • POLITICS & POWER: LI McCain backer gets his due

    September 7, 2008

    Back in 2000, Assemb. Phil Boyle (R-East Islip) angered top Suffolk Republicans when he first helped maverick presidential contender Sen. John McCain sweep all of Suffolk's convention delegates, save one - then-County Executive Robert Gaffney.

  • Big names weigh heavily on Suffolk Democratic primary

    August 31, 2008

    Aides to County Executive Steve Levy sweltered in July heat helping collect 900 signatures so primary challenger Waldo Cabrera could take on Democratic Assemb. Philip Ramos (D-Brentwood) in next week's Sept. 9 party primary.

  • Levy seeks new term for Suffolk social services boss

    August 10, 2008

    Like soul singer Tina Turner, nothing ever seems to come nice and easy for Suffolk's hard-driving Social Services Commissioner Janet DeMarzo.

  • Suffolk Water Authority gets a $69,000 ditchdigger

    July 27, 2008

    Patrick Vecchio Jr., fired by the Suffolk County Water Authority for screwing up water tests only to be returned to the payroll by an arbitrator, is about to become the agency's highest paid ditchdigger - making from $7,000 to $45,000 more than anyone else in the trenches.

  • With a big war chest, Levy's at a crossroads

    July 20, 2008

    When Steve Levy first won his county legislature seat in 1985, he spent $5,000 and a lot of shoe leather walking the district.

  • POLITICS & POWER: Trying to keep the Party going

    July 13, 2008

    At one time, when state Sen. Caesar Trunzo walked into a party convention as boss of the powerful Islip Republican organization, fellow leaders would bow and say, "Hail Caesar."

Rick Brand

Rick Brand

New York City