In the halls of the Nassau County Legislature, the phrase “politics as usual” has taken on a particularly bitter, hypocritical flavor. The resulting sound is one that residents across the county have come to recognize all too well: the sound of silence. It’s the deafening quiet of a legislative majority that, just four years ago, stood proudly at the podium to champion gas tax relief, but today sits on its hands while Nassau families are squeezed at the pump.
On April 20, I introduced common-sense legislation designed to provide an “inflation shield” for our residents. The bill is straightforward: It would cap the price of gas and diesel fuel subject to the county sales tax at $3 per gallon from June 1 through Dec. 31. With gas prices currently averaging well over $4 due to the escalating conflict in Iran and global supply chain instability, this legislation isn’t just a policy proposal — it’s a lifeline. If enacted, it would save Nassau motorists millions of dollars collectively, keeping that money in the pockets of those who earned it.
Some in the legislative majority have dismissed this as a political stunt. But I invite those leaders to step outside the legislative chamber and talk to the people in Elmont, Lynbrook or Valley Stream. Talk to the commuters across the county who are watching their disposable income evaporate with every click of the fuel nozzle. To them, this isn’t a stunt; it’s a survival strategy. It is the difference between being able to afford groceries and having enough gas to get to work every day.
What makes the current opposition so jarring is the short memory of the leadership. In 2022, when gas prices spiked following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the atmosphere in Nassau County was entirely different. Back then, all 19 legislators — Republicans and Democrats alike — voted unanimously to provide tax relief. There was no talk of stunts or “fiscal irresponsibility.” Bipartisan cooperation was the order of the day because the need was undeniable, and the political will was present.
Now, in 2026, the economic need is just as great, if not greater. Inflation continues to climb, and the cost of living in Nassau County continues to outpace the wages of our hardworking middle- and working-class families. Yet the political courage that defined the 2022 vote has vanished. The only thing that has changed is the political agenda, not the economic reality facing our neighbors.
Our constituents are smarter than the majority gives them credit for, and they will remember that while they struggle to choose between a full tank of gas or a full grocery cart, the county is reaping a tax windfall from their hardship.
True leadership isn’t about raking in windfall tax revenue when your constituents are already suffering. It’s about knowing when to return that money to the people. We are not reinventing the wheel here. Other counties across New York — Dutchess, Onondaga, Putnam and Rockland — have already acted. They have recognized that a proactive government should function as a safety net, not a profiteer, during an international crisis.
We can’t allow “politics as usual” to dictate the terms of our future. We can’t accept a government that is hyper-critical of relief efforts it once pioneered. Whether it’s a $3 tax cap to help you get to work or a new shield to protect your voice and participation in government, we are proving that government can be proactive, transparent and, most important, honest.
The time for flip-flops, delays and partisan posturing is over. The families of Nassau County deserve a government that works as hard as they do. We’re done waiting for the majority to rediscover its 2022 backbone. We are focused on the politics of results, and we won’t stop until the gas tax cap holiday is a reality for every driver in this county.
Cynthia Nuñez, of Valley Stream, represents Nassau County’s 14th Legislative District.
