Our featured speaker was Fred Gorman of the Nesconset-Sachem Civic Association. Fred is one of the founding members of Long Islanders for Education Reform (LIFER). He discussed the need for Long Island residents to work together through groups like LIFER and local civics to ensure accountability on the part of government relating to spending, entitlements, and taxes. He made it clear that the only way the middle class will have the ability to influence our elected leaders is through a large vocal organization. He offered help to anyone who is interested in starting a local civic association.    

Our initiative to utilize a provision of the Nassau County Charter to submit legislation was addressed by one of our members. Two issues are under consideration; tax cuts and a change in re-assessment from every year to every three years. This would require the Nassau County legislature to consider this legislation and would be introduced to the Codes Committee.

The topic of Illegal immigration was addressed by one of our members. The difference between the Senate and House bills was dramatic. The House bill is a common sense enforcement bill which is badly needed, as compared to the Senate bill which was an amnesty bill which provides many entitlements which are not even available to citizens and legal residents. The June 4th rally in Garden City in support of secure borders was noted as a success with more than 100 participants. Members of the audience were encouraged to attend the June 21st meeting at the Albertson VFW which will feature a former INS agent Michael Cutler.   

The defeat of the Domestic Registry in Nassau County on April 24th was addressed by one of our members.  With only 10 days notice, the NCCA was able to inform the people of Nassau County of the facts and the intent of those pushing the registry. As Empire State Pride Agenda made it clear that it wanted to a message to Albany supporting gay marriage and County Executive Suozzi supported providing marital benefits to homosexual couples, the debate was really about the definition of marriage. The Nassau County Legislature ultimately voted down the Domestic Partner Registry 10-8-1. This position was validated by the decision this month of Westchester County Executive Spano to issue an executive order recognizing homosexual marriages performed in Massachusetts and in other countries. Westchester County has a domestic partner registry.