Mineola, NY —  In continuing his Healthy Nassau initiative, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi was honored today as a Clean Air Champion by the New York State Department of Transportation. Suozzi was joined by representatives of the American Lung Association, Clean Air NY, Long Island Transportation Management, and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County to encourage residents to go online and commit to cleaner air at cleanairny.org/commit.

The New York State Department of Transportation’s Clean Air NY initiative named Nassau County a Clean Air Champion for the Healthy Nassau “Green Your Commute” Program which actively promotes mass transit, ridesharing and a 4-day work week among Nassau County government’s over 9,000 employees.

“Nassau County is honored to be named a Clean Air Champion,” said Suozzi. “I think this is indicative of the positive impact Healthy Nassau is making and how something as easy as taking the train or carpooling to work can really make a difference. I urge Nassau residents to join me in pledging to reduce air pollution by doing any one or more of the following: combine errands into one trip, take mass transit, carpool, walk to work, ride your bike instead of driving a car, bring lunch to work, and refuel your car after dark.”

The event marks the close of Commit to Cleaner Air Week, which kicked off Monday to promote action during ozone season – the time of year when air pollution frequently reaches unhealthy levels. Nassau County has commemorated Commit to Cleaner Air Week by shining a blue light over the dome of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building each night since Monday – representing the hope for clear, clean skies.

“We are so excited to recognize Nassau County for their outstanding efforts to help improve air quality in the New York metropolitan region,” said Frank Mongioi, Marketing and Outreach Manager for Clean Air NY.  “They are clearly an environmental role model for government, businesses and communities, by helping to take thousands of cars and more than 150,000 vehicle miles off of our roads and highways. They’re helping our environment and they’re making it easier for all of us to breathe. They clearly commit to cleaner air.”

Earlier this year, 123 Nassau County employees opted into the 4-day-work-week program. To honor those 123 employees for reducing their carbon footprint, the Girl Scouts of Long Island presented a banner they decorated with 123 green footsteps.

“We are pleased to join Clean Air NY in promoting efforts to improve our air quality” said Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “We want our Girl Scouts to be able to enjoy the outdoors without concerns for their health or safety.”

Representatives from Clean Air NY and the American Lung Association also spoke at the event, noting the problem of poor air quality in the region and offering ways New Yorkers can fight back. According to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report, 65 percent of New Yorkers live in counties where poor air quality endangers lives.

“Nassau County residents who struggle to breathe every day are fortunate to have a County Executive as committed to clean air as County Executive Tom Suozzi,” said Michael Seilback, Vice President for Public Policy and Communications at the American Lung Association in New York. “By encouraging county residents to commit to some simple changes during Clean Air Week and implement them year round, we will improve our air quality and public health.”

As a practical suggestion for residents to embrace green commuting including ridesharing, biking, walking, and taking public transportation, nuride.com offers rewards such as restaurant coupons, retailer discounts, and tickets to shows and attractions.

Improving air quality is a high priority for County Executive Suozzi as part of his “Healthy Nassau” campaign to make Nassau County the healthiest county in the country. Healthy Nassau seeks to sustain a healthy environment, focusing on air, land and water, while encouraging healthy living, tending to bodies, minds and spirits.

About Healthy Nassau
Improving air quality is a high priority for County Executive Suozzi as part of his “Healthy Nassau” campaign to make Nassau County the healthiest county in the country. Healthy Nassau seeks to sustain a healthy environment, focusing on air, land and water, while encouraging healthy living, tending to bodies, minds and spirits.

Healthy Nassau initiatives include:

• Healthy Nassau-Roosevelt Field Mall Walking Club
• Fitness Trails at Eisenhower Park and Christopher Morley Park
• Ban on trans fats and the placement of calorie counts on menus;
• Working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options;
• Continuing to preserve the County’s remaining open space;
• Operating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration;
• Providing space for a Farmer’s Market offering fresh, local produce;
• The Biggest Loser Weight-Off Competition for County workers;
• Seeking a state-authorized increased cigarette tax to discourage smoking

About Clean Air NY
Clean Air NY is an initiative sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation in support of regional air quality efforts. Clean Air NY’s network of individuals and businesses believes that every person has the power to help make New York’s air healthier and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Clean Air NY educates the public on simple everyday changes that reduce vehicle travel and provides real-time updates on Air Quality Action Days via text messaging, e-mail and media notifications. To learn more, visit CleanAirNY.org.

About Girl Scouts of Nassau County
Girl Scouts of Nassau County is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with more than 22,000 girl and 7,000 adult members. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization, now in its 97th year, continues to strive to serve girls throughout Nassau County with innovative programming based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.