Ed Mangano
Encyclopedia
Edward P. Mangano is the County Executive and was a county legislator in Nassau County
, New York
. He was elected in 1995 and served seven terms. He defeated incumbent Thomas R. Suozzi
for Nassau County Executive
in an election that was held on November 3, 2009.
, one of three siblings born to
Rachel and John Mangano. He began his professional career as a janitor to put himself though college. While earning undergraduate and law degrees from Hofstra University
Mangano found the time to have a successful career in printing and publishing newspapers and, in 1988, was admitted to the New York State Bar. Additionally he went on to serve as counsel to a local law firm on Long Island
.
He and his wife, Linda, have two sons; Salvatore and Alexander.
, Hicksville
, Plainedge, South Farmingdale, Levittown
, Island Trees, and Syosset. He was the first individual elected to serve in the position. He served on the Rules Committee, the Public Works Committee, the Recreation and Parks Committee, the Procedures Committee, and the Economic and Community Development Committee. He was replaced by fellow Republican Rose Marie Walker.
One of his achievements was the revitalization of former United States Navy
and Grumman properties spread throughout Nassau County. When Congress had closed these properties, along with other defense plants throughout the country, it was estimated that over 200,000 jobs were lost. Today, formerly abandoned Navy and Grumman properties are home to dozens of new businesses and senior citizen centers,
resulting in tens of thousands of new jobs.
Mangano was a sponsor of legislation preserving land throughout Nassau County, strengthening Megan’s Law, preserving the historic 18th century Jackson/Malcom estate, preserving Underhill Property to protect drinking water, establishing a state-of-the-art fire fighting training center, increasing veteran services, funding a veteran’s monument, created a high technology small business incubator, and established youth programs to provide teenagers with a place to gather.
Mangano also supported County Clean Air Legislation requiring most county vehicles use clean diesel fuel and the installation of filter devices as well as vehicles used contractors the work for the county; cosponsored legislation expanding the real property tax exemption for disabled residents; and supported stricter penalties on business owners that use deceptive practices against consumers.
In an upset he led the Republicans to a major victory taking 3 of the 4 county wide positions and regaining control of the County Legislature.
During his inaugural address, Mangano fulfilled his promise by signing an executive order to repeal the tax as of June 1, 2010. His administration estimated the repeal would save families and seniors hundreds of dollars each year. Citing lost revenue, the Nassau County Interim Financial Authority found that the county's $2.6 billion budget was out of balance by $176 million. This led Moody's Investor Service to downgrade the county and put its finances on outlook negative.
In an effort to consolidate services for taxpayers, Mangano is working with Nassau BOCES and the superintendents of dozens of local school districts to explore ways to save millions in school spending, by buying in bulk and sharing services such as out of district transportation, purchasing, Information Technology and Telecommunications and internal audits.
Immediately upon taking office, Mangano signed two Executive Orders. The first immediately reduced the interest rate for commercial tax certiorari settlements to 3%, saving taxpayers $1 million. The second created an Assessment Reform Team with a mandate to study the broken property tax assessment system and make recommendations for fixing it. Consisting of real estate experts, ART is tasked with coming up with solutions to fix the problems.
Two more Executive Orders were signed by Mangano in April in an attempt to correct the errors of the annual assessment system before they occurred. The Emergency Taxpayer Protection Order fixed the commercial assessment errors, requiring commercial property owners grieving their assessment to obtain and produce a certified appraisal to the county ensuring their property is properly assessed. This allows Nassau to reduce waste while providing businesses an opportunity to correct their taxes before they would be forced to overpay.
The Tax Stabilization Order will replace the annual assessment system with a four-year cyclical system beginning in 2011. By going onto a cyclical reassessment system, Nassau County will begin to reduce the $250 million in annual tax dollar waste and take the first step towards solvency.
In late October, errors were found in the first school tax-roll released by the Mangano Administration, leaving the County with a 1.3 million dollar school tax bill. Other errors included tax exemptions added and removed from properties at random, including Nassau's own Executive Building, which was included on the roll at $56 million despite being tax-exempt. Following these errors, Mangano fired Assessor Ted Jankowski, who had been appointed by Thomas Suozzi
under much criticism, and was determined to be at fault for the errors not being caught. To fix the assessment system further, New York State Assessors Association "Assessor Of The Year" and former Smithtown Assessor, Gregory Hild was appointed to review the system. Mangano and Hild hope to fix the problems within the Assessment Office within the next year.
