The race for Town of Hempstead supervisor pits five-term Republican incumbent Kate Murray against Democratic challenger Felix Procacci, a Franklin Square civic activist in his first run for any elected office.
Murray said she intends to maintain the fiscal stability of the Town of Hempstead as it reduces taxes for the third consecutive year, while continuing to improve residents’ quality of life.
“Every single day brings new issues, new challenges for people who are trying to make a living for their families. That’s what keeps the job ever fresh for me,” Murray said. “If at the end of the day you can solve a problem or help someone in need, that’s what keeps me going.”
Procacci, a computer programmer, said he thinks he’s prepared for the job after attending 65 consecutive town board meetings.
“The Democrats asked me to run because I was knowledgeable about the budget,” Procacci said.
Procacci, a school district activist who regularly attends Sewanhaka School Board meetings, is a member of the Elmont Civic Association and the Nostrand Civic Association in Uniondale.
Murray said she is proud of her record of financial record, as reflected by the town’s AAA bond rating.
“You can’t provide services if your government budget is unstable. While the finances are academic, it’s all about helping people,” Murray said. “Despite all of this bad economy, we have not cut one program or service to our residents.”
She said the town’s $419 million budget this year shows “a very low rate of growth” – a 2.9 percent year-to year increase. And, she said, taxes will be going down by $1 million to $1.5 million for the town’s 2014 budget.
Murray said she takes particular satisfaction in the development of Camp Anchor, a year-round camp for special needs children in Lido Beach where the town is currently erecting a $6 million building for year-round use to be unveiled in early October.
“We’ve very excited. It’s a dream come true for me,” said Murray who calls the camp “a tremendous socializing program for our children.”
She said one of her primary objectives in a sixth term is providing “decent, affordable” housing for first-time home buyers.
“We’re developing homes as we speak,” she said.
A month ago, Murray said, the town held a lottery for houses built through a public/private partnership in Inwood. In Elmont, she said, the town created a 33 housing units in another public/private partnerships.
“In each new round of housing we put out bids and the best bids will win. We have good public/private partnerships going all the time,” Murray said.
She said the town also created what she called “transit-oriented housing” in West Hempstead by replacing the Courtesy Hotel near the West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road station with 155 rental apartments intended for younger residents.
“They will keep our young folks from fleeing the Town of Hempstead leaving Long Island and help them start their careers,” she said.
Murray said her administration is also sensitive to the housing needs of senior residents. The town created its Golden Age Zoning Program to encourage private construction of cooperatives designed specifically senior citizens including apartment complexes at East Meadow, which opened in 2009, and Foster Meadow Golden Age Residence in Elmont, which opened in 2011.
“We’re always looking for new places to develop senior housing. We build senior apartments that can be rented or purchased,” Murray said.
The town rejected New York Islanders owner Charles Wang’s Hub development plan several years ago in the area of the Nassau Coliseum. But Murray said the town has since defined “a real blueprint for development” in a 77-acre zone. And she said the town supports either plans of developer Bruce Ratner or Madison Square Garden for development of that area.
“We understand that this is an iconic piece of property. That should be a destination,” Murray said.
Procacci said he doesn’t have any “strong feeling” about the current proposals from Ratner or MSG.
“I leave development to private industry and then they can bring the proposals to the public,” Procacci said.
Procacci said he supports the town’s efforts to develop affordable housing for first-time homeowners and senior housing. But that’s where his agreements with Murray’s policies end.
Procacci’s pitch in his race against Murray is for greater openness in the Town of Hempstead’s government. He said he wants the town to post a detailed summary of all resolutions scheduled to be presented at upcoming board meetings online and to broadcast all meetings on public access.
“My whole platform is transparency, to inform the public,” Procacci said.
He said the town received a $10,000 in grants from Cablevision and Verizon Fios to purchase audio-visual equipment. The equipment, Procacci said, was purchased but is not being used.
While Murray said the current town budget is running a 20 percent surplus, Procacci said the town has run what he called “structural deficits” for the past three years.
Procacci also said the town is “absolutely concealing things” about the four-year contract it reached with town employees by not disclosing mandated “step” increases and benefits. The town reached a four-year deal with its employees earlier this year with 8.5 percent annual salary increases.
“They’re not disclosing all the benefits there,” Procacci said.
He also criticized Murray for the costs of the town’s animal shelter. In an audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli last year, the town was criticized for total costs at the animal shelter that far exceeded those at shelters in the towns of Islip and Brookhaven.
In 2010, Hempstead spent $2.7 million in salaries at its animal shelter – an average of $79,247 for its 32 employees – while Islip spent $820,076 on salaries and Brookhaven spent $1.5 million, according to the audit.
The town said following the audit that using DiNapoli’s recommendations it had reduced operational costs by $3.37 million.
“I’d bring real fiscal responsibility to the town,” Procacci said, adding he would review each department’s budget to eliminate “overspending.”
