News Flash

Settlement Agreements Reached in Historic Opioid Litigation

Hauppauge, N.Y. – This morning the Suffolk County Legislature convened to consider and vote on Certificates of Necessity concerning settlements with several defendants in the County's pending opioid litigation. These Certificates were approved pr...

First Responder Status for Emergency Dispatchers: The First, First Responders

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Presiding Officer Rob Calarco joined his colleagues and partners in organized labor on June 8 to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 7121, as its Assembly partner 07366, passed earlier this week. If enacted, all pu...

Long Island's Infrastructure and Future Together

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Rob Calarco, Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, launched his new initiative "Long Island's Infrastructure and Future Together" on May 26th with a roundtable discussion about the role infrast...

PO Calarco: Suffolk Legislature Meetings Are Reopening to In-Person Public Attendance

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco has announced that legislative meetings held at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge will reopen to in-person public attendance starting Tuesd...

Suffolk County to Hold First Youth Week from May 16-23

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone have announced that the first-ever Youth Week will be held from May 16 through May 2...

Legislature Approves Presiding Officer Calarco’s Proposal to Designate April 30 as Pet Therapy Day

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County lawmakers unanimously approved a proposal by Presiding Officer Rob Calarco to designate April 30 as “Pet Therapy Day” in Suffolk County.

To mark the passage of the proposal, Presiding Officer C...

Ahoy! Suffolk’s Marine Industry Council to Co-Host Virtual Career Fair

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco has announced that a virtual career fair will be held later this month for those interested in jobs in the marine industry.

Presiding Officer Calarco and the legi...

Applications Now Open for 2021 Page Program

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco has announced that applications are being accepted for the 2021 Page Program.

Approaching its seventh year, the legislature’s Page Program is ...

Legislature Recognizes ‘Women of Distinction,’ Countywide Honoree

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  –  Members of the Suffolk County Legislature on March 16 recognized female community leaders from each of the county’s legislative districts for their work and announced Marit Molin of Water Mill as t...

We’re Here To Help: COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist Assistance

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – Presiding Officer and Suffolk County Legislator for the 7th District Announces Vaccine Appointment Assistance Program for residents over age 60. 

Presiding Officer Rob Calarco and his colleagues in the Suffolk...

Legislature to Hold Public Hearings on Police Reform Plans

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – The Suffolk County Legislature this month will hold three virtual public hearings on plans to reform and reinvent policing in the county to give residents multiple opportunities to weigh in on the proposals.

The hearing...

Presiding Officer Calarco, Legislators, Suffolk Officials, Families Unveil COVID-19 Memorial Project

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco, alongside his colleagues and county officials, stood with families on March 1 to mark the opening of a memorial project dedicated to Suffolk County re...

Face Shield Donation from Instrument Accessories Manufacturer is Music to Legislature’s Ears

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – The world’s largest manufacturer of musical instrument accessories has struck a chord with the Suffolk County Legislature with a donation of 2,000 face shields, manufactured with the materials the c...

Legislative Advisory Council Details Advocacy Efforts to Keep Suffolk’s Marine Industry Afloat

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A legislative advisory council that advocates for Suffolk County’s marine industry has released its annual report, which this year includes how the group contended with a rising tide of concerns from the COVI...

Legislature Modernizes Auditorium with Videoconferencing Upgrades

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – A project to modernize the auditorium in the Suffolk County Legislature’s William H. Rogers Building in Hauppauge has been completed, allowing for upgraded videoconferencing capabilities to...

Calarco, Hahn Reelected to Leadership Roles, Caracappa Sworn In

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.  – The Suffolk County Legislature welcomed a new lawmaker, Nicholas Caracappa, to its ranks and Rob Calarco and Kara Hahn were reelected to their leadership posts at the legislative body’s 52nd organiz...

Suffolk County Legislature's 2020 Year in Review

With a new year on the horizon, Presiding Officer Rob Calarco and the Suffolk County Legislature are looking back on not only the challenges of 2020 but also the legislative accomplishments.

“This has been a difficult year for everyone. However, ...

Suffolk Legislature Collects Donations for Toys for Tots at Drive-Through Event

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – With the demand for toy donations skyrocketing this year, the Suffolk County Legislature partnered with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to collect dozens of toys at a drive-through donation event on Dec. 19.

Toys we...

Legislature Eyes Dedicated Funding Stream for Vanderbilt Museum

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County lawmakers unanimously approved a measure sponsored by the legislature’s Presiding Officer, Rob Calarco, to ensure completion of critical restoration projects at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Mu...

Presiding Officer Calarco Appoints Coram Pastor to County Ethics Board

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco has chosen Rev. Dr. Beresford Adams to serve as his appointment to the county’s ethics board.

Rev. Dr. Adams, of Coram, will join the five-member Suffol...

