Tag Archives: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman

Nassau County Government, News & Photo Features, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health, Public Safety, Health, Security

Nassau County Exec Bruce Blakeman Touts Immigration Arrests, Law Enforcement Creds in State of County Speech

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman touts  immigration arrests, law enforcement creds in his State of the County speech © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

In his State of the County speech, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman focused on public safety, law enforcement, boasted about the county’s alliance with ICE and its ban on transgender school kids playing on girls’ teams, as the key accomplishments  of his administration.

Blakeman, who declared his intention to run for governor the day after his reelection, thanked the audience of county officials and electeds for the honor of serving as the county executive, closed out his 20-minute speech saying, “Looking ahead my commitment will remain stronger than ever. I want us all to continue to thrive. We have the lowest poverty rate in the state- that makes me happy. I want all our residents to live in prosperity, have a good job, good benefits, enjoy not just the necessities but luxuries – vacation, going out to dinner, buying daughter a prom dress. I want Nassau County to remain safest, most affordable, healthiest to live, work, and raise a family in all of America”

Missing from this speech was his usual jabs at Governor Hochul – such as Hochul’s audacity at proposing a no-nonsense plan to build affordable housing – which is interesting in light of his declaration to challenge her for governor. But the speech deliberately omitted any mention of his aspirations or the fact that if he is serious about running for governor, that will be his focus until November, leaving the county’s administration to an unelected underling.

Blakeman offered little in the way of economic development achievements, beyond reducing the time for approvals for business applications. Most of the significant projects were actually through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Program, infrastructure grants and other programs. But he was unable to cite any projects to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience or sustainability, or build upon efforts to turn Long Island into a biomedical, science and research hub.

Blakeman, who vigorously opposed Governor Hochul’s efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing, uncharacteristically cited one project: Frank Stiller’s Tunnels to Towers Foundation is investing $20 million to turn “a rundown, crime ridden” stretch of Long Beach into 50 new homes for vets, first responders and Gold Star families, “which guarantees all who served … a safe and welcoming place in Nassau.”

He boasted of not having raised property taxes for the entirety of his time in office – not mentioning that he has been sitting on close to $1 billion in unspent federal and state grant money, including almost $100 million in opioid settlement funds, in order to use the interest revenue.

But what he is most proud of are the policies and programs that mimic the Trump/MAGA administration’s “anti-woke” – that is anti-political correctness – policies:

“Under our leadership, we stand up for fairness, commonsense in sports- in Nassau County boys play with boys, girls play with girls,” he declared to a standing ovation. “Girls should not be forced to compete in an unfair, unsafe environment. We won’t have bullying. We always protect our girls.”

Blakeman also took a jab at the state’s Education Department which has banned the use of Native American mascots. “My admin will continue to support the traditions and histories of local communities. We are a staunch ally to keep Massapequa the Chiefs, and Wantagh the Warriors, resisting Albany’s efforts to erase our history.” (Actually, the Indian American mascots they have used are not the same tribe that actually lived in Massapequa or Wantagh.)

But he is most visibly connecting to Trump’s policy with his anti-immigrant stance, boasting “Nassau County under my executive order is not a sanctuary county,” receiving another standing ovation.

“In partnership with our federal partners in ICE, Nassau County coordinated the largest gang take down in history – hundreds of arrests, we removed dangerous criminals – MS13.. Our partnership with ICE has removed over 200 illegal migrants who committed crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, carjacking and human trafficking,” Blakeman said, adding that there were no raids at schools, hospitals, churches, daycare. “All arrests are targeted to removing criminals from community.”

He was referring to an incident where over the course of four days in August, 42 people were arrested, of which 25 were gang members, mostly of MS-13.

Of these, 33 of the offenders were in ICE custody without bond, pending removal.

“If there was somebody that was apprehended, and that individual was going to be released because of the cashless bail laws, we notified ICE, came and picked them up, so that they would not continue to do harm to our community,” Blakeman said. (https://abc7ny.com/post/ms13-gang-arrest-42-arrested-4-days-nassau-countys-largest-takedowns/17586503/)

But he tried to moderate his stance, announcing he is working with federal officials to launch a guest worker program aimed at helping businesses fill jobs across Nassau County. The program would focus on what he described as “law-abiding” immigrants.

