Nassau-paid mailings on police reorganization rile Dems

Partisan politics have erupted again over Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's plan to consolidate administrative functions of two North Shore police districts.

County Democrats fumed this week over a taxpayer-paid mailing from Mangano to residents of North Hempstead's Sixth Precinct touting his plan, while a former federal prosecutor seeking the Democratic nomination for state attorney general has robo-called the same people, calling the consolidation "a mistake."

Mangano's postcard went to more than 15,000 households at a cost of 34 cents each - a total of $5,180, according to the county executive's office.

Headlined "Nassau Police Reorganization . . . 'Doing more with less,' " the postcard says the plan to merge administration with the Second Precinct in Woodbury will save more than $22 million, while the same number of police will patrol the same neighborhoods in the Sixth Precinct and its station house in Manhasset will stay open.

But the mailing also takes a shot a state Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Manhasset), who has publicly opposed the plan, contending Nassau needs to save money largely because of "unfunded [state] mandates passed on to us" from Johnson.

"First Ed Mangano plays politics with public safety. Now, he is using tax dollars to settle a political score," a Johnson spokesman said. "I shudder to think what the Republican machine's next affront to Nassau residents will be."

Mangano aide Brian Nevin responded, "Using politically motivated scare tactics, Senator Johnson and Legislator [Diane] Yatauro spread misinformation about the county executive's plan. . . . The county executive's mailer is appropriate and [an] important step in setting the record straight."

He added. "If it were a political mailer, it would have told residents to vote against Sen. Craig Johnson in November."

Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), the county legislature's minority leader, contended that Mangano "made this a political issue."

She said she and Johnson and other Democratic lawmakers participated in a public forum to try to get information about Mangano's proposal. "We are still waiting to view any document that spells out exactly what his plan entails and how it helps to ensure public safety."

Meanwhile, Democratic attorney general candidate Sean Coffey of Westchester robo-called the district about Mangano's "shocking" plan, saying, "We are in tough times, but we should never balance a budget by risking an increase in crime in our neighborhoods."

Nevin dismissed Coffey, who grew up in Hempstead Village, as an outsider. "It's clear that he's got no idea what the plan really does."