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STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY
March 22, 2007
Good evening. Vice Chairman Young, Members of
the Board of Legislators, District Attorney DiFiore, County Clerk
Idoni, elected officials, distinguished guests, my wife Brenda, and
those of you who are watching this at home.
On this 10th year of my State of
County address, it is only fitting to ask, “How m’I doin?”
However, since this is a “we” not an “I” government, my answer
tonight will tell you how well the Executive, and the Legislative
branches, led by Chairman Bill Ryan have worked to serve the people
of Westchester over the years.
We have been fiscally prudent. We have been
socially progressive. We have been responsible, compassionate,
efficient and productive. And the result: the State of our County
has never been stronger.
We have worked positively with our villages,
towns and cities ─ and with the courts, District Attorney and the
County Clerk. We have a strong and productive relationship with our
State delegation in Albany and our congressional delegation in
Washington. And with Eliot Spitzer as Governor, Andrew Cuomo as
Attorney General and Tom DiNapoli as Comptroller, we have a new team
for change.
Ours is a unique partnership among all levels
of government that has and will continue to improve the quality of
life for Westchester County residents. It is this partnership that
has helped this government get awards, become a model for other
counties nationwide, and initiate ground-breaking programs to insure
the health and safety of every person.
We have continually been in the forefront when
it comes to Emergency Services. Enough is never enough, could be
our motto when it comes to protecting our residents and our
workers. This year, we will inaugurate the County’s first Volunteer
Technical Rescue Team to respond to accidents at construction sites
or any building collapse.
Whether from fire or construction, we must be
prepared county-wide for the possibility of structural accidents,
which unfortunately, we have had recently. As new hotels,
apartments, and retail establishments are built, this possibility
increases. Up until now, dispatchers have had to borrow
firefighters from one of only a few communities to rescue those in
danger.
With this new County force, firefighters
throughout Westchester will be trained how to use ropes and
supporting beams to rescue victims in confined spaces. They will
aid communities in the same way as the County’s Hazmat Team.
These two teams will have new vehicles with the
latest technology and supplies. And, with the addition of our new
police helicopter flying above, we have the ability to stream live
video of major emergencies to the incident commanders at the scene.
I want to thank Chair of the Public Safety Committee Bill Burton,
and his committee members for their leadership and support of our
first responders and for helping to keep our residents safe.
Our airport has been hailed as a model for the
nation when it comes to security; most recently it was the subject
of an NBC Nightly News broadcast. Continuing to take the lead, we
are the first commercial airport in the nation to have a “virtual”
security system. It uses leading-edge surveillance to immediately
detect, identify and stop unauthorized or unusual activity, before
anything happens. The Port Authority is now following our lead at
LaGuardia and JFK airports.
To help prevent identity theft, we were the
first county in the nation to adopt the Wi-Fi Security Law to make
it harder for drive-by hackers to steal data and personal
information from wireless networks. And, we rolled out our now
famous ShredMobile to give residents the opportunity to shred their
personal documents, one of the simplest ways to prevent thieves from
obtaining personal data. In its first two outings the truck
shredded over 12 tons ─ that’s almost 25,000 pounds of confidential
documents from our residents. The shredded paper is ultimately
recycled.
When it comes to County records, I will work
closely with County Clerk Tim Idoni to ensure that information and
data filed by our residents are protected against Identity theft.
According to District Attorney DiFiore,
Westchester is doing more to protect children than any other county
in the state. Our joint initiatives and those undertaken by various
County departments illustrate our commitment.
The Child Fatality Review Team and the
Multi-Disciplinary Team never would have been a reality without the
District Attorney’s leadership and involvement. Our Fatality Review
Team is the only one in the state that is allowed to write its own
reports, and while these are confidential and must include mandated
information, they go one step further to provide an educational
component. After a child was left abandoned, D.A. DiFiore and I
embarked on a campaign to make young people aware that there are
safe havens to leave an unwanted newborn. And when a toddler was
killed as a result of a baby walker accident, we advised parents
that there are safer alternatives to keep their baby happy and
active. Hopefully, these programs will save young lives.