In March, Mangano negotiated a $166 million Capital Improvement Plan with the Legislature that puts people back to work on public projects throughout Nassau County while improving parks, roads and other county facilities. Mangano also assembled a business development unit, made up of economic development professionals and business resource partners, which has the stated goal of assisting employers trying to relocate or expand their businesses within Nassau County.
During the speech Mangano stated that, to solve Nassau County’s woes, structural reforms would be needed to fix the property tax assessment system and rein in county spending.
(MTA), which operates Long Island Bus, and Nassau County. The MTA has historically provided a larger subsidy to Nassau than other suburban counties have received, and asked for an additional $17 million contribution from the county. The County has refused to increase their contribution, accusing the MTA of waste and inefficiency, and has considered terminating their operation agreement with the MTA and privatizing the bus system. In response to the lack of funding, the MTA is considering eliminating half of Long Island Bus' routes in July 2011, and potentially eliminating the entire system at the end of the year.
The county's contribution is currently $9.1 million per year out of a total budget of $133.1 million, and the MTA is demanding that this contribution increase to $26 million. The county hopes to pay $4.1 million to a private contractor..
In light of a threat by the MTA to cut $40 million in funding, which would eliminate Long Island Bus, on July 22, 2010, Mangano announced he would immediately form a committee that would explore privatizing the bus service. The MTA announced plans to not only eliminate $26 million in funding for Long Island Bus but to also hike bus and subway fares in an effort to increase their revenue by 7.5%.
The MTA had previously slashed its Able-Ride service, which was the primary mode of transportation for many people with disabilities. The agency also eliminated 11 routes completely and reduced service on eight others. The MTA had been implicated in continuing to hire high-level employees at the same time as they were cutting services.
On July 21, 2010 it was reported that the MTA was poised to spend more than $1 million to hire 11 additional managers and executives despite 38 percent of their operating budget already dedicated to salaries ($4.2 billion), and nearly 12 percent of that amount related to overtime (over $400 million). As noted in a report released June 24, 2009 by the non-partisan Empire Center for New York State Policy, over 10 percent of the MTA's employees (8,214 in total) make $100,000 or more annually.
A partial compromise was reached on April 1, 2011 as the New York State Legislature moved to provide an extra $8.6 million to avoid the July service cuts, which would have eliminated half of Long Island Bus' lines. This compromise saw Nassau County pay half the increase that the MTA had sought. No provision was made for future years, though. and later in April the MTA Board voted to terminate the Long Island Bus contract at the end of the year.
(MTA) on behalf of Nassau’s taxpayers challenging the legality of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax. The suit also seeks a reimbursement of more than $3 million already paid to the MTA by Nassau County
. Nassau County has paid approximately $3 million since the implementation of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax.
The lawsuit challenges the legality and constitutionality of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and illegal as it impinges upon the Home Rule Powers of local municipalities; that the payroll tax inequitably taxes and discriminates against Nassau County and all businesses that must remit the payroll tax; and that the process in which the payroll tax was implemented violated the New York State Constitution. Since its filing, several municipalities have joined Nassau's lawsuit against the MTA, including Orange County
, Putnam County
, Rockland County, Westchester County and Suffolk County
.
Chairman and CEO Jay Walder
while also asking the state's Gubernatorial candidates to make a simple promise to voters to shake up leadership at the Authority. A state Comptroller audit had recently called for an end to management's “culture of acceptance” of overtime pay and discovered “serious flaws” in the budget practices of its central office. The comptroller's office also found that 145 MTA employees received overtime pay that exceeded their salaries in 2009. About 5% of the agency's nearly 70,000 workers, or more than 3,200 employees, last year received overtime totaling at least half of their regular salaries.
On September 29, 2010 Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano urged all Nassau County businesses to let the MTA know how they feel about the MTA Payroll Tax when they meet the deadline to pay the tax on September 30.
On November 28th, the County Legislature Rules Committee voted to approval the NICE bus service. The vote fell along political lines, with Republicans voting for County bus service and the Democrats voting against it.
and Scott Rechler's lighthouse project, County Executive Mangano partnered up with Wang to rebuild the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
, as well as add an Atlantic League
Minor League ballpark and an indoor track and convention facility. Nassau County held a special election in August 2011 to ask people to vote on whether they would agree to increased taxes ($13.80 per household) to pay for a bond to redevelop the area. The proposition had support from numerous Long Island institutions, including The Long Island Association
, Nassau Chambers of Commerce, Vision Long Island, Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, New York Marine Trades Association, Long Island Council of Clergy, The Long Island Chapter of the New York Restaurant Association, the Nassau County Independence Party, and the National Hockey League
. Mangano cited the redevelopment as a major economic and business development boost for Nassau County, as well as a job generator.
Despite Wang and Mangano's efforts, Nassau voters rejected the proposed Coliseum redevelopment. The future of the Coliseum and the New York Islanders in Nassau County remains unsure.
After the special election, Mangano announced Request for Proposals (RFPs) for private companies to redevelop the 77 acres of Coliseum site. The request stated that all proposals must address job creation, quality of life and revenue. In October 2011, the County submitted a plan to the Empire State Development Corp. detailing the creation of a new Nassau Coliseum as well as a bio-research facility at the Coliseum site. The County is looking for state funding for the plan, as well as for the development of a casino and soccer stadium at Belmont Park
and an expansion of film studios and homeland security facilities at the Grumman property in Bethpage
. The plan also mentions a minor league ballpark and track facility in Mitchel Field.
Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the Hicksville
Kiwanis
. In the past he has served on the Board of Directors of Children’s House, as a member of the LI Mentoring Partnership Council, was President of the Bethpage/Plainview Rotary Club, was a member of the Grumman Master Planning Council, and was a member of the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Advisory Committee He has also been the Honorary Chairman of Long Island's Toys For Tots
program,two years in a row.
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was elected in 1995 and served seven terms. He defeated incumbent Thomas R. Suozzi
Thomas Suozzi
Thomas R. "Tom" Suozzi was the county executive of Nassau County, New York. He was first elected to the post of county executive in 2001, the first Democratic county executive since Eugene Nickerson left office in 1971.In 2006, he ran unsuccessfully against Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic...
for Nassau County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
in an election that was held on November 3, 2009.
Early life
Edward Mangano was raised in Bethpage, New YorkBethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
, one of three siblings born to
Rachel and John Mangano. He began his professional career as a janitor to put himself though college. While earning undergraduate and law degrees from Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
Mangano found the time to have a successful career in printing and publishing newspapers and, in 1988, was admitted to the New York State Bar. Additionally he went on to serve as counsel to a local law firm on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
He and his wife, Linda, have two sons; Salvatore and Alexander.
County Legislator
As a legislator, Mangano represented the 17th legislative district of Nassau County as County Legislator. This district includes areas of BethpageBethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
, Hicksville
Hicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
, Plainedge, South Farmingdale, Levittown
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
, Island Trees, and Syosset. He was the first individual elected to serve in the position. He served on the Rules Committee, the Public Works Committee, the Recreation and Parks Committee, the Procedures Committee, and the Economic and Community Development Committee. He was replaced by fellow Republican Rose Marie Walker.
One of his achievements was the revitalization of former United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Grumman properties spread throughout Nassau County. When Congress had closed these properties, along with other defense plants throughout the country, it was estimated that over 200,000 jobs were lost. Today, formerly abandoned Navy and Grumman properties are home to dozens of new businesses and senior citizen centers,
resulting in tens of thousands of new jobs.
Mangano was a sponsor of legislation preserving land throughout Nassau County, strengthening Megan’s Law, preserving the historic 18th century Jackson/Malcom estate, preserving Underhill Property to protect drinking water, establishing a state-of-the-art fire fighting training center, increasing veteran services, funding a veteran’s monument, created a high technology small business incubator, and established youth programs to provide teenagers with a place to gather.
Mangano also supported County Clean Air Legislation requiring most county vehicles use clean diesel fuel and the installation of filter devices as well as vehicles used contractors the work for the county; cosponsored legislation expanding the real property tax exemption for disabled residents; and supported stricter penalties on business owners that use deceptive practices against consumers.
County Executive campaign
In the spring of 2009, Legislator Mangano began a campaign for Nassau County Executive. His platform included promises to cut wasteful spending, freeze and fix Nassau’s broken property tax assessment system, repeal the new tax on home energy and electricity use, and halt the practice of borrowing and relying on debt to pay current expenses.In an upset he led the Republicans to a major victory taking 3 of the 4 county wide positions and regaining control of the County Legislature.
