Nassau County Legislature District 9

The Island Now

Nassau County Legislature District 9

Description:

Candidates (choose 1):

Mal Nathan

Party: DEM, WFP

Biographical Info:
Questions:

Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?

A: – no response –

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: – no response –

Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?

A: – no response –

Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?

A: – no response –

Richard J. Nicolello

Party: REP, CON, IND

Photo provided by the League of Women Voters
Biographical Info:

Campaign Phone: (516) 986-7010

Campaign Web Site: https://www.nicolello.com

Campaign Email: citizens4nicolello@gmail.com

City/Town of Residence: New Hyde Park, NY 11040

Prior Civic Service: First Vice President and past Secretary of the Mineola Lions Club. Member and past President of the New Hyde Park Kiwanis Club. Member, Cellini Lodge (Order Sons and Daughter of Italy in America). 3d Degree Member, Knights of Columbus, NHP Council. Member, Irish Americans in Government Member, Notre Dame Parish. Member, Elks Club, NHP Lodge. Member, New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.

Questions:

Q: What two or three specific actions would you take to help reduce the real estate tax burden on Nassau County residents?

A: First and foremost, we must continue to hold the line on real property tax increases. This is the top priority of the Republican Majority. Since we attained the majority in 2010, we have repeatedly voted for budgets that did not increase property taxes, during which time the county share of the average property tax bill went from 19% to 16%. We must continue to focus on making government as efficient and effective as possible, and must continue to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. Local officials must work together to put pressure on New York State to end unfunded mandates by Albany, which push the cost of state programs and initiatives onto local taxpayers through property taxes.

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: We have passed numerous initiatives to increase the use of clean energy such as the Sustainable Energy Loan Program and a local law mandating that our capital planning include projects for the increased use of solar energy and the development of a fleet of electric vehicles and charging stations. I support the NESE pipeline project, which will provide a much-needed supply of relatively clean burning natural gas to Long Island. Having adequate supplies of natural gas will ensure that there will continue to exist a cleaner alternative for those seeking to switch from fuel oil and will provide a bridge to when renewables are able to meet a greater portion of our energy needs.

Q: What will you do to increase resident involvement in the decision-making process in Nassau County?

A: I will continue to provide as much information as possible to my residents through written and electronic communications and will continue hold open hearings at the Legislature, and “Town Hall” type meetings in my District. When the County Executive and Assessor refused to hold community meetings to explain Reassessment, my Republican colleagues and I held numerous meetings all over the county to provide information to our residents and answer their questions and concerns. We have introduced legislation to mandate that the Assessor hold community forums and public meetings with residents.

Q: What specific steps will you take to ensure more transparency?

A: In addition to hosting hearings and “Town Hall” meetings, we live stream and archive Legislative meetings and make calendars and items available online. We have increased disclosures with respect to contracting. We will continue our efforts to create more transparency in Reassessment. Unfortunately, the Administration has resisted these efforts. The Assessor has refused to hold public meetings and hearings, sent out confusing and erroneous mailings and made it more difficult for residents to get answers to questions. We have passed laws mandated the mailing of tax impact notices, requiring the Assessor to host public meetings, and requiring the Department of Assessment to have a live person answer the phones. As of this writing, the Administration has threatened to veto these common sense, good government initiatives.

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