Nassau Executive Blakeman delivers State of the County address

Blakeman also called on President Joe Biden to secure the border to keep drugs, like heroin and fentanyl, out of Nassau communities.

News 12 Staff

Mar 1, 2023, 10:39 PM

Updated 562 days ago

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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman applauded changes his administration made at the local level while calling out changes being considered in Albany in his second State of the County address on Wednesday.
He said the county is considering a casino at the Nassau Hub but says it will only get his approval if it is world-class, brings significant revenue to the county and surrounding areas and has support from the community.
Blakeman also called on President Joe Biden to secure the border to keep drugs, like heroin and fentanyl, out of Nassau communities.
"I am asking President Biden to work with our great Customs and Border Patrol agents to secure our borders, stop the flow of criminals into our communities, and keep our drugs like heroin and fentanyl that are killing our kids," Blakeman said.
The county executive also spoke out against Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to increase the housing stock, saying it would not go along with the suburban way of life on Long Island.
He also says it would be a tax on the infrastructure, economy and traffic.
"The water aquifer would be stretched to dangerous levels, our environment would suffer and traffic would be unbearable," Blakeman said. "Our schools would be overcrowded. It's a dangerous idea that will destroy the quality of life that we enjoy."
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder says stolen cars are also down 40% this year in the county.
Blakeman says there are still many challenges in Nassau County, including ensuring a safe and reliable water supply.
He pledged to work with Democrats and Independents to meet those challenges.
Democratic rebuttal to Blakeman's State of the County address: