Politics & Government
Patchogue Man Protesting Cuomo's LIPA Plan
Victor Yannacone is offering an alternative plan to the governor's current one of turning control to a New Jersey utility.
Unhappy with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed plan to turn over control of Long Island Power Authority over to New Jersey's PSEG, Patchogue's Victor Yannacone is planning a protest and alternate plan.
According to a report in Newsday, Yannacone, an activist lawyer, is proposing that LIPA become a fully ratepayer-owned, not-for-profit public utility answerable only to ratepayers.
Yannacone does not mince words in a message in Newsday to Cuomo and lawmakers who passed the bill for the current plan.
"Get out of the way. You don't live here, you're not a ratepayer here. Go back to managing the state." Yannacone said.
Matthew Wing, a spokesperson for Cuomo, told Newsday that the governor is the only one to put forward a plan to change the utility in order to create reform.
Under Yannacone's idea listed in the report, trustees of the ratepayer-owned utility would be elected by the ratepayers, and make power and management decisions with the sole purpose of improving service and lowering rates.
For the original story and viewpoints from other politicians, click here for the report in Newsday (Subscription).
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