Category: John M. Kennedy

Who: John Kennedy, Candidate, Suffolk County Executive
Leslie Kennedy, Suffolk County Legislator and Mr. Kennedy’s wife
Supporters of Mr. Kennedy

What: John Kennedy, Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, will be accompanied by his wife, Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy, to cast their votes in the 2019 general election. John Kennedy is running for Suffolk County Executive and Leslie Kennedy is running for re-election to the Suffolk County Legislature.

Where: Nesconset Fire Department Annex Building
25 Gibbs Pond Road (intersection of Gibbs Pond & Lake Avenue South)
Nesconset, NY

When: Tuesday, November 5
10:00 a.m.

Directions: LIE to Exit 59 to CR 93/Ocean Avenue/Oakdale/Ronkonkoma. Make a right onto Ocean Avenue. After 0.6 mile, turn right onto Rosevale Avenue. Go approximately one mile and continue onto Gibbs Pond Road. After 2.1 miles, make a right. Building will be on the right-hand side.

Photo Ops: Mr. Kennedy signing in to register to vote and placing his ballot. Mr. Kennedy meeting with other voters.

Latest Labor Union to Support Republican Candidate

The Mason Tenders District Council of Greater New York & Long Island has announced they have chosen to back John M. Kennedy as the next Suffolk County Executive. After submitting his responses for the candidate questionnaire, which were carefully reviewed, Mr. Kennedy picked up the union’s support. The leadership cited his stance in support of union workers and the importance of keeping high-paying jobs in Suffolk in announcing their endorsement.

The council is comprised of approximately 15,000 members, including construction workers, asbestos and hazardous materials handlers, Catholic high school teachers, recycling and waste handlers. The following unions are part of the council: General Building Laborers Local 66; Construction & General Building Laborers Local 79; Greater NY Lecet (Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust); Asbestos, Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers Local 78; Waste Material, Recycling & General Industrial Laborers Local 108; Lay Faculty Association Local 1261; and Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA).

The announcement comes after Mr. Kennedy received endorsements from the Utility Workers Union of America Local 393, Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Council, United Association of Plumbers Local 200, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local One.

“After a review of your positions related to working men and women on Long Island, and your history of standing up for Long Island’s working families, we are proud to make this endorsement on behalf of the 5,000-plus members of LiUNA living here on the island,” said Josh Slaughter, Long Island Political Coordinator, Mason Tenders District Council Political Action Committee. “We appreciate your efforts to support local union labor while working to prevent out-of-state workers from degrading our wages and jeopardizing workplace safety.”

“I am very honored and humbled to receive this endorsement,” Mr. Kennedy said. “We need to put our middle class back to work. That means keeping jobs in Suffolk and filling those positions with Suffolk residents. There is no reason to bring in a contractor from out of state when we have people right here who are willing to work and need high-paying wages to support themselves and their families.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.

Judge Orders Bellone to Hand over Documents Related to Ronkonkoma Development Project

RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK — John M. Kennedy, Jr., Suffolk County Comptroller and Candidate for Suffolk County Executive, applauded a recent decision from the New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk County, which dismissed a motion from County Executive Steve Bellone to quash a subpoena from Mr. Kennedy in an effort to hide the details behind a development project in Ronkonkoma.

On August 17, 2017, a Request For Qualification (RFQ) was put out for a proposed $1.1 billion development project in Ronkonkoma that would include a convention center and sports complex near the Long Island Rail Road station. The project was awarded to Jones Lang LaSalle America, Inc. and Ronkonkoma Vision Properties, LLC. Mr. Bellone said the project would be a success, despite the fact it was modeled after a defunct sports arena in Seattle. “It’s amazing what people will call a ‘success’ just to justify spending money that isn’t theirs,” Mr. Kennedy said.

Mr. Kennedy requested documents related to the RFQ, but was only given half of the materials. He then issued a subpoena seeking to obtain the rest of the documents. Rather than comply the Comptroller’s request, Mr. Bellone’s office took legal action to prevent Mr. Kennedy from performing his duties to protect Suffolk taxpayers by falsely claiming the Comptroller overstepped his authority. Mr. Kennedy filed a counterclaim, stating the documents are necessary to perform a proper audit.