In the near future, the Multi-Disciplinary Team
will receive State approval, something I have wanted for a long
time. This coordinated approach to child abuse investigations by
all involved agencies reduces the trauma for the child. Our Child
Advocacy Center, which to my knowledge does not exist any place
else, provides a vital child friendly setting where interviews take
place. Additionally, the sharing of information among Social
Services, local police, the D.A.’s office and the County Attorney
strengthens the proceedings in both Criminal and Family Court.
As a result of recent incidents concerning
unreported child abuse and neglect cases by some educators,
representatives from the offices of the County Attorney, the
District Attorney and the Department of Social Services have begun a
training program for school personnel on their mandated reporting
responsibilities. Over 300 teachers and guidance counselors have
participated. I urge every school district to take advantage of
this program so that no child slips through the cracks.
No one has been more concerned when it comes to
protecting children than legislator Judy Myers, Chair of the
Families Committee. Thank you, Judy, we will continue to work
together to keep our kids safe and healthy.
Given the increase of on-line pedophiles, the
Department of Public Safety has activated a new unit working in
close cooperation with the District Attorney’s office to address
internet trolling. This additional resource is an important effort
to keep kids safe, even when they are in their own homes. We have
made three recent arrests ─ two in conjunction with the FBI.
Coordination between the D.A.’s office and
various County Departments is by no means limited to protecting
children from adult abuse. Many times it is protecting them from
themselves. Our well known efforts in the battle against underage
drinking have yielded a one million dollar Federal grant to develop
a new educational and enforcement program. We will conduct a survey
which will be used to try to change parental attitudes towards teen
drinking as we also fine tune and coordinate local police efforts
that check to see if stores or bars are selling to underage patrons.
In addition, working with the D.A., your board,
and local enforcement, we will focus on going after the people who
produce the fake ID’s that enable kids to buy alcohol in the first
place.
I would like to congratulate our Department of
Probation for being the first of its kind ever to be honored by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Its DWI Enforcement
unit was cited for innovative programs that deter those convicted of
DWI from re-offending. Since 2000, when good data tracking began,
out of 1,781 supervised offenders, only 4% were rearrested and
convicted. No other agency has the scope of services this
department has.
I wanted you to meet Nick Giordano tonight.
After the most tragic experience one could have, he is helping us to
prevent children from becoming victims of drunk drivers. Ever since
his daughter Cara was killed by a drunk driver 12 years ago, he has
fought for tougher Federal and State laws and spent countless hours
giving presentations at schools all over Westchester. He has been a
vital part of our Probation Department’s Victim Impact Panel, where
he explains to DWI probationers, in great detail, the terrible
impact that drunk driving has had on his family.
Unfortunately Nick could not be here, but his
niece Andrea is. Andrea, please thank your uncle for us.
After our well-received “gang summit” last
year, we initiated action on several fronts to combat youth
violence. White Plains High School, Port Chester’s Carver Center
and the YMCA in Yonkers became pilot projects for an initiative
called The Power of Peace. A tried and true program from the New
Rochelle Guidance Center, this powerful experience brings together
at risk kids, kids involved in gangs, and so called “good” kids to
learn from each other how to diffuse conflict before it escalates.
These “peace keepers” in turn become leaders and reach out to other
kids ─ sharing positive experiences with their friends on the block,
kids in school, and those with no one else to turn to. This year,
Power of Peace will be expanded to Peekskill and Ossining.
But you don’t get rid of gangs overnight or
through one program. So we have initiated and funded many others
across the county: those which promote youth and police
relationships, those which foster academic performance, and those
that create youth leadership opportunities.
One program stands out and that’s because it
wasn’t developed by adults ─ but by the kids themselves. Let me
tell you about STAJ. For the past ten years, Ayana Davis, who is
now 24, has been giving at risk girls in Peekskill the chance to
change their lives. Many live in subsidized housing. Some were
being expelled even from their elementary school. These kids had
nothing do, but hang out.
But when Ayana taught them to dance and
entertain, they learned self-esteem and discipline. Her STAJ
hip-hop troupe gave these young girls something to be proud of …
something fun and positive to keep them off the streets and out of
trouble.
This year, STAJ, who played 4 times at the
Apollo, says it will embark on a Stop The Violence Tour at our
schools and community centers. Performing anti-violence skits as
well as hip hop, their message to kids at risk, is very personal: We
changed our lives, so can you.
What STAJ did for these Peekskill kids, is what
I would like to see in other schools. They are role models. Please
watch the video and you’ll see what I mean.
