County Executive Curran Addresses LICA Board
County Executive Laura Curran joins a few members of LICA’s board of directors at LICA’s August board meeting (L to R): James Haney, Phil Beyer, Laura Curran, Joe K. Posillico, Paul Farino and LICA Chairman Jim Pratt.
At the August meeting of LICA’s board of directors, LICA was pleased to welcome Nassau County Executive Laura Curran as our special guest. Curran, who will be up for re-election this November, provided a brief update on several County-related issues.
She stated that County finances are well under control and in better shape than for many years past. The County’s recent surplus was helpful in offsetting the huge loss of sales tax revenue which resulted from the pandemic. Curran also noted that her administration had NO property tax increases in the last four budgets and that Nassau was recently named one of the “Safest Communities in America” according to US News & World Reports (with crime down another 10% this year). The County is also outperforming the rest of the state with an 88% vaccination rate, which is critical as we continue to fight COVID.
The County Executive also recognizes the critical importance of infrastructure in our region, noting that the County has ‘significant asks’ for additional federal funding and many projects are shovel ready. The County will continue to proceed with important infrastructure projects but more federal funds would certainly help. To date, the County has paved 105 lane miles of road, with a goal of 150 miles before year’s end. They also hope to move forward with the Bayville Bridge project and new Family Court Building.
Curran highlighted some ongoing projects including the new UBS Arena which will be opening in November as the new home of the Islanders, as well as the new LIRR parking garage in Westbury and major improvements in Baldwin. She stressed the importance of getting things built to draw in new businesses, while also noting the red-hot real estate market which currently suffers from low inventory and a lack of affordable housing.