I guess you don't read Newsday at all because much of what you wrote about has been covered by Newsday and the Patch for weeks already. One thing you wrote about was from the 1990's. You have also managed to repeat a lot of rumored information designed to create controversy for the neighborhood and/or your blog. Nassau County gets paid to house inmates from Suffolk County. Why not rent out unused space? If you are going to present information then please don't omit important facts. Anyone can stand up and speak at these community meetings but that doesn't mean that what comes out of their mouths is truthful. It is irresponsible to present this information as 'fact' or even 'news' without backing it up especially if you are going to disparage the police department. This is a blog, not a news report, and should really not be presented as such.

Dear Dave,
I was there, you were not. And if you question one word of what I have written you many contact the inpartial Patch reporter who was there too.
#1 this blog was written just after i attended the 2/7 meeting at the library and because it is a blog and not news , it gets a bit delayed in the posting.
#2 The items i stated are All FACTS that were presented there that evening and later backed up as such, with research i did on the net and with the officials that were there. Nothing is speculation or rumored as you suggest and the fact that I did not elaborate on some facts, is due to the blog word count restrictions.
#4 I never said they were news , just "Things Learned at Nassau County Informational Meetings "
#5 With all due respect, nowhere did i unjustly " disparage the Nassau County police department." Just that of the Police Chief himself , based on his decisions and his own words stated at that meeting.
#6 In conclusion, you cannot disprove not one single fact that i learned at this meeting, please sir, I am open to letting you try.
Plus the additional fact that there are still ongoing public meetings since then, some even scheduled this week, that will again bring the things i learned into the light again.

Thank you professional citizen Alderman.

Why do you assume I wasn't there? Did you know every person who attended? I doubt it.
According to you the information is factual but even if it is, some of it leaves readers with the wrong impression. For instance:
(1) The 230% increase in a particular crime may not present the true picture even if it is correct. If a crime hadn't occurred in a while and then happened twice in 6 months, that would be a 200% increase in that crime. A huge percentage increase doesn't necessarily mean a huge increase in crime.
(2) Your blog left us with the impression that Nassau County was doing Suffolk a favor by housing these inmates when that is clearly not the case. I KNEW Nassau County was being paid but others might not. Why leave that out?
(3) You stated that you are quoting a police chief in your comment above. You should have stated that in the blog. In fact, it would have been appropriate to cite who made each remark.
(4) If you have word restrictions in your blog then you might want to consider further explaining the more important information and cutting the fluff so you do not leave people with the wrong impression. You said this is a blog and not the 'news' but people still read it and will take it as 'news'.

IMPORTANT: There are 2 more "Precinct" meetings planned. One is TONIGHT at 6:30 pm at the Hempstead Library and the other is TOMORROW, Thursday, at 7pm at the North Merrick Library.

Dear Dave,
I did not assume you were not there. i assessed that otherwise you would not have challanged my statements. Were YOU?
To answer your question "Why not rent out unused jail space?" Oh, so maybe we do not incur overtime and extra dangerous work for our corrections officers? and a few other reasons. The same reason nassau county does not rent extra snow removal equipment to suffolk county...incase WE need it. I'm very glad you knew that , but many people at the meeting and that i spoke to after did not.
Your point about the 230% is well taken , however if something did not happen for 6 months and did happen 3 times , then maybe we lost focus there?
Listen If I state is a blog and people take is as the law, is it my responsibility to be their lawyer? it is called Local Voices/ blog ....not news.. Take it however you want. The "Fluff" makes it fun because it is a blog and not news, which is my point

To Jon L
You are very welcome, sir!
Thank you for pointing that out.

To Paul
The FACT is that I blogged facts here and You cannot disprove one single statement that i typed.

Mr. Alderman, do you really think the cost of paying the correction officers was not factored into the amount Suffolk County pays Nassau County??? Come on .... Really?? Maybe you need to be on the Jail Advisory Committee or NIFA. But then again, you did NOT mention ANY money at all in your blog. You just stated that the inmates were there. Again, you should have told the WHOLE story... which was MY point. You even just wrote that MANY people who spoke to didn't know that ... so you needed to inform your readers. which you didn't. I did. I will reinterate, OMITTING important information leaves people with the wrong impression.

"Maybe we lost focus" on crime? Did you really write that? Who is the 'we'? The police? (Disparaging?) It's not a private citizen's job to focus on crime so you must be referring to the police but I will not make assumptions. Even crime takes a holiday now and then. That statement was way off base.

The topic for this blog was the information at the meeting. Clearly it was meant to be informative. You shouldn't mix the fluff and the facts. You rarely stick to topic and that's half the issue here. You took something serious and by your own admission made it 'fun'.

It's not a bad thing that your readers take what you say as 'news'. It might not be the smartest thing to do but I suppose it's good for your blog. I never said people take your word was "the law", you did. I said it might be taken as "news". BIG difference.

By the way, you most certainly did assume I was not at the meeting. You wrote and I quote, "I was there. You were not." Now you contradicted yourself by saying "I did not assume you were not there." Which is it ???

