In First Step, Suozzi Secures Appropriations Bill Language for Local Projects to Support Police, Clean Water, Protect Environment, Prevent Flooding and More
GLEN COVE, NY – Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) announced that congressional appropriators have included language for local projects in their first draft of the 2025 spending bills. Suozzi has been advocating for funding for these projects, which include new equipment for the Glen Cove Police Department, new systems for clean drinking water, and new pump stations to prevent flooding.
“Today we are seeing the first good news in Congress’s bipartisan funding process: more than $15 million has been set aside to come back to New York’s Third Congressional District. Today’s announcement is the first step in what will be a long process and I will continue fighting to bring more of our tax dollars back home.”
Funding for the below projects were included across several appropriations bills.
Baxter Estates
The Village of Baxter Estates was named recipient for $745,000 to implement shoreline stabilization measures to address coastal erosion along the segment of Shore Road generally between Central Drive and Harbor Road and abutting Manhasset Bay. The erosion concerns include failing gabion units, undermining of the existing sidewalk, soil loss, and reduction of vegetation and the natural beach areas. These conditions have diminished the natural habitat of the beach and have also begun to undermine the pedestrian sidewalk and will eventually cause Shore Road, a Nassau County roadway, on which some 8,000 vehicles travel daily, to collapse.
Bethpage Water District
The Bethpage Water District was named recipient for $1,105,800 to install permanent Advanced Oxidation systems sized at a capacity to treat the maximum concentration of 1,4-Dioxane found in the plume, enhanced volatile organic treatment to similarly remove organic contamination well in excess of current concentrations in the well, and carbon polishing to remove volatile organics from the off-gassing of the aeration towers. These funds will allow the district to respond to wave after wave of increasing water contamination caused by the Northrop Grumman/Navy groundwater contamination plume, one of the largest and most concentrated contamination plumes in the United States.
Farmingdale
The Village of Farmingdale was named recipient for $1,105,800 to implement emergency wellhead treatment for wells 1-3, wells 2-2 and 2-3, with Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Process (UV AOP) and Granulated Activated Carbon filters (GAC) to remove polyfluoroalkanated substances (PFAS) and 1-4 Dioxane and protect the water distribution system from imminent contaminant plumes. The Village of Farmingdale's current rates are regionally competitive with the largest water supplier on Long Island (The Suffolk County Water Authority). However, the additional burden of this water treatment will dramatically alter the Village rate structure in a very short period of time. The Village of Farmingdale has a small base of consumers and our total gross sales in 2023-2024 are anticipated to be approximately $1.7 million dollars. New York State has set drinking water contaminant levels for PFAS and 1-4 Dioxane that the Village will meet after completion of this project.
Flower Hill
Flower Hill was named recipient for $80,000 to create a sanitary sewer feasibility study to attach homes in Flower Hill to the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District sewer system as a first step before installation can begin.
Glen Cove Police Department
The Glen Cove Police Department was named recipient for $956,000 to purchase much needed technology and equipment. The initial phase of the project will seek to completely renew the computing and information technology services within the police department. The next phase of the project will focus on enhancing our community policing equipment to include purchasing e bikes and gator style ATV vehicles so that officers can patrol the multiple events at our parks, beaches and downtown.
Great Neck Water Pollution District
The Great Neck Water Pollution District was named recipient for $1,105,800 to upgrade the Steamboat Pump Station in the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District to provide controls and alarm systems that are more reliable, energy-efficient pumps, and reduce aboveground structures to enhance the view of the neighboring park for residents. The upgrade would also support environmental sustainability, efficiency, and sanitary flow to support area low-income housing.
Hicksville Water District
The Hicksville Water District was named recipient for $1,105,800 to provide wellhead treatment in Hicksville, via Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), utilizing low pressure ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) for 1,4-dioxane removal and granular activated carbon GAC) for quenching of residual hydrogen peroxide and additional volatile organic compound (VOC) removal. The project would then provide reliable 1,4-dioxane treatment via Advanced Oxidation Process and harden the site from severe events by updating aging infrastructure, rehabilitating equipment, and installing an emergency back-up generator.
