Overwhelming Bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly move the Kings Park Alienation Bill through without further delay.
Today, Tuesday June 4th, 2019 the highly anticipated Alienation Bill has passes in both the NY Senate and the Assembly. The Bill authorizes the Town of Smithtown to alienate a small parcel of land to Suffolk County, in order to facilitate the placement and operation of a sewer pump station in Kings Park.
On Thursday May 30th the Alienation Bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate. That same day the Bill was moved out of the Ways and Means Committee in the Assembly and scheduled to go to the floor.
“This might seem like a small piece of legislation to some, but it’s everything for our community, paving the way to clean drinking water, added protections for our environment and vital for downtown revitalization. To all who advocated for our quaint town, lobbying in Albany, writing letters and to the many elected leaders who stood up in support of this bill, we are truly a grateful township.” - Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim
In the Senate leadership, key supporters came from Maj. Leader Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, The Bill Sponsor Sen. John Flanagan and Local Government Chair Sen. James Gaughran. In the Assembly the bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick. However, the bipartisan voices of Co-Sponsor & Assemblyman Steve Englebright, the Speaker Assemblyman Carl Heastie and the Chair of local Governments Assemblyman Fred Thiele played a vital role in the bill’s passage.
At the local level, Suffolk County Executive Bellone wrote a letter to the Assembly expressing his constant advocacy and assistance. The Suffolk County Supervisors Association also sent letters to the NY State Senate under the leadership of Supervisor Rich Schaffer.
Members the Kings Park community sent letters, lobbied upstate in Albany and devoted tireless hours to advocating on behalf of the Alienation Bill. Individuals including Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander, Mario Mattera of the Local Plumbers Union #200, Kings Park Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy Eagen, Linda Henninger of the Kings Park Civic Association, Leo P. Ostebo & Joan Hahn of the Kings Park Heritage Museum and Tony Tanzi of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce were among the many who continued to be instrumental in keeping the focus on passing this bill.
The Alienation Bill is the missing piece of the puzzle which will allow the Town of Smithtown and Suffolk County to sewer Kings Park and the hamlet of Smithtown using $40 Million in funds allocated by Governor Cuomo. This much needed project will allow the local business districts to thrive again, creates jobs for residents and stimulate economic growth.