Once again, Albany bureaucrats are attempting to strip away local zoning control, and once again, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and local officials are standing firm in opposition. Supervisor Saladino joined Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena, and both town and village officials from across Nassau County to denounce the latest attempt by Albany to override local zoning laws. This year, two dangerous bills threaten suburban communities: one that would limit the ability of towns, cities, and villages to impose zoning requirements, and another that seeks to establish a Social Housing Development Authority – a public benefit corporation with the power to seize land and build housing without local input.

The Town Supervisors were also joined by Oyster Bay Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone, Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Brookville Village Mayor Daniel Serota, Malverne Village Mayor Tim Sullivan, Williston Park Village Mayor Paul Ehrbar, Rockville Centre Village Trustee Emilio Grillo, Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Hempstead town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, and Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray.

“For the fourth year in a row, Albany is attempting to take away our ability to protect our suburban communities,” said Supervisor Saladino. “This latest proposal is just another backdoor attempt to impose high-density housing on our neighborhoods – putting our schools, roads, emergency services, and quality of life at risk. My colleagues and I are standing strong to ensure that local governments—not unelected bureaucrats in Albany—continue to make the decisions that shape our communities.”

At the center of this year’s fight are Assembly Bill A.2586 and Senate Bill S.5674. Assembly Bill A.2586 would limit a municipality’s ability to impose certain zoning requirements, setting the stage for Albany to interfere in local planning decisions. Meanwhile, Senate Bill S.5674 would establish the Social Housing Development Authority, a state-controlled entity with broad powers to acquire land, rehabilitate properties, and construct new housing – bypassing local zoning regulations entirely.

“These bills are nothing more than an attempt to urbanize our suburban communities,” added Councilman Monteleone. “Albany wants to eliminate single-family zoning, erase local input, and dictate how our communities grow, without concern for the residents who live here. We refuse to let that happen.”

The fight against state overreach is nothing new. In recent years, Albany has repeatedly attempted to impose policies that would drastically alter the fabric of Long Island’s suburban communities:

• In 2022, Albany pushed for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family neighborhoods—an attempt that was successfully defeated.
• In 2023, the state proposed mandating high-density housing around Long Island Rail Road stations without consulting local communities.
• In 2024, another proposal sought to override zoning laws by allowing mass housing developments on land owned by religious institutions.

Each time, Supervisor Saladino and fellow town and village officials have led the charge in successfully stopping these harmful proposals.

“This is about more than just zoning – it’s about protecting the character of our neighborhoods, ensuring our schools aren’t overwhelmed, and preserving the suburban way of life that families have worked so hard to build,” added Tax Receiver Jeffrey Pravato. “We will not back down. We will continue to fight Albany’s overreach, stand with our residents, and demand that local government remains in the hands of local officials.”