Push to revive Suffolk's Welfare to Work Commission fails

A bill to revive a Suffolk County advisory commission that would study the affordability crisis and make recommendations to lawmakers on policy assisting low-income residents was struck down Wednesday in a partisan vote.

The failed legislation aimed to create the Economic Stability & Mobility Commission as a rebrand of the Welfare to Work Commission that dissolved at the end of 2025 after lawmakers opted against extending its term.

Seven Republican lawmakers in the legislature’s Economic Development, Planning & Housing Committee voted against the bill to prevent it from advancing to the full legislature. Three Democrats voted in favor.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the bill’s sponsor, said prior to the vote the bill “does what this legislature has asked to ensure that we are able to study the issues that are making the county less affordable” as well as modernize the commission first formed more than two decades ago.  

The bill broadened the scope of the commission to advise the legislature on areas of economic stability, workforce access, housing affordability and the “overall well-being of low-income and working-poor residents,” according to the bill.

The commission and its 24 members would have been tasked with conducting research, gathering data, holding public hearings and issuing advisory recommendations to the legislature, according to the bill. It would not have had policymaking authority.

In an interview, Richberg said the affordability crisis has been an ongoing discussion "forever."

"So why wouldn't we have a committee to discuss that and ensure we're focusing on the affordability?" he said, adding the bill provided a "comprehensive step forward to get those answers."

A Newsday/Siena Quality on Long Island survey last year found 77% of those surveyed either felt the cost of living on Long Island was much worse or somewhat worse than elsewhere.  

 The percentage of persons living below poverty level in Suffolk stood at 6.5% in the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. The county's figure was well below the statewide 14%.

Richard Koubek, the chairman of the commission before it dissolved, told Newsday the vote was a “shock.” He viewed the bill as a “substantive restructuring” as opposed to a name change.

Deputy Presiding Officer James Mazzarella (R-Moriches), the chairman of the economic development committee, said the bill appeared to be a “name change" of the commission.

“I think there was some concern in that it failed to show any success in its first rendition,” he said.

Mazzarella said there was “no discussion” on crafting the bill with the majority party, which contributed to the no vote.

“It’s not something that I think we’re against, but I think it’s something that certainly we should do some more vetting for it before just kind of renaming it,” he said.

Mazzarella said legislators in “economically challenged districts” could look into setting up a forum to explore additional solutions to the affordability crisis.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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