On October 15, 2019, the court dismissed Mr. Bellone’s claim and ordered his office to comply with Mr. Kennedy’s request. “The Judge’s ruling in our favor tells me all I need to know: it was never about a genuine belief that records didn’t need to be shared and always about covering up an egregious waste of taxpayer money,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Moreover, it is a victory for the residents of Ronkonkoma, who will be severely impacted by this project. It is clear that the county executive sought to hide the details of the project from us. It’s part of a pattern under the Bellone administration: spend taxpayer dollars and then cover up that spending by any means necessary to keep the reality from the citizens of Suffolk County.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.

Says Suffolk’s Fiscal Crisis is Causing Residents to Flee

Who: John Kennedy, Suffolk County Comptroller and Candidate, Suffolk County Executive
Judy Giglio and Tim Hubbard, Council Members, Town of Riverhead
Yvette Aguiar, Candidate, Riverhead Town Supervisor

What: John Kennedy, Suffolk County Comptroller and Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, will continue his “Fiscal Reality Tour” into the Town of Riverhead. He will be joined by Jodi Giglio and Tim Hubbard, Council Members, Town of Riverhead, local elected officials and residents at a press conference.

In an attempt to get elected to another four-year term, County Executive Steve Bellone is trying to paint a picture that everything is fine in Suffolk County, but nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that the county is on the brink of fiscal disaster.

Mr. Kennedy will explain how taxpayers have been burdened by enormous tax and fee hikes, seven bond rating downgrades, and payroll and spending increases, resulting in population loss and a fiscal crisis.

During the press conference, Mr. Kennedy will explain how the fiscal crisis in Suffolk is chasing out residents by the thousands. Since 2012, more than 16,000 people have left Suffolk to live in more affordable regions in the country.

When: Sunday, October 13
1 p.m.

Where: The former Ben Franklin Craft & Variety
54 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY

Directions: From the LIE: Take Exit 71 for Route 24 toward Hampton Bays/Calverton. Make a right onto Rte. 24 S/Edwards Ave. S. Continue to follow Rte. 24 S. At the traffic circle, take the fourth exit onto Peconic Avenue. Turn right onto East Main Street. Destination will be on the left.

From Sunrise Highway: Sunrise Hwy. to Exit 61 for CR 51 N toward Riverhead/Eastport. Follow CR 51 N in Riverhead. Turn left onto Eastport Manor Rd., then a right onto the second cross street onto CR 51 N/Moriches-Riverhead Rd. After seven miles, turn right onto Nugent Drive. At the traffic circle, take the fourth exit onto Peconic Avenue. Turn right onto East Main Street. Destination will be on the left.

Latest Labor Union to Support Republican Candidate

The Utility Workers Union of America Local 393 has announced they have chosen to back John M. Kennedy as the next Suffolk County Executive. After undergoing a thorough screening process, Mr. Kennedy picked up the union’s support. The leadership cited his stance in support of union workers and the importance of keeping jobs in Suffolk in announcing their endorsement.

This announcement comes after Mr. Kennedy received endorsements from the Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Council, United Association of Plumbers Local 200, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local One. The union’s objective is to protect, maintain, and advance the interests of its members, as granted by the UWUA.

The Utility Workers Union of America, Local 393, represents over 350 production, maintenance, distribution, laboratory and clerical employees of the Suffolk County Water Authority.

“The committee has made this selection based on its belief that, if you are to be elected, you would be the best choice to serve and protect the families of Suffolk County as well as standing up for organized labor and protecting the rights of all hard-working middle-class families that unions represent,” said Nicholas J. Caracappa, President, Utility Workers Union of America Local 393.

“I am very honored and humbled to receive this endorsement,” Mr. Kennedy said. “When our residents work, our economy works and vice versa. We do that by getting our financial house in order, restoring fiscal integrity and putting people back to work in good-paying jobs. I have supported — and will continue to support — the hardworking middle class who are the heart and soul of Suffolk’s workforce.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.

Comptroller’s Report Reveals County is on the Brink of Financial Disaster

A recent report from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office revealed that, for the second year in a row, Suffolk County has been declared the most fiscally stressed county in the state, ahead of Nassau and Westchester Counties. John Kennedy, Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, said these findings reveal what was known all along: that Suffolk County is in a fiscal crisis.

The state Comptroller’s report showed that Suffolk County received a fiscal stress score of 76.7 (a score of 65 or above means “significant” fiscal stress). According to data from the report, not only did the total fund balance in the general fund show a negative balance over the past three years, that figure more than tripled from -$27,627,301 in 2016 to -$91,917,594 in 2018. The report also showed that, from 2016 to 2018, expenditures from its combined funds outpaced revenues.

