On Friday, February 7, Mayor Sam Nahmias held a joint press conference with State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to announce crucial infrastructure improvements. Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick helped secure a $150,000 grant to fix lighting along 878 near the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Assemblyman Ari Brown, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Lawrence Deputy Mayor Tammy Roz, and Lawrence Trustees Aaron Parnes, Aaron Felder, and Steven Gottesman, whose input helped towards reaching this goal, were on hand to applaud the announcement.
Mayor Sam Nahmias noted, “Over a year ago, while leading the Nassau County Bridge Authority, I addressed the dangerous lighting outage along 878, a problem that has persisted for much too long. Now as mayor, I’m proud to announce, significant progress in resolving this issue. Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick, I want to thank you for securing a vital grant that will improve the lighting infrastructure along 878 which will avoid accidents and increase safety for those travelling in and out of our village. Today we announce a partnership with our state senator. With her great work, we received a 150,000 grant to fix and correct the 878 lighting. We look forward to continuing to work with our state senator. This collaboration between local and state government is a powerful reminder of how effective we can be by working together and continuing these efforts to further improve our village infrastructure.”
State Senator Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick commented, “I commend you mayor and your board for being an advocate for this grant prior to your election as mayor, when you were on the Bridge Authority, and now we have success. We have $150,000 to improve the lighting on the 878 Expressway which will improve the safety for every resident who travels over that bridge. I am really grateful to all of the levels of government that worked together to secure this grant and I am grateful, mayor, that you have taken on this project and will make sure it is brought to fruition. This is the perfect example of when all levels of government work together for the safety of constituents. I look forward to a long partnership with your village and the state senate.”
Assemblyman Ari Brown commented, “As ranking member of the local governments committee and a village elected, I can tell you that infrastructure is the biggest expense that we face each and every day. Roads, lighting – [the funding] is just never there so we’re happy to get our yearly CHIPS money. When you have a grant like this that the senator secured, it makes such a big difference. We have little budgets of $5-10 million of a typical village, so when you get $150,000, it really contributes a lot to our local economy.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman concluded, “Thank you for being so tenacious that we fix this safety issue. Working with our colleagues, in local, state, and federal levels is what we do at the county. Our job is to solve people’s problems and make for safer and more affordable communities.”