“Our business community needs these workers. We will continue to work to improve their situations in Nassau County by working with federal officials,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman focused almost entirely on law enforcement, noting that Nassau County is once again (as it was under his Democratic predecessor Laura Curran) the safest county of its size in the country.

Governor Kathy Hochul in Long Island in 2024 to tout steep reductions in crime rates © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Actually violent crime is down across the state and New York City remains the safest big city in the country largely because of federal funding and historic state investments in new crime-fighting initiatives statewide including Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. SNUG Street Outreach program, Crime Analysis Centers, and Project RISE.

But while Blakeman likes to focus on public safety, he has ignored the epidemic of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities in Nassau County, a no-show at summits and conferences dedicated to road safety.

Traffic fatalities in Nassau County rose to at least 78 in 2025, up from 67 in 2024,  according to data from Newsday’s fatality tracker, while serious injuries increased significantly in 2024 (latest available data) to 873, up from 744 in 2023, according to Newsday. The increase in traffic fatalities in Nassau County is despite the fact traffic fatalities fell across New York State in 2025. Newsday has had an ongoing investigation into Long Island’s Dangerous Roads, concluding that the area has experienced higher rates of fatal crashes due to heavy car reliance, aggressive driving, and dangerous road designs for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Almost at the same time as Blakeman was delivering his speech at the County’s Theodore Roosevelt Legislative Building, two pedestrians were struck and killed in separate accidents in Roslyn. 63-year old Elena Crowley, worked as a security aide at Roslyn HIgh School, was struck by a 57-year-old man driving a 2025 GMC pickup truck on Briard Street; earlier in the day, 69-year-old woman, Claudia Moncada of Glen Cove, was crossing the eastbound lanes of Glen Cove Road when she was struck by a red 2018 Dodge Challenger driven by a 26-year-old man traveling north.

Blakeman has done nothing to attempt to incorporate the recommendations of traffic engineers to improve road safety, nor promote a public education campaign aimed at encouraging a responsible, safe-driving culture.

His one public statement on traffic enforcement came from an attack on the state legislature which was contemplating restricting law enforcement’s ability to stop drivers as a pretext to checking their immigration status.

By the same token, he has done nothing for public health, using the same “ostrich with head in the sand” as Trump, resulting in hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. Coming into the office during the Omnicron version of the COVID-19 epidemic, he immediately declared COVID finished, and has never published incidents of coronavirus or flu, or urged residents to get vaccinations and boosters, in light of the administration’s anti-vax crusade.

Democratic Response

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (third from right on dais) with County Legislators at the end of County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s State of the County speech © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In her Democratic response, Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton declared, “Tonight we heard a polished speech filled with promises. But Nassau County residents deserve results, and after five years, the gap between Bruce Blakeman’s rhetoric and reality couldn’t be clearer.”

DeRiggi-Whitton pointed to several key promises the County Executive made when he first ran for office that remain unfulfilled.

“When he ran in 2021, Bruce Blakeman promised to fix Nassau’s broken assessment system,” she said. “Five years later, it’s more broken than ever because he kept assessment rolls frozen, a move that hurts taxpayers while benefiting tax grievance firms that fund his campaigns.”

She also criticized the administration for failing to deliver on promised tax relief.

“He promised tax cuts. Not one has been delivered,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “Instead, $385 million in federal pandemic relief meant to help families and small businesses was used to plug budget holes while millions were spent on politically connected lawyers, parades, and galas.”

In contrast to his boasts about adding 600 police officers to the ranks and intention to add more, DeRiggi-Whitton said the administration has failed to address critical public safety staffing shortages.

“Police staffing is below required levels. 911 operator positions remain dangerously understaffed,” she said. “Those are basic responsibilities of government, and this administration is falling short.”

She also raised concerns about the County Executive’s decision to divert detectives to assist federal immigration enforcement while local staffing shortages persist.

