Huntington, NY – Assemblyman Steve Stern (D- 10th AD) welcomed Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie to the 10th Assembly District to address issues critical to our community including downtown revitalization, protecting our waterfront and furthering higher education opportunities on Long Island.

The first stop was Sweetie Pies on Main, where the Speaker met with proprietor Tom Hogan, President of the Cold Spring Harbor Main Street Association, followed by a walking tour of the waterfront. The discussion focused on critically needed infrastructure improvements to enhance the beauty of the community and protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists enjoying the waterfront and Cold Spring Harbor State Park trails. “Long Island is a great place to live, work and raise our families because of its natural beauty,” Assemblyman Stern said. “That is why I was so pleased to identify State grant funding to revitalize the waterfront, which is the gateway to downtown Cold Spring Harbor.”

The second stop was SUNY-Farmingdale State College (FSC) where the Speaker and Assemblyman Stern were joined by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-11th AD) President John Nader, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement and Enrollment Management, Patrick Calabria, President of Student Government and Newman Civic Fellow, Jahad Hoyte, and members of the Student Senate. One of the main issues discussed was funding for a critically needed new academic building at FSC, which has seen a dramatic rise in enrollment, and which is a major driver of economic growth and career opportunity for our young people.

“Going on my statewide tour every year gives me the opportunity to visit communities across New York and see firsthand how the Assembly Majority can best help them grow and thrive,” Speaker Heastie said. “From investing in our students and the SUNY system to revamping aging infrastructure, today’s tour was a great way to see how we can best serve the people of Long Island.”

Following the tour, the Speaker joined Assemblyman Stern and their staffs for lunch at the Sweet Hollow Diner, an iconic local restaurant.

“I thank Speaker Heastie for visiting our Long Island neighborhoods to experience our natural beauty, our vibrancy and diversity and to further understand the challenges that we face as a growing suburban community,” Assemblyman Stern said. “I look forward to working with the Speaker and with my colleagues in the Assembly on these issues that are so important to our residents now and for generations to come.”