Suozzi Earns Major Labor Endorsement

Suozzi Earns Major Labor Endorsement

By David Reich-Hale

The powerful Long Island Federation of Labor has endorsed Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi’s reelection bid.

The group’s president said that while unions have often butted heads with Suozzi, the county executive’s door has always been open.

“We’ve had bumps in the road,” said John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor. “The truth is any county executive worth his salt is going to be tough. What we don’t want is someone who won’t listen to our needs and tries to take advantage of labor. Tom’s never done that.”

Durso cited Suozzi’s recent talks with the Civil Service Employees Association, which led to 500 union members leaving the county payroll.

“It wasn’t an easy time, but it was worked out,” Durso said.

The Long Island Federation also endorsed Suozzi because of his aggressive support of the Lighthouse project, Charles Wang and Scott Rechler’s bid to revitalize about 80 acres surrounding the Nassau Coliseum. That project’s approval is key to keeping the New York Islanders from relocating.

“The Lighthouse is a major concern for labor,” Durso said. “It’ll bring jobs during construction and after it’s built. The Lighthouse would be a key economic boost, as would the revitalization of Glen Cove.”

Durso did that “Ed Mangano is a good man and a good friend and we work well togheter on a number of issues. But Tom’s an incumbant and we’re comfortable with the work we’ve done.”