Candidate Profile: Jason Richberg For Suffolk Legislature

LONG ISLAND, NY - Some local residents will be hitting the polls this week for a special election to choose a new representative for Suffolk County's 15th legislative district. The special election has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 10.

Earlier this year, DuWayne Gregory announced recently he will be stepping down as legislator for the 15th district in order to take over Jackie Gordon's seat on the Town of Babylon board. Gordon announced she will be stepping down to run for Congress.

Jason A. Richberg, 37, of West Babylon will be running for the seat, which covers Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch, North Amityville, Amityville Village, Copiague, parts of North Lindenhurst, West Babylon and North Babylon, and the portion of Farmingdale which lies in Suffolk County.

His opponents are Jackie Duodu-Burbridge (D, Working Families) and Christopher G. Connors (R).

Richberg (D) comes from a family of public servants. His grandfather was at one time the Regional Director of the Division Human Rights, his mother worked for the New York City Transit Authority as a Manger in the Customer Relations Bureau, his father was an Accountant for the Environmental Protection Agency and assigned to the Inspector General's office. In addition, his sister currently works for the State Department of Health as a Senior Health Program Coordinator working in HIV/AIDs and STD prevention.

He received a Bachelor of Arts from Wilberforce University and and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a concentration on Civic Engagement from Claremont-Lincoln University. Richberg currently works as a clerk for the Suffolk County Legislature.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Richberg below:

Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Richberg: I plan on having town halls and meetings all over the district to inform the residents of what is going on in our community as well as to get feedback on what issues the community is facing. Communication is a two-way street and my plan is to be as accessible and communicative as possible to the residents for whom I work.

P: What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

R: My opponents do not have the experience I have in community engagement and county service. While both opponents are wonderful people, as Clerk of the Legislature, I have a unique perspective and skill set which they do not have.

P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

R: Housing is a critical issue for the communities of the 15th Legislative District. Buyers today in Suffolk County face a limited market and high prices, all in the context of various social and economic challenges. I will advocate for more affordable and inclusive housing and will work to stop discriminatory practices. Expanded: Housing is a critical issue for the communities of the 15th Legislative District. Buyers today in Suffolk County face a limited market and high prices, all in the context of various social and economic challenges. Suffolk County should do more to promote the development and construction of affordable housing, which must be set up in a way that helps the community. Furthermore, we need inclusive housing: housing for veterans, for those with special needs, for single seniors. I will work with our federal and state partners to secure the funding we need to spearhead more community housing initiatives like Wyandanch Rising. In addition, as Legislator I will work to prevent discriminatory practices in the housing market that target people of color and limit their opportunities. I promise to help fight back against discriminatory practices in the real estate industry and redlining. I promise to support housing organizations like the Economic Opportunity Council and the Long Island Housing Partnership, and I will work to push Suffolk to be more proactive towards the issues in the housing market.

Economic Development:

I have worked with the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk to help create opportunities for our communities and other underserved populations. As Legislator I will look to do the same. Suffolk County needs employers that will not just be located in a community but that will also give to the community. The IDA in Suffolk does good work, but we must ensure that the projects and companies your taxpayer money goes to stay in Suffolk and invest in Suffolk. In addition, I promise to support efforts by the Suffolk County Landbank. I will work with the Landbank to find unused, tax-evading plots in the 15th Legislative District and revitalize them, bringing them back into the community.

Education & Job Training:

The Suffolk County Department of Labor is responsible for plenty of great programs providing job training and education to the unemployed and underemployed in Suffolk County. As Legislator, I will push for the Department of Labor to conduct more mobile outreach in communities in need. Quality and affordable education is a serious issue in Suffolk County. While the county has no authority over school districts, the county does have Suffolk County Community College, a nation-leading community college. More funding should be given to the college in order for it to provide more vocational programs to returning students of all ages and to expand on building trade programs. We also must address tuition costs. As Legislator, I will work with my colleagues to increase the county’s contribution to the college from 22 percent to 25 percent and call on the state to contribute its fair share to lessen the burden on the students.

Sewers:

Connecting to the Southwest Sewer District is critical for development and the preservation of our water supply. We need to reduce our reliance on cesspools. Expansion of the sewer districts by connecting more homes and businesses will help control fees for residents already in the Southwest Sewer District. In addition, more outreach should be done to encourage the use of wastewater treatment systems in areas that are not connected to the Southwest Sewer District.

Youth Programs:

As Clerk of the Legislature, I helped to create the Suffolk County Legislature’s Page Program, which gives high school and college students the opportunity to work directly with their Legislators and learn about local government in a hands-on way. As a Legislator, I would look to expand programs and internships across Suffolk County in order to provide more opportunities to students and young people interested in learning about local government.

