Valley Stream Mayor Edwin A. Fare is a lifelong Valley Streamer, enjoying all of his 60+ years within the Incorporated Village. He, along with his five brothers, was raised here by parents who instilled in their boys all the values of a tight-knit small-town community. Mayor Fare chose to raise his own family in Valley Stream and is the proud father of three children, Samantha, Jessica and Andrew.
Educated at Nassau Community College (AA & AS Degrees,) SUNY Buffalo (Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude) and LIU (Masters Degree in computers,) Mayor Fare went on to become a Technology teacher in the Valley Stream Central High School District where he has remained for almost 40 years. Throughout his teaching career he has earned numerous professional certificates in Administration & Leadership, as well as Special Education. He is proud of the fact that he now finds himself teaching the children of many of his former students. By the time most students have graduated Valley Stream South or Central High Schools, they would almost certainly have been in one of “Mr. Fare’s” classrooms.
Before becoming Mayor of Valley Stream in 2011 under the banner of the United Community Party, Mayor Fare served as a Village Trustee for 8 years. As such, he worked closely with the Valley Stream Planning Board/Valley Stream Architectural Review Board, of which he formerly served as a member, and the Valley Stream Fire Department, of which he continues to be an active member as he has for the past 42 years. In his tenure with the Fire Department he served as Lieutenant, Captain and Treasurer, and has received advanced life-support, FEMA and emergency management certifications. After 40 years of service, Mayor Fare was sworn in as a Honorary Chief of Department. He also operated his own driving school for many years.
Active for decades within the local Valley Stream community, Fare is Life Member, Chairman of the Board & Past President of the Valley Stream Historical Society. He was an active in his parish, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, until its recent closing; member of the Valley Stream Lions Club and the Valley Stream Kiwanis Club and Lifetime Member of AHRC, as well as a former Unit Leader of the Valley Stream Teachers Association for 10 years.
Among the most important priorities of Mayor Fare’s administration are his efforts to continue to stabilize Valley Stream’s tax base; continue smart, strategically planned housing and mixed-use development to revitalize the business district; and continue a strategic plan to maintain and improve infra-structure and public spaces that include roads, parking fields, parklands, the pool complex and the library. One of the most transformative projects, was the construction of a new transfer station to process the Village’s municipal solid waste. Improvements to our Sanitation fleet and recycling services continue to provide cost savings and environmental benefits to our residents.
Mayor Fare intends to maintain a safe and vibrant community for the safety and enjoyment of all Valley Streamers. After his re-election to office in 2015, one of the goals of his second term was the relocation of the Village’s Departments of Public Safety, Code Enforcement, Auxiliary Police, Historical Society Archives, and Civilian Patrol to the Municipal Building at 195 Rockaway Avenue, right in the heart of Valley Stream’s downtown. By putting the village’s court functions and law enforcement personnel here, Fare has sent a clear message that our citizens’ safety is of paramount concern. In 2018 Mayor Fare was awarded the Partner America “Small Business Advocate Award” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors for his efforts and support of small businesses within the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream. He is delighted to preside over Valley Stream, a village that was named the “Best Place to Live in New York State” by Money Magazine. He is proud of Valley Stream’s vibrancy and rich cultural diversity and welcomes all to come and experience everything that Valley Stream has to offer.