State demands proof of qualifications of acting Nassau social services chief Jose Lopez

State officials have given Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman until May 6 to prove his recent appointment of Jose Lopez as the county's acting commissioner of the Department of Social Services meets state guidelines to lead the agency.

In an April 30 letter obtained by Newsday, Barbara Guinn, acting commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which oversees public benefits for low-income residents and those who are homeless or disabled, asked the Blakeman administration to “submit a statement of qualifications” for Lopez and certify no other qualified candidates are available.

The letter cites state social services law requiring the administration to take those and other actions “prior to filling the vacancy.” Former Social Services Commissioner Nancy Nunziata resigned in March.

The state has 10 days after receiving the information to approve or disapprove of Lopez's appointment.

Lopez, 61, of Mineola, served as Nassau County Parks Commissioner during the administration of Democrat Tom Suozzi and as deputy parks chief under former Republican County Executive Edward Mangano. 

In a statement on April 17, Blakeman said Lopez “has demonstrated through [his] many assignments in government that he has the intellect experience and work ethic to take on important challenges.” Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle did not respond to requests for comment about Guinn's letter to the administration. Lopez's salary also was not available.

Blakeman did not formally announce Lopez's appointment but Lopez's photo, name and title appear on the DSS website. His appointment did not require a vote by the 19-member Nassau County Legislature.

DSS is one of the largest county departments with a $536 million annual budget. The agency oversees programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Protective Services, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance, child support enforcement and homeless shelter placements. 

Nunziata told Newsday she resigned after the Blakeman administration asked her to fire a top deputy.

Nunziata, a Democrat, said she “was given no reason for it, other than that's what the administration wants, and I refused, and I resigned.” The request was “the final straw for me,” she said.

At the time, Boyle said Blakeman had no communication from Nunziata about her reasons for resigning and that he wished her well.

Her salary was $185,779 in 2022, according to county payroll data.

County Legis. Debra Mulé (D-Freeport) said she was “deeply concerned” about the leadership changes in DSS. 

“This is an area I take very seriously and I watch very closely,” said Mulé, a former social worker. “This affects lives and our most vulnerable population is at risk … if we don’t have the services being managed professionally.”

Before working for the county, Lopez was head of the physical education department and a physical education teacher at Great Neck South High School.

Republican county lawmakers and parks advocates complained that Lopez lacked the qualifications to run the county's sprawling parks department. The Democrat-majority county legislature approved his appointment along party lines, with Republicans opposing it.

At the time, Suozzi heralded Lopez's experience organizing triathlon events. County officials said they hoped he’d work to boost department morale and attract more parkgoers.

Correction: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Jose Lopez, Blakeman's appointee as acting commissioner of the county Department of Social Services, “has demonstrated through [his] many assignments in government that he has the intellect experience and work ethic to take on important challenges.” An earlier version of this story stated incorrectly that Blakeman had not commented on Lopez's appointment.