He’s Glad He Ran, He’s Glad He Won
When you speak with Legislator Rob Trotta about his job as a Suffolk County Legislator he becomes jubilant and excitedly begins to go into the various issues facing the large county. However, he says that the first year was nothing like he thought it would be. He admits it started outer slower than he anticipated, after all how does one compare sitting at a desk on the phone with slamming in the door of notorious drug dealers packed to the nines?
If you can find him in his office, he’s always researching something frantically. A true fiscal conservative, he crunches a lot of numbers. Often you’ll find him frustrated about the financial state, the unsustainability and fiscal trajectory of Suffolk’s County. However, the freshman legislator always has a smile on his face. The former Suffolk County Detective loves what he does today. He loves representing his district and the many varied duties that come with the job. He says he’s even getting used to the endless press shots.
Last spring the married father of two rolled the dice and decided to run for office. He worked hard, knocked on thousands of doors all summer and spoke to every and any potential constituent who would listen. What was on his side? The fact that he was not a politician and the fact that he had resided in the very district his entire life gave him credence as well. His fiscal conservative ideals sealed the deal – it really was the perfect storm for an unpredicted win.
In the fall of 2014 Trotta was deemed the underdog amongst the three Republicans running but ended up taking the seat vacated by Legislator Lynne Nowick by a landslide. He then took the leap public servant to an elected public servant.
Implementing Direct Access to 911
“One of the things I am most proud of this last year is the legislation I sponsored which was signed into law that ensures access to emergency services when dialing 911 from hotels, motels and businesses in Suffolk County,” he explained.
He called it a no-brainer but the truth was that the story of one Texas family touched him deeply and was the impetus for his successful actions.
In December of 2013, Kari Hunt Dunn met her estranged husband in a Texas hotel room so that he could visit their three children, ages nine, four and three. During the meeting, Kari’s husband forced her into the bathroom and began stabbing her. Kari’s nine year old daughter did what every child is instructed to do in an emergency – she dialed 911. The call did not go through and she kept trying. She dialed four times but never reached emergency personnel. “The reason the child’s call didn’t’ go through was, unbeknownst to her, that particular hotel’s multi-line phone system required her to dial “9” first to reach an outside line,” said Trotta. Tragically, Kari died from the wounds suffered during the attack.
Having retired from the Suffolk County Police Department in December of 2013, and with 10 years of experience on the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force, Legislator Trotta is extremely interested in this public safety issue and attended the National Emergency Numbers Association conference, at his own expense, to meet with Commissioner Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission, a featured speaker, and to get his input on public safety communications and direct access to 911 from multi line phone systems used in hotels and motels.
“Those companies that cannot comply would be required to have a sticker on the phone instructing the person to dial 9-911,” said Legislator Trotta.
Reducing Long-term Bonding
Being a true fiscal conservative, Trotta has met repeatedly with the Legislature’s Director of Budget Review to learn the budget process and in bonding procedures. Having been a police officer for 25 years he knew that police cars were driven 24/7 and lasted for about three years. When he saw that they were being financed by bonds for 18 years, he brought his concerns to the attention of the legislature and successfully worked to reduce the bonding period form 18 years to three years. In addition, Trotta was effective in reducing the bonding of computers from 18 years to five years.
“These are things that just make sense, how can we bond for a car for 18 years that has a life of four or five,” he asked.
Raising the Standards for Suffolk County Police Department
Trotta received some heat on taking on various Police matters but looking back, it’s the industry he knew most about, it made complete sense for him to address isssues in which he had the most knowledge.
With 25 years in the police department, achieving the rank of detective, and obtaining a master’s degree in Labor Management Relations, Trotta knew the ins and outs of the department. This prompted him to sponsor legislation to improve the overall operation of the Suffolk County Police Department by requiring any police officer holding the rank above Captain to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree. It also included that anyone with the rank of Deputy Chief or higher would need to hold an advanced degree. “These officers are professionals and are paid the salaries of professionals and, therefore, should have the education of professionals,” said Trotta.
The legislation would have also required the highest ranking officers to obtain high-level clearance from the federal government so that they are not precluded from communicating with lower level officers who have such clearance. “It is current practice for the hierarchy of Nassau County and the New York City police departments to have this clearance so it is only fitting that Suffolk has this too,” added Legislator Trotta
Speed Cameras
“With respect to the issue of speed cameras, I have said from the start and when voting against legislation to install speed cameras in front of schools that they were nothing more than a money grab,” said Trotta. He says when the County Executive gets caught with his hands in the taxpayer’s pocket, there is little choice but to pull the plug. “This is no different from the overwhelmingly majority of red light tickets, which is simply taxation by citation” said Suffolk Trotta. “Having been a police officer for 25 years, I am very concerned about the safety of our children and residents, but this is not the way to address the issue.”
Full Time Legislator
When Trotta campaigned for the office of Suffolk County Legislator, he promised that he would be a full time legislator. And a full-time legislator he is – he’s out and about seven days a week either at meetings in his office, at Eagle Scout ceremonies. He made good on his promise. “I have enjoyed using my position to assist my constituents with cutting through the red tape, help them solve their problems and to answer their questions,” he explained.
Trotta has thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many of his constituents and to participate in their achievements such as Eagle Scout Court of Honors, Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards, Cub Scouts Arrow of Light Ceremonies and other programs.
“One of my constituents was named Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the LI Nurse Practitioner Association so I got to meet her and her family when she was honored,” he shared.
I sponsored two Senior Information Fairs – one at the East Northport Library and the other at Fairfield St. James where over 400 seniors had the opportunity to meet with representatives who provide programs and services for seniors in Suffolk County. Trotta’s parents showed up at one and made the cover of The Smithtown Messenger.
“Residents in my district were very generous in our pet food drive for LI Cares, donating over 500 pounds of food for cats and dogs,” he shared.
Team Trotta also collected numerous bags of coats, sweaters, blankets, gloves for the homeless on LI.
Government Colleagues
“I have a good working relationship with my colleagues on the Legislature,” stated Trotta. he was pleased when Legislator Stern co-sponsored my Direct Access to 911 legislation and they held a joint press conference about it and appeared on a radio show to discuss the legislation.
He says he is in constant contact with Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick and Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio and has met with Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone to discuss matters of mutual concern.
Chambers of Commerce
“I try to attend the meetings of the Smithtown, St. James, Kings Park and East Northport Chambers to keep up-to-date on their activities and programs,” he said.
Civic Associations
He also tries to attend as many meetings of his local civic associations as possible or to have an aide represent me.
Drug/Alcohol Task Forces
He attended the annual forums of Kings Park in the kNOw “I went to one of the meetings of the Northport/East Northport Drug/Alcohol Task Force and my aide has attended the other meetings and school/community forum. We have also attended the Alliance meeting and I was on a drug/alcohol informational panel held by the Commack Coalition of Caring,” he said proudly. Trotta says he has been following the heroin epidemic for years and cares deeply about the families affected.
Nissequogue State Park Foundation
“I am still active in this organization and have met with state officials to discuss the property. My family and I volunteered at the recent Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, which we have done for years,” he explained. Trotta’s son Mathew who is a junior at St. Anthony’s is co-president of the Foundation’s Youth Board.
Greatest obstacle facing Suffolk County
Our debt and the obligation of the overly generous public sector union contracts and with no plan on how to pay for them
Trotta loves what he does today – he loves being a Suffolk County Legislator and his plans are to roll up his sleeves and work hard every day once again in 2015.