Nassau County Legislature District 11
Description:
Candidates (choose 1):
Delia DeRiggi-Whitton
Party: DEM, CON, WFP, IND
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (516) 316-9135
Campaign Web Site: https://deliaderiggiwhitton.com/
Campaign Email: dderiggiwhitton@yahoo.com
City/Town of Residence: Glen Cove, N.Y.
Prior Civic Service: City of Glen Cove Councilwoman 2008-2011
Questions:
Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?
A: During my tenure as a Nassau County Legislator, I have been a tireless advocate for efforts aimed at rooting out waste, fraud and abuse at every opportunity. When tax dollars are wasted, misused or stolen, the burden on residents grows with no corresponding improvement in the services they receive. That’s simply unacceptable to me. Already, I have exposed wasteful contracts, secured passage of legislation that adds clarity to our procurement process by requiring contracts to articulate up front the maximum expenditure to be incurred during the term of the contract, and advocated for the creation of the Office of the Independent Inspector General. I will continue to fight to ensure residents receive the maximum return for their tax dollars.
Q: On a Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most and 1 being the least, how much do you consider climate change an important issue, particularly how it may affect Long Island (i.e. flooding, erosion, rising sea levels)? What steps would you take to address this issue?
A: Five. As an active participant in Long Island Coalition for Aquifer Protection (LICAP) meetings, I am committed to advocating for policies that will preserve the purity and potability of Long Island’s single-source aquifer. I will also strongly advocate for policies that conserve and preserve our precious drinking water supply. In addition, I have cosponsored and advocated for legislation that reduces Nassau County’s dependence on wasteful single-use products and have supported initiatives that reduce this County’s reliance on fossil fuels and integrate renewable solutions into our energy portfolio. Effective water preservation and environmental conservation policies dovetail with other environmentally friendly initiatives that can reduce our carbon footprint and ensure Nassau County is doing its part to slow or even reverse the negative impacts of climate change.
Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?
A: Effective communication is essential to bolstering citizen involvement in the decision-making process. I operate an accessible and active district office that is equipped to promptly address constituent concerns and connect residents with resources that will address their issues and improve their lives. Furthermore, I believe that some of the ethics reforms that I have worked closely with the Minority Caucus to implement – especially the creation of an Office of the Inspector General – empowers concerned citizens to participate by giving them a dedicated and streamlined opportunity for reporting waste, fraud and abuse in County government.
Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?
A: I will continue my current practice of rigorously analyzing County contracts to prevent corruption and waste. To increase transparency, I support initiatives such as the Open Checkbook program and the ongoing nepotism audit that expose County finances and employment practices to the light of day. I also support enhancing solutions that increase the minimum standards for financial disclosure by elected officials, create a more robust Nassau County Board of Ethics and ensure the office of the Independent Inspector General has the tools to monitor and investigate our procurement process without interference or political influence.
James M. Greenberg
Party: REP
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (516) 445-1097
Campaign Web Site: https://jamesmgreenberg.com/
Campaign Email: JGreenbergNCLeg2019@gmail.com
City/Town of Residence: Glen Cove
Prior Civic Service: None
Questions:
Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?
A: Over the past decades there has been a shift away from encouraging larger size manufacturing and businesses from making Long Island, specifically Nassau County their home. The tax base created by larger companies may not only ease the burden on the individual homeowner and their property tax share but provide welcome jobs for the residents. Incentives may be needed to bring tech, manufacturing and other types of business but reducing the burden on the individual homeowner is the most logical way to go. We need to adjust the property tax assessment formula that has contributed to the skyrocketing cost of living on Long Island, discouraging young families from moving here, and even motivating residents to move away from our county in pursuit of greener pastures in lower cost counties and states like Florida and North Carolina. Residents ought to pay their fair share, but the system we have in place is an unduly high burden on homeowners-especially after the SALT deduction was removed from federal taxes. We need county government that understands the financial burdens its residents are facing in our evolving economic and political climate and can act accordingly to put the financial needs of residents first. We need to bring back responsible fiscal management to Nassau County government. We need to finance necessary services by bringing dollars into our community through partnerships with governments, nonprofits, and the private sector instead of treating our residents like ATMs through higher and higher taxes. We can improve the quality of government services AND reduce the tax burden of our residents if we have leaders with the willpower and courage to make an honest, transparent assessment of our county budget and make cuts to the various areas of waste and excess
Q: On a Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most and 1 being the least, how much do you consider climate change an important issue, particularly how it may affect Long Island (i.e. flooding, erosion, rising sea levels)? What steps would you take to address this issue?
