Bruce Blakeman delivers State of the County address with a focus on Nassau's health, safety and economy

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman addressed constituents Wednesday evening in his annual State of the County speech, vowing to hire more police and correction officers and touting several controversial bills he backed last year.

Flanked by Nassau police officials at the county’s legislature building in Mineola, Blakeman spoke before a crowd of several hundred people, underscoring his past year’s accomplishments that included criminalizing mask-wearing in public for non-health emergencies and barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports on county property. He painted Nassau County as home to an array of racial and religious communities.

Aspects of Blakeman’s speech, lasting some 15 minutes, echoed remarks from his 2024 address and most recently his campaign kickoff speech, offering broad strokes to a continuation of last year’s agenda.

"We will continue to keep Nassau County safe, healthy, affordable and normal," he said.

Blakeman gave little details about his plans to hire more law enforcement officers. Asked by Newsday for specifics, Blakeman said in a statement he plans to hire "at least" 300 more police and correction officers over the next three years.

He also highlighted his goal of not raising Nassau taxes despite rising inflation, and leading protest efforts to denounce the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

"Nassau County had the largest rally in New York State for Israel," Blakeman said, referring to several events at Eisenhower Park over the last few years.

Blakeman highlighted efforts to celebrate the county’s racial diversity, including a "Feliz Navidad" event for the Hispanic community, a Ramadan celebration, a Black gospel performance and a free concert series featuring Ja Rule and Steve Aoki.

He made a repeated plea to save the long-beleaguered Nassau University Medical Center, the county’s so-called safety net hospital, which has sued the state for $1 billion.

In the Democrats’ rebuttal address, County Legis. Seth Koslow (D-South Merrick) — who is running against Blakeman for county executive — characterized a county lacking in leadership.

"The cost of living is rapidly becoming unsustainable, yet we expect different results from the same failed leadership," he said.

"Blakeman has shown that his only strategy for Nassau County is to distract, divide and deceive ... Enough is enough."

Koslow also took aim at the county’s red-light camera ticket program, which for years tacked up to $100 in "public safety" and "driver responsibility" fees onto each penalty. Those fees were deemed illegal last year by an appellate court. Democrats have been calling for the county to refund drivers hundreds of millions of dollars in those fees, in part through a stalled bill Koslow introduced in December.

"Bruce Blakeman would have you believe that it’s about public safety — but don’t be fooled: that $100 fee is nothing but highway robbery," Koslow said.

The Democratic candidate for county executive poked holes in Blakeman’s promise to spend $60 million in opioid crisis funds over the span of four years. Blakeman has awarded 24 contracts to various groups — totaling $39.5 million — since taking office. But he’s spent just $3 million, Newsday has reported.

Koslow also blamed Blakeman for local issues outside of his control. He incorrectly pinned a 12% tax hike in the Town of Hempstead on Blakeman, who does not have jurisdiction over the Hempstead Town Board’s decision.

He also slammed Blakeman for spending $20 million in taxpayer money on private law firms, claiming without evidence that "most" were Blakeman campaign donors. Several firms have donated thousands to the Nassau GOP and Blakeman himself, Newsday has reported.

The county’s spending on these firms has attracted the attention of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which is currently auditing the practice.

Koslow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.