In addition, Suffolk received a fiscal stress score of 30.0 for its environmental indicators. This means that Suffolk is “susceptible” to environmental stress. Some of the more alarming statistics based on this score include, from 2017 to 2018, Suffolk’s population declined by a total of 1.28%, home values decreased by 12.52% and more than 17.5% of the population rely on state and federal aid just to live here.

For seven years, Steve Bellone’s policies have spelled disaster for Suffolk residents. He has incurred a debt of almost $900 million, added $200 million in new taxes and fees, raised the property tax levy by 22.4% and increased the budget by almost 15%. Meanwhile, Suffolk has declared seven fiscal emergencies, faced seven bond downgrades and saw more than 16,000 residents move out of the county.

“When a Democrat in the New York State Comptroller’s office says that Suffolk County under a Democrat county executive is under severe fiscal stress, that is saying something,” Mr. Kennedy says. “Enough is enough. We must end the tax-and-spend policies of Steve Bellone that have created this fiscal crisis and hurt Suffolk County taxpayers. I’m running for County Executive to clean up this mess and put Suffolk County back on the path to economic prosperity. The county’s finances are on the brink of disaster and I worry what effect an economic slowdown will cause.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.

Contrasts Town’s Aaa Bond Rating with County’s Junk Bond Status

Ronkonkoma, NY — On September 28, John M. Kennedy, Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, was joined by local elected officials and residents at a press conference at the Islip Town Republican Committee headquarters in Bay Shore, in the next stop of his “Fiscal Reality Tour” as part of his campaign to #SaveSuffolk.

Mr. Kennedy explained that, contrary to claims made by the County Executive, taxpayers have been burdened by enormous tax and fee increases under Steve Bellone, while, at the same time, the County has experienced seven bond downgrades and a fiscal crisis whereby it barely meets its obligation week by week.

Mr. Bellone’s out-of-control spending has resulted in bloated payrolls and budgets. Despite the fact that the County’s workforce has been reduced by nearly 1,000 workers, payroll has increased by over $100 million. At the same time, the budget has risen from $2.7 billion to $3.1 billion — an increase of almost 15%.

Poor fiscal management has driven enormous tax and fee increases. The property tax levy has increased from $532,765,964 in 2012 to $652,108,097 in 2019. That is an increase of $119,342,129, meaning that homeowners have seen a property tax increase of 22.4% over that time.

In addition, Suffolk taxpayers have been hit with across-the-board fee increases. These include the tax map verification fee, mortgage recording fee, residential/commercial burglar alarm fee, red-light camera fee, shopping bag fee, pet grooming fee and Department of Motor Vehicles registration fee. In addition, Mr. Bellone has hiked county park use fees every year since 2015 for camping, fishing, hunting, parking, group events and recreational permits. This disproportionately affects working-class Suffolk residents, including first-time homebuyers and those who rely on parks for recreational opportunities. In total, the Bellone administration has raised taxes and fees to the tune of $200 million.

During the press conference, Mr. Kennedy contrasted Islip’s fiscal situation with Suffolk County’s. As Town Supervisor, Angie Carpenter has been able to minimize Islip’s debt, resulting in a bond rating of Aaa for four consecutive years. But under Steve Bellone’s leadership, Suffolk’s debt has reached almost $900 billion, causing the county to drift into a fiscal crisis and having its bond rating downgraded to Baa2, a rating which is considered “junk.”

“I wish to commend Supervisor Carpenter and the Town Board members for constantly bringing its residents a budget that is fiscally responsible,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Because they have kept debt low, Islip’s credit rating has been stellar for the past four years, which is far more than I can say for Mr. Bellone, whose seven years of out-of-control spending has led Suffolk into a fiscal crisis.”

Also exacerbating Suffolk’s fiscal crisis is the population reduction under Steve Bellone. The county’s overall population has shrunk by 16,396 in the past seven years, leaving fewer taxpayers to bear a higher tax burden. Favorable Industrial Development Agency (IDA) benefits have further reduced the county’s tax base.