Lattingtown
The Village of Lattingtown was named recipient for $2,500,000 to repair and make necessary adjustments to East Beach Drive. The road provides an emergency evacuation route for residents of East Island if the bridge to the island is closed. The road currently has significant drainage issues, with prolonged flooding after any storm, thereby restricting emergency exit. Standing water has broken up the pavement along the road. This project will raise the road elevation in low lying areas and regrading the road edges. In addition, the project will address drainage improvements and repavement of the roadway.
Long Island University School of Veterinary Medicine
The Long Island University School of Veterinary Medicine was named recipient for $1,000,000 to create mobile veterinary clinics that will spray, neuter, and vaccinate stray cats and return them to their original environments. This will help address the serious problem of overpopulation of feral and stray cats in my district and protect against the threat of zoonotic diseases. The clinics will also conduct veterinary outreach for low-income and veteran communities and conduct Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) training for veterinarians.
Manorhaven
The Village of Manorhaven was named recipient for $1,105,800 to rehabilitate the now 60-year-old sewer system. This project would benefit taxpayers by mitigating the risk of sewer failure and preserving the environmental health of Manorhaven. This project is important to the State of New York due to its environmental impact, as Manorhaven is adjacent to Manhasset Bay and the Long Island Sound. The project’s importance to the local community cannot be understated, as a system failure could cause a significant decline in the environmental health of the surrounding soil and groundwater due to leaks or breakage, in addition to affecting nearby waterbodies and sewer service to Environmental Justice area residents.
New Cassel/Westbury Water District
The New Cassel/Westbury Water District was named recipient for $1,105,800 to design, construct, and install new treatment facilities for the removal of 1, 4-dioxane from the critical supply of drinking water in the Westbury Water District. Specifically, the funds will be used to build a new AOP Plant and GAC Facility at the well on Dickens St. It will benefit New Cassel and all of Westbury.
Port Washington Water Pollution Control
Port Washington was named recipient for $1,105,800 to upgrade wastewater pump stations. Specifically, the funds will be used to upgrade the District's wastewater pump stations "C" and "F", which are the District's highest flow capacity stations, each at a capacity of 3 million gallons per day conveying 70% of the entire District area flow to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. These proposed pumps are more efficient, and, in the event of flooding, these pumps will remain in operation making this improvement in line with the District’s continued efforts in saving energy and flood hardening their infrastructure. All valves and piping will be replaced.
Sands Point
Sands Point was named recipient for $1,105,800 to construct a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment plant for pre- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Wells 3 & 4, a GAC building/housing and related GAC improvements, required well pump replacements and redrilling of Well 3. The project will also include the drilling of Well 9, recently approved by NYS DEC to mitigate other well issues including emerging contaminants and saltwater as well as other capital improvements to the Village's water system.
Sea Cliff
The Village of Sea Cliff was named recipient for $1,105,800 to expand the recently completed sanitary sewer connection to the Glen Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will connect approx. 45 residences reliant on cesspools and includes design and construction of approx. 2860 linear feet of gravity collector lines in 4 adjacent roadways. The goal of the Clean Water Act is to eliminate discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. Discharge of sewage and waste through septic systems and cesspool is and has been a major source of nitrogen pollution in the Long Island Sound. This project will transition homes that currently have cesspools and septic systems to the Village's sewage system, helping to eliminate this source of pollution.
Williston Park
Williston Park was named recipient for $1,105,800 to make improvements to the Well 4 Facility in Williston Park, in order to upgrade critical utility and equipment infrastructure and address issues posed by emerging contaminants in its drinking water. Currently there is no treatment at the Well 4 Facility for the two recent emerging contaminants, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). To accommodate for the installation of treatment for these compounds, electrical, fuel system and site improvements are planned at the Well 4 Facility, including controls, equipment, pump motors, miscellaneous building improvements and a new granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment facility.