Bellone's going places

Daily Point

Busy Bellone

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has been pointedly busy in the days since Long Island Democratic leaders Jay Jacobs and Rich Schaffer endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul for reelection, a move largely seen as a shot across the bow of contenders like Attorney General Tish James, who appears close to a gubernatorial bid.

Bellone made a one-day trip to Albany on Tuesday to announce a shared services initiative regarding counties being able to buy electric vehicles cheaper than buying on their own.

He ventured into Nassau County — where Jacobs is the local chair — to support the North Hempstead Town clerk campaign of Viviana Russell, as well as "the entire @NorthHempstead Democrats in their upcoming election," he tweeted Wednesday night.

And in a fairly direct Monday response to the Long Island county chairs’ early endorsement of Hochul, the West Babylon Democrat re-upped his support of NYC mayoral candidate Eric Adams, calling Adams "a common sense Democrat who emerged victorious in a crowded Democratic primary. In any election, the best approach is to let the voters decide."

Bellone is term-limited in his current gig, has been flirting with the idea of higher office, and is just one among a number of Democrats who could seek the Democratic nomination.

The argument from Jacobs, the state party chair, is that such a primary could be dangerously divisive.

Those Democrats who see 2022 as their chance for the governor’s mansion, of course, don’t appreciate such an early coronation of the newly elevated incumbent. On Thursday, Bellone continued dispensing attention to other areas of the state, praising a New York City Council bill addressing climate change. His spokesman Jason Elan told The Point that Bellone "has received encouragement for the opportunities that might lie ahead beyond Suffolk County, but has not made any decisions in that regard."

Jacobs, for his part, says that "everybody has the right" to explore their opportunities.

"And that goes to Steve Bellone as well," he told The Point.

— Mark Chiusano @mjchiusano

Talking Point

Highway to Election Day

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

No, not that time.

Less than a month away from a very early Election Day, it’s the moment when unions, advocacy groups and others start to emerge with election guides geared toward their priorities. Some endorse, some don’t. But whether or not there are endorsements, each guide often serves as a blueprint for each group’s priorities — one advocates hope the winners will use as their own guide post-Election Day.

Take the Long Island Contractors’ Association’s election guide. It includes detail on every race, from campaign filing balances to the district’s political makeup.

But LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst told The Point the guide also reflects some of the association’s goals. Herbst noted that years like this one, when the spotlight is on local legislative races, are particularly important for the future of Long Island’s roads, which, he said, need county lawmakers’ attention.

"Our residential streets have all exceeded their life spans," Herbst said. "They’re all going to start to deteriorate at the same time. Suburbia has reached that point. And if our officials aren’t planning, we’re going to be in big trouble."

Herbst said he hoped legislators would focus on both county and state funding for road repair and upgrades.

"As a local legislator, they’ve got to look at the county infrastructure and what’s there, and make sure the funds continue to flow there," Herbst said. "And they’ve got to look at the state CHIPS [Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement] program and advocate for more money."

LICA’s attention to roads means that its election guide includes a look at each highway superintendent race, several of which are competitive this year. That role, Herbst said, is critical because while town boards approve the budgets, the highway superintendent has to manage the projects, work with contractors, and see the work through.

Herbst noted that the association is particularly focused on major road needs like the Oakdale Merge and the Sagtikos Parkway. And the group is looking at municipalities which, according to its studies, are investing less per lane mile in their roads. Riverhead, Herbst noted, is toward the bottom of the list, investing just $3,123 per lane mile, compared with Babylon, which has invested $9,930 per lane mile or Oyster Bay, which has invested $13,098 per lane mile. But he also is looking beyond the roads themselves, to see where candidates stand on key regional projects, from the Nassau and Ronkonkoma hubs to Belmont Park and Wyandanch Rising.

"We support the overall industry," Herbst said. "It’s not about individuals supporting a particular candidate."

— Randi F. Marshall @RandiMarshall

Pencil Point

A deficit of logic

For more cartoons, visit www.newsday.com/nationalcartoons

Final Point

Seeking green endorsement

Advocacy group endorsements can be a good barometer of changing policy priorities. In this election cycle, on Long Island and statewide, more candidates, especially Republicans, have sought a green stamp of approval from the New York League of Conservation Voters.

In 2021, a total of 67 Nassau and Suffolk candidates answered the group’s detailed questionnaire about their environmental positions in hopes of snaring an endorsement. That’s up from 51 candidates seeking the nod in 2017, when the same races were on the ballot. Of these requests, 35 were from Democrats and 32 from Republicans, while four years ago the breakdown was 32 Democrats and 19 Republicans.

"Long Island is a great microcosm of the change," said Julie Tighe, NYLCV president, noting that residents have seen the consequences of dirty water and its effect on local beaches, fish and shellfish.

This year the league has endorsed 18 Democrats and 14 Republicans running locally, while four years ago it was 14 Democrats and nine Republicans. The group has yet to make an endorsement in the Town of Huntington’s wide-open supervisor’s race but may do so after it sponsors a candidate forum later this month.

"Clean air and clean water are not partisan issues although how we accomplish them may still be," Tighe said.

— Rita Ciolli @ritaciolli

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