Nassau legislators approve $426M plan following months of disputes
After Democrats declined to vote on the plan for more than a month, they have finally agreed to vote for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's capital plan, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in the county.
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After months of wrangling, Nassau County's nearly half billion-dollar capital plan has been approved.
After Democrats declined to vote on the plan for more than a month, they have finally agreed to vote for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's capital plan, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in the county.
Nassau County's $426 million plan includes $144 million for public safety upgrades and road improvements, including Elmont road traffic safety upgrades, Peninsula Boulevard improvements and bulletproof vests for police.
Before Wednesday, Democrats abstained from voting, saying they wanted a funding guarantee for several fire departments and EMS focusing on protective gear.
Last month, they even confronted Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a press conference.
Now, Democrats say after negotiating they got an additional $1.3 million for new gear for firefighters.
Among the fire departments are Merrick, Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Sea Cliff, Port Washington, Glen Cove, Glenwood and Sands Point.
"It wasn’t because we were opposed to it, we want everyone to get their jobs and their projects and things like that because we want what’s best for the county. But we can’t just blindly support everything that affects the Republican districts and nothing for the democratic districts," said Democratic Legislator Seth Koslow.
Chris Boyle, spokesperson for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, tells News12 in a statement:
“I am grateful that the county legislature unanimously passed the Blakeman capital plan for 2025. The democrat legislators who held hostage important public safety projects heard loud and clear from their constituents that this crass, political trick would not be tolerated by the electorate.”
Projects funded by the capital plan like public safety upgrades and road improvements will now begin now that the plan is approved.