Home energy tax
Mangano promised that if elected, he would repeal of a home energy tax passed by former County Executive Tom Suozzi, which cost households on average $7.27 a month.During his inaugural address, Mangano fulfilled his promise by signing an executive order to repeal the tax as of June 1, 2010. His administration estimated the repeal would save families and seniors hundreds of dollars each year. Citing lost revenue, the Nassau County Interim Financial Authority found that the county's $2.6 billion budget was out of balance by $176 million. This led Moody's Investor Service to downgrade the county and put its finances on outlook negative.
Discretionary spending
Mangano has reduced the public payroll, including highly paid managers, by $22 million in 2010. He also launched an effort to sell surplus property such as vehicles and equipment in an effort to reduce maintenance costs. He plans to also reduce the $150 million in annual waste caused by the County’s assessment system.In an effort to consolidate services for taxpayers, Mangano is working with Nassau BOCES and the superintendents of dozens of local school districts to explore ways to save millions in school spending, by buying in bulk and sharing services such as out of district transportation, purchasing, Information Technology and Telecommunications and internal audits.
Assessment system
The average land owner in Nassau County pays 30% more in property taxes because of the broken assessment system. The system also had delayed refund money causing $1.13 billion in taxpayer debt. This debt, along with errors in the system, cost taxpayers $250 million each year.Immediately upon taking office, Mangano signed two Executive Orders. The first immediately reduced the interest rate for commercial tax certiorari settlements to 3%, saving taxpayers $1 million. The second created an Assessment Reform Team with a mandate to study the broken property tax assessment system and make recommendations for fixing it. Consisting of real estate experts, ART is tasked with coming up with solutions to fix the problems.
Two more Executive Orders were signed by Mangano in April in an attempt to correct the errors of the annual assessment system before they occurred. The Emergency Taxpayer Protection Order fixed the commercial assessment errors, requiring commercial property owners grieving their assessment to obtain and produce a certified appraisal to the county ensuring their property is properly assessed. This allows Nassau to reduce waste while providing businesses an opportunity to correct their taxes before they would be forced to overpay.
The Tax Stabilization Order will replace the annual assessment system with a four-year cyclical system beginning in 2011. By going onto a cyclical reassessment system, Nassau County will begin to reduce the $250 million in annual tax dollar waste and take the first step towards solvency.
In late October, errors were found in the first school tax-roll released by the Mangano Administration, leaving the County with a 1.3 million dollar school tax bill. Other errors included tax exemptions added and removed from properties at random, including Nassau's own Executive Building, which was included on the roll at $56 million despite being tax-exempt. Following these errors, Mangano fired Assessor Ted Jankowski, who had been appointed by Thomas Suozzi
Thomas Suozzi
Thomas R. "Tom" Suozzi was the county executive of Nassau County, New York. He was first elected to the post of county executive in 2001, the first Democratic county executive since Eugene Nickerson left office in 1971.In 2006, he ran unsuccessfully against Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic...
under much criticism, and was determined to be at fault for the errors not being caught. To fix the assessment system further, New York State Assessors Association "Assessor Of The Year" and former Smithtown Assessor, Gregory Hild was appointed to review the system. Mangano and Hild hope to fix the problems within the Assessment Office within the next year.
Job opportunities
Mangano eliminated a $38 million home energy tax on homeowners and eliminated a 13% property tax hike proposed by former County Executive Tom Suozzi.In March, Mangano negotiated a $166 million Capital Improvement Plan with the Legislature that puts people back to work on public projects throughout Nassau County while improving parks, roads and other county facilities. Mangano also assembled a business development unit, made up of economic development professionals and business resource partners, which has the stated goal of assisting employers trying to relocate or expand their businesses within Nassau County.
State of the County Address
Mangano delivered his first ‘State of the County’ address on March 15, 2010. In it he outlined what he perceived as his early successes, the financial hardships facing Nassau County, and plans for reforming Nassau County.During the speech Mangano stated that, to solve Nassau County’s woes, structural reforms would be needed to fix the property tax assessment system and rein in county spending.