 

DeRiggi-Whitton further criticized the administration for failing to deploy opioid settlement funding meant to combat addiction.

“More than $100 million in opioid settlement funds are sitting unspent while families continue to lose loved ones to addiction,” she said. “Those funds were meant to save lives — not make a budget look better.”

Nassau residents rally against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s private militia © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

She also cited a lack of transparency surrounding the County Executive’s controversial armed volunteer deputy program – derided as his private militia.

“Nassau residents deserve transparency, especially when taxpayer dollars and public safety are involved,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

DeRiggi-Whitton concluded by urging residents to judge the administration by its record.

“Campaign promises are easy,” she said. “Governing requires focus. Nassau residents deserve leadership that is focused on their needs, not personal political ambition.”

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© 2026 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles,Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com,email editor@news-photos-features.com.Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Elections, GOP Watch, News & Photo Features

Nassau Good Government Group Calls Out Blakeman for Campaign Lies Triggering Rape Victims’ Trauma

jody Kass, founder of Nassau Residents for Good Government (NRGG); Claudia Borecky,South Shore Women’s Alliance; Janet Goldstein, Moms Demand Action; Ronni Levine, Planned Parenthood; and Lisa Saltzman, Criminal Defense Attorney speak out against County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s false attacks on opponent, Democrat Seth Koslow, and speak up for protecting women and families from violence and abuse © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

The question is whether Nassau County residents will let Bruce Blakeman, seeking reelection as County Executive, get away with his malicious lies that exploit and traumatize rape victims, while at the same time, hiding his accountability for shutting down the one safe haven for victims of rape, domestic violence and abuse available to them.

Republicans from the highest office (Trump) down to the lowest local politician have made lying the key weapon in well-funded campaigns. This is the latest and most egregious.

Using a law review article written by his opponent, Nassau Legislator Seth Koslow, as a law student (when they are being taught to defend both sides of a legal case), Blakeman accuses Koslow in his campaign flyers and commercials of being “an extremist” who supports rapists instead of their victims and won’t keep women safe. (Koslow went on to become a Queens prosecutor prosecuting family law cases.)

The mailers have triggered trauma of survivors of rape and domestic violence even decades after.

Yet it is months since Blakeman’s withdrew funding for the Safe Center (formerly the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse), which provided the only safe haven for victims of domestic abuse in a county of 1.4 million people, forcing the service to close. At the time, Blakeman claimed to have another vendor (or the Nassau University Medical Center which was embroiled in financial scandal) to operate the shelter. But no new operator was contracted and without funding, the shelter was forced to close.

In 2023, the last year for which statistics were publicly available, Nassau County had 4,410 victims of domestic violence, according to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Service, Newsday reported

Nassau Residents for Good Government (NRGG) holds rally on the steps of the County Executive Building demanding Bruce Blakeman stop fear-mongering that triggers rape victims’ trauma and run on his record that includes shutting down the county’s only shelter for abused women © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Blakeman acknowledges in the mailers’ fine print that the damning accusations he levels against his opponent, Democrat Seth Koslow, are based on a law review article written while he in law school, where students are taught to defend both sides of a legal case.

“Americans are sick of politicians’ lies and distortions,” declared Jody Kass, founder of Nassau Residents for Good Government (NRGG), at a rally on the steps of the County Executive Building. “The insensitive, graphic mailers are triggering rape victims.”

She accused Blakeman of misogyny in trying to score political points by exploiting victims, while trying to hide away from his own actions which put women at risk of rape, abuse, even death.

“Blakeman’s disgraceful campaign lies are compounded by his actions that resulted in the shutting down of the Safe Center, Nassau’s only agency for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, earlier this year. And, his 2026 budget has zero funding for the Safe Center. Are Blakeman’s lies about his opponent intended to keep voters’ eyes off his own record of cutting services for rape victims, and victims of domestic violence? Voters demand transparency and honesty, not performative outrage coupled with a failure to act.”

