North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth emphasized her municipality’s successes during the COVID-19 pandemic in her State of the Town address.
The address on March 19 was Bosworth’s last, as she announced in January that she would not seek another term in November’s elections. Unlike past years, where the event was held in person, the address was broadcast live over North Shore TV, the town’s Facebook page and on the town website. It was sponsored and presented by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset.
Bosworth opened by noting that last year’s address had taken place shortly before COVID-19 hit Long Island.
“This has been a long and challenging year,” Bosworth said. “It all began late last February, not long after last year’s state of the town, we began hearing about the coronavirus which seem to be heading to our shores. It reminds me of the Madeline books when Miss Clavel sits up in the middle of the night and says, ‘Something is not right.’ Well, something was not right. A pandemic was on the horizon.”
The Great Neck resident said the town created a coronavirus task force, paving the way for the town to get through the worst of the pandemic.
“We knew the importance of preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best. As we do everything and especially in this time of crisis,” Bosworth said. “Our team in North Hempstead town government came together. We put the needs of town residents as well as the safety of our town staff and crews first.”
Bosworth took particular note of the town’s efforts to assist small businesses during the pandemic, including the creation of the Port Washington Dine and Shop events, giving businesses the option to expand their operations outdoors and encouraging picnics with local restaurants in town parks, among others. She added that the town had more in store for businesses in the coming year.
“We have numerous initiatives planned to promote businesses in 2021 as well, including an interactive game we’ll be running in coordination with local chambers spotlighting small businesses, and offering social media training opportunities, just as we’ve been concerned with addressing the needs of business owners,” Bosworth said.
The supervisor also discussed successes in working with the town’s senior citizens, including waiving fees for Project Independence, expanding taxi services to work with early grocery store hours and offering travel to COVID-19 vaccination sites as far as the Veterans Affairs hospital in East Northport.
Prominent in the town’s next year is the creation of a climate task force to better improve North Hempstead’s standing as a climate smart community, Bosworth said.
“This is a program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing,” Bosworth said. “As a matter of fact, we’re in the process of engaging with an outside vendor to establish and maintain electric vehicle charging stations throughout North Hempstead. The town is committed to continuing its work on green initiatives, and finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint, as we work to create a better environment for future generations.”
Multiple town departments will also work to digitize all of their records for easier access to residents.
“We’re planning to digitize records for the buildings department and the office of the town, as the digitization of the records will allow for quicker access to documents,” Bosworth said. “They will also enable employees to review and respond to requests in a much shorter period of time.”
Infrastructure will also see upgrades this year as part of a five-year capital improvement plan passed in 2020. The 2021 portion of the plan calls for $4,300,000 for residential and industrial roadway resurfacing, and $1 million apiece for concrete road improvements and sidewalk improvements.
“The plan also shows the proposed funding schedule for each project, whether from bonding, existing cash on hand, funding from contractual agreements, grants, or FEMA funded projects,” Bosworth said. “The town’s road infrastructure is critically important, as reflected by the increased funding for roads of concrete and drainage improvements over the last several years.”
One of the newest improvements to come this year, Bosworth said, would be the addition of a Sept. 11, 2001, memorial in Manhasset Valley Park.
“The focal point of the display will be a 19-foot-long steel beam once a part of the World Trade Center south tower that was given to the town by the Port Authority,” Bosworth said. “We will be hosting a special ceremony this year to commemorate the 20th anniversary.”
Bosworth closed her address by calling for optimism in the face of a difficult year.
“The best is yet to come,” Bosworth said. “Noam Chomsky once said, ‘Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.’ So let’s make it so together.”