Ayana Davis and some her STAJ dancers are here
tonight. I would like them to stand and be recognized.
This is just one example of how our young
people are working to make this county better for other young
people. It’s one thing for government or non-profits or even
dedicated adults to try to make a difference. It’s another when the
kids do things on their own. But I must admit I’m not surprised.
We have great families in Westchester in which compassion, tolerance
and understanding are taught by actions as well as words.
One of my grandfather’s favorite expressions
was “watch the hands, don’t listen to the mouth.” We should all
watch the hands and emulate the young people in our communities who
care.
One such person is Eric Appel, whose journey
into manhood took a very different turn. As part of his Bar Mitzvah
project, he volunteered to be buddy to Anna DiTraglia and the other
kids who play in our new Miracle League, a baseball league for young
people with disabilities. He helped them throw or catch a ball or
raced them around the bases if they were in wheelchairs.
“I had never spoken to a person in a wheelchair
before,” Eric said in his Bar Mitzvah speech. “I was uncomfortable
around people with disabilities.” He said he now knows that people
with disabilities are the same as people without them. The Appel
family was so moved by Eric’s experience that they donated more than
$1600 worth of gloves, bats, and balls to the League.
They were not alone. Please look at the video
and you’ll see what I mean. Last year over 200 adults and children
of all ages and professions volunteered as buddies for the 125 kids
who played in the League. The Briarcliff Middle School, for
example, raised enough money to buy 25 baseball gloves for the
children.
Eric and his parents are here tonight, so are
Anna DiTraglia and her parents. I would like to recognize them, as
well as Steve Madey, the director of the League.
On May 6, under Steve’s leadership, the Miracle
League, will begin its second year. Over 500 children are expected
to sign up for one of its three seasons. And for the first time,
the adult group home population will be participating as well.
For many of these kids, playing baseball is the
highlight of their young lives.
We are all well aware of the growing national
problem of childhood obesity. What we don’t know is the actual
extent of the problem in Westchester. The Health Department is
actively compiling data from school districts on the age, height and
weight of students in kindergarten, second and fourth grades. To
date, 30% of the school districts have participated. This is really
important, and I urge all the others to get on board with this Body
Mass Index survey so we can have the most complete information to
best target our programs.
In our efforts to change eating habits, we have
taken several actions. All County sponsored events for children now
serve only healthy snacks, as do the children’s programs we fund.
The vending machines in our buildings now offer our employees more
healthy choices. And, in our Parks, we have either eliminated or
greatly reduced regular soda in the machines.
But to really bring the message home to the
children themselves, peer to peer, we knew we had to get them
involved. If you look at the video while I talk, you’ll see what I
mean.
Seventy kids were involved in a special Fit
Kids edition of Kids X-Press Magazine on nutrition and exercise.
They submitted poems, stories, drawings and puzzles and you can see
how well they took to the task. Besides writing about healthy
choices and physical activity ─ as opposed to sugary snacks and
video games ─ they also shared some heart wrenching anecdotes on how
they or their friends felt to be teased because they were fat; and
how hard it is not to eat the stuff advertised on television.
Thanks to Nivia Viera the publisher of Kids
X-press, 50,000 magazines were distributed to elementary schools and
libraries throughout Westchester. Nivia and some of our young
writers are here tonight, and I want everyone to know how much they
have contributed to our BeFit program.
But it’s not only our children who should be
watching what they eat. Transfats can increase a person’s risk of
heart disease, not only raising bad cholesterol but lowering the
good kind. Thanks to our joint initiative with the Westchester
Rockland Restaurant Association, over 300 food service
establishments have been designated as BeFit Restaurants, for not
cooking with oils containing transfats. Log onto our website and
see where you can go for a healthy meal. This initiative has caught
the attention of the Seattle/King County Health Department, one of
the nation’s largest, as well as the New Jersey State Health
Department ─ both wanting to follow our lead.
Responding to the recommendations from the Blue
Ribbon Task Force on Health Disparities, that I announced last fall,
we have contracted with six non-profit agencies to start pilot
programs in their communities. With a goal to link more minorities
to health care, these agencies serving Peekskill, Mount Vernon,
Yonkers, Greenburgh, White Plains, Mamaroneck, and Sleepy Hollow,
have, in just the last two months, reached out to hundreds of
people. Working with faith-based partners, they have provided
education and medical referrals for specific diseases and helped
patients navigate the health care system.
