Greg Blass
Suffolk’s one-party rule: A compliant legislature rubber-stamps costly measures that benefit the county executive’s political fortunes
Last month, 11 costly union contracts were rammed through on an emergency basis, with no chance for legislators to review them, no public hearing, no public comment.
Greg Blass
In Suffolk, hidden taxes help fund runaway government spending
Suffolk County government's already fat fees keep climbing — along with county debt — allowing politicians to fund runaway spending and make the (false) claim they're not raising taxes.
News
Suffolk health officials report first human case of West Nile Virus and more positive mosquito samples
Fifteen new mosquito samples in Suffolk County have tested positive for West Nile virus, the county health department announced yesterday.
The samples were collected between...
Greg Blass
Seized assets bring big bucks to county law enforcement — but who’s watching the till?
Oversight efforts by legislators have been snuffed out with the death of a bill that would require accountability of how law enforcement agencies spend millions of dollars in asset forfeiture fund monies.
Greg Blass
Greg Blass Should state step in to stop Suffolk’s fiscal free-fall? Probably, but politics intervenes
Drastic action is needed to save our insolvent county, but political alliances get in the way.
Greg Blass
Greg Blass Did Suffolk County cook its books? Will taxpayers ever learn the truth?
Did Suffolk County cook its books in order to qualify for more than $100 million in borrowing it needs to stay afloat — and pay for an unprecedented, multi-year police contract?
Suffolk Closeup
Suffolk Closeup With annual budget approaching $3 billion, is Suffolk a sinking ship?
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has proposed a $2.96 billion budget for 2017, calling for new or increased fees to make up for slumping sales tax revenues.
Suffolk Closeup
Waiting for what’s next: squirming, finger-pointing after county police chief’s plea deal with federal prosecutors
Accusations, I-told-you-sos, and demands for resignations followed the plea deal by Suffolk's ex-chief of police James Burke.
Suffolk Closeup
Suffolk Closeup County’s fiscal emergency stems from reliance on sales tax to finance operations
Suffolk government counts on its 4.25 percent sales tax to generate 52 percent of its revenues — more than $1 billion. A 1-percent dip means a more than $10 million sudden shortfall.