Ronni Levine of Planned Parenthood describes the impact of shutting down the Safe Center, Nassau County’s only agency for domestic violence and sexual assault victims © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Ronni Levine of Planned Parenthood Greater New York, who had worked with countless individuals seeking counseling and safety, said New Yorkers want to elect local and state representatives who are committed to protecting reproductive rights. But certain politicians are going after abortion rights, contraception and gender affirming care, cutting off grants that are creating unprecedented financial challenges, harming the ability to access care, and pushing policies that threaten bodily autonomy.

Planned Parenthood NY PAC, which endorses candidates that support reproductive freedom and health care, endorsed Koslow.

Blakeman also opposed Governor Kathy Hochul’s effort to restore gun safety legislation after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s century-old gun control regulations. At the time, Blakeman cheered the ruling, declared he wanted to expedite licensing and enable people to bring their guns into their synagogue.

Janet Goldstein of the Moms Demand Action’s Long Island group, said that gun violence is a women’s issue.

She referred to Everytown research showing that abusers with firearms are five times more likely to kill their female victims, and guns further exacerbate the power and control dynamic commonly used by abusers to inflict emotional abuse and exert coercive control over their victims. Every month, more than 70 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner. Nearly 6 million women reported having a gun used on them by an intimate partner. In 46 percent of mass shootings between 2015 and 2022, the perpetrator shot a current or former intimate partner or family member as part of the rampage. The ripple effects of firearms in the hands of an abuser extend far beyond the intimate relationship—affecting children who witness or live with it and the family members, coworkers, and law enforcement officers who respond to it.

Janet Goldstein of Moms Demand Action: “Guns don’t just escalate the abuse, they make domestic abuse more likely to end in death. We need to fight for stronger laws. Instead of keeping people safe, Blakeman is exploiting the pain and trauma of domestic violence for political gain.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com 

“Guns don’t just escalate the abuse, they make domestic abuse more likely to end in death,” Goldstein said. “The trauma of domestic abuse lasts a lifetime. We need to fight for stronger laws. Instead of keeping people safe, Blakeman is exploiting the pain and trauma of domestic violence for political gain.”

A young woman recalled her own trauma of having been raped in Central Park when she was 14 years old. “It is still hard to say ‘rape,’  ‘sexual assault takes away some of the sting, but rape is true violence.” She said she was re-traumatized by Blakeman’s flyers coming into her mailbox and his commercials.

“Leaders are supposed to look out for all of us. We had a place where we could go for counseling, it even had a safe house. When I was raped, I didn’t have a safe center to go to – I was alone at a public health clinic in Jamaica Queens. I was re-traumatized by the mailings. I am tired of women and girls made to feel ‘less than’, exploited and victimized. We deserve more from our leaders.”

Lisa Saltzman, a criminal defense attorney who has represented “too many” victims, said the Safe Center was the “gold standard” to refer for services and safety. “Many survivors have to leave behind their home, their income, sometimes even their children. The Safe Center was a lifeline to regain their freedom and dignity, where they could get counseling, housing, employment, without living in fear of being raped, abused, even killed.”

“When the county supported the center, it was saying ‘You deserve to be safe, heard, free of violence at the hand of your abuser.’ By closing the center, Blakeman is saying, ‘No you don’t.’ Blakeman doesn’t care about women in Nassau County at risk of rape or being killed by their abuser,” Saltzman said.

Jody Kass, founder of Nassau Residents for Good Government (NRGG), and criminal defense attorney Lisa Saltzmanhold up a sampling of Bruce Blakeman’s campaign mailings that accuse his opponent, Democrat Seth Koslow of protecting rapists instead of their victims © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“Stop lying and accusing your political opponent of not protecting women when that is what he is doing.” These lies are offensive and should be illegal.

Kass has been tracking and exposing Blakeman’s lies on the “Deceived Nation” website (DeceivedNation.com). “Blakeman’s lies cause damage, pain and suffering every day.”

