Saturday, April 26, 2025
Two candidates are on the ballot at this year’s special village election on March 18. Sharon Daly, a political newcomer currently serving as trustee, will go head to head with Anthony Bonelli, a former District 13 trustee and familiar challenger to United Community Party rule. The seat was left vacant after Sean Wright’s election to Nassau County District Court.
We talked to the candidates about traffic congestion, affordability, and their top issue.
Q: Residents have expressed frustration over increasing traffic congestion in Valley Stream, particularly around major intersections, and school zones.
What specific policies or infrastructure improvements would you advocate for easing traffic flow and improving pedestrian safety?
Sharon Daly: Concerns over traffic congestion in Valley Stream, particularly around major intersections and school zones is of course an issue that demands vigilance and problem-solving. Having lived in Valley Stream my entire life, and raising my daughter here, who is herself about to become a mother, the safety of our residents and in particular our children is of paramount importance. Communication between state, county, town, and village governments is always the first step in resolving issues such as these, and working closely with schools, parents and the Nassau County Police Department is an imperative that I look forward to accomplishing as a Valley Stream Trustee, representing our 42,000 residents.
Anthony Bonelli: I believe this is a failure partly due to the fact the current Administration has been “hands off” on developers’ implementation of their projects. The Administration does not sufficiently scrutinize the traffic flows around the proposed development by employing its own traffic engineer. Instead, this Administration, I believe, relies solely on the honesty and accuracy of the developer’s employed traffic engineer. Secondly, the Administration does have a committee that oversees and makes recommendations on signage and other traffic related issues, yet none of the members of this committee has competency or formal education of a traffic engineer. This is partly why we have stop signs illegally erected throughout Valley Stream which are in violation of New York State traffic law. A stop sign is not to be used to control the speed of traffic. Stop signs are to be used to clarify who has the right of way at intersections. For example, along Emerson place or Cottage Street there are stop signs that violate state law because it is clear who has the right of way along at intersections along the length of these streets.
Q: With rising rents and property taxes, affordability remains a major concern for many Valley Stream residents.
What steps would you take to ensure that housing remains accessible for both homeowners and renters while balancing the village’s financial stability?
Daly: Housing concerns have been in the forefront of discussions at all levels of government for as long as our suburban communities have been in existence. Balancing the needs of young people just starting out, empty nesters seeking to remain in the community that they love, and everyone in-between requires a judicious, thoughtful approach. Valley Stream is a beloved community largely because we love our beautiful green spaces.
I am honored to now be a steward of our Village’s 105 acres of pristine park land. Our village, now proudly celebrating its Centennial year, was designed with primarily single-family homes dotting the local landscape. Much has changed in 100 years, but as we carefully examine the possibilities of allowing additional housing for the people who choose not to own such a home, and perhaps rather live in a beautiful condo or rental space, we must do so with an eye toward the overall health of our village and the various critical fiscal and infrastructure issues that must also be considered.
Bonelli: The current Administration is completely out of control. Just last week the Administration is seeking millions of dollars in loans in the form of bonds. The Village is in debt for over $40 million. Why does the Administration raise our taxes when the Village received State grant money for Village projects reducing general fund expenditures? Why aren’t these savings used to freeze or reduce homeowner property taxes.
This Administration assumes $4.00 a day for each of the 400 plus vehicles that are parked in the unsightly and deplorable commercial parking lot recently created alongside Sunrise Highway and the LIRR between Terrace Place and Central Avenue generates at least $585,000 a year a new revenue stream. Why are these dollars not being used to offset the taxpayer’s burden? The taxpayers have lost 3.8 acres of park land to this deplorable parking lot for all the world to see as the face of Valley Stream, yet it appears they don’t get the benefit of tax relief.
Q: If elected, what would be your top priority in addressing the challenges facing Valley Stream, and how do you plan to make tangible progress?
Daly: “Quality of Life” has been and continues to be the over-arching issue that has compelled me to join the Valley Stream Village Board. I believe that a safe, peaceful, and well-maintained Village is what continues to attract people to come here. In the short time that I have served as Village Trustee I have come to appreciate from an “insider’s” point of view, just how hard our employees work to make this ideal a true reality. I am truly amazed at how our Village “family” takes their jobs personally and works so diligently for the good of our Village.
Add to this the exceptional members of the Valley Stream Fire Department, and all the volunteer groups that round out our community. We are truly fortunate to live in such a vibrant community. My goal as a trustee is to maintain all the good that we have, continue to work closely with our partners throughout all levels of government to continue keeping Valley Stream safe and stable, and to keep a laser focus on budgetary issues that keep our financial house in order, while protecting the hard-working tax-payers.
Bonelli: I would work with my fellow trustees to impose austere measures to reign in personnel costs. I would immediately dismiss several supervisory positions that can be managed by the Village Clerk and one other village manager. For instance, why do we have a supervisor of pools when it’s only open less than 3 months a year? A similar question arises when you consider the justification of a park’s supervisor. What landscaping is done during late fall, early spring and winter requiring a supervisor? The Village provides landscaping pickups every Wednesday during the Winter season. Why are our taxes being spent on trucks riding throughout the Village when it’s not necessary? I can understand maybe once or twice a month a Wednesday pickup but why every Wednesday during the Winter.
Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.
