Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio says his time in office has been defined by being accessible to constituents, and the legislation he has supported.
Giangregorio, who retired in March from JP Morgan Chase, was first elected in 2023 and is seeking another two-year term. One of the accomplishments he is most proud of, he said, is making himself available to residents — even when an issue falls outside the county’s jurisdiction.
“When someone calls my office, they will never get, ‘That’s not us,’” he said. “We’ll make the connection.”
Residents should receive assistance whether they are calling about a major issue or a relatively small concern, Giangregorio said, adding that his office works to determine which level of government can address a problem and make the appropriate connection.
He pointed to his record on taxes and laws he has authored or supported. He said he has not voted for a county tax increase since he was elected.
Giangregorio also cited legislation involving religious freedom, and a law he authored prohibiting hotels and motels from renting rooms by the hour. That measure, he said, was prompted by concerns raised by constituents, and was intended to address prostitution, drug trafficking and sex trafficking, particularly in residential areas and near schools.
He also highlighted the county’s Blue Envelope program, which he authored in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department. It is intended to help officers identify neurodivergent drivers and passengers during traffic stops. Under the program, a participant can receive a blue envelope containing credentials and information for officers. A blue sleeve for a seat belt can also identify a neurodivergent passenger.
“The purpose of the blue envelope is you put your credentials in, you leave your hands on the wheel and you tell the police officers, I have a blue envelope,” he said, adding that neurodivergent people “need a little bit more attention.”
On the issue of affordability, Giangregorio said the county should control the portion of property taxes in its jurisdiction and avoid increasing taxes before identifying opportunities to reduce spending and operate more efficiently.
“We have to do more with less,” he said, adding that the county should not balance its budget “on the backs of taxpayers,” and, “I’m not a fan of waste.”
Regarding the challenge of rising property values, he said homeowners might benefit from increased values, but prospective buyers can find it more difficult to afford a home. The county, Giangregorio said, should continue looking for opportunities to provide affordable housing for young people, veterans and those with disabilities.
He also discussed several public-works projects, including improvements in Bellmore, where work is moving forward in phases, beginning with a focus on traffic signals before additional improvements on Bellmore Avenue. He noted a planned left-turn signal at Merrick and Camp avenues, near the Camp Avenue School. The busy intersection, Giangregorio said, has been the site of accidents, and the signal should improve traffic flow and pedestrian access.
He also said he wants to address long-vacant commercial properties along Sunrise Highway, including the former Treehouse and HSBC buildings. The county, the Town of Hempstead, the state and property owners, he said, need to work together to improve the appearance and condition of those properties.
For Giangregorio, constituent service remains central to his work. “If it’s important to that person for them to reach out, and we can help them,” he said, that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