But she said there is a through-line from Blakeman’s lies to George Santos, who committed fraud and lied his way to a Congressional seat in New York’s 3rd District. Kass’ group, Concerned Citizens of NY03, was largely responsible for Santos ultimately being expelled from Congress, though Republicans held on to him as long as possible because he provided a critical vote. Santos was indicted, prosecuted, and finally sentenced (after pleading guilty) to 7 ¼ years, but Trump has just commuted his sentence (and his obligation to pay his victims $350,000 in restitution) after just 84 days in a cushy prison.

“It didn’t stop with Santos!” NRGG accuses Republicans of making lying a key weapon in their political arsenal and have attempted to fight back by expousing the lies on DeceivedNation.com © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“In Trump’s MAGA Republican party, lying is good, is encouraged, applauded and rewarded. Santos lied and was rewarded with a seat in Congress. Caught lying, the GOP kept him.”

“Blakeman also has serious challenges with the truth,” Kass said.”He’s served as County Executive for nearly four years, having campaigned on fixing the County’s broken tax assessment system, cutting $100 million in taxes, opposing the red light camera fees and protecting our constitutional rights, particularly on healthcare decisions, among other objectives,” Kass declared.

“Blakeman has cut services for women and brought nasty, partisan, misogynistic lies to Nassau, but has he achieved any of his campaign promises? Blakeman owes voters an honest and transparent report on his accomplishments. Instead of violating voters’ mailboxes nearly every day with his litany of dark and dishonest accusations and distortions about his opponent, it’s time for Blakeman to start explaining what he’s accomplished these last four years. 

“Blakeman is lying to get reelected. He is the one taking away women’s protection.”

See also:

Bruce Blakeman gets mixed reviews halfway into Nassau County executive term

The Safe Center LI, main nonprofit for Nassau domestic violence victims, may close without successor, director says

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© 2025 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles,Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com,email editor@news-photos-features.com.Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Immigration-Migration-Refugees, Law & Order, News & Photo Features

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s “Provisional Deputy Sheriff” Program: Unnecessary and Illegal, Legislator Declares

More than 100 Nassau residents rallied in April 2024 to oppose County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s formation of a private militia © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was signing an Executive Order showing support for the Trump Administration’s mass deportation activities, and stood up a private militia to assist, Nassau County Legislator, Democrat Scott M. Davis, penned this op-ed decrying Blakeman’s legally suspect “Provisional Deputy Sheriff” program.

Blakeman also advocated for passing the first ban on wearing a mask in public in New York State (notably, not a ban on wearing a mask during the commission of a crime, but anyone wearing a mask in public), inviting discriminatory police stops like the New York City, Rudy Giuliani-era stop-and-frisk policies that were ruled unconstitutional. But while Blakeman led the way to arrest people wearing a mask, he just signed an Executive Order allowing police to wear masks. Blakeman’s Executive Order comes in the wake of a new bill that would ban ICE agents from wearing masks to conceal their identities while working in New York City. County Executive Blakeman derided the legislation and the decisions made by the New York City Council as being “pro-criminal and un-American.”

Notably, while the Supreme Court years ago ruled wearing a mask at a protest was protected under the Constitution, a federal judge just ruled that snatching people based on their skin color, language, occupation violated the 4th Amendment. Trump’s Deportation Czar Holman said that was exactly the criteria the ICE agents and their surrogates were using, and as a result, also swept up U.S. citizens. The agents’ use of masks is intended to shield them from accountability for their unlawful actions.

The Republican county executive, who has been hard at work currying favor and attention to prove himself a loyal soldier of the Trump’s team, is part and parcel of the Trump Administration’s march to a police state. How Blakeman will use his private militia – basically deputized private citizens with guns – in the service of Trump’s mass deportation policy is the issue and the concern. – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

By Scott M. Davis

As a Nassau County resident and member of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee, I believe it is important for all residents to be fully informed about County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s ill-considered appointment of Provisional Deputy Sheriffs. The program, which has become known colloquially as Blakeman’s “militia,” is unlawful, an overreach of Executive authority, and creates an unnecessary risk of liability for Nassau County.

