NIFA REPORT

In May, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority Report came out. You're probably wondering what exactly NIFA is and why they are issuing reports and what that means for you. For the next few weeks, we're going to be running a series. We're going to explain what NIFA is, what it does, and what it means for you. But most importantly, we're going to discuss how Tom Suozzi's fiscal policies are leading us down the road to disaster, and how the nonpartisan experts at NIFA have pointed that out, but to no avail.

NIFA stands for the Nassau Interim Finance Authority. Eight years ago, it was set up to help out Nassau County when it had some financial problems. Then Tom Suozzi took over. A bad situation became worse. And now, after eight years of mismanagement and spending sprees, we're on the verge of disaster.

NIFA's latest report came out last May. In all honesty, the picture it paints is terribly scary. If we don't get real change NOW, Nassau may be beyond saving. Bankruptcy, something that no one wants to even think about, could be a real option.

Tom Suozzi has offered no alternative to this disaster. His policies created a disaster. His policies exacerbated a disaster. And he has no idea how to fix it.

And does Suozzi really care about fixing Nassau? He has been focused for the last 4 years on his political career. He ran for governer in 2006. He spent years working on his FIX ALBANY campaign, all while Nassau continued to break down. Last month, he spent a good deal of his time pressing Governor Paterson to make him Lt. Governor. Next year, he is sure to run for some state office.

Doesn't Nassau deserve better? We need a full time leader with the ability and willingness to confront the real issues facing our county. We need real leadership. Leadership willing to make hard choices that will fix this county. Ed Mangano is the only man in the race who recognizes the problem and is willing to confront it.

Check back later for an in depth discussion, issue by issue, of the NIFA report and the challenges our county must face, and how the Mangano Plan is the only way to save our county and restore it to its glory days.