Westchester County Legislator Anant Nambiar says Rye's aging sewer system, flood risk and coordination over Playland top his agenda as he heads into the Nov. 3 election unopposed.

In a Q&A published by MyRye.com on Oct. 29, Nambiar, a Democrat representing District 7, laid out three areas where the county can help Rye over the next three to five years: flooding and water infrastructure, county-owned properties and long-term investment in the city's planning priorities.

Sewers and flooding

Nambiar said Rye is part of the Blind Brook sanitary sewer district, which he described as carrying $91 million in existing commitments. He said an additional $2.6 million or more is allocated in 2027 for sewer line repair, treatment plants and pump station improvements over the next decade.

Asked whether Rye is prepared for the next "100-year" flood, Nambiar answered "not yet." He said extreme rainfall can overwhelm aging and undersized infrastructure, which is why continued investment in flood mitigation and regional watershed planning is essential.

The county will lead a Long Island Sound watershed analysis in 2027 and 2028, Nambiar said, to assess options for improving flood and stormwater mitigation and long-term planning.

He also pointed to cross-municipal work through the Long Island Sound Watershed Inter-municipal Council (LISWIC) and projects with the Town of Harrison, Village of Mamaroneck and Town of Rye on Beaver Swamp Brook and the Mamaroneck River.

Flooding was among the issues more than 100 Rye residents raised at a public planning workshop on Oct. 14, according to a post on X by The Rye Record.

Playland and county properties

Nambiar called for closer coordination between Rye and the county on Playland, Marshlands Conservancy, Edith Read Sanctuary and county roads. He described those properties as major community resources whose management should be closely coordinated with the city.

On whether the county should reimburse Rye for police, fire and EMS services tied to Playland, Nambiar stopped short of saying yes. He said municipalities regularly provide services to one another without chargebacks, making it "hard to make the argument that Rye should automatically be reimbursed." He added that he supports an open discussion on cost-sharing because Playland can create higher demand on Rye's emergency resources.

Deer, e-bikes and other issues

Nambiar said he has already raised deer management with the county Parks Department and will push for the county to partner with Rye and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The city recently formed its first deer management committee, and Nambiar noted that any solution will likely require cooperation from the county, which oversees Marshlands Conservancy and Edith Read Sanctuary.

On the county Board of Legislators, Nambiar co-sponsored a local law with Legislator Cunzio to authorize local regulation of e-bikes and scooters. That measure passed committee at the board's Oct. 19 meeting.

Background

Nambiar has served as District 7 county legislator since January 2026. He previously served on the Town of Mamaroneck Council from 2024 to 2025 and as a Mamaroneck School Board trustee from 2009 to 2012. He lives in Larchmont and said he is a Rye Rec member who plays pickleball three to four times a week. Before entering public office, he spent 25 years in corporate roles at American Express, Mastercard and Synchrony Financial.

He won the 2025 general election with 68% of the vote, according to the MyRye.com Q&A.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting running through Sunday, Nov. 1.