The program, which was launched in March 2024 and is currently being challenged in State Supreme Court, seeks to allow for the appointment of armed civilian volunteers to serve as “provisional deputy sheriffs” during a declared emergency. The purported rational for enacting this law, according to County Executive Blakeman, is “to provide an extra layer of protection”. He contends that these armed civilians would be deployed only in extreme emergencies where County and local law enforcement are overwhelmed and unable to respond – in essence inserting armed volunteer civilians into the worst possible circumstances which would be challenging even for the most seasoned law enforcement professionals. 

Simply put, Nassau County does not need an “extra layer of protection” from a private civilian militia in 2025. Our nearly 1.4 million residents are protected by over 22 village and city police departments, a highly trained County police force numbering nearly 2,600 officers, an Office of Emergency Management, the New York State Police and the National Guard if necessary.

These resources have led U.S. News and World Report to designate Nassau County as the safest County of its size in the United States – a designation which is clearly indicative of a robust, well-trained, staffed and equipped police department that is fully capable of addressing any emergency in the County. To date, there has been no request for additional support from armed civilians by any law enforcement agency in the County, nor has there been any indication the current police departments would be understaffed should an emergency arise.

Moreover, this annual study of more than 3,100 Counties nationwide determined that we border two Counties that similarly excel in public safety – Queens to the west (20th safest) and Suffolk to the east (22nd safest).

Not only is the program unnecessary, I believe it is unlawful. The legal authority that the County Executive has cited for forming his militia is New York County Law section 655, which provides “for protection of human life and property during an emergency, the sheriff may deputize… such number of additional special deputies as he deems necessary”. Enacted in the 1930s, this archaic law was intended for emergencies where there were inadequate law enforcement personnel for protection of human life or property – particularly in rural areas with sparse populations and small police departments that could be understaffed and overwhelmed during an emergency.

It is my belief that Nassau is not a County that this antiquated law was intended for, and that this statute does not give County Executive Blakeman the authority to deputize and marshal a force of armed civilians.

My Democratic colleagues and I have many unanswered questions regarding the core details of this program. Who trains these civilians and what does the training entail? Will members of the militia be provided with uniforms and weapons?  Who do members of the militia report to? Who determines when and where they are deployed?  Is Nassau County liable in the event of negligence by a member of the militia?

The residents of Nassau County deserve transparency and answers. Faced with the Blakeman administration’s refusal to communicate with the Legislators or respond to Freedom of Information requests (FOIL) regarding the militia, and the belief that the civilian militia is a misapplication of the law, the only option remaining was to file a lawsuit against Blakeman challenging the legality of his Provisional Deputy Sheriff Program and compel transparency.

For these reasons, I along with my fellow Public Safety Committee member Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé, filed suit in Nassau County Supreme against the Blakeman administration on Feb. 5.

Scott M. Davis, of Rockville Centre, has represented the Nassau County Legislature’s First District since 2024.

Civil Rights, News & Photo Features

Civil Rights Advocates React to Nassau County’s Ban on Wearing Masks in Public

Several organizations have reacted to Nassau County Legislature Republican supermajority passing and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signing a law banning the wearing of masks in public under penalty of $1000 fine and/or one year in prison. To put the new law into some context, Blakeman, who has served as Trump’s campaign lead in the county, also created an armed private militia that he could call up whenever he decides there is an emergency, and has passed a law banning transgender athletes from playing on women’s and girls’ teams. He also took under his own control $15 million in tourism promotion budgets and has reportedly raised $1 million from donors while not yet declaring a run for reelection: – Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signs a law banning the wearing of masks in public, surrounded by supporters, chiefly from the Jewish community, who cited antisemitic pro-Palestinian protests incited by the Israel-Hamas War that they said threatened their safety. Civil rights advocates, especially from the disability community, are vowing to sue © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

From the Board of the Long Island Progressive Coalition

Long Island Progressive Coalition stands in solidarity with and joins the countless organizations across Long Island in condemning the Mask Transparency Act which was passed by the Nassau County Legislature and just signed into law by County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

We are appalled that the Republican majority brought this egregious bill to the floor. Although the Democratic minority contested the legislation during the hearing, their first decision to craft alternative legislation (still implementing some form of mask ban) and ultimately to abstain, does nothing for county residents. We condemn the county for the intimidation tactic of establishing an unwarranted large police presence at the hearing for this legislation.

