(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislator Scott M. Davis (D – Rockville Centre) on Monday, July 14 once again the Democratic Minority delegation in renewing its demand for equity in the delivery of Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grant resources to Democratic-led districts – resources which have already been allocated, but County Executive Bruce Blakeman stubbornly refuses to process in continuance of his administration’s partisan mismanagement of grant funds for parks, libraries and local first responders.
That day’s legislative committee calendar included four CRPs, totaling more than $600,000 in value for districts led by Republican members – but as has become standard since the start of the Legislative session on Jan. 1, 2024, none for Democratic districts, To date, Republicans have seen 50 of their grant requests reach the Legislative calendar, while not a single one of the 34 pending Democratic requests have been considered or approved in regular order.
“The magic number we’re working with on a monthly basis is 50 to nothing, and it is absolutely unacceptable that we are still dealing with this issue – an issue where we can’t even utilize money that’s already been appropriated to us as Democratic legislators to bring to our communities,” Legislator Davis said during the July 14 session. “It’s inexcusable, and there is absolutely no legitimate reason for it.
In the face of persistent stonewalling by the Blakeman administration, Democrats successfully leveraged their votes in April to secure funding for 14 pending grants for first responders, totaling $1.3 million, as part of the 2025 capital plan bond ordinance. which required a 13-member supermajority to pass. After securing those first responder grants and as they continue to demand equity for the communities of all 19 districts, Legislative Democrats are fighting for the Blakeman administration to release long-stalled grant funds for local libraries, schools and parks – including $150,000 for Hempstead Village’s Mirschel Park.
This latest tranche of Republican CRP grants is expected to come before the full Legislature for final approval on Monday, July 28. The 1 p.m. session will be held in the Peter J. Schmitt Memorial Legislative Chamber of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, located at 1550 Franklin Avenue in Mineola.
“The public deserves to know this, and the public should make their feelings heard in our upcoming Legislative sessions,” Legislator Davis said.
PHOTO CREDIT (Archive photo from 6/23/25 meeting) – Office of Legislator Scott M. Davis