Who even knows if Bill was there?

He may just be telling people that so the stuff he writes sounds more credible.

Bill admits to just making it fun.
So the FACTS as he states may not even be FACTS.
He wants to be heard about all topics.

I think the column should be called "Bills Fun, Fluff and Jambalaya"...
Those are all words that Bill used.
Just pointing that out....

Mr. Dave,
The question remains , do YOU really think the cost of the correction officers that might get injured , or ill, or exhausted , or overworked was EVER factored into the amount Suffolk County pays Nassau County??? Do you have even 1 close friend that is a corrections officer to know what they deal with? I did not mention money , because it did not come up at the informational meeting , just the fact that when a Suffolk prisoner gets released , it is across the street from EM high school and now they get to try to find their way home to Suffolk county. Which I also did not go into.
Plus I do not NEED to inform my readers of anything , this is MY blog. I CHOSE to pass on some interesting Facts. You can print YOU blog the way you want! As you said it was OLD news to you.

Dear Dave ,
I never assumed you were not at the meeting , I easily deduced it from the statements you made . A child could have done it.
If someone asks me "who is rumored to have given us our homework assignment?" I would deduce you weren't in class to see the teacher do it , or not paying any attention. Which was it for you? You still never contradicted me to say you were present and where you sat or stood. Can't hate me because I was right, again

To Bill AKA Professional Citizen Bill:
Dave is right on the money about your FACTS or lack there of.
You use analogies that make no sense at all.
I think your coffee is brewing. Wake up and smell it !

To Paul-
The Fact of this blog is that I sat between retired EM School Superintendent -Mr Leon Campo and Past EM Legislative Candidate -Pat Maher. Both of whom I highly respect. Both of whom posed a question. Is this really the fact you wanted to challange me on?
The point that you wrongly and constantlly insinuate that I lie, is beginning to really irk people.

To Professional Citizen Bill:
We are so glad that you have stated that you sat between two people that you respect.
The FACT of where you sat is not the question.
It is as you have pointed out, the only fact is that your blog is "Fun, Fluff and Jambalaya"...

Others too have insinuated that you stretch or diminish the FACTS as you see fit.

I do not think it is beginning to irk people, it is getting them to think again....

Yo Paul
You clearly stated "Who even knows if Bill was there? He may just be telling people that so the stuff he writes sounds more credible." which in fact infers that i am lying. I proved beyond a reasonible doubt that i was there, with 2 verifiable sources , as well as Leg . Gonsalves herself. And the only thinking YOU are getting them to do , is that they think you should harrass someone else.
I personally think Your coffee is just plain spoiled.

To Professional Citizen Bill:
It is your coffee....
If it is spoiled it is yours not mine....
You are not being harassed.
Your statements are being challenged...
We have every right to challenge or debate any comments made here.

Dear Dave,
You sir, are correct about others getting personal and insulting ....and if you feel i did that to you , i would like to apologize- that was/is not EVER, EVER my intention.
I have a friend who is a correction's officer on disability and is so because a "transferred foster inmate" pushed him from behind down a flight of stairs.
Now he is on something like 50% of his salary, no more overtime and having a tough time making ends meet.I have others who work in corrections as well. So you like me CAN see the downsides to acting as a foster jail .(BTW- Foster families -do get money for what they do too, which is why i specifically used that term in the blog) One officer there told a story just after the meeting ended of a released "suffolk county transferee" harrassing people at the bus stop on Carmen Ave and that "this was not the first time" . (couldn't verify it, so i did not print it then) that and the fact that the blog would have looked like a novel instead of a my blog.

To Bill:
The "Yo Paul" is very unprofessional of you.
It shows your lack of humility.....

To Bill:
An inmate is an inmate is an inmate.
It does not matter if he was transferred in or not.
Do you think corrections officers are safer with a Nassau inmate rater than a Suffolk inmate?

No difference....
You obviously have no idea how the system works.

Once again off the wall remarks.

I did feel you were getting a little personal which I was not doing at all. You write a blog and people comment. You have to expect that and not be so defensive. I don't think anything I said was so terrible. It was an information/impression issue. And like your blog, it was MY opinion.

I am sorry about your friend but, unfortunately, I'm sure there have been other incidences at the jail with our own Nassau County inmates as well. Too many probably. It is the nature of the beast. When you chose to become a corrections officer, you should know what you're getting yourself into. As far as seeing the downside of fostering criminals, I don't really care where they come from orginally. Their address doesn't have anything to do with their behavior (for lack of a better word). They are criminals regardless. I do know of one incidence where a convicted felon from Nassau almost had to serve his time in Suffolk due to extenuating circumstances. I'm sure it happens more frequently that we know.

Anyone can challange my statements ....without being petty or PAUL-rty.
I will stand behind my statements , but I am human too. That means that with proper proof to back it up , someone can correct me like Susan and Cathy have. They accomplished this nicely and with tact .
Calling me an unprofessional 'Professional Citizen " is an attempt to hurt my Personal feelings.
Why not try "amateur Blog Typer" or "incompetent True American" ?

