Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro Tel: (516)571-6218 Fax: (516)571-6158 Committees: Rules - Chair Budget Review - Vice Chair Aging Procedures Labor	Upcoming Events Tuesday, June 3rd, Minority Women Business Enterprise training – Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club 7-9 PM Tuesday, May 13th Tax Exemption meeting at the Locust Valley Library 7 – 8:30 PM
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Biography:

Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro, of Glen Cove, represents the 18th Legislative District. The district covers Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Lattingtown, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Sea Cliff, Upper Brookville, and parts of Greenvale, Hicksville, Jericho, and Oyster Bay.

In 2006, she was a leader in securing a $100 million environmental bond approved by the voters.  This bond provides funds to preserve the few remaining farms and other open spaces left in Nassau County.

Among her top priorities, Yatauro counts quality of life and child care issues. She was instrumental in the passage of Tobacco 19, a local law that raised the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 19 in an effort to keep cigarettes off high school campuses.

The legislator also recently approved a “living wage” law that will increase wages for workers contracted by the county to $9.50 starting in 2007. Increases will follow in 2008 to $10.50 an hour and go to $12.50 an hour in 2010. Supporters of the law include many labor groups representing home health care workers, and the Long Island Progressive Coalition. The bill was signed into law on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2006. Yatauro was also instrumental in the passing of a bill providing a partial tax exemption for qualified first-time homebuyers in Nassau County. The bill will provide a break on property tax bills for the first five years.

For the third straight year, Legislator Yatauro has approved a “no tax increase” budget for Nassau County taxpayers, and added belt-tightening measures for county departments while funding programs that benefit the County’s neediest residents. She has also been able to assist the various communities within the 18th LD by providing some funding assistance for lighting, playground equipment, school improvements, and waste receptacles.

Legislatively, she pioneered the Colette Coyne Tanning Bill. She has also been very active in helping to keep taxes in check and has voted to approve funding for free legal representation for local renters, funding for the NCSPCA to help control animal cruelty, and funding for HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) for those residents who need a little extra help paying their heating bills. Legislator Yatauro approved legislation that offers an exemption from the County portion of sales tax to homeowners installing solar energy systems and has been persistent in seeing that necessary public works projects get done within the district. She has also been instrumental in appropriating funding for 100 additional police officers and has introduced a more stringent Megan’s Law.

Legislator Yatauro is a former Second Vice President of Chase Manhattan Bank, and she is a past Vice President of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Boys and Girls Club, as well as a former board member of Portledge School. She continues to teach religion at St. Rocco’s Catholic Church in Glen Cove.

Legislator Yatauro spends much of her time in the 18th LD speaking to constituents. She has held a minimum of a meeting a month, addressing various concerns to make the 18th LD better and encourages the residents of the 18th LD to contact her office with any issues, concerns, or suggestions.

Legislator Yatauro serves as Chair of the Towns, Villages, and Cities Committee and the Government Services Committe. She is a member of the Finance Committee; Health Committee; Public Works Committee; and Planning, Development, and the Environment Committee.