Issues

Long Island’s high cost of living impacts every resident and threatens the future of our region. The inflationary challenges of housing, insurance, food, transportation, childcare and high taxes are squeezing residents of all income levels and backgrounds. It is a crisis that is pricing out our middle and working-class communities, seniors on fixed-incomes and the young families we need to build Long Island’s future. And, it is a crisis that is amplifying poverty and food insecurity. As founding Chair of the Sid Jacobson’s Community Needs Bank Committee, I have been dedicated to this issue.

The high cost of living on Long Island is unsustainable and is the most pressing issue we currently face. Unfortunately, a common misconception in Albany is that our suburban communities are affluent enough to afford hike after hike. So instead of offering relief they compound the problem. That is why the affordability crisis is the centerpiece of my campaign. I will examine each issue and bill with a fine lens on assessing its economic and quality of life impact on our region. And I will work to ensure Long Island receives its fair share of support from the state relative to the tax dollars and economic benefits we contribute. I will always stand up and fight Albany’s stagnancy of ideas by constantly investigating viable policy and budgetary solutions that can help Long Island.

Long Island is home to nearly two dozen of the top public school districts in America. Half of those top ranked districts are located right here in state senate District 7, including three districts that rank top 10 in the nation, two more that rank top 20, and almost all of which rank top 25 statewide. Our school districts are a testament to how excellent public education is when it is properly funded and when teachers are paid fair salaries and have the resources to do their jobs effectively. That includes keeping student faculty ratios optimal to foster the most attentive learning environment for children.  

I speak from personal experience to the quality of public school education and the outstanding value of our public school system here in District 7. I grew up in the Roslyn School District where wonderful teachers helped me unlock my academic potential and where like my student peers, I was prepared with the foundation to excel in higher education and professionally.

So I am a staunch supporter of public school education. It is deeply ingrained in my values. That is why I will always stand up for public school education and fight to make sure that the quality of our schools are never compromised. And I will fight to make sure foundation aid is always fully funded and fairly distributed.  For decades families have chosen the North Shore of Nassau County as their home in large part due to our excellent public schools. If elected your state senator, I vow to keep it that way.

The crime rate in Nassau County for violent and property crimes combined is 6 out of 1,000 residents; that statistically makes us one of the safest counties in the United States. And we must work to keep it that way. That means ensuring our police have all the funding and resources to do their job. It also means supporting initiatives that bring police departments and communities together to develop more local community policing solutions to address the concerns of minority and higher-crime areas by working to foster a more trusting relationship between police and the communities they serve. Supporting the police while ensuring justice and civil rights protections is not a mutually exclusive equation. In a healthy democracy, public safety and civil rights co-exist as pillars. So both deserve support.

I strongly believe that providing outstanding constituent service is one of the most important jobs state senators have. Residents deserve a representative who is accessible, responsive and cares about helping their community. To me, it is the greatest honor the position holds. And I am eager to bring a humanly personal approach to communication with constituents. Too often politicians seem remote, if not entirely removed from the process of constituent services that is often left to staff. Granted, elected officials are busy with many priorities. But the ones who prioritize residents first, are the ones who distinguish the meaning between public servant and politician.

Long Island is the most populated island in America and the largest by landmass in the continental U.S. That places us at the forefront of the climate change challenge. So, it is imperative that we commit to sound environmental policy that reduces our carbon footprint, protects our most vital natural resources and takes full advantage of our unique geography to generate clean, renewable energy. That is why I take a big picture approach to regional sustainability. While my environmental platform is extensive, my biggest priority can be summarized in one word: WATER. 

Long Island is surrounded by seawater on all sides and sits atop three freshwater aquifers. Rising sea levels from climate change are a growing threat to our populated coastal communities. And seawater also poses a major threat to our fresh water supply due to the sensitive interface between Long Island’s shorelines and aquifers where disturbances are causing an infiltration of saltwater. Recent U.S. Geological Surveys show that our fresh water is alarmingly more contaminated by seawater than ever understood due to the compounding impacts of climate change and aggressive aquifer pumping which vacuums saltwater into our drinking water.

And saltwater is not the only threat to Long Island's aquifers which are our sole source of fresh, clean drinking water. Our aquifers are also being contaminated by human pollution, sewage, industrial dumping and surface chemicals including known carcinogens. Together, these toxins have formed large complex masses of underwater pollution called plumes. Frighteningly, plume tap water is indistinguishable in taste and smell from uncontaminated water. That is why I will actively pursue policies that decontaminate and protect Long Island’s fresh water including legislation to hold polluters accountable and toughen fines and regulations.

Creating more affordable housing is key to combatting Long Island’s high cost of living crisis. And it is integral for addressing New York State’s housing crunch and homeless epidemic. The best way for our state government to support affordable housing growth  is not through state mandates or quotas that infringe on the autonomy of local municipalities, but rather through incentives that offer funding and expedited building reviews to municipalities and developers that opt into expanding affordable housing units. 

1. Up-zoning

Up-zoning to permit higher density housing around LIRR stations is a logical place for municipalities to increase housing supply. It offers exciting potential to vitalize our local transportation centers into districts that attract businesses and residents who desire easy commuter access into the city and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods. The result will not only help curb the exodus of residents from Long Island, but can actively help entice more families, professionals and small businesses to relocate here.

2.Commercial Conversions / Affordable Housing Rehabilitation

Converting unused office / commercial space into residential apartments is a resourceful solution our state and local governments can get behind together to expand housing. The utilitarian use of converting existing structures is also more environmentally friendly than building new construction and often, more economical. Still, conversions tend to be expensive since commercial properties were not designed for day-to-day residential living. So our state should have a blueprint to incentivize commercial and office space conversions into affordable and mixed-use housing. 

4. Rental Subsidies

I am an advocate of rental subsidy programs. Rental assistance is an important layer of security to combat New York’s homeless epidemic. It helps at risk residents find and afford housing and, also helps those at risk of eviction from becoming homeless and entering the shelter system. It is well established that homelessness becomes more complicated and expensive to fix once it has occurred. More important, we have the moral obligation to prevent homelessness and to support those fighting to escape it.