By Cynthia Nuñez
As a first-generation American and a longtime Valley Stream resident, I learned early that opportunity is not automatic; it is built. It’s built by people who work hard, by neighbors who look out for one another, and by a government that shows up when it matters.
My work in public service began the way it does for many parents: with a problem at home. My daughter had access to programs that helped her thrive. When those same opportunities disappeared for my son, I couldn’t accept it.
I stepped up and ran for the Valley Stream District 24 Board of Education because I believed every child — no matter their ZIP code — deserves the same chance to succeed.
On the school board we chose results over rhetoric. We secured the largest grant in district history, including $500,000 for advanced water filtration because clean water is a right, not a luxury. We built a sensory playground for students of all abilities, and implemented the Community Eligibility Program to provide free, nutritious meals for every student. By removing the stigma of food insecurity, we allowed our children to focus on their books instead of their hunger.
Those experiences define my approach in the Nassau County Legislature: listen first, act decisively, and measure success by outcomes people can see and feel.
Today, nowhere is that approach more urgent than in the realm of traffic safety.
Recently, a parent stopped me after a school event and shared a sentiment that haunts me: “Every morning, I watch my child cross Mill Road and I hold my breath.” No parent should have to hold their breath as they send their child to school.
From Valley Stream to Lynbrook and Elmont, residents are sounding the alarm. We see the speeding, the chaotic intersections and the dangerous congestion. Pedestrians have been struck on Mill Road. Near James A. Dever and Wheeler Avenue schools, reckless U-turns and double-parking put our youngest neighbors at risk.
These aren’t just statistics on a spreadsheet; these are our children. We are taking action.
Building on the work initiated by Legislator Carrié Solages, I am pushing for enhanced patrols and speed indicators in high-risk zones. The data support this: The Lynbrook Police Department’s 2024 Sunrise Highway initiative resulted in 323 citations — proof that consistent enforcement changes behavior.
But enforcement alone isn’t enough. Infrastructure must do its part. Our fiscal year 2026 capital plan allocates $4 million to transform the Hempstead Avenue five-way intersection in Lynbrook, with construction slated for later this year. We are also coordinating with the state to strengthen pedestrian protections on North Central Avenue, and designing improvements for Rockaway Avenue at Merrick Road and Hollywood Avenue. In Elmont, nearly $7.2 million in improvements for Linden Boulevard are currently in the design phase.
Government should not feel distant or bogged down in bureaucracy. It should be present, responsive and accountable.
When residents raised concerns about snow removal during the January snowstorm, we acted quickly to improve maintenance and communication. The same urgency must guide our response to traffic safety. That includes exploring traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, rumble strips, and improved signage where appropriate.
Safety is not a partisan issue. It is a basic promise of local government.
Government should not feel distant or complicated. It should feel present. Responsive. Accountable.
When a resident calls about a dangerous street, they deserve a solution, not an excuse. Whether it’s clearing snow after a blizzard or installing rumble strips and speed bumps, the urgency must be the same.
I ran for office because I still believe that local government can solve problems and protect families. The measure of our success will be simple: It will be found in the senior who feels confident crossing a busy street, and the parent on Mill Road who can finally exhale. That is the Nassau County I am working to build: practical, responsive and relentlessly focused on keeping our communities safe.
I will not stop until every family in District 14 feels that difference.
Cynthia Nuñez represents Nassau County’s 14th Legislative District.
