Post by bufordtjustice on Nov 3, 2011 20:16:52 GMT -5
Nassau's three police unions Thursday pulled their endorsements of freshman Legis. Joe Belesi (R-Farmingdale), who is seeking re-election Tuesday, because of his vote in favor of a new county budget that requires $150 million in labor concessions.
Gary Learned, head of Nassau's Superior Officers Association, Glenn Ciccone, newly installed president of the county's Detectives' Association, and James Carver, president of the Police Benevolent Assocation, said Belesi, a retired Nassau police sergeant, jeopardized public safety when he joined the Republican majority on the county legislature Sunday to approve next year's $2.6 billion budget.
They said the $150 million in labor concessions that the budget requires cannot be attained without laying off police, closing two police precincts -- as proposed by County Executive Edward Mangano -- and crippling police services.
"This budget jeopardizes public safety," Ciccone said. "That's the crux of it. As a police officer, Belesi should know better."
The union leaders said they are notifying their members to support Belesi's Democratic challenger, Eva Pearson, in a race that is considered one of the tightest in Nassau. Pearson could not be reached Thursday night for comment.
"I'm standing up for the taxpayers here," Belesi responded Thursday. "We pay the highest taxes in the country. I'm really proud to make the tough decisions. We have to put this county back on track. Union leaders have to do their part on behalf of the taxpayers."
Police labor leaders say they originally endorsed Belesi, a former SOA first vice chairman, because he pledged that he would not vote to lay off police or take other actions to reduce police services. The police unions have not endorsed any other county Republicans.
Although Republicans insisted that a separate resolution is needed to enact layoffs, both Learned and Carver publicly warned that voting for the budget was voting for layoffs. Carver even called out Belesi's name when he told lawmakers that the $150 million in concessions were not realistic.
Gary Learned, head of Nassau's Superior Officers Association, Glenn Ciccone, newly installed president of the county's Detectives' Association, and James Carver, president of the Police Benevolent Assocation, said Belesi, a retired Nassau police sergeant, jeopardized public safety when he joined the Republican majority on the county legislature Sunday to approve next year's $2.6 billion budget.
They said the $150 million in labor concessions that the budget requires cannot be attained without laying off police, closing two police precincts -- as proposed by County Executive Edward Mangano -- and crippling police services.
"This budget jeopardizes public safety," Ciccone said. "That's the crux of it. As a police officer, Belesi should know better."
The union leaders said they are notifying their members to support Belesi's Democratic challenger, Eva Pearson, in a race that is considered one of the tightest in Nassau. Pearson could not be reached Thursday night for comment.
"I'm standing up for the taxpayers here," Belesi responded Thursday. "We pay the highest taxes in the country. I'm really proud to make the tough decisions. We have to put this county back on track. Union leaders have to do their part on behalf of the taxpayers."
Police labor leaders say they originally endorsed Belesi, a former SOA first vice chairman, because he pledged that he would not vote to lay off police or take other actions to reduce police services. The police unions have not endorsed any other county Republicans.
Although Republicans insisted that a separate resolution is needed to enact layoffs, both Learned and Carver publicly warned that voting for the budget was voting for layoffs. Carver even called out Belesi's name when he told lawmakers that the $150 million in concessions were not realistic.
