Friday, July 18, 2025
As the leader of the Democratic caucus in the Nassau County Legislature, I’ve always believed that public service is about one thing: delivering results for the people who elected us. That means putting partisanship aside and focusing on what matters — keeping our communities safe, ensuring fair access to resources and doing the hard work of good government.
Unfortunately, we’ve had to fight tooth and nail for basic fairness from the administration of County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Until recently, over $1.3 million in grant funding for first responders in Democratic districts was being blocked. That’s not just wrong; it’s dangerous. Meanwhile, the county executive approved 34 Republican-backed projects worth $2.5 million, many of them nearly identical to the proposals submitted by Democrats. Thirty-four to zero. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a political blockade.
Our Democratic team wasn’t going to let that slide. We made the decision to leverage our power on the capital plan, something that can’t pass without a 13-vote supermajority. We drew a line in the sand and demanded that these long-overdue grants be awarded. The result? A month later, we secured the funding our districts deserved, and we passed a capital plan that invests in roads, buildings, parks and other critical infrastructure across the county.
That’s what happens when you stand up instead of standing by. We got the job done.
But make no mistake, our work is far from over. We’re still holding this administration accountable, especially when it comes to public safety.
My colleagues on the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee are continuing their legal efforts to dismantle Blakeman’s reckless, unauthorized “armed militia.” Taxpayer-funded paramilitary cosplay isn’t what Nassau families asked for, and we deserve full transparency about how such a dangerous and misguided idea was ever allowed to take root.
We’re also facing a crisis that cuts across every ZIP code, every income level, every community: the opioid epidemic.
Nassau County has received nearly $100 million in opioid settlement funds from drug manufacturers, money meant to save lives. Yet barely $5 million of it has actually been spent. That’s inexcusable. People are dying while bureaucracy and mismanagement keep help out of their reach.
That’s why we took action. To break through the delays and dysfunction, the Legislature approved the hiring of an outside firm to manage a public grant portal that will finally move this process forward. This change will help expedite funding to the nonprofits and agencies that provide prevention, treatment and recovery services. We’re making sure the money gets where it belongs, which is with people and organizations fighting to save lives.
Through all of this, I remain inspired by the everyday heroes in our communities: first responders, educators, nurses, outreach workers and so many others who make Nassau County a better place. It’s their example that keeps me going, and it’s why I will never stop fighting for a government that serves everyone, not just the politically connected few.
So whether it’s pushing for fairness in funding, protecting our communities from dangerous policies or getting lifesaving resources into the right hands, know this: The Democratic caucus is united, we are focused, and we are just getting started. We’ll keep showing up. We’ll keep holding this administration accountable. And we’ll keep fighting for you.
Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District, and is the Legislature’s minority leader.
