Trickle of funding reveals Blakeman’s skewed priorities

To date, Nassau County has received approximately $385 million in coronavirus relief money through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and $85.2 million more in settlements from opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Of that combined sum of approximately $470 million, Nassau County has to date only committed roughly $86 million and dispersed $7 million.

While many have wondered about the almost palpable lack of urgency from the administration of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in getting these life-enriching and lifesaving funds into the community, a recent budget hearing potentially exposed the callous reason his administration continues to sit on these funds.

During the hearing, on Oct. 10, administration officials confirmed that the roughly $378 million in remaining proceeds from the ARPA funding and various opioid settlements is being used to bolster Nassau County’s reserves, which in turn are helping to boost and maintain the county’s credit score with rating agencies such as Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch Ratings.

Furthermore, every penny in interest that has and may be generated in the future by holding the opioid funds back was earned at the expense of someone who is struggling with the disease of addiction.

All of this is simply appalling.

It is only marginally less infuriating when you consider that Nassau’s ARPA funds could be applied to fighting hunger, combating homelessness, bolstering mental health programs, supporting small businesses, enhancing youth services and so much more. For months, my colleagues in the County Legislature’s minority caucus and I have been advocating for approximately $12 million in itemized ARPA requests to help support organizations that provide vital community services.

While those requests have languished in the Blakeman administration, the transfer of $10 million in Covid relief funds, done under the facade of “tourism” to fund lavish galas, parades and marketing to celebrate the county’s 125th anniversary this year, flew through the Legislature on Dec. 18.

The minority caucus is unified in its outrage and opposition to this latest lapse in judgment, which serves as yet another example of how Blakeman and his administration are badly out of touch with the needs of our constituents.

Federal Covid relief and opioid settlement funds were not meant to gather dust on ledger sheets, serve as an investment strategy, be used to butter up ratings agencies, or soothe the self-inflating ego of an elected official.

They were meant to get into the community so they could be used to address the challenges our constituents are grappling with.

With so many people struggling, and so many facing the unthinkable crisis of losing family members to addiction, spending $10 million on publicizing an anniversary celebration before releasing these opioid settlement funds is unconscionable. Let’s hope that in the new year, these lifesaving funds, as well as our federal relief funds, reach their intended destinations — at least as swiftly as Blakeman’s celebration funds did.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District, and is the Legislature’s minority leader-elect.