Long Island statehood study on Suffolk legislative agenda

State Sen. Kenneth Lavalle’s request for a home rule message from the Suffolk Legislature backing a state study into the feasibility of creating a state of Long Island goes to the county Legislature Wednesday for a possible vote.

The measure passed 3-2 in the government operations committee after an effort to table the measure failed. Legis. William Lindsay III (D-Oakdale) joined two Republicans in moving the measure forward.

Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said he sponsored the resolution as a courtesy to LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), but does not favor the proposal and sees little support for it.

Lindsay said he supports the study “because of the inequity between what we send to Albany and what we get back.”