County Executive Steve Levy (D-Suffolk) issued his State of the County address Wednesday, revealing plans for the future and expressing satisfaction with Suffolk's progress thus far.

Levy says the most pressing issues center around the high cost of living, taxes, crime and the loss of open space. Levy wants to attract more jobs and create more affordable housing by establishing a job sector identity for Suffolk. For example, the county executive suggests turning West Hampton into a homeland security hub and Yaphank an alternative energy development base.

In the Republican response, Legislator Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham) says Democratic policies have made it difficult to attract new businesses. Losquadro adds the Suffolk Police Department is not large enough to properly deal with the rise in crime, a topic he says Levy refuses to appropriately address.

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