One of the outcomes in the Disparities report,
was the shortage of Black and Hispanic doctors and other health
professionals. Consequently we have begun a county-wide mentoring
initiative, a project that builds on existing school and
college-based programs to encourage more minority students to
consider health related careers. The mentors are Black health
professionals who have donated their time to meet with students in
various formal and informal settings.
I know that Legislators Clinton Young, Lois
Bronz, Ken Jenkins, and Jose Alvarado have also been working with us
to make sure that no resident is excluded from access to quality
health care. I thank them for all the efforts they have made and
will continue to make.
As part of the Health Department’s new Chronic
Disease Unit, even more focus will be given to health disparities.
Particularly in the areas of diabetes, heart disease and
obesity-related conditions, new initiatives will reach residents who
may not be aware of their conditions or who do not have the tools to
make healthier life choices.
And, with the assistance of the Westchester
Medical Center, a new video will be produced: that will show
patients the do’s and don’ts when visiting a doctor’s office or
hospital in order to get the best quality care.
When it comes to
medical services, Westchester County is unique. Whether our
residents have elective surgery or a life threatening disease, all
their health needs can be met right here. The Westchester Medical
Center has dedicated itself almost completely to high-end,
advanced medical care ─ its heart center, trauma center, burn center
and children’s hospital are vital to patients throughout the Hudson
Valley. What started as a County hospital 30 years ago has evolved
into a model for our nation in the delivery of healthcare.
Our excellent community hospitals not only
offer quality medical care, but their local roots enable them to
best reach out to the public with educational programs. These
different levels of care give our residents a first-class medical
system close to home, no matter what their health needs are. That’s
better for patients, for families and for the economy of the region
as a whole.
I know that Legislator Sue Swanson has a strong
interest in health care, and i look forward to working with her in
our efforts to make sure Westchester residents get the best care
possible.
We’re all getting older, so it’s a good thing
60 is the new 40 and 70 is the new 50! At any age, it should be
comforting for Westchester seniors to know that we are a model for
the nation when it comes to setting the senior agenda. Our
Department of Senior Programs and Services has won five national
awards just in the past year. We helped thousands of people get
through the Medicare maze. We opened safe centers and had 5000
contacts involving actual or suspected elder abuse. We distributed
fans and then power pack generators to home-bound seniors to avoid
unsafe evacuations and reduce stress if the power goes out.
This year, we are embarking on one of our
boldest ventures, again achieving national recognition: Creating
Livable Communities. We want to keep Westchester a livable county
for all ages. What do our baby boomers and our older persons need
to sustain a happy, safe and independent life? What issues do we
want our organizations, houses of worship, employers or neighborhood
associations to address? We have already begun to meet with clergy
and employers on this multi-year project.
And everyone should know, the legislator who
has been spearheading issues for seniors for years, is none other
than Bernice Spreckman who is our strongest advocate-partner.
I speak tonight about the State of our County,
and the services and programs we initiate and support to make
Westchester the place where everyone wants to live. Trouble is,
there is not an affordable home for every family who needs one.
I am especially concerned that affordable
housing that was created 40 years ago under State and Federal
programs are now reverting to market rate increases. This will
affect over
4,000 Mitchell-Lama units in
11 municipalities. While we have been successful working with
landlords in Ossining and Greenburgh to keep this from happening, I
fear that many of the other units will be lost to market rates.
Even some of the affordable housing units built
15 years ago are now becoming unaffordable. Almost 300, that had a
10 year affordability clause, can go to market rate by the end of
this year. Within the next several years, that number could climb
to 500. So even though we are building
more, at best, we are either building and standing still ─
or, at worst, we are losing the gains we
have made.
Therefore I am taking ground breaking steps to
create the first ever Housing Land Trust in New York State. Working
with our partners from the Housing Land Trust Task Force, the
Housing Action Council and the Pro-Bono Partnership, we will ensure
that any new affordable housing funded by the County remains
affordable forever.
The nonprofit Housing Land Trust would take
ownership of any land that the County purchases on which the
affordable housing would be built, and would then lease it to
developers for continuous and renewable terms. In this way, the
homes would be affordable permanently. But to make a significant
difference, we need local municipalities to join this effort. To my
elected colleagues: please, take a look at the land you own that
might be suitable for housing and consider donating it to the Land
Trust. If we all work together, we can achieve affordability in
perpetuity.
