Assemblyman candidate speaks at luncheon

The Freeport Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon during which New York State Assembly candidate Brian Curran discussed his perspective on the current state of New York.

The luncheon was held on Wednesday, November 21st, at the Imperial Diner in Freeport. Members of the Freeport Chamber of Commerce were gathered to hear the former Assemblyman’s viewpoint on the state.

Curran who is running as a Republican began his presentation by going over his political background and the developments that had brought him to this juncture.

Curran joined the New York State Assembly as legislative counsel after graduating from CUNY law school with a Juris Doctor degree. From 1996 to 2001, he served as a Deputy County Attorney in the Litigation Bureau and Municipal Contracts for the Nassau County County Attorney’s Office. From 2002 to 2007, he was the Assistant Village Prosecutor of Lynbrook.

2010 saw Brian Curran’s initial election to the New York State Assembly. Parts of Lynbrook, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, and Baldwin, Oceanside, East Rockaway, Malverne, and North Lynbrook were all included in his district. 

In the general election held in November 2018, Judy Griffin of Rockville Centre defeated Curran. 

“I think that in general, the majority of people would say that in the last four years, many things have changed. And even though things that night seem to be in perspective, now it seems that the very district that I once represented for years has changed, especially on issues of taxes and crime. They’ve changed and become different and not for the better,” said Curran.

Curran stressed the importance of the upcoming election on November 8th while addressing the first issue on his agenda, bail reform. 

“Our way of life is under assault, and that’s why I have decided it’s time for me to return to the State Assembly. Extreme socialists have taken control of the state government enacting the dangerous “cashless bail” law, which has set free killers, drug dealers and gang members,” reads the Assemblyman’s political brochure. 

Curran then referred to New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s stance on the matter, relating it to his own personal perspective. “I would like to quote Mayor Adams, who’s a Democrat, he says, our criminal justice system here in New York, is insane. Those are his words, not mine. He says it is harmful and is destroying the fabric of the city, but I suggest to you that it’s destroying the fabric of the entire state, and that we have to deal with it.”

The expense of residing in Nassau County was the second issue that Curran discussed. Curran claimed that despite Long Island’s beauty and practicality, many were leaving the state due to the high state taxes.

“We have everything that you could possibly want and it’s a beautiful place to live. You want the beaches in the summer, we have that. The shows at Radio City Music Hall in the winter, you can hop on a train and you can have that. But another reality of the fact is that there are reasons why people are leaving and we know where they’re going. They’re going to Texas, they’re going to Florida, to the Carolinas for low tax states. That is something that you have to deal with,” said Curran.

Curran cited utility bills and the cost of food were among the leading factors in the exorbitant cost of living in Nassau County.

In the past, Curran has actively opposed New York American Water’s outrageous rate rises, conducting discussion forums to raise awareness of the issue. He has committed to continue investigating his constituents’ water bill concerns. 

“This is an important election for all across the board,” said Curran, “It’s an election about ideologies, and how people want to move forward.” 

The New York State Assembly election will be held on November 8th, with voting registration ending on October 14th.  Representatives from each of New York’s 150 districts will be determined through the elections.