Committee Investigating Valva Case Appoints Special Counsel, Asks Public to Share Information

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A special legislative committee has appointed outside counsel to help guide its investigation into the tragic death of young Thomas Valva and is encouraging members of the public with information about the case to come...

Presiding Officer Calarco Encourages Residents to Shop Locally This Holiday Season

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. – ’Tis the season of giving, and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco is encouraging residents to give the gift of loyalty to small businesses.

Presiding Officer Calarco joined chamber of co...

Legislature Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Video Series

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Around this time 50 years ago, Suffolk legislators were wrapping up the county legislature’s first year as a legislative body.

The Suffolk County Legislature was established in January 1970, and in honor of its 50-year anniversary, lawmak...

Registration Open for 2020-2021 Distinguished Youth Award Program

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County teenagers will once again have an opportunity to be recognized for their community service and personal accomplishments with the return of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Distinguished Youth Award prog...

Legislative Task Force of Teenagers Releases Report on How to Stop Bullying

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A Suffolk County Legislature task force made up of local teenagers has released a set of recommendations for stopping bullying in schools just as Bullying Prevention Month kicks off in October.

The Suffolk County Youth Anti-Bullying Task ...

Legislature to Hold Budget-Focused Committee Meetings as Lawmakers Begin Evaluating Proposals

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Starting next week, the public will be able to comment on the proposed 2021 capital and operating budgets released by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and listen to lawmakers’ deliberations as legislati...

Lawmakers Throw Support Behind Opportunity to Create Fire Island Wastewater Treatment Plan

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County lawmakers on Wednesday opened the door to a funding opportunity for developing a wastewater treatment plan on Fire Island.

Legislators on Sept. 9 unanimously approved legislation co-sponsored by Suffolk County Leg...

Lawmakers, Community Members Highlight Diversity Initiatives, New Laws

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County lawmakers stood with community members and advocates to highlight new anti-discrimination laws going into effect this summer and to affirm their dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion.

At a press conferen...

Legislature Pages Complete Remote Summer Internship Program

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – The COVID-19 pandemic may have put many activities on hold, but it did not stop nearly 30 college and high school students from interning in Suffolk County government this summer.

The Suffolk County Legislature Page Pro...

Legislature Pages Launch COVID-Related Service Projects to Help Communities

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. –  The Suffolk County Legislature’s Pages are wrapping up their remote summer internships by launching service-oriented projects to help communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the 10-week p...

Task Force Discusses Ways to Fight Housing Discrimination

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A representative from Long Island’s building industry will be added to the Suffolk County Legislature’s Fair Housing Task Force as the group looks to develop ways to fight housing discrimination.

A representa...

Legislators Join U.S. Senator Urging Federal Support for Municipalities

NORTH BABYLON, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco and his colleagues joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in North Babylon on July 20 to urge the federal government to support municipalities in the next coronavirus...

Fair Housing Task Force to Tackle Discrimination in Real Estate

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A legislative task force created to address reports that extensive racial steering is occurring throughout communities in Suffolk will hold its first meeting soon.

The Suffolk County Legislature’s Fair Housing Task For...

Legislature Appoints New Chief Deputy Clerk

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk lawmakers on June 23 unanimously approved the appointment of Daniel Dubois as chief deputy clerk to the county legislature.

Dubois, a lifelong resident of Suffolk County, steps into the role after serving as a legislativ...

Legislature Staff Members Join Army of Contact Tracers

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature staff members are joining New York State’s army of contact tracers as the Long Island region enters the first phase of reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown.

Under New York State gui...

Suffolk Lawmakers Appoint New Legislative Clerk

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk lawmakers on April 28 unanimously approved the appointment of a new clerk of the county legislature. Amy Ellis, a native of Mt. Sinai, steps into the role after serving as the legislature’s chief deputy clerk ...

New Ways Launched for Public to Testify Remotely, Including Video for Public Hearings

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – As the Suffolk County Legislature building remains closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Presiding Officer Rob Calarco has implemented two new ways for the public to participate in upcoming legislative mee...

Legislature to Suspend Public Portion, Reschedule Public Hearings

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order and to protect the public from the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Suffolk County Legislature is suspending the public portion of tomorrow’s general mee...

Bipartisan Special Committee Formed to Investigate Death of Thomas Valva

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. –  Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco and legislative leaders are forming a special committee to investigate the tragic death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva and form recommendations to ensure that what ...

Presiding Officer Calarco Honored by Hometown

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco was honored by his hometown, the City of Auburn, N.Y., at the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) 2020 Legislative Conference on Jan. 27, 2020.

NYSAC E...

Legislators Elect Rob Calarco as Presiding Officer, Kara Hahn as Deputy

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A new presiding officer is at the helm of the Suffolk County Legislature. Rob Calarco, legislator for the 7th District, was elected to lead the body in a bipartisan vote of 16-2 at the Legislature’s 51st orga...