Curran Calls On Legislature To End Recess, Pass Her Payment Plan

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is calling on the County Legislature to cut its summer break short so it can reconvene to pass her plan to send cash payments to residents to help them recover from the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

Curran's Household Assistance Program would send $375 cash payments to up to 400,000 households in the county. It would use $100 million from the American Recovery Plan funds the county received from the federal government.

According to Curran, the Republican majority in the Legislature stalled on passing the legislation to authorize the program. The Legislature has been on recess since Aug. 2, and is not scheduled to reconvene until mid September.

“It is well past time for the County Legislature to approve my plan to deliver direct payments to Nassau residents," Curran said. "Instead of waiting another few weeks and stalling the process even further, let’s take action now. The Household Assistance Plan will not only help those who continue to struggle, but also provide a meaningful boost to our local economy."

The Republican majority defended its position, saying it was not going to rush Curran's proposal.

"After the county executive had to change her initial plan because she failed to get guidance, and after the failures in the assessment rollout, the majority is going to do it's due diligence to make sure that this is not just another botched initiative," said Christopher Boyle, spokesman for the majority.

There are two categories of eligible households under Curran's proposal: those with incomes less than $168,900, and those with incomes between $168,900 and $500,000. The ranges were determined using data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the New York State Long Island Workforce Housing Act to determine low-to-moderate income for the area. Households in the first category include those receiving Enhanced STAR, Limited Incomes and Disabilities and/or Senior Citizens property tax exemptions.

Households in the first category are presumed to have experienced a negative economic impact from the pandemic, and will not have to demonstrate individual harm in their applications. Those in the second category will have to submit documentation showing they had a negative economic impact from the pandemic, such as proof of unemployment, food or housing insecurity, unreimbursed medical bills, increased child-care expenses, coronavirus-related death expanses or unreimbursed remote learning/work expenses including increased internet costs.