By Michele Justic
Nassau County residents witnessed a rare display of public discord amongst our elected leaders on Monday, March 24, with seven Democratic legislators abstaining from a vote on the $430 million Capital Spending Plan. County Executive Bruce Blakeman publicly called them out for “playing political games with people’s lives” and “using quid pro quo to fund pet projects.” The County Executive detailed some of the vital budget items in the county’s Capital Plan, including: $1.14 million for bulletproof vests for police, $3 million for new ambulances, $1.5 million for body cameras for police, $50,000 for personal protection gear for firefighters, $550,000 for a new high axle vehicle to help in evacuation during flooding, $500,000 for Fire Department communications to keep each other safe, $600,000 for a new hazardous material vehicle, and $1 million for the Fire Service Academy master plan to train firefighters. He then specified some items that would directly benefit the districts of the legislators who had voted against the budget, including ambulance equipment and pedestrian safety plans. Blakeman blamed the legislators, “Answer to the public if there’s a catastrophe, if a police officer is killed with no vest, if an ambulance can’t run because it’s not working…”
Legislator Seth I. Koslow, who is seeking the County Executive seat, interrupted, bringing forth a document guaranteeing funding for the community projects to the podium, but was told to “sit down.” In response, Koslow posted on Facebook: “County Executive Bruce Blakeman had the audacity to call funding for fire districts, EMS, and local village police ‘pet projects.’ That’s not just disrespectful—it’s dangerous. Now, he’s holding up over $1 million in critical funding for brave first responders simply because they’re located in Democratic districts.”
Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton also interrupted the press conference, presenting the same document. She posted the following on Facebook: “For years, Bruce Blakeman has been playing politics with the safety of our first responders—blocking over $1 million in critical funding for firefighters, EMS, and local police just because they serve Democratic-represented districts.”
The list, posted by Democrat legislators, includes over $1 million total for the Baldwin Fire Department, Glen Cove Fire Department, Glen Cove EMS, Glenwood Fire Department, Merrick Fire Department, Muttontown Police Department, Port Washington Fire Department, Sands Point Police Department, Sea Cliff Fire Department, and Westbury Fire Department.
Blakeman insists, “There is more for Democratic districts proportionally—$71 million—than Republican districts, including 6 additional projects added to the budget at the advice of the Democratic Caucus before this vote.” Blakeman noted the Capital Plan was created with the input of the fire marshal, police department, department of public works, traffic and safety engineers.
The County Executive notes that the community projects proposed by the Democratic legislators should be funded through the legislature with approval of the executive branch. “First pass the Capital budget and then money left over for the general fund, we will go over each project.”
Blakeman posted a call to action on his Facebook page, with an image detailing the Capital Plan line items and contact information for each legislator who abstained.
“Police Department bulletproof vests, Police Department ambulance replacement, police vehicle replacement, Police Department firearms, Sheriff Department vehicles, Fire Department rescue vehicles, Fire Department communications, Fire Department training—Call your Legislator and tell them to VOTE YES on the Capital Plan. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Scott Davis, Olena Nicks, Carrie Solages, Seth Koslow, Debra Mule, and Arnold Drucker.”
The County Legislature is attempting to schedule another vote in April. One additional vote would allow for a supermajority of 13 votes and allow for the Capital Plan to pass.
