A typical response to “how are we doing?” is sometimes followed by “good shape for the shape we’re in.” It seems as though that was the mantra of administrations passed, and although elected officials might tell you that “we’re in good shape,” there’s always the question of just how good that shape is.
Some might be appalled to hear “good shape for the shape we’re in.” Others might not be too surprised.
But we’re elated to say that that’s not our outlook after County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) delivered his first State of the County address to the Suffolk County Legislature at Tuesday’s general meeting. For once, we can say “good shape for the shape we’re in” and actually deliver that platitude with confidence and optimism going forward.
During the past election cycle, it was no question that when Romaine put his hat in the ring for Suffolk’s top job that endorsements would flow from each end of the county. And they certainly did. It also wasn’t much of a question for our publication to issue him an endorsement of our own. Not only is Romaine a seasoned elected official, who knows the ins and outs of county government like the back of his hand, but he’s an elected official who has largely commanded respect from both sides of the aisle for his entire career.
With that, it’s no surprise that we can say we’re in good shape, in fact, much better shape than the one we were previously in. Look no further than the fiscal irresponsibility levied on us by former Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). Look no further than the ongoing investigations into possible conflicts of interest and document mishandlings not even a quarter after his administration ended. Look no further than the cast of characters he surrounded himself with.
The last of those coveted tenets of an aspiring politician – note: not an elected official – is one that made many sour on him towards the end of his term. Some didn’t have as many problems with Bellone as they did the people he surrounded himself with. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) made mention of the importance of the friends one has at Romaine’s inauguration ceremony in January by invoking the words of his mother: “Show me who your friends are and I’ll show you who you are.”
Truer words could not have been spoken and truer realities could not have been realized under the previous administration.
But we’d beleaguer our readers if we harped on what’s in the past. Surely, Romaine spared no expense in painting a picture of the changes in the last few months, but he also spent the lion’s share of his address speaking optimistically of the future and the plans he hopes to achieve during his tenure. With that, we’ll do the same.
Romaine offers a clear vision for the County and one that does not seem unattainable in any meaning of the word. Stressing economic stability, retaining Suffolk’s population, building creditworthiness – S&P already upped our credit rating once this quarter already with stable outlook – reinforcing public safety, recycling County buildings, investing in our assets, charting a path towards renewable energy, and overhauling County departments are just a few of the topics he touched on during his speech.
Perhaps the most unconscionable failures of government came fairly recently in the last two years: the cyberattack of 2022 and the Thomas Valva tragedy. Both were highly avoidable miscarriages of government action – or inaction – and resulted in national embarrassment, prolonged suspension of government services, and, in the case of Valva, a preventable tragedy if Social Services weren’t watching the backs of their eyelids.
To add a squeeze of lemon juice over the paper cut, the cyberattack and the Valva case also reeked of track covering, as former IT Commissioner Scott Mastellon pleaded the special committee of the Legislature to not reveal the vulnerabilities that were found within the County’s IT system a year before the attack. Additionally, Social Services seemed to make it impossible for the County’s top prosecutors, including the District Attorney himself, to access prior records in CPS cases.
Incompetence is one thing, but gatekeeping information, or at least stopping at practically nothing to prevent its publicization, is downright detestable. The cast of characters of the Suffolk County of yesteryear spent less time understanding government and more time navigating the halls of Hauppauge like the backs of the bureaucratic hands.
But from the ashes we rise, and from the tragedies and misfortunes of years passed, we learn from our mistakes. We place our full confidence in Ed Romaine for the next four years and we would be willing to bet our next round of legal notices that such actions – or inactions – do not occur under his tenure.
Elected officials owe their constituents transparency, respect, and responsibility. We think that Romaine’s path for the County, as well as his decades of respect in local government, will produce such a result.
