We, the people, are being kept in the dark. The County Executive plans to sell or lease our three largest sewage treatment plants (STPs) as a one-time budget fix. This historic decision will be the biggest financial transaction in Nassau County’s history, and it is all being done behind our backs.

We, the people refuse to stay silent any longer. The County Executive expects to sell or lease the Cedar Creek, Bay Park and Glen Cove STPs for $1.3 billion to balance the 2012 and 2013 budgets. For investing that large sum of money, a private investor will expect to reap huge profits from our tax dollars. It’s been proven time and time again, locally and all over the country, that once  a profit-driven private entity takes over a revenue-neutral municipal service, fees skyrocket, our environment and every resident suffers. 

We, the people are not being given a voice. We demand the opportunity to have our say about this back-door tax increase. This one-time budget fix is included in the 2012 budget and was approved by the Nassau County Legislative Majority in October 2011. Subsequently, the Rules Committee voted along party lines in December 2011 to contract Morgan Stanley for $100,000 per quarter to assist the County in finding a buyer/operator. Morgan Stanley will receive an additional fee of not less than $5 million if any deal is made, whether the deal is good or bad for the people of Nassau County. In the end, the County Executive will have his one-time, short-sighted budget fix, BUT we, the people, will not have had any  input in a billion dollar deal that will impact our County for generations to come.

We, the people are uniting. In January 2012, the Nassau County Coalition of Civic Associations  ("Coalition") was formed to provide a strong, united voice to address issues that affect our County.  It is a non-partisan, not-for-profit coalition of Nassau County civic associations.

The Coalition, along with the Sludge Stoppers Task Force, Operation Splash, Surfrider Foundation and the Long Beach Surf Association, seeks to address the County’s proposal to sell or lease our sewage treatment plants. These facilities are public assets owned by us--Nassau County residents and taxpayers, and we MUST have a say. 

We, the people are uniting to save our assets and our environment.  The Coalition is demanding transparency and full disclosure of the County’s proposal,  as well as public oversight, including citizens’ review along every step of the process, prior to the County’s effectuating any deal. We require that a citizens’ advisory committee be established so, as resident-taxpayers of the County and owners of the facilities, we, the people, have a recognized voice in any decision-making.

We, the people believe that public oversight is necessary to protect ourselves against potential increases in costs to the taxpayers of the County, loss of local control and the possibility that the buyer or lessee may negatively impact the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of our families and the health and well-being of our environment.

We, the people, will not remain in the dark any longer. If you’d like to learn more about the County’s Sewage Treatment Plan or would like to help us stop this deal, visit  We the People Save our Waters on Facebook or www.nassaucoalition.org

Please sign and add your comments to the petition to let Mr Mangano and the County Legislators know that you don’t want to sell or Lease our Sewage Treatment Plants.  Your signature and comments count, please forward.

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