As the war drags on and on, once again it is my
sad duty to extend our condolences to a Westchester family. Army
Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay from Chappaqua was killed in action in
Afghanistan. He leaves a wife and two young children, his brother
and parents, who own a dry cleaners in Chappaqua. I know the
family, so personally, as well as on behalf of the people of
Westchester, I offer Mr. Chay, who is here tonight, our prayers and
comfort. And I hope I do not have to do this next year. (note to
Andy: His first name is Sam)
Our returning Westchester veterans, who have
put their lives on the line and made personal sacrifices for all of
us, should get immediate assistance in whatever they need. Our
Office of Veterans Affairs stands ready to help them in any way we
can: for employment, military benefits, housing opportunities, or
simply recognizing them and welcoming them home. Unfortunately, we
cannot reach out to these brave men and women, because the military
is not giving us their names. I don’t know why the Federal
government will not release this information to us. I think it’s a
travesty.
So now I turn to our Senators and Congressmen
in Washington who have always been there for us: help us help our
returning heroes. The military needs to free up the names of those
who fought in the cause of freedom. I know I can count on the
assistance of Legislation Chair Vito Pinto and Legislator Jim
Maisano, both of whom are veterans, and who have worked hard to make
life better for our servicemen and women.
2007 promises to be both an exciting and
challenging year for us.
Next month Westchester goes MetroCard. By this
time, bus riders and everyone else probably know that Bee Line
passengers will have more discounts, more savings and more
convenience. For the past two months ─ and it will continue ─ we
have conducted an extensive educational and marketing campaign in
both English and Spanish to make sure that the transition is
smooth. With MetroCard you can transfer free to NYC subways and
buses. Remember: no more dollar bills ─ only coins or MetroCard.
In July we proudly host for the first time in
Westchester, the prestigious Empire State Games. Opening
celebration will be July 25 at Kensico Dam Plaza with fireworks,
torch and the parade of 6000 athletes from all over New York. We
are proud to host this major amateur athletic event, second in size
only to the Olympics, which will bring 20,000 tourists to our
county.
The Empire State Games will add to what has
been a recent tourism boom. Our hotels are full, and more are being
built ─ the newly opened Sheraton in Greenburgh, the Ritz Carlton
that will open early next year in White Plains, and more to come in
Yonkers, Tarrytown and Cortlandt Manor ─ a grand total of 1000 new
rooms added to our base.
Our Office of Tourism has made Westchester a
tourism destination with over 2 million visitors last year, making a
1 billion dollar impact in our county’s economy. They visited us
for leisure purposes ─ played golf, enjoyed our parks, and our
cultural destinations.
Whether a tourist or a resident, our 18,000
acres of County parkland continue to be our main attraction for
recreation, fun and adventure, with over 3 million visits a year. I
congratulate Commissioner Joe Stout and his staff for enabling us to
become the first County in New York to be accredited by the National
Recreation and Parks Association.
Our Department of Correction is also applying
for national accreditation, one of only two Correction departments
in the State to do so. To help keep crime down, the Department has
innovative programs to help inmates reenter society in a positive
way. Last year, 279 inmates successfully completed a drug treatment
program operated by St. John’s Riverside Hospital. 699 discharge
plans were drawn up to connect those released to housing, employment
and treatment programs. 44 young offenders earned their high school
equivalancy diploma making them eligible for jobs that require a
secondary education. New last year, and to be expanded this year,
is our one-acre prison farm. Nearly 1,700 pounds of vegetables were
harvested and turned over to Food Patch to feed the hungry.
We are ever mindful that county residents pay
high property taxes. While county taxes comprise less than 20
percent of a homeowner’s bill, we always look for ways to improve
performance, enhance efficiencies and cut costs. That is one of the
reasons why we continue to be the only Triple A rated county in New
York State.
My goal is to make sure our government focuses
on our taxpayers as well as the people we serve in our programs. I
am very sensitive to the fact that we must be accountable for every
tax dollar we spend. That is why I will continue to rely on and
work with Mike Kaplowitz, Chair of the Budget and Appropriations
Committee. Mike has done a tremendous job in scrutinizing County
spending, and he has been a great partner in helping to ensure
fiscal responsibility.
