Dear Neighbor:

As we begin this New Year, I want to first and foremost thank you for giving me the honor of serving you for another term as your Legislator.

A New Year always provides me with a spark of hope — and that fuels my determination to see Nassau County operate in a more equitable and responsible manner. With many of us pursuing our resolutions for 2026, it is an exercise that would also benefit leaders of this County and the constituencies we have taken an oath to serve.

Our first newsletter of the year has been designed to update you on key projects throughout District 11 and start a conversation about what I believe County government’s priorities for 2026 should be, including:

• Finally getting nearly $100 million in opioid settlement funds into the hands of frontline programs;
• Removing politics from community grant allocations. During the Legislature’s last term, Republican districts have received approval for 58 Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grants — for schools, libraries, parks and more. For Democratic districts? Just two. It is long past time to judge these projects by their merits — not whether the person applying is a Democrat or a Republican.

• Delivering equitable infrastructure investments across the County. Here in District 11, we are focusing on the Shore Road flood mitigation, traffic safety and beautification project for Glen Cove, Glen Head and Sea Cliff; the Shore Road Seawall in Baxter Estates; dredging and environmental improvements at Baxter Pond in Port Washington; and completing the long-awaited reopening of Crescent Beach in Glen Cove.• We will also remain keenly focused upon the impacts caused by the Trump administration’s megabill, which threatens to slash federal funding for essential healthcare and nutrition assistance programs that so many Nassau County residents rely upon to make ends meet.

There is a great deal of work ahead of us in this New Year, but together, I know we can make tremendous strides toward achievements that will make Nassau County an even better place to live, work and raise our families.

I wish you and your families all the best and a 2026 filled with love, good health, and prosperity!

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader

Happy 100th Birthday, Bob Praver!

Bob is a World War II veteran and a tireless community advocate who spearheaded the renovation and redesign of the Children's Memorial Garden at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Additionally, he is an outstanding writer and editor who reviews each of these newsletters before they reach your homes.

He is an inspiration to all of us - and we wish him many more happy and healthy returns upon this amazing milestone!

While Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton no longer represents Roslyn in the reapportioned District 11, supporting the restoration of the historic Roslyn Grist Mill has been a top priority throughout her service in the Legislature and a passion for her entire family. Her mother, Dr. Millie DeRiggi wrote extensively about the Grist Mill’s historic ties to the region.

Narcan Training in Port Washington 

Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton partnered with Project HELP Long Island to host a Narcan training event at the Port Washington Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Participants were provided Narcan kits and taught how to spot the signs of an opiate overdose, shown how to administer intranasal Naloxone to reverse an overdose, and learned about new approaches to treating addiction. The session was presented in partnership with Nassau County’s Department of Human Services and the Office of the Nassau County Executive.

“Being prepared to respond to an emergency can make all the difference when every second counts,” Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I remain unwavering in my commitment to delivering resources that will save lives and give those struggling with addiction a chance at long-term, sustainable recovery. I am deeply thankful to Jeffrey Stone and Project HELP Long Island, Calle Panakos from the Nassau County Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disability Services, and the Port Washington Public Library for their partnership, and we are working together to plan another training session soon at the library.”

$2M For Roslyn Grist Mill Renovation Highlights Capital Plan Funding

While Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton no longer represents Roslyn in the reapportioned District 11, supporting the restoration of the historic Roslyn Grist Mill has been a top priority throughout her service in the Legislature and a passion for her entire family. Her mother, Dr. Millie DeRiggi wrote extensively about the Grist Mill’s historic ties to the region.

As part of Nassau County’s capital plan, Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton recently secured an additional $2 million in bond authorization to complete the project. Paired with private fundraising and outside grants, the restoration of this historic site is well on its way to completion under the stewardship of the Roslyn Landmark Society.

Critical Shore Road Improvements Continue To Move Forward

In October, Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton hosted an important community meeting focused on the Shore Road flood mitigation, traffic safety and beautification project. Nassau County Department of Public Works (DPW) officials provided an update to residents and answered questions about this key quality-of-life and safety initiative for the Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing and Sea Cliff communities.

The work is funded by $14.6 million in capital funding that Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton secured for the project, which spans 3.3 miles encompassing Shore Road, Prospect Avenue, Cliff Way and the Boulevard in Glen Cove (0.70 miles), Glenwood Landing (0.92 miles) and Sea Cliff (1.7 miles). Construction is expected to begin this fall.

Court Rejects Blakeman Attempt to Silence Legislators’ ‘Militia’ Suit

In late October, a judge rejected County Executive Blakeman’s baseless claims that a lawsuit brought by Legislator Scott Davis and Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé challenging the legality of his taxpayer-funded armed civilian militia somehow violated his free speech rights. 

“Especially in this era of government crackdown on free speech, it’s important to challenge any effort by an executive, locally or nationally, to silence his constituents through the courts," said Carey Dunne, of the Free + Fair Litigation Group, part of the legal team representing Legislators Mulé and Davis. "We now look forward to addressing the legality of the county executive’s secret militia.”

Hotel-Motel Grant For Sea Cliff Arts Council

In December, Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton joined Sea Cliff Village officials and the greater Sea Cliff community in celebrating a $10,000 Hotel-Motel Occupancy Tax Fund grant for the Sea Cliff Arts Council. The funds will be applied toward promoting tourism and culture in Sea Cliff and throughout the North Shore by expanding its programmatic infrastructure - specifically by supporting the creation of a new film program that will serve as the foundation for establishing a new film festival.

The 20th Annual “Cooking For A Cure” fundraiser in support of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is set for Wednesday, April 22, at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville. 

This year’s honoree is Glen Cove’s Jaime Greenberg, who serves as President of the Glen Cove Junior Soccer League, a member of the City’s planning board, and is the proud father of a son, Sean, who is living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Last year’s fundraiser drew more than 150 people and raised more than $65,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. Delia has proudly co-chaired the event since its inception, and during those years, over $1.5 million has been raised in support of this vital mission. 

Follow Delia’s social media pages to learn more about how to get your tickets for this milestone event!