This law which criminalizes the wearing of face coverings including protective masks in public places, infringes upon our Constitutional rights and creates unsafe conditions for many marginalized people, including people of color and those with health conditions and disabilities.

The stated purpose of this law—to curb hate crimes—is a farce and will not stop or deter those with ill intent. The true purpose of this act is to instill fear in those who lawfully exercise their right to protest, particularly those who have rallied in support of the Palestinian people as the Israeli government subjects them to genocide. Health concerns and fear of doxxing are valid and legitimate reasons to mask at protests, as well as in any other public space. Individuals who are not otherwise engaged in illegal conduct should not have to explain to law enforcement their reasons for masking. Nor should the police be given the power to determine whether an individual’s choice to wear a mask falls into one of the narrow exceptions provided by the statute, which undoubtedly will have a disproportionate impact upon black and brown communities that are already subject to over-policing and prosecution. 

Far from achieving a legitimate public safety objective, this legislation instead creates a public health hazard, especially in the midst of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic and a time when other epidemics are on the rise throughout the world, a time when many responsible people are choosing to mask to protect themselves and others. 

Long Island Progressive Coalition will always stand up for the dignity and safety of all of us. We call on the Attorney General of the State of New York to take Nassau County to court to strike down this draconian law and prohibit its enforcement.

Nassau Residents for Good Government (NRGG) Statement:

A bill signing ceremony for Nassau’s newly-passed anti-masking legislation is scheduled for August 14, 2025 at 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola. The legislation purports to address antisemitism. The bill is so poorly written that constitutional law experts expect it to be immediately overturned.  The nonpartisan group Nassau Residents for Good Government* (NRGG) has decried the legislation as smokescreen antisemitism – i.e., using antisemitism for political gain. 

There’s no question that nationally, bad actors on the left and right are fueling antisemitism and that it needs to be addressed. Will anti-masking legislation help? NRGG has not taken a position on the efficacy of mask banning to fight antisemitism. But from a good government perspective, legislation that will get overturned in court because it’s sloppily crafted, whatever its purported justification, is an outrage. Clearly, the Legislative majority could have drafted legislation that was not unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Indeed, it could have adopted the legislation proposed by the minority, which specifically penalized masking while committing a crime and avoided criminalizing intent. As crafted, the legislation asks police officers to, essentially, read people’s minds to determine their “intent” in wearing a mask, which could be a recipe for abuse of power. Worse, the legislation gives unfettered discretion to law enforcement, which raises concerns it could be used to target particular groups or ethnicities. Indeed, minority leaders are concerned it could lead to hate and discrimination towards groups who wear masks due to health, cultural, and religious reasons.

Nassau residents will not be protected by this legislation. It will not be in any way effective in combating antisemitism. In advancing a bill that they know will not hold up in court, it appears that the purpose of the mask ban legislation is purely to score political points. Politicians get to announce that they are fighting antisemitism, while peddling sham legislation that won’t actually fight antisemitism. The only result will be Nassau residents’ tax dollars being used to pay politically-connected law firms tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in an ultimately-losing fight to defend this badly written legislation. 

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Long Island stated: “While it remains important to take meaningful action at all levels of government to dismantle antisemitism, we wholeheartedly reject the Nassau County mask ban legislation as a good faith effort to promote Jewish safety. Banning masks endangers many communities, including Jewish people, disabled people, queer and trans people, Black and brown folks, Asians, and people at the intersection of these identities. We denounce this attempt to strip people of their rights in the false name of Jewish safety. Regardless of the identities of the legislators supporting this legislation, a mask ban makes Jewish Long Islanders less safe by restricting our access and our neighbors’ access to taking protective measures against COVID-19.”

It’s time our politicians stop fueling antisemitism to score political points – and that includes our Jewish elected officials. Nassau residents deserve better.