‘Chainsaw Massacre’ Thursday, 02 May 2013 00:00 “Sessions of the Nassau County Legislature were marked by heated public comment and debate in the month of April as environmentalists, good-government advocates and concerned residents appeared before lawmakers, urging Legislative oversight for millions of dollars in county contracts awarded in the wake Superstorm Sandy…. However DeRiggi-Whitton continued […]

“Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) has raised questions about Looks Great, the county’s record-keeping and its control over the work. Union representatives also questioned whether the company paid required wages to its out-of-state crews.” Read story: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/ny-attorney-general-looking-at-li-sandy-cleanup-contracts-source-says-1.5068834

“…trees were felled by a contractor, Looks Great Services Inc. of Huntington, which has been in the news for its work in Nassau County parks after the superstorm. Some county legislators and park advocates have accused the company of cutting undamaged trees to generate revenue. The Nassau County district attorney is looking into county contracts […]

“Minority counsel Peter Clines said County Executive Edward Mangano should have come in person to the legislature’s Rules Committee meeting on Sept. 12, 2011, to get approval for having hired Looks Great on Aug. 26 for emergency tree pruning and removal. Instead, a public works deputy commissioner presented the agreement to the committee on Dec. […]

“Today Norma Gonsalves is shielding a faulty comptroller’s office, which has in turn been hiding the Mangano administration’s mismanagement,” Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, D-Glen Cove, said. “If it is true that all records and invoices are being submitted correctly, which I truly hope it is, then why not have an open discussion to ensure that our residents […]

“Nassau Democrats joined park and labor advocates Monday to press Republican lawmakers to invite County Comptroller George Maragos to explain his review of Sandy-related county contracts. “There is a lot of money coming into Nassau County related to superstorm Sandy and we need strong oversight of this process,” Charlene Obernauer, executive director of Long Island […]

“Before County Comptroller George Maragos began asking for documentation and before District Attorney Kathleen Rice issued subpoenas, Nassau Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) was asking questions about Looks Great Services, Inc. of Huntington, a tree debris removal firm hired by the county for nearly $70 million. For months after superstorm Sandy, DeRiggi-Whitton pressed for answers…” […]

“Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove), who questioned Looks Great’s work after the Welwyn incident, said she had asked Maragos last week for Looks Great subcontractor and payroll records.” Read story: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/nassau-comptroller-asks-contractors-for-sandy-paperwork-1.4988595    

“Though Looks Great Services Inc. was not among the companies listed in the complaint, Democratic spokesman Michael Florio said the tree-debris removal firm also went over the limit by donating $10,745 to Mangano last year. He said the Mangano campaign improperly listed the Huntington company as a partnership, which is not subject to the $5,000 […]

“Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) came out swinging against Looks Great Services of Huntington. The tree-debris removal firm is threatening to sue the first-term legislator for questioning more than $40 million Nassau expects to pay the company for superstorm Sandy cleanup. “I’m not going to let them intimidate me in any way,” DeRiggi-Whitton said during […]