It was quite a panel at the Hicksville Community Center Oct. 20 as State Senator Jack Martins and Senate Candidate Adam Haber discussed their qualifications and answered public questions about their upcoming election bids in the 7th Senate District. Congressman Steve Israel was on hand as well as 13 District State Assemblyman Michael Montesano and contender Lou Imbroto. The event was hosted by Northwest Civic Association President Joel Berse.
Martins, who previously served as Mayor of Mineola and was elected to Senate in 2011, said that the State of New York is in much better financial shape since he has taken office.
“In the past four years we have not increased a single tax in New York and have delivered a 2 percent property tax cap,” said Martins. “Under the previous administration we were $10 billion in debt and now the State is right on track and moving in the right direction.”
Martins also added that under his administration, the MTA payroll tax has been eliminated for small businesses in Nassau County.
Haber, a Roslyn resident who is running for the Democratic Party, said that the three main things he’d focus on if elected to Senate would be taxes, jobs and public schools.
“As far as jobs and the economy go, I’m good at bringing a lot of capital here,” said Haber.
Haber said that his main objectives would be to find efficiencies in Government to help our tax base, increase the current minimum wage from $8 to $10 an hour and support issues such as pro-choice, ethics reform and the Women’s Equality Act.
“Long Island is a great place to live and raise families and I want to make it even better by attracting more businesses here and working hard every day to reduce the tax burden on Nassau families and also reform state government to make it more open, accountable and transparent to taxpayers,” said Haber.
Congressman Steve Israel said that some of his main achievements while in office include passing the Israel-King Amendment which generated $10 million in funding for Veterans with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,) helping to form the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act and securing $7.6 million in back pay for veterans. He also joined with Legislator Rose Marie Walker to take on the IRS tax code that he said discriminates on middle class income in communities like Hicksville.
“I believe in order to strengthen our economy we have to grow our economy from the middle class out,” said Israel.
Israel said that his number one priority is our veterans because, “we wouldn’t be having this debate tonight or the freedom we have if it wasn’t for our veterans. We owe this democracy and this freedom to them.”
Imbroto talked about the county’s high property taxes and lack of affordable housing, which he believes are two factors driving Long Islanders to move out of the area.
“I will do everything to bring down property taxes, promote responsible development and maintain our suburban quality of life for future generations,” he said.
Election Day is Nov. 4.
