NEIGHBORHOOD CHAT TRANSCRIPT
Date: Monday, October 22, 2001
Event: Debate for Nassau County Executive
Speakers: Bruce Bent & Thomas Suozzi
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:51:15 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: Welcome to our monthly chat session sponsored by Hofstra University and the Herald Community Newspapers. Tonight's debate between Bruce Bent and Thomas Suozzi for Nassau County Executive is moderated by the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons and Suffolk County. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or any candidate for office.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:51:45 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: Before 8 p.m., the candidates will toss a coin to determine who will answer the first question.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:52:24 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: The first question will be selected by moderators and posted online at 8 p.m. Each candidate will have one minute to answer the question beginning with the person who won the toss.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:52:57 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: A timer from the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County will warn the candidates at 45 seconds and call for time at one minute.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:53:26 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: When each candidate has completed his response, the moderators will post the next question. The candidate who responded last will respond first to this question.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:53:42 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: This pattern will continue for 30 minutes.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:54:51 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: Typists, assigned to each candidate, will input the candidate's response. Each sentence or statement in the response will be posted as it is typed. Typists may ask candidates to repeat sections of their responses, however, this will be counted in the one-minute response period.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:55:31 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: Candidates may not ask to have any part of their response edited. Only true typographical errors will be corrected after the online debate is completed.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:55:58 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: When 30 minutes have elapsed, each candidate will be given two minutes to make a closing statement.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:56:29 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: The candidates will now submit their opening statements in alphabetical order.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:56:35 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: I?m Bruce Bent, candidate for County Executive. Nassau is on the brink of financial collapse because of career politicians who focus on politics, patronage, and their endless re-elections rather than serving the people. I am the CEO of The Reserve Funds, the world's first money market fund, which I created and built from scratch to a $13 billion organization. I'm not a politician. I want to use my time-tested financial and management skills to turn Nassau around. I will utilize the best people, regardless of party affiliation. Since I have financed virtually my entire campaign, I owe no one and am free to make the tough decisions. I will serve one term for $1 per year.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 07:56:55 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I have five points to make in this debate: 1) My experience as a CPA, attorney and four term mayor, make me the most qualified for the position of County Executive. 2) In Glen Cove, we transformed a city in serious fiscal decline into a national model of revitalization. 3) I have a $100 Million Taxpayer Savings Plan eliminating waste and patronage in Nassau County. 4) I have a proven record of independence and courage necessary to break the back of machine politics in Nassau County. 5) I will work harder and longer until Nassau County is the best county in the country.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:00:00 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: We will now open the floor to questions from our participants.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:00:09 PM> MODMSG Rita: What is the single most important issue facing Nassau County?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:00:42 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: The single most important issue facing Nassau County is the financial crisis which is a result of the machine politics...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:01:21 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: and mismanagement of Nassau County that has been given to us by the Republican party after their domination of this county for the past 18 years....
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:01:49 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I will break the back of machine politics and restore the fiscal integrity as I did in the City of Glen Cove ..
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:02:50 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: Please correct that to the past 80 years.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:03:40 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Dominance of the Nassau County Government organization by career politicians has brought us to the brink of ...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:04:32 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: financial collapse. Another career politician will put us over the brink. We need business principles and experience to straighten out the County.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:04:35 PM> MODMSG gene: What is your plan to return Nassau County to fiscal responsibility?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:05:27 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: I will evaluate every department and every function for patronage, inefficiency and waste . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:06:15 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: I will restructure tax claims so that they are paid promptly to reduce interest costs and eliminate police in civilian jobs and transfer them to field.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:07:00 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I agree with most of the statements that Bruce has made and I have a specific and detailed $100 million Taxpayer Savings Plan to eliminate waste and patronage in the County government. In the Police Department, in the...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:07:37 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: County Real Estate Department, and in the County Grants and Revenues Department and I believe that my experience as a CPA and as the mayor of the City of Glen Cove for the past 7-1/2 years makes me uniquely qualified to do so.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:07:38 PM> MODMSG NICK CIAPPETTA:IN RECENT YEARS THE CONDITION OF THE NASSAU COLISEUM HAS GREATLY DETERIORATED.DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE PLANS TO EITHER RENOVATE NASSAU COLISEUM OR TO BUILD A NEW ARENA ON THE EXISTING PROPERTY.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:08:44 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: There is no reason that the Nassau Coliseum should not be a world-class facility. Nassau and Suffolk Counties together is the 16th largest metropolitan region in the United States of America, after...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:09:18 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and a whole host of other metropolitan regions Nassau County is number 16. We deserve a world-class facility.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:10:10 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Nassau County should never have been in this coliseum business. I would immediately consider proposals . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:10:47 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: from commercial bidders to take over the Coliseum either from a management point of view, reconstruction or demolition, and rebuild.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:11:00 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Bottom line analysis will make the decision.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:11:03 PM> MODMSG kimcontillo: how do you plan to approach the threat of an oncoming recession not only on local businesses, but also in our households?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:11:53 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: I am a career financial analyst and economist. We are now seeing the worse economics conditions . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:12:26 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: that I have seen in 25 years, which dictates even more that an experienced businessman is what is required to get our county back on the right track . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:12:45 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: by stimulating business in the County and be completed only by sound business practices in government.