Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

Citizen of the Year-Claudia Caruso Rouhana

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:26:04 +0000

Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton was happy to participate in the Port Washington Community Chest event last night honoring the very deserving Claudia Caruso Rouhana as ‘Citizen of the Year.’ Pictured are: Nassau County Legislators Wayne Wink, Judi Bosworth, Claudia Caruso Rouhana and Delia at the Port Washington Library.

Record Pilot – Public Comment on ‘Chainsaw Massacre’

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:31:03 +0000

‘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 to call for him to join a public meeting, saying in a statement, “…Norma Gonsalves is shielding a faulty comptroller’s office, which has in turn been hiding the Mangano administration’s mismanagement. 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 are getting the most value for their tax dollars.”

Read story at Anton News / Record Pilot:

http://www.antonnews.com/glencoverecordpilot/news/29081-chainsaw-massacre-.html

VIDEOS: More Public Outcry – the Fight Rages for Sandy Oversight

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:48:47 +0000

At the 4-22-13 Session of the Nassau County Legislature, more environmentalists and angry taxpayers turned out to support the idea of public Legislative hearings and Legislative investigations about Sandy spending and job management.

Glen Covers Todd Tilton, Mike Miller, Gerard Rizzuto and Terry Difillipo spoke out in support of a hearing.

Horticulturalist John Capobianco spoke about damage at Chelsea and other Nassau preserves.

Legislators Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Dave Denenberg argued with Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves and Deputy Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello that hearings were in order.

Watch all the videos below or click the title to be transferred to youtube:

Newsday Apr. 13 – NY attorney general looking at LI Sandy cleanup contracts, source says

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:06:32 +0000

“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

VIDEOS: Delia Fights for Sandy contract oversight

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:09:24 +0000

Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton grills Nassau Department of Public Works on spending and controlling county contracted companies.

For six months, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton has been fighting for Legislative oversight on $200 million in Sandy-related appropriations.

Now, even as Suffolk and Nassau District Attorneys have opened investigations, County Executive Edward Mangano’s administration has not changed its policy. Comptroller George Maragos has been paying out $35 million to one questionable company without proper review. Legislative Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves refuses to have Comptroller Maragos come before the Legislature.

(There are 11 videos in this playlist – to navigate, click in the bottom left where it says ‘playlist’)

Newsday Apr. 11 – Woodbury couple to sue LIRR over 30 cut trees

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:09:39 +0000

“…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 with firms that did cleanup work after Sandy.”

Read story:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/woodbury-couple-to-sue-lirr-over-30-cut-trees-1.5057325

Newsday Apr. 11 – Officials: Storm emergency justified $6M tree removal payment

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:07:24 +0000

“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. 5 without mentioning the firm had been paid four days earlier.

“It’s an extraordinary power to expend monies without legislative approvals,” Clines said. “There’s no checks and balances.”

Generally, the charter calls for the Rules Committee to approve contracts of more than $25,000. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recently criticized Nassau for allowing contractors to start work before their contracts were approved”

Read story:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/officials-storm-emergency-justified-6m-tree-removal-payment-1.5057959

Patch Apr. 9 – Democrats Call on Maragos to Answer For Millions in Sandy Payments

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:28:20 +0000

“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 are getting the most value for their tax dollars.”

Last week, Legislators DeRiggi-Whitton and Wayne Wink, D-Roslyn, requested that Maragos appear before their Rules and Finance Committees at Monday’s legislative session.”

Read story:

http://glencove.patch.com/articles/local-democrats-call-on-maragos-to-answer-for-millions-in-sandy-payments

Newsday Apr. 8 – Groups seek explanation of Sandy contracts

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:11:23 +0000

“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 Jobs with Justice, told members of the Republican-controlled Rules Committee.

“Add our voice to the call for this legislative body to get the Nassau comptroller here to explain what’s going on,” said Bruce Piel, chairman of PARCnassau. He noted his park advocacy group had been among the first to raise alarms about tree cutting in county preserves after the storm.”

…[Legis. Denenberg said his] questions and those of Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton concerning Sandy contracts had been ruled out of order when the legislature appropriated more than $213 million for storm clean-up because neither sits on the Rules Committee, the only committee that considers contracts.”

Read story:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/groups-seek-explanation-of-sandy-contracts-1.5034027

Newsday: April 4 Spin Cycle – Nassau legislator still wants answers about tree removal firm

Office of Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:00:40 +0000

“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…”

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle-1.812042/nassau-legislator-still-wants-answers-about-tree-removal-firm-1.5008852