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Date: Nov. 12, 1996
Steve Labriola, the Republican nominee for the New York state assembly, was voted the next Assemblyman to represent the Massapequas on Election Day. Labriola is replacing the long time Assemblyman Philip Healy who passed away last memorial day. With a margin of close to sixty four percent of the votes, Labriola won a overwhelming victory for a open seat.
After Election Day Labriola posted letters of gratitude all over the neighborhood reading, "Thank You For Your Support -- Assemblyman-Elect Steve Labriola." And to further convey his feelings of gratitude for his victory, Labriola began his first "Thank You Tour" across the district. "I was overwhelmed by the grass roots support from the community," said the soon-to-be Assemblyman, explaining why, starting Thursday night and Friday morning, Labriola began making the first of several rail road stops to thank the residents at the Massapequa and Massapequa Park train stations.
During the campaign trail Labriola visited over 10,000 homes in the twelfth assembley district. "It's a tradition I'm going to follow," says the Assemblyman-Elect. Labriola promises that even on off years he intends on continuing the practice of visiting constituents homes because "It provides you with a field so that you can discuss the issues" with local residents. Labriola also promises that his district office is going to be in the heart of Massapequa, not far from the former Broadway office of the late Phil Healy, and that he will be holding public forums to that residents can express their concerns.
In another plan to "be responsive to the district" Labriola says he will issue community surveys to get an idea of how people feel on certain issues. Labriola intends to compile the input he gets from community surveys, off year district walking, and community forums to ensure that he never looses touch with the community and the issues which concern them most.
Labriola intends to "work with the Republican Conference and the Democratic Conference" in Albany to insure that the polices that he says will "maintain our suburban quality of life" become initiated. The Assemblyman-Elect says he will be focusing on receiving the best committee assignments that will enable him to better serve the Massapequas. Labriola cites the Education Committee, the Committee on Local Government, and the Commerce and Industry Committee as a few target positions that he is looking to attain.
Labriola also says that he is eager to get to Albany so that he can fight for the issues which affect the community.
Labriola cites the School Tax issue as an example of one of the items on his agenda. "I'd like to co-sponser a bill which will cap spending at current levels," says Labriola, adding that the "school boards would be forced to operate within their budgets." The bill which Labriola refers to would adjust to cost of living increases dictated by the Consumer Price Index. The state would provide additional funding but the bill would prevent the school districts from resorting to property taxes. Labriola ads that "In the long term we need to end this over reliance on property taxes as a source of funding."
Labriola says that when he gets to Albany he intends to vote for the third phase of Governor Pataki's income tax cut. The cut, Labriola says, will benefit the Massapequas by giving a family of four making fifty thousand dollars a cut of twenty eight percent. Another campaign theme which Labriola promises to fulfill is work to provide a favorable climate in New York to spur growth. "I look forward to repealing or reforming the onerous taxes that hinder business," says the Massapequa Republican.
Two other local issues which Labriola says he will asses are the arguments over the Long Island Lighting Company and New York Water.
"I will vote for the takeover if the benefits are their," says Labriola referring to LILCO but adding that he will not approve of such action unless it amounts to a savings of ten percent or more. "Otherwise it just wouldn't be beneficial," says Labriola.
Labriola says that the debate over New York Water is "one of the top local issues." Labriola intends to bring this issue to a resolution and to see if a takeover would result in a "substantial reduction." Labriola says that if not than he will "move on to the next step which is a purchase by the Massapequa Water District." Labriola says that he would favor legislation allowing the Massapequa Water District to float bonds for the acquisition of the sections of Massapequa currently controlled by New York Water.
