Healthy Nassau
Nassau County, New York Executive Tom Suozzi kicked off his Healthy Nassau campaign in March 2007, to make Nassau the healthiest county in the United States by the year 2020. The multi-pronged campaign includes specific actions to sustain and improve the county’s environment–preserving and cleaning up the air, land and water–and to improve residents’ overall health.
Healthy Nassau initiatives include preserving wetlands and protecting the groundwater; helping revive the shellfish population to reopen the waterways for clamming and oyster harvesting for the first time in 70 years; creating an organic farm on county-owned land; preserving the county’s few remaining parcels of open space, and banning the sale of invasive plant species that kill off native plants and disrupt ecosystems.
Nassau County operates one of the largest alternative fuel vehicle fleets in New York State, and Long Island Bus, which operates Nassau County’s bus fleet carrying 30 million passengers a year, is the largest compressed natural gas bus fleet outside California. Suozzi is also working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February 2008 awarded Suozzi with a Certificate of Achievement for his role in reducing vehicle emissions and improving Nassau’s air quality. Suozzi was also named the 2008 Environmentalist of the Year by the New York League of Conservation Voters.
In June 2008, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council awarded Nassau County an Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual Regional Commuter Choice Awards. The County was recognized for its successful commute alternative programs that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Suozzi’s Healthy Nassau campaign also targets residents’ health. Since Healthy Nassau’s launch, the county banned trans fats in county eateries; called on state lawmakers to allow the county to charge a $2-tax on cigarettes to discourage smoking, and offers free nicotine patches for residents who want to quit; opened the county’s first farmer’s market featuring fresh, local produce; introduced the “Biggest Loser” Weight-Off competition for county workers, and held “Tai Chi Day” at Eisenhower Park.