Bellone: Patchogue Revitalization is Model for County Success

Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone, the for county executive, took a tour of Patchogue Village Friday afternoon, speaking with business owners about the revitalization of the village and their concerns moving forward. 

"I think downtowns are critical to our long-term economic future in Suffolk County and what Paul has done here I think has been a model for what we need to do county-wide," Bellone said, referring to Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri, who led Bellone on the hour-long tour along Main Street. 

Bellone, taking on Republican the current county treasurer, to replace Steve Levy as county executive, heard plenty of positive news from local business owners. 

"I've seen it up and down a few times, but ever since Paul came in as mayor, the place has changed," said Marc Siegel, owner of the 84-year-old , the oldest retail business in Patchogue. "It's never been better."

The one big lingering concern Bellone, who was joined on the tour by , the Democratic candidate for the Suffolk Legislature's 7th District, heard over and over again was a lack of parking around the village. 

Bellone said the county could be "helpful in terms of infrastructure investments in downtowns," speaking of working with the village on the parking issue. 

John Ashline, executive director of the , told Patch that he'd like to see more of a police presence around the village.

"I think that security is on a lot of people's minds, especially in the parking lot," said Ashline, adding that some of the theatre's shows don't end until 12:30 - 1 a.m. "Having a [police] presence helps people from out of town feel comfortable here."

Bellone said "making sure that people feel safe in our downtowns" would be a key focus for him if elected.

Bellone also made stops at and during Friday's tour, which concluded at the Artspace Lofts.

"I think the work that is happening here," Bellone said of Patchogue, "we need to replicate the successes and figure out solutions to the challenges."

Mayor Pontieri said having Bellone in town was a chance to have the ear of a man who could very well be leading the county come next year. 

"I want him to know what Patchogue has to offer to the whole county because Patchogue isn't just it's own little place," Pontieri said. "It's a regional hub."

"Whoever sits in that [county executive] seat, I want them to know that Patchogue is a place that they can come to, that is going to work with them to further their goals and to further our goals," he added.  "I'm willing to work with them to make the success of Patchogue translate into other areas."

Bellone is scheduled to announce his economic policy agenda Monday afternoon at Advanced Energy Systems in Medford.