Suffolk County Executive Bob Gaffney (L) and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (R) announced some initiatives at a joint press conference on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi yesterday met with Suffolk County Executive Bob Gaffney. In their fifth meeting since Suozzi took office on January 1, they discussed different programs that would benefit both Nassau and Suffolk. The two counties, when grouped together, make up the 16th largest metropolitan region.

Among the initiatives they discussed were lobbying Albany to provide state reimbursement for patrolling the Long Island Expressway, and changing the Taylor Law. The Taylor Law forces the government and police unions to settle labor disputes through a mediator to prevent the unions from striking. Nassau County is facing a $428 million deficit in 2005, and police costs make up about 25% of the budget. "We can't afford, in Nassau County, the rate of pay of police officers," County Executive Suozzi said.

Other initiatives the County Executive's discussed included cost savings by sharing facilities, and an emergency response plan for both Counties.