Proposed 2011 county budget
In his proposed 2011 budget, Mangano proposed the removal of the county guarantee, a policy that saw Nassau County repaying taxes that were wrongfully collected and distributed to school taxes. Under the new policy school districts in Nassau, like the rest of the country, would be responsible for returning funds collected in error. This was met with heated opposition by the school districts, who objected that they would immediately be forced to begin setting money aside to pay the property tax refunds starting in 2013. The budget was approved by the Nassau County legislature on October 30, 2010, with all 8 Democrats voting against and all 11 Republicans voting in favor and all .MTA funding cuts
The operation of Long Island Bus, the public bus transportation system for Nassau County, has been subject to a funding dispute between the Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityMetropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
(MTA), which operates Long Island Bus, and Nassau County. The MTA has historically provided a larger subsidy to Nassau than other suburban counties have received, and asked for an additional $17 million contribution from the county. The County has refused to increase their contribution, accusing the MTA of waste and inefficiency, and has considered terminating their operation agreement with the MTA and privatizing the bus system. In response to the lack of funding, the MTA is considering eliminating half of Long Island Bus' routes in July 2011, and potentially eliminating the entire system at the end of the year.
The county's contribution is currently $9.1 million per year out of a total budget of $133.1 million, and the MTA is demanding that this contribution increase to $26 million. The county hopes to pay $4.1 million to a private contractor..
In light of a threat by the MTA to cut $40 million in funding, which would eliminate Long Island Bus, on July 22, 2010, Mangano announced he would immediately form a committee that would explore privatizing the bus service. The MTA announced plans to not only eliminate $26 million in funding for Long Island Bus but to also hike bus and subway fares in an effort to increase their revenue by 7.5%.
The MTA had previously slashed its Able-Ride service, which was the primary mode of transportation for many people with disabilities. The agency also eliminated 11 routes completely and reduced service on eight others. The MTA had been implicated in continuing to hire high-level employees at the same time as they were cutting services.
On July 21, 2010 it was reported that the MTA was poised to spend more than $1 million to hire 11 additional managers and executives despite 38 percent of their operating budget already dedicated to salaries ($4.2 billion), and nearly 12 percent of that amount related to overtime (over $400 million). As noted in a report released June 24, 2009 by the non-partisan Empire Center for New York State Policy, over 10 percent of the MTA's employees (8,214 in total) make $100,000 or more annually.
A partial compromise was reached on April 1, 2011 as the New York State Legislature moved to provide an extra $8.6 million to avoid the July service cuts, which would have eliminated half of Long Island Bus' lines. This compromise saw Nassau County pay half the increase that the MTA had sought. No provision was made for future years, though. and later in April the MTA Board voted to terminate the Long Island Bus contract at the end of the year.
Lawsuit
On July 29, Mangano announced he filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityMetropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
(MTA) on behalf of Nassau’s taxpayers challenging the legality of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax. The suit also seeks a reimbursement of more than $3 million already paid to the MTA by Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
. Nassau County has paid approximately $3 million since the implementation of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax.
The lawsuit challenges the legality and constitutionality of the MTA Employer Payroll Tax on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and illegal as it impinges upon the Home Rule Powers of local municipalities; that the payroll tax inequitably taxes and discriminates against Nassau County and all businesses that must remit the payroll tax; and that the process in which the payroll tax was implemented violated the New York State Constitution. Since its filing, several municipalities have joined Nassau's lawsuit against the MTA, including Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
, Rockland County, Westchester County and Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
.
Privatization proposal
Mangano has stated he will pursue the privatization of Long Island Bus should the Authority leave 100,000 riders stranded on January 1, 2011. On September 24, 2010 he issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to privatize Nassau’s public bus service. On June 10, 2011, the RFP committee chose Veolia Transportation as the operator, to take over January 1, 2012.Further developments
On September 7, 2010 Mangano called for the immediate resignation of Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityMetropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
Chairman and CEO Jay Walder
Jay Walder
Jay Walder is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, the largest transit agency in the United States. The positions of chairman and CEO of the authority were recently merged...
while also asking the state's Gubernatorial candidates to make a simple promise to voters to shake up leadership at the Authority. A state Comptroller audit had recently called for an end to management's “culture of acceptance” of overtime pay and discovered “serious flaws” in the budget practices of its central office. The comptroller's office also found that 145 MTA employees received overtime pay that exceeded their salaries in 2009. About 5% of the agency's nearly 70,000 workers, or more than 3,200 employees, last year received overtime totaling at least half of their regular salaries.
