Laura Ryder explores evolvement of her involvement

What started as a way to honor 9/11 victims in Lynbrook has turned into a lifetime of service.

Laura Ryder — appointed as a Hempstead town councilwoman this past March — is seeking election to her first full term in just a few weeks. Her passion is helping people, and Ryder envisions her role as councilwoman as an extension of her life’s work.

“Service brings me such a sense of fulfillment and truly a tremendous amount of joy in my life,” Ryder told reporters during a recent Herald Roundtable session. “It is a very big part of my life, and I wanted service to be in the forefront on the Town Board.”

Ryder was appointed to that board to fill Anthony D’Esposito’s seat after he was elected to Congress last year. Ryder had previously served as a village trustee in Lynbrook.

If there is a community organization or grassroots effort to make the neighborhood better, chances are, Ryder is part of it — if not leading it. She is said to work assiduously with the Lynbrook Cares Committee and Lynbrook Community Chest — both important nonprofits that directly help those in need.

And in September, which was national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Ryder helped elevate the mission of the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation to the Town Board. The foundation was created to increase mental health awareness and help prevent suicide, honoring the memory of. O’Shea, a Rockville Centre teen who died by suicide in 2019.

“I would say getting onto the Town Board is emblematic of my community service over the last 30 years,” Ryder said. “I’m always looking for opportunities to help people. I always have my eyes open for that.”

As for issues facing Hempstead town residents, Ryder says her top priorities are taxes and public safety.

“First and foremost is always taxes, right?” Ryder asked. “That’s what we all feel the most. I am happy to say that, this year, the Town of Hempstead’s budget has a tax freeze without cutting services. I am very proud of the fact that we’ve been able to hold the line on taxes without cutting any of the services.”

Ryder says she frequently hears from constituents that public safety is a concern, and so making people feel safe is a priority. With the outbreak of the Israel war against Hamas terrorists, Ryder added the town has provided extra security for houses of worship.

“Our supervisor, Donald Clavin, said that if anyone from the Jewish community reaches out, to please let public safety know and we will do whatever we can to provide that extra sense of security,” the councilwoman said. “It’s visual, and it makes an impact.”

Aside from keeping roads well paved, Ryder said infrastructure issues remain at the top of her to-do list. For example, she cited Oceanside Pool Park as an example of the town working to improve services for residents. Ryder is “really pushing, pushing, pushing” to have the facility upgraded, she added, including renovating the dog park.

“I definitely want that done by next year,” Ryder said.

Named the Lynbrook Woman of the Year in 2014 and Lynbrook Humanitarian of the Year in 2018, Ryder has stayed involved by serving on numerous committees.

“Like I said, I love public service,” she said. “It started as a volunteer, then went through the village. Now, I’ve been given a bigger platform to do what I love to do.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity.”