By Hank Russell
In a State of the Town address highlighting fiscal responsibility, innovation, and community investment, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena detailed major accomplishments and ambitious plans that she said are designed to strengthen neighborhoods, protect taxpayers, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
“Just as everyday citizens once shaped our nation’s future, our residents continue to shape the future of North Hempstead,” DeSena said. “Our goal remains simple: transparent government, responsible spending, and a town where families can live, work, and thrive.”
In her speech, DeSena gave a layout of what she has accomplished during her tenure.
FINANCE
- A centerpiece of the administration’s message was tax relief. North Hempstead has now delivered four consecutive years of tax reductions or freezes, representing nearly a 22% decrease in town taxes overall — the first sustained reduction in almost three decades.
- Earlier this year, Moody’s Investors Service again awarded North Hempstead its top Aaa bond rating, citing the town’s strong fiscal oversight.
- A voluntary early retirement incentive program developed in partnership with labor unions is producing more than $500,000 in annual savings.
- At the town’s Harbor Links municipal golf course, a new operating agreement has dramatically increased revenue. Under the new partnership, rent and profit sharing are exceeding original estimates with an expected $950,000 return this year alone.
- Technology has also played a growing role in public safety. The town’s Bus Patrol system, designed to deter drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses, has increased enforcement and awareness while helping make local roads safer. Since its implementation, the program has generated more than $2 million, which is being reinvested into town services.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- North Hempstead is currently executing a $6 million, 40-mile road repaving project for the 2025-2026 cycle.
- The town will also implement Pavement Condition Index (PCI) surveys in 2026. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers system objectively evaluates conditions and prioritizes repairs while removing politics from decision-making.
- Stabilization work along Bayview Avenue in Manhasset is nearly complete, repairing shoreline erosion that has threatened the roadway since Superstorm Sandy.
- The 127-year-old Webster Avenue Bridge was fully rebuilt through a $28 million partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
- The town accelerated its LED streetlight conversion program, replacing more fixtures in the past six months than had been installed in the previous decade. The project reduces municipal energy consumption by nearly 60% while lowering maintenance costs.
- Recreation spaces are also seeing significant investment through what officials describe as a “Parks Renaissance.” Across Town, parks have received new synthetic turf fields, playground equipment, expanded dog park facilities, and improved lighting and seating areas. The town also restored historic features, such as the Hicks Bridge at Gerry Pond Park in Roslyn. Last year, the town also completed a long-awaited 9/11 Memorial in Valley Park, unveiled on the 24th anniversary of the attacks.
LOOKING AHEAD
- North Hempstead will break ground on a $20 million reconstruction of Town Dock Park in Port Washington, a project designed to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy while transforming the area into a stronger and more resilient waterfront destination.
- The town will begin construction of a greywater irrigation system at Harbor Links Golf Course. Supported by a $3 million federal grant, the project will capture stormwater and reuse it for irrigation, reducing freshwater consumption by millions of gallons.
- Plans are also underway for the revitalization of North Hempstead Beach Park with a multi-year effort that will focus on shoreline protection and expanded recreational areas while preserving wetlands and wildlife habitats.
- Town officials also announced the launch of a long-awaited update to North Hempstead’s comprehensive master plan, which has not been revised since 1989.
SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS
- The Building Department has implemented operational changes, including the digitization of records, a dedicated help desk, rotating inspection zones, and public workshops designed to make permitting easier for homeowners and contractors.
- The Building Department recently launched OpenGov, an industry-leading software used by municipalities across New York, which enables collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions. It will also allow Building Department inspectors full remote access to records, real-time tracking, and will significantly improve efficiency and accountability.
- Modernization efforts in the Tax Receiver’s Office have expanded payment options and improved financial management. By shifting town funds into higher-yield accounts, the office generated more than $2.1 million in interest revenue returned to local school districts this year.
- The town also continues to expand Project Independence, a nationally recognized program supporting senior residents and residents with disabilities. In 2025 alone, the program coordinated more than 31,000 transportation rides for medical appointments and essential errands, helping residents remain independent and connected to their communities. More than 1,000 seniors signed up in 2025, bringing the total number of participants to 18,527.
DeSena added that the goal behind each initiative is to ensure that North Hempstead remains a place where families can afford to stay and thrive.
She added, “As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the same spirit of local leadership and community pride that built America continues right here in North Hempstead.”
In response to her speech, Sean McCarthy, a Democrat who is challenging DeSena for supervisor this year, asked why DeSena did not take questions afterwards. “For decades, North Hempstead was a model for open, transparent town government,” McCarthy said. “The State of the Town wasn’t simply a staged partisan event; it was hosted with the League of Women Voters and residents had the chance to stand up, ask questions, and hold their leaders accountable. That’s exactly how government is supposed to work.”
Last year, McCarthy said, DeSena refused to take questions from the public and “shut residents out of that process,” adding, “North Hempstead residents deserve to know: what is she afraid of? What is she hiding?
“As someone who spent a career in law enforcement, I was taught that if you hold a position of public trust, you answer to the people,” McCarthy continued. “Accountability isn’t optional. I challenge Supervisor DeSena to restore the long-standing tradition of taking public questions after the State of the Town and face the residents she serves. North Hempstead deserves a government that speaks with its people, not at them.”