County Roundup: Suffolk DA Investigates County’s Sandy Cleanup

Article posted by Barbara Capella Loehr, and written by Sara Walsh.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota is widening his investigation into how the County awarded millions of dollars in post-Hurricane Sandy clean-up work.

Newsday reported several grand jury subpoenas were served to Suffolk County on April 16 for legislative records, copies of emergency declarations County Executive Steve Bellone signed and other documents related to the clean-up of the October 29 superstorm.

County Attorney Dennis Brown said these documents are being compiled to comply with the request.

Tim Laube, the clerk for the Suffolk Legislature, also received a subpoena on April 16 seeking documents relating to Sandy. He said electronic copies have been sent to the district attorney’s office.
 
These subpoenas follow requests sent to the Towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip and Smithtown earlier this year.

The district attorney’s office is looking into whether government officials might've steered clean-up work toward certain contractors, and whether or not workers were paid New York State-mandated wages.
 
Suffolk Increases Sunday Bus Service
County lawmakers reached a deal that'll increase Sunday and evening bus service along several routes, according to Newsday.

Currently Suffolk only provides Sunday bus service on two County bus routes and only in the Summer months.

Legislator Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, filed a resolution to use $2 million in new State transit aid for expanded bus service to the East End.

However, Bellone balked saying the County needs to get the most it can out of every dollar as it's facing a $240 million deficit.

Under the agreement the County will use $1.1 million of the $2 million to increase bus routes on Sundays and evenings to the East End.

In addition Suffolk officials will file for a matching federal grant that could provide another $1 million for additional bus service.

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