To Bill:
If you want to be called an "amateur Blog Typer" or "incompetent True American" ...
Its OK with me..........

Your words not mine....

Dear Dave
I am sorry about my friend too and like you stated, unfortunately, I'm sure there have been other incidences at the jail with our own Nassau County inmates as well. However there is no reason to add to that for a couple of bucks, in my opinion. Same reason i won't rent my unused garage to someone wanting to use it as a chop shop. too many potential negatives, I don't look for more problems that the ones i am already responsible for. But the point of the blog was "Things Learned at Nassau County Informational Meetings" which I and many others did. Some due to this article. But going indepth hereis not my responsibility either. Thanks and sorry YOU felt attacked. I kind of did too,like when you assumed i hadn't read Newsday
(which i do/did) and when you said " managed to repeat a lot of rumored information designed to create controversy " (nothing was rumored or designed to stir the pot) Thanks

I will leave it to Paul to criticize your latest analogy. Chop shop? It's illegal to rent your garage to a business in a residential neighborhood. Poor example. Nassau County needs money and if they can make some by renting space to Suffolk County, they are obviously going to do it. If you are so against it, why not join the Jail Advisory Committee and do something about it? Also, I never asked for an "in depth" analysis of anything. It was more like one or two sentences to avoid confusion. I still stand by my comments and I am entitled to my opinion. At least I know how to express it without being insulting.

I can see you definitely have the need to have the last word so I'm expecting yet another rebuttal.

To Paul
An rabid dog is a rabid dog is a rabid dog.
It does not matter if I was getting some bucks so he was transferred in to my house or not.
Why would you foster a rabid dog and endanger your family when it is not absolutely necessary?
I , unlike you, obviously have every idea how the system works.
My house=my danger ..... someone elses danger should stay in their house!!!!
And yes i compared a Suffolk convict to a rabid dog to make an analogy
plus this might be my NIMBY in action.
(shame on my P.C.-ness)

To Bill:
The detention facility has all types of FOA since you probably never heard or saw this acronym before it is "For Other Authority".
For example: Arrested in Nassau and waiting for an extradition hearing to another state like New Jersey. etc.
You do not have all the facts...
It is a correctional facility to house or as some say warehouse prisoners.

That will be what they do whether you personally like it or not....

The jail has been in East Meadow since February of 1957 way before you.
Did it bother you when you moved here?

Doubt it. Then why would it bother you now?

You haven't got a clue.......

Paul
It bothers me Now because since i have moved in.... the extrance and exit has gotten closer to the High school. The bustop where prisoners wait to leave has gotten closer to Hempstead Turnpike. It has expanded twice in size. For a while it housed the DHS (incase you don't know that would be the Department of Homeland Security, where I volunteered) We now get paid to house prisoners that were arrested and convicted and supposed to be housed in Suffolk, but are here because of overcrowding. And it bothers my neighbors too. ( I would also mention the EMHS PTA and EMPAC, but it is unfair for me to talk for official organizations i am no longer a part of, but the members were upset for the same reasons, when I was a member.
You are the one withOUT a clue.

To Bill:
Thank you for your reply.....
But your remarks and responses are childish at best........
All you do is write "Tip for Tap" when someone disagrees with you.
Facts are Facts no matter how you twist them....
Are you now a spokesperson for your neighbors?

Hope they have the facts...

Yes the County jail is where it is and will probably remain.

If the school or other locations have issues they need to be addressed by them to the jail/sheriffs office/corrections/local political figures etc..

I know you are trying to get the last word but I want readers to see the last word of fact not Bills fiction...

Guys, let's calm it down a bit, or I will close the comments on this blog post. Thanks.

For additional information on the police precinct issue:
http://www.longislandpress.com/2012/02/16/an-inside-look-the-nassau-police-precinct-debate/

Thank you Mr. Ganci

Bill, just an fyi ... one less Suffolk inmate in your Nassau jail. He was from Deer Park.
http://eastmeadow.patch.com/articles/man-found-dead-in-jail-cell

Bill,

I don't understand why you think East Meadow would have a mayor, or that towns have mayors. Long Island Towns have Supervisors.

Here's how Long Island government works:

1) Nassau County has 2 Cities (Glen Cove and Long Beach) which have mayors. Suffolk County has no cities.

2) Then there are myriad incorporated Villages (e.g., Mineola, Freeport, Westbury) which all have mayors.

3) Towns (on Long Island) have Supervisors. Nassau County has 3 Towns: Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. Suffolk County Towns are Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Riverhead, East Hampton, and Southampton.

4) Any Long Island area that is neither a City nor a Village, is an unincorporated hamlet that is part of one of the Towns. And that includes East Meadow.

Hope this clears things up!

To Rebecca:
WOW, you are right on target.
Great explanation.
If we ever have one, you can count on my vote.. ;o)

The Things Learned at Nassau County Informational Meetings.
Doubt he learned that at the meeting....