Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) was sworn into office on Jan. 3 and, for the first time, she will be working with a Democratic Nassau County Executive as well as a Democratic majority in the legislature.

"I have great optimism for [Nassau County Executive] Tom Suozzi and he has certainly proven himself to be someone with great vision, unlimited energy and I feel that is indicative of a better future for us," said Jacobs in a recent interview with the Plainview Herald.

According to Jacobs there is a new feeling in the legislative offices. "It is so nice to see a county executive on the legislative floor just walking through and saying hello," she said. "We have not seen that kind of relaxed warmth for both sides. I stopped [Tom Suozzi] and told him that. He is human. Don't get me wrong - Tom Gulotta was a nice person, but over the last two years he was so embattled that he did not take the time to do that. If there is going to be any success here, it is going to have to be with a partnership - A new partnership between the county executive, the legislative majority and minority."

Jacobs has been very involved with traffic controls in the 16th Legislative District and the biggest frustration that she has is the intersection of Syosset-Woodbury Road and Woodbury Road. It would be very expensive, according to Jacobs, to solve the problem there as it requires changing the configuration of the hill to create a T-intersection rather than a sloped intersection. "I really feel that I will not be happy until I know that is done," said Jacobs, who was able to put a blinking light in as a temporary solution. "The blinking light makes people a little more aware that there is danger coming up, but unfortunately with the configuration of the road turning like it does, you don't see the blinking light until it is too late. I would say that is a prime importance."

Another roadway problem affects people who live in Woodbury Cove, which is opposite the Cresthollow Country Club on Jericho Turnpike. "It is very dangerous for them to pull out and make a left turn onto Jericho Turnpike and unfortunately the state does not foot the bill for a traffic light when it is two private entrances or exits," said Jacobs, who explained that a traffic light costs between $150,000 and $200,000.

A resident of Woodbury Cove offered a suggestion to alleviate, but not solve, the problem - put a No Turn on Red sign on Woodbury Road traveling north toward Jericho Turnpike. "That would give a break in traffic flow because what happens now is that people are coming straight and when there is a break, people are turning right on red," said Jacobs. "I wrote to the state and that is a very cheap fix. It is not a final solution, but it is pending. The State has to feel there is a reason for a sign in order for one to go up."

According to Jacobs, the reason for the traffic and roadway problems in her district is that Syosset, Woodbury and Jericho have been overbuilt and the roadways need to be updated. "A lot of development has gone on and unfortunately, I don't think the roadways were ever meant for it," she said.

Another area that Jacobs hopes to concentrate on during her term is zoning applications and the proper use of the open space that is left as most of the remaining open space is located in Jacobs' legislative district. She was very vocal on the proposed mall on the Cerro Wire property in Syosset and called for development that could offer controlled-traffic, such as office space, and not something as intrusive as a mega-mall that could cause the destruction of present stores.

In Plainview, one of the biggest problems, according to Jacobs, is with people buying in the new Hamlet on Round Swamp Road. "Residents are very concerned that there were never sound walls put up," said Jacobs. "Everything with the state is done in units, and this is a five-year unit of planning so we are trying to get that into the future planning."

Also on Jacobs' mind is the 144-acre Wang property. "We are watching it pretty carefully to make sure that whatever his future plans are, we are able to share it with the community and make them aware of what he wants to do. We want to make sure that the Wang property is developed properly."

Not everything happening in the legislative offices focuses on the negative, and, according to Jacobs, there are very good plans, which are moving ahead, for a bicycle path from the Bethpage State Parkway through to the Syosset Railroad Station. "The only way that the state pays for a bicycle path is if it has a destination that makes sense with mass transit," said Jacobs.

