Long Beach: From Quiksilver to $87.9M Budget

Now everyone from Elmont to Montauk can know what's been going on in Long Beach for the past half year.

The Long Island Press on Thursday published a 3,600-word story on the South Shore beach town, an overview of the city’s political and governmental highlights from former City Manager Charles Theofan’s decision to cancel a portion of the Quiksilver Pro New York surf competition in the wake of Hurricane Irene last August, to Moody’s Investors Service downgrading the city’s credit rating to near junk bond status in December, to new City Manager Jack Schnirman unveiling the city’s proposed $87.9 million budget for 2012-13.

With a focus on the city's troubled finances, the in-depth article touches on various issues, including the dispute between Republicans and Democrats over use of the city’s “rainy day” fund, city council members facing legal and ethics charges, an independent auditor’s report on the night the council declared a fiscal emergency, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office conducing an audit of Long Beach’s summer programs, as well as the prospect for Quiksilver’s return to Long Beach in 2013.

In the article, Theofan, who now works as Nassau Couty deputy executive, responded to Schnirman’s charges that he and the prior Republican administration tried not to raise taxes while they collected fewer revenues but continued to spend. Theofan said:

“Let’s be honest. The current city council is inflating deficit numbers and playing political games in an effort to scare taxpayers and benefit politically.”

The article also includes a section on last year’s Quiksilver competition, with Theofan citing concerns for citizens' safety and welfare as the reason he canceled the concert and skateboarding events; Mark Tannenbaum, executive vice president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, calling Theofan’s decision “terrible”; and Dave Juan, owner Unsound Surf shop, calling on fellow Long Beachers to look forward, not back.