After 15 years in the Nassau County Legislature, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton says that unfinished infrastructure projects and growing concerns about affordability are driving her campaign for another term.
The 58-year-old Glen Cove Democrat, who has led the Legislature’s minority caucus for two and a half years, discussed flooding, environmental protection, county finances and energy development during a Herald roundtable interview. She said that her experience has helped her understand both her constituents’ needs and the complexities of county government.
“I feel like I’m still able to produce for my district,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “We have a number of projects that I would really like to see come to fruition.”
Among them is a planned overhaul of Shore Road in Glen Cove, where, she said, drainage improvements would accompany new curbs, sidewalks, lighting and traffic-calming measures. She also described persistent flooding near Woolsey Avenue and Dosoris Lane, where county crews are examining drainage adjustments.
But DeRiggi-Whitton cautioned that larger problems remain underground. Existing stormwater pipes, she said, were not designed for the runoff generated by the extent of today’s development in major storms. Area infrastructure, she said, “wasn’t made for this much concrete and that much water runoff.”
DeRiggi-Whitton cited Crescent Beach’s reopening as a completed priority, saying that efforts to reduce runoff and contamination have helped protect Hempstead Harbor. She added that she wants additional sewer connections around the harbor, including in Glen Head, although the expense and distance between homes make expansion difficult.
“It’s going to take years,” she said.
Protecting the underground aquifer is another priority. She highlighted county legislation encouraging water-saving sprinkler systems, and said she wants to revisit restrictions on nitrogen in lawn fertilizer to reduce groundwater contamination.
On Propel NY Energy, DeRiggi-Whitton said her concerns extend beyond construction-related traffic. She questioned the project’s potential effects on groundwater and Hempstead Harbor, the possibility of battery storage in Glenwood Landing, and whether local ratepayers would see sufficient benefits for the costs.
“The bottom line is, the information is just not clear,” she said. “You can’t just come in and do something to a community and not explain the entire process.”
Affordability remains pressing, she said. Democrats in the Legislature proposed reducing the county’s sales tax on gasoline, and she supports expanding housing for seniors, veterans and younger residents on suitable redevelopment sites. She emphasized local control over development.
Discussing Nassau’s budget, DeRiggi-Whitton questioned the management of county reserves despite strong sales tax receipts. She also criticized what she considers delays in distributing opioid settlement funds for treatment, education and prevention.
“Even though the county has the smallest portion of the tax, it’s still our constituents’ money,” she said, calling for closer scrutiny of spending.
On immigration enforcement, she questioned County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s agreement with federal authorities, citing the need for legislative oversight. She supports deporting people with criminal convictions who lack legal status, but expressed concern about families and children affected by enforcement.
She also raised privacy questions about artificial intelligence-enabled license plate readers, specifically who controls collected information and who may access it.
DeRiggi-Whitton said that leading the eight-member Democratic caucus has required cooperation to secure grants and capital projects. The caucus, she said, secured approval for 32 of 34 grant proposals at one meeting, an outcome she attributed to members remaining united despite disagreements.
