In the aftermath of three South Shore sinkholes in an approximately two-month span, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé (D – Freeport) joined with Baldwin community leaders and residents on August 7 at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola to demand a comprehensive emergency response to the Nassau County’s growing infrastructure crisis.
Legislator Mulé and community stakeholders urge the federal government to expedite the delivery of funds earmarked the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for New York transportation system improvements; reiterate that securing our water and sewer infrastructure must be the County’s top priority in the 2024 capital plan; and demand complete infrastructure studies of sewer pipes and water mains so that potential threats can be proactively addressed.
Legislator Mulé sent this letter to Governor Hochul, and a similar letter to Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
RE: Urgent request for expedited delivery of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to Nassau County upon receipt
Dear Governor Hochul: In the aftermath of critical infrastructure failures that have occurred in the communities of Baldwin and Lido Beach during the last month, I write today with an urgent plea for your office to work in partnership with all levels of government to expedite the delivery of funding that has been for earmarked for New York State and Nassau County in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act upon its receipt by the State.
On June 27, my office was first advised of issues with a 42-inch sewer main under Grand Avenue, a major thoroughfare within the hamlet of Baldwin in Nassau County. The issue has since escalated to the level of a critical sewer main failure, which subsequently caused a sinkhole that has made Grand Avenue impassible until at least July 15, according to County officials. Worse yet, sewage has leaked into nearby Brookside Creek and the backyards of neighboring residents, causing environmental damage to local ecosystems.
It is especially jarring to consider that this is the second time in less than a month that a sinkhole has severely damaged a major Nassau County roadway, as was experienced on Lido Boulevard on May 31. Taken together, these incidents must serve as an urgent wake-up call for leaders at every level of government who represent Nassau County residents.
At the County level, I will be working with my Legislative colleagues and the County Executive’s administration to make investments in our critical road, sewer, and drinking water infrastructure the top priority of Nassau’s 2024 Capital Plan. Thanks to the foresight and leadership demonstrated by President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and others, local efforts to fortify and rebuild our aging infrastructure can be amplified through the swift and expedited delivery of the potentially billions of dollars in federal aid that have been earmarked to New York State, and thereby Nassau County, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
No part of our County or our region is immune from infrastructure failures like the ones we have experienced during the last month. When considered alongside the growing hazards posed by the impacts of climate change, these looming threats behoove us to act now. We must take decisive action to protect our environmental assets and secure the health and safety of all Nassau County residents by averting future catastrophes such as the ones that the residents of Baldwin and Lido Beach have endured. My constituents and I thank you for your consideration of this urgent request, and I am ready to assist you in any manner that is necessary to advocate for the expedited delivery of this crucial funding. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact my office at any time.
Sincerely,
Debra Mulé
Nassau County Legislator Fifth Legislative District