The Day After Election Day Long Island's Infrastructure Celebrates Its Victory

HAUPPAUGE, New York, Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Long Island Contractors' Association and their allies in the Public Works Alliance can take a victory lap this morning as the candidates they supported for their staunch stand on behalf of public works and infrastructure have been returned to office.

U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop, a proud advocate of infrastructure dollars for the region, was re-elected with the help of the construction trades as was New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who has vigorously sought to prevent the "looting" of state funds allocated to fix our roads and bridges.

LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst stated, "These election night results begin to confront those who would disregard the future of our region's core skeleton, our public infrastructure. In New Jersey, where the future is being dismantled by the decision to end work on a strategic mass transit tunnel under the Hudson River, we have seen what happens when the politics of expedience cripples the way forward. In New York State, those leaders who rallied to protect our infrastructure were supported by an industry that represents the heart and soul of the working middle class."

Bill Duffy, President of Local 138 of the Operating Engineers and chair of the Public Works Alliance observed, "The Bishop race in particular was a referendum on whether the public's largest investment, our roads and bridges and sewer systems, would become a political football and would people rally to a genuine leader. We were proud of the role we played in advocating on behalf of the Congressman and his track record in this area."

Desmond Ryan, Executive Director of the Association for a Better Long Island commented, "The State Senate leadership remains in limbo, but this much is clear: The region is going to need strong, articulate voices in the Senate to protect Long Island's interests. In a state that is close to busted, how scarce resources are allocated next year will be closely watched by the business community, labor and the construction industry leaders here, and this past election night proved we can do more than just `monitor' the situation.

Herbst said LICA and the Public Works Alliance have already begun to scan the political horizon for next year's contests as well as prepare briefing memos for elected officials regarding the status of infrastructure projects, funding and areas that require urgent attention.

"This past election cycle was just part of an ongoing process. There is no 'end game' in building for the future," he concluded.

About LICA

LICA represents the interests of over a hundred and fifty of Long Island's region's premier heavy construction general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry supporters.  Focused primarily in the transportation infrastructure construction industry, such as highways, bridges, sewers and other public works, LICA's member companies play a significant role in the economic vitality of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. For information visit www.licanys.org.

SOURCE Long Island Contractors' Association (LICA)