Many [lawmakers and protesters] took to the streets of Long Island's towns and villages just days after Floyd's death, calling for sweeping police reform.

Jeremy Joseph, with the group LI United to Transform Policing & Community Safety, says there needs to be more police accountability.
’The police are not held accountable to the people they're meant to be protecting,’ says Joseph.

“Jeremy Joseph, of Long Island United to Transform Policing, says officers should not receive more taxpayer money to wear the cameras.

’That's a miscarriage of justice that is making accountability optional for police and paying them a bonus as if they are doing us a favor,’ says Joseph.

The county estimates it will cost $5 million dollars for the cameras and video storage. It will cost an additional $7.5 million every year if each officer is paid the $3,000.”

In the video that accompanies this story, Jeremy is quoted as saying,

“Beyond remembering him as a person, we want to understand him as a symbol. He is a stand-in for the many people who have died at the hands of police in this country.”

and

“We have repeatedly asked to have established independent Civilian Complaint Review Boards. [Both Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments] have denied this request.”

Sharon Golden of the Together We Will Long Island said while "we’re here to honor" Floyd, "we cannot just stop here. We need police accountability."

Jeremy Joseph of Long Island United to Transform Police and Community Safety said justice is a long fight.

"There have been many George Floyds in the past, there will be more George Floyds in the future," he said. "We’re all here tonight because we all want these names to be attached to people who are all living."

Election Day wins further secured Republican control over the Nassau County Legislature, where all 19 seats were up for election.

“It's all sort of this kind of top down approach from Nassau Democrats, as led by Jay Jacobs [the county and state Democratic Party chair],” Joseph said. “They think their way to electoral success is appealing to the law and order crowd over and [over] again, [and] they ignore progressives.”

“Right now, the police’s idea of oversight is one of their own, looking over and rubber-stamping things,” said Jeremy Joseph, of LI United to Transform Policing & Community Safety.

“The police policing themselves is not acceptable.”

Jeremy Joseph, a member of the Nassau County Democratic Socialists of America, talked about housing.

“Nationwide, we have a housing deficit of over five million homes,” Joseph said. “The fact that we have any homeless in the richest country in the world is a testament to the obscene levels of greed inherent to a capitalist society.”

All but one speaker during the 6 p.m. online forum urged LIPA not to go forward with the PSEG Long Island contract, criticizing the service provider for its failed response to Tropical Storm Isaias and saying it couldn't be trusted for another four years before the contract expires.

LIPA's board is set to vote on the new contract Dec. 15, and it awaits potentially monthslong approvals from the state attorney general and comptroller.

"Why are we extending more grace to a relationship that shouldn't exist in the first place?" said ratepayer Jeremy Joseph from activist group LI United.