Bellone accuses GOP of putting politics ahead of roadway projects

<p>Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone accused Republicans in the Legislature of playing partisan politics by blocking funding for key infrastructure projects.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 5, 2018, 6:18 PM

Updated 2,363 days ago

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Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone accused Republicans in the Legislature of playing partisan politics by blocking funding for key infrastructure projects.
A $28 million bond vote recently would have funded street and sidewalk repaving throughout the county. The measure needed a supermajority vote to pass.
However, the initiative received zero support from the GOP even though, Bellone says, Republicans supported the individual projects.
“It is simply disingenuous for legislators to vote for a project on one hand, and then flip flop and say ‘I'm not going to support the funding for that project,’” said Bellone.
The county executive, a Democrat, says that move by the GOP was nothing more than an effort to score political points at the expense of residents.
“It is being blocked by this effort to really bring Washington-style politics to Suffolk County. It's inappropriate, it's wrong,” says Bellone.
Republican Legislator Rob Trotta, of Smithtown, accused the county executive of slipping other items into the bond at the last minute.
“He wants to bundle them all together so he can sneak his projects in, or anything he wants,” says Trotta.
The bond resolution will be brought up for a vote again on July 17.
Meanwhile, Kathy Darmanin described County Line Road in Amityville as a patchwork of pesky potholes that drivers often have to dodge.
“A roller coaster ride. Nothing but bumps,” she said.