Environmental Protection / Parks:

Suffolk County has been a leader in environmental protection but more work should be done to protect waterfronts. Throughout the Great South Bay, harmful algal blooms have devastated the marine ecosystem. Algal blooms are a blight to homeowners, fishermen and recreational boaters. And more importantly are dangerous to residents. Through investment in waste water treatment systems, nitrogen outflow could be reduced. In addition, Suffolk County should continue its tough stance on illegal dumping which disproportionately affects minority and poorer communities. The County should study the feasibility of purchasing wetland properties with the goal of providing public space for parks and for the preservation of wetland environments in order to protect homeowners.

Taxes / County Budget:

The County’s $3.2 billion dollar budget assigns priorities to protecting the public health and safety of all residents in seemingly the most efficient and effective manner. Additionally, the county’s capital budget invests funding to maintain and improve the county's infrastructure, roads, bridges, buildings etc. The County Executive and members of the Legislator share the fiduciary responsibility to ensure that tax-payer dollars are spent wisely and appropriately. As Legislator in the 15th LD, I will bring my experience to bear and provide crucial input as the budgets are fashioned and priorities are set. I believe that the County should look at innovative financing proposals, cut spending where possible and solicit ideas for cost savings from front line workers.

Public Safety / Emergency Preparedness:

For me, public safety is about more than just the police. It also involves the Sheriff, our legal community, and our public health workers. As Legislator, I would push for more community-based initiatives. I also believe the County should facilitate more outreach between police officers and the community. It’s all about establishing relationships. The Suffolk County Police Department, like Suffolk County as a whole, could do a better job of connecting with diverse communities, including by providing language access for non-native English language speakers. When it comes to emergency preparedness, we learned from the County’s Superstorm Sandy Review Task Force that local fire departments and police departments should be equipped with generators in case of an emergency situation and that more efforts should be made to equip and prepare fire and ambulance companies for the next storm. Finally, we need to allocate more resources to investigate and solve the murders which languish. Each death is connected to a grieving family and community. We should ensure these cases are handled expeditiously and respectfully.

Suffolk County Health & Human Services /Opioid Crisis:

Suffolk County should look to hire more Child Protective Services personnel and fill critical staffing gaps. As Legislator I would support the relocation of the MLK Jr. Health Center to Wyandanch Rising, providing the community with a better, modern space for healthcare. The County also faces challenges providing care to minority communities in need, especially when it comes to opioids and drug addiction. I would make minority health a priority and work with advocates to reach underserved communities.

Transportation:

As a region we give $30 billion more to Washington and Albany than we get back. We need to advocate for our fair share and put that money into transportation. Right now, our public transportation system meets very few residents’ needs. The buses don’t go to train stations or town halls, and our routes are based on old norms. We need to re-evaluate the system and make sure that people can get where they need to go and when they need to go. Additionally, corridor improvements along Straight Path / Route 110 could have the potential to dramatically change transportation in the 15th Legislative District.

Diversity:

As a graduate of a historically black college who has worked on issues involving minority representation for years, diversity is an issue that is important to me. The county workforce needs to better reflect the demographics of our population. As Legislator, I would encourage an analysis of the age and average length of employment for the county workforce to then plan for how to diversify and how to reach underrepresented residents.

Childcare:

As a Legislator, I would work with our partners, the Child Care Council and other providers, to create safe, affordable, alternative childcare options. We don’t all work traditional hours, and so we need programs at night and overnight as well as during the day. I would also support a childcare subsidy for students at Suffolk County Community College.

P: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

R: Life has taught me that hard work, faith and fostering healthy, loyal relationships can lead to success. I have spent the past ten years building bridges with communities and relationships with leaders, the police department and local government officials to organize an annual National Night Out event in Wyandanch. Each year we build on our success and work hard together to ensure that we are hosting the best event we can for the residents. Additionally,as an aide to the Legislator of the 15th District, I was dedicated to helping residents navigate government and find solutions to their problems. As Clerk of the Legislature, there has not been a resolution, report or communication that has come through the legislature in the past 5 years that I haven’t read. I have a distinct knowledge of the inner workings of the legislature and county government and have been reappointed by the Legislature because of my ability to work across the aisle and serve all legislators fairly and in a nonpartisan fashion. I set goals for myself and work hard to achieve them. My failures, and yes, there have been many, have helped me to become a stronger and better human. These life experiences will help me to become a great representative.

P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...

R: The best advice ever shared with me was to be yourself, sometimes people try and be someone they aren’t.

P: What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

R: I am uniquely positioned to represent the 15th Legislative District in a comprehensive, fair and effective way. My experience and skill set will educate my decisions and effort to represent the residents in the best way possible. My door will always be open to all sides of the debate and I will be present throughout the district consistently and reliably. I am ready to hit the ground running if the voters of the 15th LD support my candidacy.