Panzenbeck and Silverman share contrasting plans at League of Women Voters debate in Glen Cove

Residents packed the Glen Cove Middle School auditorium on Oct. 9 as Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck and City Councilwoman Marsha Silverman met in a spirited, hour-long debate hosted by the League of Women Voters. The event offered voters a rare side-by-side look at the two candidates’ sharply contrasting visions for Glen Cove’s future — from downtown revitalization and city finances to transparency, policing, and civil discourse at City Hall.
The evening, moderated by League volunteers, drew residents from across the city. Questions submitted by the public ranged from property taxes and water fees to immigration enforcement and the long-stalled ferry terminal. Both candidates delivered opening and closing statements and fielded more than a dozen questions on the city’s most pressing issues.

Statements highlight priorities

Silverman, who is serving her fourth term on the City Council, opened by stressing her financial background and her record on accountability.

“I initially got involved in public service in order to bring transparency, accountability, equal treatment, and access to City Hall,” she said, citing her work initiating a state comptroller’s audit of the IDA that resulted in a $1.6 million refund to the city and the establishment of a new procurement policy to ensure fairness in contracting.
She highlighted what she described as growing affordability challenges for residents, mentioning “the water surcharge, the new sewer fees, and the upcoming removal of the Nassau County property tax rebate.” Silverman said her first act as mayor would be to meet with department heads to “plan for and operate the city more efficiently, find ways to eliminate waste, and modernize operations to provide a customer-service-oriented administration.”
Panzenbeck, seeking a third term, pointed to a long list of visible accomplishments during her tenure. “I love Glen Cove and all of our residents, and it shows,” she said. Panzenbeck highlighted major park renovations, infrastructure upgrades, and financial turnaround, emphasizing that “for the first time since 2017, the city has a surplus verified by a third-party auditing firm.”
She noted that Moody’s has upgraded the city’s bond rating three times to Baa1, the highest in two decades, and that Glen Cove has earned a “no fiscal stress” designation from the state comptroller. “I have always believed actions speak louder than words,” she said. “It is not what a person says, it is what a person does — and I am a woman of action.”

Downtown revitalization and cleanliness

Asked about the persistent problem of vacant storefronts downtown, Silverman said the city needs to rethink how it uses its Industrial Development Agency, focusing less on tax breaks for high-density housing and more on attracting “businesses that create jobs and provide services that people want and need.” She called for a downtown that “does not shut down at five or six p.m.” and serves residents of all ages.
Panzenbeck countered that the administration has already helped bring “a lot of new varieties of restaurants” to downtown, though retail remains a challenge. She said sustaining new shops requires community support. “When we open businesses, our residents don’t always support them,” she said, noting the prevalence of online shopping. “We need to make a commitment to stop shopping online and support our stores that are actually here.”
When a resident asked about litter and dirty parking lots, Panzenbeck responded that “a great many of our parking lots are privately owned” and said code enforcement addresses those cases. “Our own parking lots are cleaned by our city workers and they do a very, very good job at that,” she added.
Silverman agreed that the Department of Public Works “works extremely hard and does a great job,” but said cleaner streets require “communicating to everyone that we can do better.” She praised the Beautification Committee and urged broader participation, saying code enforcement should be “applied equally across the board.”

On civil discourse and information sharing

Both candidates were asked how to promote more civility at City Council meetings. Silverman said respect must begin before the gavel drops. “Respect has to start with providing each member of the City Council all information that’s required to make decisions,” she said, arguing that equal access to background data and rationale for agenda items would lead to “more respect because each of us will be coming to the table on a level playing field.”
Panzenbeck disagreed that information is lacking, noting that council members meet weekly in pre-council sessions. “If anybody has a question and doesn’t understand an agenda item or would like more clarification, that is the time to ask — not actually at the meeting,” she said. “My door is open. My phone is available. My email is on.”

Policing and public safety

The candidates found common ground on law enforcement. Panzenbeck reminded the audience that she “was the person behind the hiring of the 12 new officers” over the past four years and said Glen Cove remains “one of the safest communities in the entire state.” She added, “We would never want to defund the police — never ever.”
Silverman echoed that sentiment, calling the Glen Cove Police Department “one of the best departments in New York State or even the country.” She cited the city’s community-based policing model, with officers embedded in schools and senior centers, adding, “We need to invest in them and keep them just the way they are — and even better if that’s possible.”

ICE enforcement and immigration

On a question about federal immigration enforcement, Silverman said she trusts the local police to keep residents safe while maintaining compassion. She noted that “houses of worship and schools” should remain safe spaces where people “should be allowed to go safely and securely and not be afraid.”
Panzenbeck said ICE has operated in Glen Cove “for many, many years,” targeting serious offenders. “They have picked up very bad individuals,” she said, referencing a high-profile case in which suspects later faced murder charges. “They are not here taking innocent people.”

Fiscal responsibility and development

Pressed on balancing growth and fiscal prudence, Panzenbeck said accomplishments during her administration were achieved “through capital borrowing, budgeting, and grants,” stressing that “we need to put the money first.” She contrasted her management approach with the city’s deficit prior to her tenure, referencing a year when “the budget tanked.”
Silverman rebutted, clarifying that “the budget is the budget of the mayor,” not the council. She emphasized using metrics to evaluate investments and returns. “We must invest in infrastructure like our parking garages and water systems,” she said, “but we have to do it smartly with the right metrics in place.”

Ferry terminal and transparency

On the Glen Cove ferry terminal, Silverman said future operations “have to be financially viable so that it is not on the backs of taxpayers.” She praised partnerships with higher levels of government and credited Congressman Tom Suozzi for ongoing efforts.
Panzenbeck said the city “almost did a ferry pilot last year” but delayed it because “it would have been too much for the riders and it would have failed.” She said a potential operator has since approached the city to run commuter ferries to Manhattan, adding that “sometimes when a deal is too good to be true, you have to be extra cautious.”
Transparency was another focal point. Silverman said she pushed for publishing council minutes online and ensuring “enough advance notice” of meetings and RFPs. “Government in the United States is for the people and by the people,” she said. “Transparency will be the cornerstone for public participation.”
Panzenbeck maintained that her administration is transparent, explaining that “even a $20 reimbursement” appears on the agenda. She detailed the city’s process for evaluating RFPs, noting that “three city council people were on the RFP committee” for one property and that procedures have since been improved to avoid conflicts.

Closing remarks

Silverman concluded by calling for “leadership that listens, that plans for the future, and that puts our community first.” She cited flooding, infrastructure, and affordability as urgent priorities but said Glen Cove’s “waterfront, history, and diversity” offer great opportunity. “A vote for me is a vote for you,” she said.
Panzenbeck closed by reaffirming her lifelong ties to Glen Cove. “I love being your mayor and take my duties very seriously,” she said. Highlighting the city’s national recognition — including Money Magazine’s ranking of Glen Cove as one of the best places to live — she added, “My works have been genuine, not something I have done for political gain. Actions speak louder than words, and I am a woman of action.”