Previously Published in The Messenger
Anyone with a healthy amount of cynicism would agree with the idea that when a new tax or fine is introduced, it’s essentially written in stone.
That’s why the end of Suffolk’s red light camera program is more historic than many people seem to think. While the reactions to the program’s end have been universally jubilant, the sheer gravity of the moment is being missed.
Republicans ran on less taxation and less surveillance, as well as honest budgeting that doesn’t bilk taxpayers of every last cent required to live in one of the most expensive parts of the country. They flipped the County Legislature in 2021 on that message, and Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) became the first Republican Suffolk County Executive in twenty years.
They ran on this platform and they’re delivering.
There’s a stark contrast in the administration of yesteryear and the one of today. Former Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon), the Democratic-led Legislature, and the people in his administration ushered this program in, much to the chagrin of the vast majority of residents. Framed as a public safety measure, it was readily apparent to all residents of Suffolk, even those without that healthy dose of cynicism, to see this for what it so blatantly was: a cash grab.
For another squeeze of lemon juice over the paper cut, the $30 administrative fee was instituted on top of the $50 fine, a move that the County had no legal right to make, as it was not approved by Albany.
Legislators Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) were especially vociferous in this regard, warning their legislative colleagues that Suffolk would be on the hook to pay back illegally-collected “administrative” fees.
Turns out, they were right, and Suffolk will have to dole out upwards of $130 million back to the ticketed drivers from whom the fees were collected.
A final insult to injury: about half of those funds went to the third-party agency who owns the cameras, who are not based in New York. Taxpayers were not only deceived by their government about safety, but they were scammed on top of it. Some have said that they would be fine with the red light fines going back into the county, but that optimistic outlook wasn’t even considered, apparently.
It’s not only the gall to deliberately deceive and scam taxpayers, but it’s the willing dismissal of the claims of experienced Legislators when they’re sounding alarms that brings about new contempt for the previous administration.
The ineptitude of the past is also not relegated to this issue alone. Bellone’s fiscal irresponsibility led to the water restoration fund being drained to plug holes in the budget, another open-and-shut lawsuit against the County that will likely see them pay back hundreds of millions of dollars. Had that not occurred, we probably wouldn’t have needed the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act on the ballot as Proposition Two this year.
Now, we’re not only seeing fiscal and ethical responsibility, as well as the GOP keeping good on their promises, but we’re likely seeing a massive precedent being set.
The end of the camera program now calls into question other programs that could be considered “surveillance state” or “cash grab” methods, such as the school bus cameras and highway speed trackers. It also significantly raises the bar for elected officials or those seeking office to make promises that they can keep and actually deliver on them.
Finally, it shows that extraneous government programs are not necessarily written in stone. After fourteen years, the cameras essentially became background noise, a reality we all adjusted to; some passively, others, not as much. If the red light cameras went down when it was assumed they were baked into Suffolk’s DNA, it opens the door for more waste, fraud, and abuse to be cut.
Interestingly enough, we learned that while Democratic elected officials were invited to Monday’s presser in Holbrook, none attended. We’re sure some had legitimate priorities, but this is perhaps one of the biggest Suffolk headlines this year. The crowd should have been bigger.
Furthermore, now that the missteps of Bellone and company are being fully realized now that we have capable people in government – Thomas Valva, the 2022 cyber attack, the water quality fund, red light cameras to name a few – it’s a surprise Bellone wasn’t ran out of town on a rail years ago.
The Messenger wholeheartedly thanks the elected officials – especially Legislators Piccirillo and Trotta – involved for sticking to their promises and sounding the alarms. It’s the bare minimum for any elected official, but it feels like an oasis in the desert has just been found.