On the Issues: Taxes and Fiscal Responsibility / Protecting Our Environment
Health Care / Seniors and Veterans / Public Safety and Protecting Our Children
Preserving Our Quality of Life

 

Taxes and Fiscal Responsibility

The high cost of living, particularly high taxes in Suffolk County, has been a serious concern for all members of the community. As a homeowner himself, Steve understands this well. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the 2007 Budget and Finance Committee, Steve worked with County Executive Steve Levy and successfully reduced spending in the Capital Budget by $35 million, while still retaining essential infrastructure projects. Following that, he helped pass the 2007 Operating Budget which cuts the County’s General Fund Tax by 2.6 percent for Suffolk homeowners, which will not only provide relief for families, but will maintain essential services.

• Sponsored legislation to amend New York State “Real Property Tax Law for Eligible Reservists” of our Armed Forces.
• Sponsored legislation requesting New York State to provide tax credits to seniors for performing volunteer services.
• Sponsored legislation to support the repeal of “Individual Alternative Minimum Tax.”
• Co-sponsored legislation expanding volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers real property tax exemptions.
• Co-sponsored legislation to further extend first time homeowner County property tax exemption.

 

Protecting Our Environment

As a member of the Agriculture, Environment & Planning Committee, Steve Stern has taken great strides in protecting our environment. Since taking office, fighting over-development and maintaining our quality of life have been some of his top priorities. In only his first few weeks in office, he introduced his Five-Point Plan to combat overdevelopment in our community. Thus far, he has been successful in preserving specific property in Dix Hills, Greenlawn and Elwood, and has co-sponsored pending legislation that will improve the process of preserving open space in the western part of Suffolk. He has fought to improve sewage policies and has worked tirelessly to control the amount of heavy traffic we all experience in our daily lives. Along with these accomplishments, Steve Stern has worked on energy conservation projects and continues to combat the threat of global warming.

• Co-sponsored the successful creation of a new County Department of Environment & Energy. 
• Co-sponsored Green Energy Bill, which requires compliance with environmentally friendly standards for certain County Capital projects.
• Co-sponsored legislation implementing Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) for future County construction projects.
• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the acquisition of land under Suffolk County Save Open Space (SOS) Farmland Preservation and Hamlet Parks Fund acquiring the Mohlenhoff property in the Town of Huntington.
• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the acquisition of land under the Suffolk County Multifaceted Land Preservation Program-Open Space Preservation Program acquiring Emerald Estates in Greenlawn.
• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the acquisition of land under the Suffolk County Multifaceted Land Preservation Program-Open Space Preservation Program acquiring Jill Estates in Dix Hills.

 

Health Care

A growing concern nationally and here in Suffolk County has been the issue of health care. As Vice-Chairman of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, Steve Stern has worked on the local level to improve public health. Recently, Steve introduced legislation encouraging New York State to pass laws that will help medical professionals better understand why certain diseases seem to occur in “clusters,” and ways to take precautions to prevent diseases such as breast cancer. He has also encouraged awareness of donations of cord blood — which is rich in stem cells and can be used to treat many diseases. Among these accomplishments is his successful ban of mercury from vaccines made available in Suffolk County, Establishing Autism Awareness Month, and his contributions to the “Health Care Responsibility Act.”

• Sponsored legislation in support of the “Health Care Responsibility Act” requiring large big box retailers to provide health insurance for employees.
• Sponsored legislation requiring the use of Mercury-Free vaccines in County Health Centers.
• Sponsored legislation in support of the "Federal Combating Autism Act of 2005."
• Sponsored legislation requesting the New York State Legislature to pass the Mental Health Parity Bill known as "Timothy's Law."
• Sponsored legislation requesting the United States Congress to enact the “Medicare Informed Choice Act of 2005” to extend deadline to enroll in Medicare Part D. 
• Co-sponsored legislation to establish a County policy permitting leaves of absence for breast cancer and prostate cancer screening.
• Co-sponsored legislation declaring November as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in Suffolk County.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the Suffolk County Department of Health Services to promote awareness of the benefits of cord blood and encourage cord blood donations.

 

Seniors and Veterans