The most important responsibility I have in representing the people of Assembly District 21 is listening. I work hard to ensure that their voices are heard in Albany. In a representative democracy, our system only works when the people we elect are attentive to the voices, concerns and lived experiences of the communities they serve.
My job isn’t simply to vote on legislation, but to make sure that the perspectives of our suburban neighborhoods in Nassau County are clearly reflected and understood in Albany, especially when those perspectives differ from those of other regions of New York state.
As a member of the Assembly majority, I serve on several committees and caucuses that shape policy on issues that affect our daily lives, including affordability, public safety, education, health care, the environment and our overall quality of life. These forums are where ideas are debated, agreements are made and priorities are set. In those rooms it is essential that the realities of the 21st District aren’t lost in the noise.
The 2026 Legislative Session brings a full agenda of complex and impactful issues, many of which will be addressed through budget negotiations and legislative deliberations over the coming months. While I bring my experience and judgment to these discussions, I also know that effective representation requires something more: a steady and accurate understanding of what matters most to you.
That’s why, later this month, I will share my 2026 Constituent Survey, and urge you to respond. The survey is one of the most important tools I have to ensure that your priorities remain front and center as decisions are made in Albany. While I have a strong sense of where our district stands on many issues, hearing directly from you through a structured, districtwide survey helps me advocate with greater precision on your behalf.
Your participation in this survey is vital. It will ask for your thoughts on issues such as:
The affordability challenges facing Long Island, especially housing and energy costs;
Access to quality, affordable health care and prescription drugs;
Child care and family support;
Rising grocery and food prices;
Addressing environmental policies while weighing costs;
The benefits and consequences of all-electric mandates;
Supporting small businesses;
Public safety and prioritizing victims’ rights.
It is vital that elected officials remain steadfast in keeping the interests of the people who elected them in the forefront, especially in the face of numerous, and sometimes insistent, positions of others who view things differently.
You may hear a great deal about “special interests” and their role in state government. Albany is a busy place. On any given day, the halls of our state government are filled with people advocating for a wide range of causes. Constituents, union leaders, professional lobbyists and associations representing thousands of New Yorkers are a constant presence. They seek to advance or defeat targeted issues.
Sometimes these goals and objectives are aligned with the majority of 21st District residents, and sometimes they aren’t. While these groups are important to an open government process, the voices of the people of A.D. 21 are paramount.
I often meet with people who travel to Albany from our district, and elsewhere in Nassau County, to fight for funding for our public schools, libraries, health care and other state systems that maintain and improve our thriving Long Island communities. Over the years I have been grateful for the honest and respectful conversations. These exchanges, whether in my district office, at community events, in Albany or in written correspondence, are democracy in action.
My personal standards of ethics bind me to a representation of you that delivers your message to state leaders and my Assembly and Senate colleagues. At times this can be a challenge, especially when regional differences and values clash. When this occurs, it is important that your elected representatives in Albany be in the key places where the voices of the 21st District can be heard. Our majority conferences and regional caucus discussions are just two examples of that.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete my 2026 Constituent Survey and share what matters most to you and your family. The results will directly inform my advocacy and legislative work. The survey will be available on my website by the end of Januray and will also be mailed to households.
Your voice matters, and it’s my job to listen.
Judy Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.