On September 29, 2010 Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano urged all Nassau County businesses to let the MTA know how they feel about the MTA Payroll Tax when they meet the deadline to pay the tax on September 30.
NICE Bus
In November 2011, Veolia and the County announced a new name for Long Island Bus, NICE BUS (Nassau Inter-County Express). Mangano also announced that a five person transportation committee will be formed, consisting of all Nassau residents, to oversee Nassau's bus future. The committee will have to vote on fare and route changes. Prior to this, County Executive Mangano had stated that all routes and fares will not change for a minimum of a year, and that Veolia will be re-instituting the lines the MTA wanted to cut. He has also stated that this private-public partnership will save taxpayers $32.4 million annually.On November 28th, the County Legislature Rules Committee voted to approval the NICE bus service. The vote fell along political lines, with Republicans voting for County bus service and the Democrats voting against it.
Nassau Coliseum Redevelopment
Due to the collapse of Charles WangCharles Wang
Charles B. Wang is the co-founder of Computer Associates International, Inc. and owner of the New York Islanders ice hockey team and their AHL affiliates, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers....
and Scott Rechler's lighthouse project, County Executive Mangano partnered up with Wang to rebuild the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island...
, as well as add an Atlantic League
Atlantic League
Atlantic League may refer to one of the following professional sports leagues:* Atlantic League , a professional baseball league active from 1896 to 1900* Atlantic League , a professional baseball league active in 1914...
Minor League ballpark and an indoor track and convention facility. Nassau County held a special election in August 2011 to ask people to vote on whether they would agree to increased taxes ($13.80 per household) to pay for a bond to redevelop the area. The proposition had support from numerous Long Island institutions, including The Long Island Association
Long Island Association
The Long Island Association is the largest and oldest group within the business lobby of Long Island, New York. Four archived New York Times stories from the 1920s preserve the LIA’s rhapsodic early efforts to promote business relocation from New York City...
, Nassau Chambers of Commerce, Vision Long Island, Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, New York Marine Trades Association, Long Island Council of Clergy, The Long Island Chapter of the New York Restaurant Association, the Nassau County Independence Party, and the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Mangano cited the redevelopment as a major economic and business development boost for Nassau County, as well as a job generator.
Despite Wang and Mangano's efforts, Nassau voters rejected the proposed Coliseum redevelopment. The future of the Coliseum and the New York Islanders in Nassau County remains unsure.
After the special election, Mangano announced Request for Proposals (RFPs) for private companies to redevelop the 77 acres of Coliseum site. The request stated that all proposals must address job creation, quality of life and revenue. In October 2011, the County submitted a plan to the Empire State Development Corp. detailing the creation of a new Nassau Coliseum as well as a bio-research facility at the Coliseum site. The County is looking for state funding for the plan, as well as for the development of a casino and soccer stadium at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
and an expansion of film studios and homeland security facilities at the Grumman property in Bethpage
Bethpage
*Bethphage - was a place in ancient Israel, mentioned as the place from which Jesus sent the disciples to find a donkey and a colt with her upon which he would ride into Jerusalem...
. The plan also mentions a minor league ballpark and track facility in Mitchel Field.
Community involvement
In addition to his legislative duties, Mangano also serves on many charitable organizations. Currently, he is an active member of the BethpageBethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the Hicksville
Hicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
. In the past he has served on the Board of Directors of Children’s House, as a member of the LI Mentoring Partnership Council, was President of the Bethpage/Plainview Rotary Club, was a member of the Grumman Master Planning Council, and was a member of the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Advisory Committee He has also been the Honorary Chairman of Long Island's Toys For Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
program,two years in a row.
Awards
- 40/40 Rising Star Award from LI Business News
- Community Leadership Award from Boy Scout Troop 604
- George M. Estabrook Hofstra Distinguished Service Award
- Hicksville Youth Council Award
- Humanitarian of the Year, Family Residence Services
- Legislator of the Year from Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 82
- New York League of Conservation Voters Award
- Raj & Rajeshwari Foundation Passage to India Honoree
- SASS Breast Cancer Foundation Honoree
- Special Recognition Award from Society for Preservation of Underhill