Councilwoman Glenda A. Jackson was appointed to the Huntington Town Board in February of 2006 to fill the vacant seat of Marlene Budd.  She was then elected in November of that year to serve out the balance of the term.

Upon her appointment, Councilwoman Jackson immediately began working with her colleagues on pressing local issues including open space acquisition, workforce housing and providing for our growing community of seniors.

In her short time in office she has managed to make a significant imprint on the Town of Huntington with landmark projects and community based initiatives.  With her dedication to her constituents undiminished, she has been working with local leaders to enhance the quality of life of our Town.

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Secured $10,000 in funding for the Freedom Center in Huntington Station that assists qualified working parents by providing low-cost or free childcare.

• Organized an Annual Huntington Employment Fair which attracted over 60 businesses and 250 applicants.

• Currently working with local law enforcement and the Huntington Station community towards the implementation of a Neighborhood Watch program.

• Launched Boating Safety Week Initiative with Councilman Cuthbertson by creating 10,000 maps of all Emergency Pick-Up points and corresponding emergency contact information in the Town of Huntington.  Distributed to marinas and yacht clubs.

• Hosted a Community Law Enforcement Training with the Suffolk County Police Department's 2nd Precinct for Huntington community leaders.

• Organized the African-American Historic Designation Council to research and promote African- American history in the Town of Huntington.  The Council has recently released the history of African Americans in Huntington.

• Launched a Green Cleaning Campaign to make Huntington Town Hall environmentally friendly by using Green Seal cleaning products.

• Worked with the SPCA and Councilman Cuthbertson to bring the mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic to Huntington to provide low-cost spaying and neutering for pets of residents.

• Supported legislation urging the MTA and the LIRR for quiet zones within the Town of Huntington, specifically in predominately residential areas of the Town. Over time and through the passage of the Train Horn Rule several years ago, locomotive warning horns have become louder and more burdensome to the residents of Huntington living within close proximity to a train crossing.  The Rule was originally intended for rural and agricultural areas but has been having adverse affects on Long Island residents.  Councilwoman Jackson has been working with her colleagues to urge the State to study the negative impacts of these train horns on the quality of life of the residents of Huntington.

• Co-sponsored legislation with Councilman Cuthbertson urging the New York State Legislature to mandate boater safety courses before issuing boating licenses.  This is part of an overall campaign by Councilwoman Jackson and Councilman Cuthbertson to promote boater awareness and safety.

• Sponsored the resolution that purchased two new outboard engines for Maritime Services and Bay Constable Patrol Boats that assist local boaters and also help in emergency situations.

• Authorized the revamping of Manor Field Park to include a new synthetic field for local youth sports programs, a new baseball field and revamped basketball courts.

• Co-sponsored the appropriation of $150,000 towards the renovation of the Heckscher Museum in Heckscher Park.

ENVIRONMENT and OPEN SPACE

• Works annually with the Fish and Wildlife Service and local volunteer groups to spread the word on the federally threatened Piping Plover. 

• Co-sponsored a resolution with Councilman Stuart Besen forming an agreement with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County for shellfish enhancement, restoration and educational outreach at Goldstar Battalion Beach.  Program provided internship opportunities for local high school and college students, educating and training in aquaculture, shellfish management and marine environmental outreach.

• In July of 2007, Councilwoman Jackson sponsored $50,000 in new improvements to the Town of Huntington Sewer District.

• Sponsored a very successful and informative forum on the benefits of organic gardening for Prevention Is the Cure Week with Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition and the Neighborhood Network.

• Sponsored legislation with Councilman Stuart Besen to change part of Huntington's building code encouraging the installation of energy efficient appliances and fixtures in all new residential construction.

• Working with Councilman Besen, Suffolk County and Friends of the Farm to acquire Lewis-Oliver Dairy in Northport for residents young and old alike.

• Hosted a forum on LIPA solar power incentives and programs for Huntington residents. 

SENIORS

• Along with Supervisor Petrone, Councilwoman Jackson helped win a grant from the US Office of the Aging and has launched the Hands On Huntington program that will allow seniors in our Town to age comfortably in their own homes.  The Town has brought dozens of seniors into the program so far and is in the process of beginning formal community meetings.

• Sponsored a resolution to continue the Town of Huntington's Residential Repair Program that helps seniors with in-home small repairs such as light plumbing, light bulb replacement and positioning of storm windows.

• Sponsored various resolutions that allowed for the upgrading of services provided by the John Flanagan Senior Center including increased transportation to and from the facility for the utilization of nutritional programs and increased security cameras.

• Sponsored a resolution to provide more low-income tax exemptions for seniors, veterans and volunteer firefighters this year.  The exemption increased the income cap from $34,000 to $35,000 a year, which allowed for more than 300 seniors to receive the maximum tax refund at 50%.

 

• Authorized increased transportation for Huntington seniors to and from the Seniors Center to utilize nutritional programs.

 

• Approved a new home for Meals On Wheels in the Town of Huntington Senior Center to provide hot nutritional meals to homebound seniors.

 

REVITALIZATION

 

• In March of 2007, Councilwoman Jackson Co-sponsored a resolution to provide major streetscaping for the Huntington Station revitalization area.  The Councilwoman has been a major supporter of the revamping of the area including attending community meetings and inviting residents to share their concerns in her office.

 

• Councilwoman Jackson has also been a part of a Columbia Street Task Force comprised of community leaders and not-for-profits that is working to build a recreation center for the youth of Huntington Station. The Task Force is in the process of developing plans for a new state-of-the-art Community Center at Columbia St. Park.

YOUTH

 

• Authorized the Supervisor to execute an agreement with the New York State Department of Education for the provision of funds for a summer food service program for Project Play/St. John's Camp 2007.

 

• Actively engaged in the partnership between the Town of Huntington and the Suffolk County Youth Bureau's Communities and Schools Together (CAST) Program.  The CAST Program works with the Huntington Youth Bureau to help at risk children though assistance with schoolwork, behavioral issues and after school sports.

Bio:

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

 

Glenda grew up in Huntington, attended Huntington High School and hold a degree from FIT in Manhattan. 

 

Before becoming a Councilwoman, Glenda was a widely respected insurance professional at a major firm in Melville that specialized in high net worth clients and their families.  She has been in the insurance industry for over 20 years and continues to maintain a New York State Property and Casualty License.

 

She currently resides in Huntington with her daughter

 

ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILLIATIONS:

 

• Former Vice Chairwoman of the Town's Master Plan Advisory Committee.
• Graduate of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Huntington Program.
• Formerly on the Advisory Committee of Work Plus.
• Former member of the Town's Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Graduate of the CCC of Suffolk Huntington Parent Leadership Initiative. 
• Former Executive Committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Huntington Chapter.
• Past Coordinator for the Child Care Council (CCC) of Suffolk's Huntington Parent Leadership Initiative.
• Member: Eastern Baptist Association.
• Member: National Council of Negro Women.