In Syosset, parking is a major problem, especially around the train station. This topic has been raised at many Syosset Chamber of Commerce meetings as well as Town of Oyster Bay Board meetings. "I don't know what the answer is because when there was talk at one time of double-decking the parking, the residents hated it," said Jacobs. "I think one of the things that will help that situation is to electrify and make the Oyster Bay Station a real railroad station so that people from Oyster Bay, Glen Head and East Norwich can go there and not come into Syosset. Maybe another solution is to limit geographically who can park in the station because now it is only regulated by Town of Oyster Bay stickers. That is a very big problem there."

Jacobs is a founding member of the Syosset Chamber and feels the chamber offers residents the best forum to voice their opinions and join together to make a difference in the community.

Another problem in Plainview, according to Jacobs, is the lack of S-2 housing for seniors. "All of the S-2 Housing for seniors is going into the Syosset Woodbury area," said Jacobs. "Obviously, Plainview residents would love to have something like that for themselves," said Jacobs who explained that when S-2 Housing is built, it is open to the school district residents first, the parents of school district residents second and then the town residents third. "I always wondered why two and three were not switched and go to parents last. Plainview residents feel very frustrated that these are being built in Woodbury and Syosset and not in Plainview. S-2 zoning is a private builder coming in and building them. By the law of the Town of Oyster Bay, you need two acres or more. So this is not a matter of the Town of Oyster Bay or the county denying anyone from building it, but a matter of getting a developer who will build it... I am hoping Charles Wang will consider using some of the 144-acres for S-2 housing. It would be a feather in his cap if he did."

Jacobs wants residents to realize that there are positive happenings in the legislative offices and the budget is not the only focus. "We work on sumps that need cleaning, small parks that need swings and on potholes. This may seem little to people, but it is important to us," said Jacobs. "I like to believe that the legislative offices have become ombudsman offices. Very often, even if it is not within the county domain to fix it, we are the conduit to the town or to the state to help them. People come to us with all kinds of problems. I believe that one of the biggest responsibilities that we have is keeping the residents informed on county issues that will affect them."

During this term, Jacobs hopes to see the budget crisis solved. "I will feel like we can breathe again and go on to more important issues," she said. "My entire background is civic and caring about planning and the environment. Unfortunately, this budget has just enveloped everybody. In spite of all of that, we have passed some really great legislation."

Jacobs believes that the budget crisis will be resolved, but not without some pain. "The budget that we adopted is filled with holes and unrealistic revenues such as sales tax going up when every other municipality believes it is going to go down or stay the same," said Jacobs. "We are concerned and this is the first year of a four-year plan. The new county executive has his work cut out for him and we, as the legislative majority, have to be willing to take some political risks in order to start curing the problem. The Republican minority has to realize that they have a responsibility to be part of the solution and not part of the problem."

Jacobs hopes that residents realize the good accomplishments that the legislature has made, such as Pesticide Spraying Legislation, Safety Helmet Legislation, Reassessment and Human Rights Legislation. "In spite of the budget being so encompassing, we were able to really zero in on these kinds of things," she said.

In the next two years Jacobs hopes to make, and stick to, a new agenda. "We did so good on the accomplishments that we made up until now that I want to get another agenda going that lists what is important in various areas," she said. "We are supposed to protect health, safety and welfare and that is what we should be doing."

Jacobs looks forward to her new term and accepts the challenges that have been presented to her. "Personally, it is really an honor and privilege to serve as a legislator during these times and I am humbled to be chosen as the presiding officer," she said. "It has been a monumental task, but when someone calls me with a problem and, because I live there, I can relate to it. It is an unbelievably wonderful feeling to be able to relate that way to your own community and I hope it continues. I am still Judy Jacobs, mother, wife, grandmother and normal person, who got involved in politics by complete accident because I was frustrated with what was going on in my community."

Residents can contact Jacobs by calling 571-6216, e-mail her at juju1339@aol.com or write to 1 West Street, Room 112 Mineola 11501. "If someone has a problem and can't get to Mineola, since we don't have district offices, I would be more than happy to set up something to meet them closer to their home. They don't have to feel they have to make the trip to Mineola just to see me."