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Suffolk passes bills targeting energy drinks

Mar
20
2013

Suffolk lawmakers Tuesday night approved county oversight of energy drinks that supporters touted as the first of its kind in the nation.

The three bills, sponsored by Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), passed despite fierce beverage industry resistance.

A ban on the sale of energy drinks at county parks and beaches passed 11-4, with several abstentions; a ban on marketing of the drinks to minors via coupons and free-sample mailings passed 16-0; and a measure that encourages local students to submit videos about the alleged health dangers of the drinks was approved 14-1.

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"There's an unlevel playing field with aggressive marketing of the drinks," Spencer said in explaining his reasoning.

Health advocates...| read more ››

Drugs ending up in water supply in Suffolk

Mar
5
2013

More than half of Suffolk's hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes are flushing expired and unused medications, leading to trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in Long Island's water supply, according to a new report.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a statewide group based in Farmingdale, reviewed the pharmaceutical disposal plans of 59 facilities and found that 51 percent reported relying on flushing medications down the toilet. A quarter of the facilities use a reverse distributor service to collect the unused drugs and 12 percent participate in a take-back program sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, according to the report, released at a news conference in Hauppauge.

"Our morning coffee should have coffee, milk and sugar, not Valium, morphine and...| read more ››

$7.5M sought for Northport sewage plant

Feb
15
2013

Suffolk County Legis. William Spencer, who represents the 18th District, introduced a resolution earlier this month requesting more than $7 million from a county fund for the planned upgrade of Northport Village’s sewage-treatment plant.

The Feb. 7 request for $7,536,000 from the county’s assessment stabilization reserve fund would, if granted, cover most of the roughly $9-million cost of upgrading the plant to reduce its nitrogen output into Northport Harbor. The village is required to reduce nitrogen emissions from the plant by 2014 or face steep daily fines from the state.

Northport Harbor has been subject to increasing outbreaks of red tide, harmful algae blooms that make shellfish in the waters toxic. The algae blooms are fed by increased nitrogen levels,...| read more ››

Town, nonprofit team up for public preserve

Jan
6
2013

On a wooded slope high above Cold Spring Harbor, barely a sound could be heard. Blue strips of sky and the waters below sliced between the bare trees.

Lisa Ott, president of the North Shore Land Alliance, stood on what once was a truck path for the property's farm, feeling more hopeful that the space might stay untouched forever. The nonprofit organization has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to help transform 31 acres of the private property into a public preserve -- which supporters say is critical to protect the harbor's health.

The Town of Huntington, Suffolk County and the Old Westbury-based alliance want to purchase 31 of the 42 acres of the DeForest-Williams estate, with an estimated price...| read more ››

Suffolk calls reorganization critical to ME's office

Aug
28
2012

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office would split from the county health department under a new plan meant to give the office more control over its budget and staffing.

The plan would create a separate department with the power to submit its own budget to the county executive, who proposes Suffolk's annual budget. The county legislature approved the measure earlier this month, and it awaits state approval.

The move follows budget reductions that forced the health department to cut more than 100 jobs in June. The medical examiner's office, which investigates some 4,500 deaths and performs about 900 autopsies a year, was largely spared from those cuts, losing a single clerk's position, said Grace Kelly McGovern, a Health Department spokeswoman....| read more ››

Lawmakers to weigh Long Island’s water supply

Aug
27
2012

The future of Long Island’s water supply will be on the agenda of a public meeting held by legislators from both counties on Wednesday.

Nassau County Legis. Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck) and Suffolk County Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport) are scheduled to host a public hearing on aquifers on Long Island, and how they can be protected from overuse and intrusion from pollution and saltwater, among other topics.

The meeting is slated to take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Hwy., in Hauppauge.| read more ››

Suffolk passes smoking ban for parks, beaches

Jun
21
2012

Smoking in Suffolk's parks and beaches will soon be banned under a bill passed this week by the county legislature.

But the ban contains no fines for violators and exempts parking lots, campgrounds and golf courses.

Lawmakers voted 10-7 Tuesday to approve the resolution by Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), a physician who also fought to restore tobacco education funding that was to be cut from Suffolk's budget.

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"It's a start," Spencer said. "The legislative intent was not for it to be punitive, but to protect public health."

He compromised on some portions of the legislation --...| read more ››

Communities campaign against plastic bags

Apr
12
2012

The next time you are in Huntington, Northport Village or Port Jefferson, officials want you to B.Y.O.B.

As in: bring your own bag.

The Citizens Campaign for the Environment on Thursday kicked off a campaign in the three communities to help protect local waters by encouraging business owners and shoppers to rely on reusable bags and drop the plastic bag habit.

"A reusable bag is sustainable, it's clean, it makes sense and it's easy," said Adrienne Esposito, the group's executive director.

Esposito said the group picked the three communities because of their proximity to Long Island Sound.

Citizens campaign, with 80,000 members and offices in New York and Connecticut, will recruit businesses to put up signs encouraging sustainable bag use...| read more ››

Bill would require some drugs to be locked

Mar
26
2012

A proposed law would require pharmacies in Suffolk County to store their strongest prescription pills in locked, immovable cabinets or face fines.

Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), introduced the bill in response to Long Island drugstore robberies last year, including two that turned fatal. The bill is set for public hearing at Tuesday's legislature meeting, and could be approved next month.

State law requires that pharmacies keep controlled substances secured and safeguarded, but unlike for hospitals and nursing homes, provides little additional direction.

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"There seemed to be a loophole when you looked at community pharmacies," said Spencer,...| read more ››

Dems win tight Suffolk County races

Nov
18
2011

Democrats and their allies maintained their 12-6 majority over Republicans in the Suffolk County Legislature as Democrats William Spencer, Rob Calarco and Legis. Sarah Anker all won tight races, according to final election returns.

County election officials said yesterday that Spencer beat Republican Elizabeth Black 50.8 percent to 49.1 percent.

Spencer will succeed Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), who reached his term limit and could not seek re-election.

Spencer called his victory "decisive," but said "it also tells me we are living in a community that is divided politically, and I plan to be a legislator for the entire community."

Election officials had not tabulated final numbers in the two other legislative contests, but GOP officials effectively conceded by withdrawing...| read more ››

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