Good Government Means Putting People First
By Legislator Cynthia Nuñez
When I took office as a Nassau County Legislator for District 14 nine months ago I did so with a simple belief: Government should work for the people not for politicians.
That principle may sound self-evident, but putting it into practice requires elected officials to remember that public service is not about personal agendas, political parties, or who gets the credit. Good government is about setting aside disagreements and working together to improve the everyday lives of the residents we were elected to serve.
Since taking office in January, I have strived to make that philosophy the foundation of my service to Valley Stream, Lynbrook, and Elmont. Putting people first means prioritizing safety, infrastructure, and real community solutions over partisan posturing.
We recently saw what this people-first approach can accomplish when the Nassau County Legislature passed bipartisan legislation prohibiting the sale and distribution of Kratom. When it came to protecting public health and safety, legislators from both sides of the aisle came together. We did not allow party labels to delay action on protecting our families.
That same commitment to practical solutions guides my work closer to home. When local officials identified urgent safety and infrastructure needs in our villages, my focus was not on political lines, it was on how Nassau County could serve as an effective partner.
Through Nassau County’s Community Revitalization Program, I secured over $530,000 for critical local equipment:
• $131,794 for the Lynbrook Police Department to replace outdated portable radios.
• $160,000 for the Lynbrook Fire Department for lifesaving AEDs and self-contained breathing apparatus equipment.
• $238,993 for Valley Stream Public Works equipment upgrades.
Additionally, I secured $500,000 in Nassau County capital funding for a comprehensive flood mitigation and drainage study in District 14. For too long, chronic flooding has disrupted lives and threatened property. This study is an essential first step toward identifying antiquated infrastructure and delivering long-term, structural relief.
These investments are not Democratic victories or Republican victories - they are human investments. A police radio does not have a political affiliation. Neither does an AED, a firefighter's breathing apparatus, or a public works vehicle. And when heavy storms hit, floodwaters do not care how you vote.
Residents work too hard and pay too much in taxes to watch their needs take a backseat to political turf wars. They want safe streets, responsive representatives, and local tax dollars reinvested directly into their neighborhoods. When they call our offices, they deserve to know someone is listening and ready to deliver.
There will always be issues on which elected officials disagree. Healthy debate is a cornerstone of democracy. But disagreement should never become an excuse for inaction, nor should politics ever stand between a community and the resources it deserves.
As your Legislator, I will continue reaching across the aisle, collaborating with our village governments, school districts, and first responders, and delivering tangible results for Valley Stream, Lynbrook, and Elmont.
Public office is a public trust. The ultimate measure of effective government is simple: Are we making people’s lives better, safer, and easier?
That is the standard I will apply every single day. Because no matter which party label we wear or which office we hold, the people must always come first.
Cynthia Nuñez, of Valley Stream, was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2025.