Bosworth Delivers State of the Town Address

Hundreds turned out to hear North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth deliver her second State of the Town address Friday at the Clubhouse at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.

Bosworth’s speech covered service at the Town’s Building Department, her vision for the waterfront, a declaration to protect the area’s sole source aquifers from being tapped by New York City and more.

She spoke before local government officials, dignitaries and residents in a speech that was part of a luncheon program hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset, who have hosted this event for 30 years.

In her address, Bosworth spoke about the fight against the proposed casino in Westbury. She thanked residents for their feedback, which culminated in the announcement Thursday that the Town – along with the Town of Hempstead and the Village of Westbury – was filing a lawsuit against the casino development.

She also covered the new applicant advocate position in the Building Department and other advancements there.

“In 2014, the Building Department made significant strides to improve customer service and confidence, and modernize the way it does business,” Bosworth said. “We have restructured and redesigned the department down to its foundation.” Improvements include the setting up of mobile office hours for residents and seniors, providing evening business hours, redesigning the department’s website, and now accepting credit card and debit card payments.

And she spoke about the PSEG Long Island utility pole project in Port Washington, Great Neck and Manhasset, noting “I pressed PSEG LI officials to come to the table and convinced them to conduct a public forum in this very room.”

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Bosworth also touched on the town’s fiscal health.

“Perhaps our biggest accomplishment was unanimous, bipartisan approval of the 2015 Town budget, which I am proud to report is under the state tax cap and cuts expenses by $600,000,” Supervisor Bosworth said. The capital plan, she noted, “demonstrates a bipartisan commitment to maintaining and improving the Town’s roads, parks and facilities and maximizes grant funding sources.”

Bosworth announced that she will be meeting with New York City Department of Parks and Recreation officials in February about the Town’s waterfront revitalization plans. Bosworth aims to develop ideas from the East River Waterfront Esplanade, which is an ongoing project that seeks to improve access to the waterfront and create waterfront amenities for public use and enjoyment, similar to what the Town is exploring.

“We are working to develop a comprehensive vision for our Hempstead Harbor waterfront that could include dining facilities, a marina, tennis, paddle-board, jet ski rentals, an extended shoreline trail, improved rowing facilities and enhanced recreational opportunities for all residents,” Bosworth sakd.

She also spoke about aquifer protection, outlining two water conservation goals in 2015. Bosworth aims to press strongly to establish a state oversight and enforcement mechanism for Long Island’s water supply, and stop a plan to re-open dozens of now-dormant wells in Queens.

“I am adamantly opposed to reactivating the Jamaica wells until a rigorous and impartial scientific study is performed,” she said.

To request a copy of the speech, call 311 or (516) 869-6311 from outside North Hempstead. The full speech is also available online. By Feb. 9, the video of the speech will be available on www.mynhtv.com.

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