Nassau Democrats gathered at Mirschel Park Monday — a crumbling Hempstead hub in determined want of an overhaul — and blasted the county govt for taking part in favorites with tasks in Republican-led districts.
Democrats are looking for $150,000 to restore the park, but additionally declare $9 million price of tasks are being stonewalled by Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county govt. The Dems — in the event that they don’t get their means — are threatening to withhold key votes to dam a funding switch to the county’s parks division funds.
Blakeman known as the claims “completely ridiculous.”
He slammed Democrats and pointed to approvals he gave for Hempstead tasks like $1 million for water remedy, $400,000 for the African American Historical past Museum, $100,000 for a fireplace truck, and greater than $350,000 for license plate readers.
They acknowledged Blakeman signed off on these tasks — though they are saying it was separate from the capital cash they’re in search of to fund the park rehab — however mentioned the OK’s didn’t come and not using a partisan struggle.
“They never have anything good to say,” Blakeman informed The Publish. “What they should say is thank you.”
Mirschel Park is operated by Hempstead, not the county, in line with Blakeman.
He added that Roosevelt, a Democratic district, simply obtained a brand-new state-of-the-art facility at Eisenhower Park referred to as “The Dream Court” in 2023, named after hometown legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving.
However Dems mentioned the $9 million in query is already allotted in accredited budgets and Blakeman simply must launch it.
“This funding has been backloaded since 2023 — and there is no reason for that besides blatant politics,” Legislator Scott Davis, a Democrat, mentioned exterior Mirschel Park Monday.
“We are going to hold up the transfer until we see movement on our projects,” added Democratic Minority Chief Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, claiming roughly 34 tasks throughout GOP-controlled districts have been accredited with out one of many Dems’ 32 proposals being handed.
Blakeman mentioned he has given loads of funding to blue districts and the village of Roosevelt particularly.
“They’re trying to pick on us because we’re holding a $150,00 request when we’ve already given $3 million to the village — it is totally ludicrous,” he mentioned.