A: (5) Climate change is a serious issue that is of particular concern to residents in my district, much of which includes waterfront communities. As a County Legislator, my approach to combatting climate-related issues emphasizes preparedness and responsiveness-through partnership with colleagues at all levels of government, businesses, and residents. We need to ensure our communities are aware of the risks of flooding, and that we have the necessary emergency management programs in place to respond immediately if and when incidents inevitably occur.
Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?
A: I believe that increased resident involvement in government begins with high levels of transparency and access to public officials and how they make the decisions that affect our county. Frankly, I do not believe that is an approach that has been followed by our current politicians in Nassau County. Residents will not engage in the process if they don’t trust that their input will be taken seriously by the people elected to serve them. The only way we can earn that trust is reaching out to residents, soliciting their views on what the issues are and potential ways to address them, and then working for them in the public eye and getting the job done the right way.
Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?
A: As a County Legislator, I will always be accessible to my residents. My office doors will always be open, and I will make my best effort to answer every phone call and email that comes my way. Most importantly, I will always share with my residents the rational for each vote I take, and each piece of legislation I put forward. I can’t promise that residents will always agree with every decision that I make, but I can promise that each of my residents will have the opportunity to make their voices heard and to try and change my mind when we disagree. You will never have to wonder where I stand on the issues that affect our county, and you will have the opportunity to participate in the process to help build with me the future for Nassau County that we deserve.
Blay Tarnoff
Party: LBT
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (917) 609-0707
Campaign Web Site: https://nassaulibertarian.org
Campaign Email: lpny@eblay.com
City/Town of Residence: Port Washington
Prior Civic Service: Lifelong service to libertarian organizations
Questions:
Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?
A: Our real estate taxes help fund the operation of Nassau County government. The functions the government performs are important, but many do not have to be performed by governmental agencies, which tend to be more costly and inefficient than necessary. I would seek to privatize as many functions as possible, lightening the fiscal burden on the County. I would also seek to improve the financial health of our residents, empowering them to become more independent by increasing average income and decreasing costs via deregulation and tax reduction. More and more residents who have lived here for generations can no longer afford to do so due to crushing restrictions and expenses. It’s time to make Nassau more affordable again.
Q: On a Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most and 1 being the least, how much do you consider climate change an important issue, particularly how it may affect Long Island (i.e. flooding, erosion, rising sea levels)? What steps would you take to address this issue?
A: 5. Everyone, without exception, wants to live in a clean and beautiful environment. Not being an environmental scientist, I do not pretend to be in a position to know what the cause of increased global temperatures is. I hear and respect the arguments on both sides. However, as average global temperatures do seem to be rising, which is likely to increase sea level, this may become a critically important issue for coastal areas. I would be open to any special exemptions that would empower coastal communities, residents, and civic and environmental organizations to address these issues.
Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?
A: People who have the power, confidence and wherewithal to manage their own lives are always better off than people who are forced to navigate government agencies. Most of the decisions that affect the lives and well-being of our residents should be made by them, not by the government. After all, who cares more about you and your family than you?
Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?
A: All too often, secrecy in government is used to protect government misconduct in the name of necessity or security. I support all sunshine and open meetings laws and would also support any legislation to require every governmental body and agency to timely publish all data of public interest.