“When I took office, I inherited a budget deficit with a process that was lacking transparency,” Supervisor Carpenter said. “I have gotten Islip’s finances back in order as a result of direct oversight with monthly budget and revenue projections, increased efficiencies with major departmental consolidation, posting full budget documents on the Town’s website — all leading to a bond rating upgrade to Aaa, the highest a municipality can achieve, reaffirmed four times, saving taxpayer dollars.”

“We need John Kennedy because he understands the importance of a high bond rating,” said Steve Flotteron, Suffolk County Legislator. “It’s very important to have a high bond rating because it costs you less money to borrow. Bellone has more than doubled our debt. Right now, we are in a sinking ship as he incurs more debt and he’s lowering our bond rating, which is costing us more money to borrow to cover our debt. It’s paying your credit card to use your credit card to pay your mortgage. That’s not how to run your household and it’s not the way to run the county.”

“The fiscal reality in Suffolk County is dismal, thanks to the mismanagement of County Executive Steve Bellone and his administration,” said Tom Cilmi, Suffolk County Legislator. “He has squandered millions of dollars in wasteful spending, and we need somebody to put the county back on the right track. That somebody is John Kennedy.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.

Contrasts Town’s Aaa Bond Rating with County’s Junk Bond Status

Who: John Kennedy, Suffolk County Comptroller and Candidate, Suffolk County Executive
Angie Carpenter, Supervisor, Town of Islip
Andrew Garbarino, Chairman, Islip Republican Committee
Local residents

What: John Kennedy, Suffolk County Comptroller and Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, will continue his “Fiscal Reality Tour” into the Town of Islip. He will be joined by Angie Carpenter, Supervisor, Town of Islip, local elected officials and residents at a press conference.

In an attempt to get elected to another four-year term, County Executive Steve Bellone is trying to paint a picture that everything is fine in Suffolk County, but nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that the county is on the brink of fiscal disaster.

Mr. Kennedy will explain how taxpayers have been burdened by enormous tax and fee hikes, seven bond rating downgrades, and payroll and spending increases, resulting in population loss and a fiscal crisis.

During the press conference, Mr. Kennedy will contrast Islip’s fiscal situation with Suffolk County’s. As Town Supervisor, Ms. Carpenter has been able to minimize Islip’s debt, resulting in a bond rating of Aaa over the past four years. But under Steve Bellone’s leadership, Suffolk’s debt has reached almost $900 billion, causing the county to drift into a fiscal crisis and having its bond rating downgraded to Baa2, a rating which is considered “junk.”

When: Saturday, September 28
10:00 a.m.

Where: Islip Republican Committee Headquarters
39 Third Street
Bay Shore, NY

Directions: From the East: Sunrise Highway (Rte. 27) to Exit 43. Take Bay Shore Rd. and Howells Rd to S. 3rd St. in Baywood. Keep right to continue to Howells Rd. Continue onto Bay Shore Rd. for 0.7 mile, then turn right onto Howells Rd. Make a slight right and Howells Rd. becomes Secatogue Ave. Continue onto Corbin Ave. for 0.3 mile, then turn right onto S. 3rd St. Headquarters are on the right-hand side.

From the West: Sunrise Hwy. to Exit 40 toward Huntington/Babylon/Rte. 231. Stay on South Service Road for 1.3 miles, then turn left on Udall Rd. after. 2.7 miles, make a left onto Howells Rd. Make a slight right and Howells Rd. becomes Secatogue Ave. Continue onto Corbin Ave. for 0.3 mile, then turn right onto S. 3rd St. Headquarters are on the right-hand side.

“Mr. Bellone’s new campaign commercial would be comical if it weren’t so sad. The two-and-a-half-minute production presents a rosy picture of Steve Bellone as a corruption-busting public servant, but makes no mention of the numerous scandals involving his administration, including those involving his former chief of police, the former assistant DA in charge of Suffolk’s Government Corruption Bureau and the head of the IT department.

“Even more shameful is that he makes no mention of the fiscal calamity he has created in Suffolk County. During his nearly eight years in office, Suffolk County taxpayers have faced the brunt of his fiscal mismanagement, with $200 million in tax and fee increases, a 22.4% property tax increase, a bloated budget of over $3 billion, including over $1 billion in payroll, $2 billion in debt, seven bond downgrades, seven fiscal emergencies, and nearly 17,000 fewer county residents.

“If Mr. Bellone were serious about addressing corruption in Suffolk County, he’d start by addressing the serious fiscal crisis we are facing, rather than shoveling taxpayers a line of B.S. If you want to learn the truth about Steve Bellone’s record, visit ShovelingSteve.com.”

Contrasts Town’s Superior Bond Rating to Suffolk’s “Junk Bond” Status

Ronkonkoma, NY — On September 12, John M. Kennedy, Candidate, Suffolk County Executive, was joined by local elected officials and residents at a press conference at Armed Forces Plaza in Patchogue, announcing the continuation of his “Fiscal Reality Tour” as part of his campaign to #SaveSuffolk.

Mr. Kennedy explained that, contrary to claims made by the County Executive, taxpayers have been burdened by enormous tax and fee increases under Steve Bellone, while, at the same time, the County has experienced seven bond downgrades and a fiscal crisis whereby it barely meets its obligation week by week.

Mr. Bellone’s out-of-control spending has resulted in bloated payrolls and budgets. Despite the fact that the County’s workforce has been reduced by nearly 1,000 workers, payroll has increased by over $100 million. At the same time, the budget has risen from $2.7 billion to $3.1 billion — an increase of almost 15%.

Poor fiscal management has driven enormous tax and fee increases. The property tax levy has increased from $532,765,964 in 2012 to $652,108,097 in 2019. That is an increase of $119,342,129, meaning that homeowners have seen a property tax increase of 22.4% over that time.

In addition, Suffolk taxpayers have been hit with across-the-board fee increases. These include the tax map verification fee, mortgage recording fee, residential/commercial burglar alarm fee, red-light camera fee, shopping bag fee, pet grooming fee and Department of Motor Vehicles registration fee. In addition, Mr. Bellone has hiked county park use fees every year since 2015 for camping, fishing, hunting, parking, group events and recreational permits. This disproportionately affects working-class Suffolk residents, including first-time homebuyers and those who rely on parks for recreational opportunities. In total, the Bellone administration has raised taxes and fees to the tune of $200 million.

Mr. Kennedy also contrasted the Town of Brookhaven’s financial performance with that of Suffolk County’s. Moody’s Investor Services recently upgraded the town’s credit rating to AAA, its highest rating; meanwhile, Suffolk’s bond rating has been rated Baa2 (a rating considered “junk”). Moody’s credited Brookhaven with its “continued strong financial management,” while Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has engaged in out-of-control spending for the past seven years, resulting in seven bond downgrades. “We are issuing junk bonds, and, each payroll period, we don’t know if we’ll be able to pay our bills,” Mr. Kennedy said. “We’ve had to declare a fiscal emergency seven times. It’s outrageous and it has to end.”

As an example of Brookhaven’s responsible fiscal management, the town has set aside a fund for maintaining the town’s landfill and has a plan in place to minimize lost revenues. Mr. Bellone, on the other hand, has raided the water fund to the tune of millions of dollars.

“I want to congratulate Supervisor Romaine for achieving the highest bond rating possible for any municipality,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Unlike Mr. Bellone — who has spent taxpayer money wildly, and had to raise taxes, implement fees and raid the water fund to plug budget deficits — Mr. Romaine has held the line on taxes and spending, making Brookhaven a more affordable place to live for its residents. If Suffolk County operated like this, it would not have seen seven bond downgrades, seven fiscal emergencies and over 16,000 people fleeing the county.”

Also exacerbating Suffolk’s fiscal crisis is the reduction in population. The county’s overall population has shrunk by 16,396 in the past seven years, leaving fewer taxpayers to bear a higher tax burden. Favorable Industrial Development Agency (IDA) benefits have further reduced the county’s tax base.

“When I decided to run for New York State Assembly, it was to try to help the younger generations, like my daughter, from moving out of state,” said Joe DeStefano, New York State Assemblyman. “Due to the current high costs of living on Long Island, especially Suffolk County, my daughter and her family were forced to move out of New York to seek a more affordable life. If nothing changes, at the rate we are going here in Suffolk County, I predict more and more families will be broken up like mine has.”

“Steve Bellone spent most of 2018 traveling around the state, campaigning for New York State Democrats, to give total control of the state to one party, the Democrats, and one part of the state, New York City,” said Andrew Garbarino, New York State Assemblyman. “Now, all of the state suffers. Record numbers of people are leaving Suffolk County and New York State because of the radical policies from Albany and the terrible fiscal condition of Suffolk County.”

For more information, visit www.johnkennedyforsuffolk.com or follow #SaveSuffolk.