Statement from William Biamonte, Minority Caucus Chief of Staff, on Majority Proposal to Re-Name NCPD Headquarters Building
(MINEOLA, N.Y.) - On Thursday, July 30, William Biamonte, Chief of Staff to the Minority Legislative Caucus, said:
“We are aware that the Majority has followed the lead of Legislator Lafazan and the Minority Caucus and has proposed renaming NCPD headquarters for former Commissioner William J. Willett, a committed and decorated leader with a distinguished record of public service who made history by becoming the first Black person to serve as Nassau County Police Commissioner.
The fact remains that, until Legislator Lafazan filed his proposal to rename 240 Old Country Road for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, there has been no proposal during Nassau County’s 121-year existence for a County-owned building to bear a Black historical leader’s name. We look forward to taking steps toward righting this wrong by honoring both of these trailblazing leaders – and many more – in the public square.
However, memorialization must not be a substitute for systemic change. During Monday’s Legislature meeting, we urge the Majority to support Legislator Bynoe and Lafazan’s proposal to convene a committee that would study alternative approaches to mental health responses and intervention by law enforcement. Furthermore, we urge them to schedule a public hearing for Minority Leader Abrahams’ and Legislator Bynoe’s proposal to create a third-party police misconduct complaint hotline and website.”