There is no question that Long Island is facing a housing crisis. The real question is whether we’re serious about solving it or just using it as another political talking point.
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti has spent taxpayer dollars promoting misleading claims across social media, print ads and op-eds, attacking and sowing lies about initiatives that could bring real relief to thousands of families in the town. These are the same tired fear tactics designed to divide communities, stall progress and avoid real solutions.
That’s not just unproductive. It’s hypocritical. The same leadership that’s warning about overdevelopment has supported and approved major projects in Hempstead — projects that raise legitimate concerns about density, traffic, flooding and long-term community impact. You can’t rail against development with one breath while allowing it in your own backyard with the next.
The only thing consistent about the town’s leadership is its inconsistency.
Housing has now been turned into a partisan weapon, when it should be a shared responsibility. Meanwhile, the consequences are very real. Families are struggling to stay on Long Island. Seniors are being priced out of communities they spent decades building. Young people can’t afford to put down roots, let alone raise families.
These aren’t abstract policy debates. They’re everyday realities.
Yet instead of working across party lines to address these challenges, we see more political posturing and fear-based messaging. It raises a simple question: Is this really about solutions, or about scoring political points?
In a recent op-ed, Ferretti claimed, “Albany is trying to strip away local control with automatic approval.” That statement isn’t just inaccurate; it’s inflammatory rhetoric that distracts from the real issue. Because beyond the slogans and news conferences, the question remains, Where is his plan?
The answer isn’t as simple as saying yes or no to development. And it’s certainly not found in blanket opposition or empty sound bites.
The answer is balance.
We need development that respects the voices of the community, not one that ignores them. We need decisions guided by real environmental-impact studies. Too often, residents show up, speak out and raise valid concerns, only to end up feeling like those concerns were never part of the decision-making process.
Just ask the residents surrounding the Woodmere Country Club project, who filled Town Board meetings, pleading for an independent environmental review. They deserved to be heard. They deserved leadership willing to listen and act. Instead, they were ignored. That’s not good government.
We also need partnerships among municipalities, responsible developers and union labor to ensure that projects are done the right way. That means using local workers, maintaining high standards and making sure developments are sustainable for the long term, not just profitable in the short term.
Right now, too many decisions are driven by political relationships and donor interests rather than what’s best for residents.
If we’re going to talk about housing, let’s have an honest conversation. Not one driven by fear or partisan lines, but one grounded in transparency, accountability and a willingness to work together.
Because the housing crisis isn’t going away, and if we continue to treat it as a political talking point instead of a real challenge, we will keep failing the very people we’re supposed to serve.
There’s a better way forward. It starts with leadership that is willing to bring people to the table, including local officials, state partners, community leaders, developers and labor, and do the hard work of finding solutions that actually fit each community. Not one-size-fits-all mandates or blanket opposition, but thoughtful, community-driven planning.
A better way forward means engaging with developers early to ensure that projects reflect the needs of the neighborhoods they enter. It means working with unions to create good-paying local jobs and uphold the highest standards. And it means restoring transparency, so residents aren’t left guessing about decisions that shape their communities.
Most important, it means putting people before politics. Because housing isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a human issue.
This moment calls for leadership that is willing to rise above the noise, tell the truth, and make tough decisions rooted in what’s right for our communities. Because the choices we make now will define whether Long Island remains a place where families can build a future. One thing is clear: We need leaders ready to be part of the solution, or it’s time for them to step aside.
Joe Scianablo is the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor.
