EDITORIAL: Rename Jackson Avenue Bipartisan Avenue

The green light for a $6-million project repaving and widening a miserable mile of road in Syosset, between Jericho Turnpike and the LIRR station, is a refreshing triumph of political sense over partisan politics in Nassau County.

Long overdue improvements to this stretch of Jackson Avenue, which is used by 20,000 vehicles a day, were initially part of the county's 2009 capital plan, along with $3 million in federal highway funds. That financing strategy changed last year when Washington dangled federal stimulus dollars for "shovel ready" projects. But this one didn't qualify, for multiple reasons, a decision that also barred it from getting the original highway funding. When political control switched in the fall, any attempt to secure county funds stalled.

Legis. Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) then asked GOP Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto for help, and he approached new GOP County Executive Edward Mangano. Venditto pledged $3 million from the town, which will take control of the road. The county will pay the other $3 million. In return, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) promised to get the original federal highway money redirected to the county, for use in Oyster Bay.

Needing two Republicans, two Democrats and three levels of government to get a road repaired is exasperating. But the realization that safety isn't an ideological issue is progress indeed. hN