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:14:15 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I have already assembled a Council of Economic Advisors chaired by Dr. Irwin Kellner, professor of Hofstra University and with CBS Market Watch as well as Charles Wong, Fred Wilpon, owner of the New York Mets, and James Dolan, CEO of Cablevision.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:14:16 PM> MODMSG Dr. Feldman: Is Nassau equipped to deal with bioterrorism? What would you do to help?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:15:20 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I think we need to provide our police force, both the Nassau County and local police forces, our fire department as well as our EMS and our hospitals with additional training and we need to do a better job coordinating with the appropriate state and federal agencies...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:15:44 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: Nassau County is larger than 16 states. It is a stone?s throw from New York City and it needs to be run that way.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:16:30 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Nassau is not prepared. Our response on September 11 was a disaster waiting to happen. 179 fire trucks sat . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:17:15 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: at Belmont Raceway waiting for direction for 6 hours. We need to coordinate and educate so that we can work with federal and state agencies.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:17:17 PM> MODMSG lorib: How will you interact with a county legislature that may have a majority membership of the other party?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:17:57 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: In addition to running Nassau County as its executive I will have NIFA assisting me . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:18:35 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: They have made it clear that partisan politics will not be tolerated and that objective business management is what they expect to bring the County out of its deficits.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:18:57 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I have a proven record of working across party lines with both Democrats and Republicans...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:19:30 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: The success I have had in the City of Glen Cove cleaning up pollution and revitalizing our downtown could only have been accomplished by working with both...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:20:13 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: Congressman Peter King, a Republican, and Congressman Gary Ackerman, a Democrat, as well as Assemblyman David Sidikman, a Democrat, and Sen. Carl Marcellino, a Republican.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:20:19 PM> MODMSG Mike Venditto: Given the current fiscal situation today, how will you make sure that the Nassau County police continue to function efficiently?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:21:03 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: As with every department in Nassau County we need to reward employees based upon performance not political connections...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:21:36 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: In the police department specifically we need to take police officers that are now currently working in positions as auto body mechanics, carpenters, electricians and other non police activities...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:21:46 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: and place them out in the field as police officers.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:22:18 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Continuing on with Mr. Suozzi's thought, there are 60 trained police officers in the DP area alone.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:22:53 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: These people can be replaced with more economically priced clerical staff and brought into the field to increase or maintain our levels of police protection.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:22:54 PM> MODMSG ginnypr: What are your plans to create more affordable housing in Nassau? Right now even upper middle class people have difficulty finding affordable housing in the area.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:23:35 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Affordable housing is a difficult assignment. People who have paid for their homes without government subsidies?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:24:12 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: resent subsidies for others coming into their neighborhoods. In addition, affordable housing...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:24:29 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: has got to be paid for by someone. Implicitly by someone.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:25:03 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: The main deterrent to affordable housing is NIMBYism. I have specifically proposed building affordable housing throughout Nassau County on our commercial strips...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:25:30 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: on Northern Blvd., Jericho Tpk, Old Country Road, Hempstead Tpk, Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:25:54 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: Neighbors will not complain and will prevent further overdevelopment with Burger Kings and Seven-Elevens.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:26:08 PM> MODMSG M.C.: As interested political science students , what will you do to attract the 18-25 year-old voting population in the upcoming election, and keep their interest and enthusiasm in politics afterward?
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:27:11 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: For the past 3 or 4 months, I have been a guest every Monday from 4:30 to 5:30 on the 92.7 WLIR radio station, which is a popular radio station among 18-25 years olds....
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:27:37 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: I will continue to discuss important County issues in forums where 18-25 year olds are already paying attention.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:28:13 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: By running an open, responsive government devoid of patronage and politics, the disenchantment . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:28:57 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: that 18 and 25 year olds have experienced will be overcome by their access to government and its workings rather than by backroom smoke.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:29:00 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: The candidates will now submit their closing statements.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:29:36 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: If a builder comes to you and tells you I will build you a beautiful building, one of the first questions you ask is what beautiful buildings have you built before...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:29:59 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: You want proof, not promises. In this campaign I have tried to give proof that I can do the job of Nassau County Executive. ..
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:30:39 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: My proof is my background as a CPA and attorney and as the mayor of the City of Glen Cove for the past 7-1/2 years where I have transformed a city in serious decline into a model of revitalization...
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:32:05 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Thomas Suozzi: Like a good builder I have also given specific plans and costs associated with my plans, and I have also tried to illustrate that I have the independence and courage to break the back of machine politics in Nassau County. I have the proof, the plans, and the independence to change Nassau County and make it the best county in the country. Thank you.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:32:54 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Nassau County is a $2 billion enterprise serving 1.3 million residents. I am CEO of a $13 billion enterprise . . .
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:33:28 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: which I built from scratch over the past 30 years. I have no preconceived notions as to how government should be run.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:34:07 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: I come with 40 years of financial analytical skills, which I will bring in evaluating every aspect of county government.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:34:54 PM> SPEAKER SPEAKER_Bruce Bent: Since I am not a politician and financed my own campaign, I have the independence and the will to do what's right, not what?s politically expedient.
Mon Oct 22, 2001 08:34:56 PM> MODMSG MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Mr. Bent and Mr. Suozzi, for joining us this evening and taking the time to share your views on Nassau County politics. Also, we would like to thank the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons for their valuable participation in this debate. Thanks again and goodnight.
