Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today met with Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano to discuss regional solutions to issues pertinent to both counties. Among the things they announced at their joint press conference was a move to form a "Downstate Coalition" which now includes Westchester and Nassau Counties. They hope to expand this group to include Suffolk County, and ultimately, New York City.

"Our goal is to create a coalition where we work across party lines to help all the residents in Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, and New York City," said Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. "There are a lot of problems that we have in common, and we can best serve our residents by coming together to create a formidable team."

"We are not isolated in this state," said Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano. "Nassau right now is facing some of the same problems that we were facing when we took office four years ago. Tom and I have known each other for a long time, and I am happy to help and offer him advice when I can."

The two County Executive's listed some of the issues they hope to be able to work on together. Those include the Long Island Sound, early retirement, local police patrolling state highways, a coordinated emergency response plan, and un-funded state mandates.

"We are in the process of developing a permanent downstate coalition, and we look forward to working together, and with Suffolk, to help all the people in these counties, and consequently all of New York state," Suozzi said.