Dear Resident,
This year has been another busy one for the Nassau County Legislature. As we enter the final days of 2021, I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the key initiatives that were passed by the legislature and signed into law:
- Approved millions in COVID relief monies to provide financial assistance to our residents and small businesses. We also passed emergency funding measures to ensure that our first responders, health professionals, economic development agencies and other organizations had the necessary resources required to address the ongoing hardships faced by our families and communities in battling the pandemic.
- In response to NYS legalizing the recreational use and sale of cannabis products for individuals 21 and over wherever smoking is allowed under the Clean Air Act, we created a law that prohibits the smoking or vaping of cannabis at all county-owned facilities. Currently the smoking of tobacco is prohibited at county-owned properties. This legislation helps clear up any confusion by the public and reinforces that smoking of any kind is not permitted at county properties along with the vaping of cannabis. In addition, we passed a bill amending Nassau County’s Social Host Law to help prevent the consumption of cannabis by minors in private homes.
- Passed a bill creating a new school bus camera program that will impose fines on drivers who illegally pass a school bus that has its stop sign out and lights flashing. These cameras will help to make sure our students are safe when boarding and exiting buses by prompting more drivers to follow the law.
- Established a Special Revenue Fund that will ensure every dollar received from a class action lawsuit settlement against several opioid manufacturers and pharmacies will go towards prevention, treatment and education programs specifically targeting the opioid epidemic. Without the special fund, the settlement proceeds would be placed into the county’s general fund, where they could be spent for purposes wholly unrelated to the opioid crisis.
- Passed legislation to help combat veterans employed by Nassau County who need medical help and/or may be suffering from PTSD, we introduced a bill that provides up to an additional five paid days off. This time can be used for VA appointments, physical therapy or psychological or stress-related treatment.
As your legislator, I am very grateful for your continued support and look forward to taking on the many challenges that lie ahead in 2022. I have no doubt that most, if not all of us, are mentally and physically exhausted from hearing about and speaking about COVID-19. But no matter what the past year has brought you in terms of life lessons, joy, pain, gratitude, sorrow, sickness or good health, my hope is that we all come to realize we can stand a little taller because we are that much stronger, more tolerant, caring, hopeful and resilient than we were a year ago. Yes, we’re still “getting through this”, but working together, we will continue to get through this. In the meantime, I like to focus on all that is good in my life: my family and friends and the time I get to spend with them during the holiday season. I truly hope that your holiday season and the year ahead are filled with joy, happiness and good health. 😊
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .
Sincerely,
Laura M. Schaefer
Legislator, District 14