I will continue to settle for nothing less than
a high performing organization. As taxpayers, our residents should
know that their money is being spent wisely and that our programs
are working and working efficiently. The same is true for our
“customers” ─ Are they getting what they need? Are they
benefiting?
Building on the progress made over the last
nine years, we have begun a large-scale performance management
initiative that will span every administrative department and
include hundreds of County managers and employees as well as the
community based organizations we contract with. This two-year
initiative will inject a dynamic new level of accountability. By
measuring and making changes based on performance, outcomes and
costs, we will ensure the most appropriate allocation of tax dollars
at all levels of County government.
In short, I want our taxpayers and those who
use our services to feel comfortable that they are getting the best
deal.
Thanks to the hard work of our Department of
Information Technology we continue to make the most of the latest
technology to reduce costs, become more efficient and initiate new
programs to keep people safe.
To reduce paper, we are issuing bid documents
and submitting engineering drawings electronically, changing to a
payroll debit card system instead of paper checks, and automating
the contract process through an on-line system.
Our Department of Social Services is one of
three districts state-wide to participate in a pilot project using
technology to improve services to families and children by reducing
caseload paperwork.
We created an “Internet phone” system that
links our Department of Emergency Services to 11 county hospitals if
the phone lines go down in an emergency. We are now working to
create the same system with our municipalities.
The Department of Correction is about to begin
using tele-medicine technology that will link the jail’s infirmary
to Westchester Medical Center which will eliminate needless inmate
trips to the Emergency Room for a simple diagnosis. Both TeleHealth
and the Department’s new program to have prisoner arraignment by
video conference will reduce both transportation costs and overtime
for correction officers.
The Department of Public Safety is implementing
a new GPS project that allows for the automatic location of police
vehicles. This not only impacts officer safety, but also allows us
to identify and dispatch those police vehicles which happen to be
the closest to the scene. Our police have also just completed an in
depth analysis of vehicle accidents on our parkways and will use the
information to target enforcement at the most accident prone
locations.
For those who would break the law, there is
something else to keep in mind: Our police have just acquired a
digital license plate reader which scans and then identifies in a
matter of seconds expired, revoked or suspended vehicle
registrations as well as stolen cars. In just three months, it
scanned 20,000 plates, which resulted in 200 traffic tickets, 30
vehicles impounded and three arrests.
In a continuing step to help local firms
increase their share of global trade, we helped create a new
website: USChannels.com. As a result, we have established new
contacts with trade groups in the Gold Coast of Australia and New
Zealand in addition to Ireland, China and Italy ─ countries we have
already visited to foster economic development.
Speaking of new websites, westchestergov.com
will have a new face this spring. Using eye-opening new graphics
and a subject rather than department-based design, the website will
give residents the information they want in a more user-friendly
way. I also want to encourage our residents who have IO Cable to
tune to channel 504 for interesting and entertaining County programs
that change on a regular basis. For example, you can get a virtual
affordable housing tour, learn about protecting kids from the
internet, and get tips on how to join a health club. After that you
can watch a short documentary on Playland and see selections from
our recent Westchester Film Festival.
While we continue to keep our own house in
order, we face challenges that are not of our own making ─ but that
we have a huge stake in resolving.
One problem has just been taken off the table.
I want to thank the State legislature for passing and the governor
for signing the civil confinement law. On our own, we have done
just about everything a county can do to protect children from sex
offenders. Our programs are far reaching and have received
nationwide acclaim. But this civil confinement law, with all its
protections, is a major weapon in keeping dangerous sex offenders
off the streets. I supported civil confinement, I worked for civil
confinement, and I am very pleased that it also includes provisions
for more jail time.
Well, that just leaves us the Tappan Zee
Bridge, Indian Point, Con Edison’s power outages, the homeless, and,
of course, Global Warming.
We know we can’t stop greenhouse gases on our
own. But if everyone takes one Green giant step we can have an
impact. That’s why I established the Global Warming Task Force,
headed by North Castle Supervisor, Reese Berman, and Bob Funicello,
the County’s Environmental Project Director. It is comprised of
high level executives and officials representing our corporations
and businesses, colleges and school districts, local governments,
and, of course the environmental community. I want to thank
Majority Leader Marty Rogowsky for serving on the Task Force and for
giving us the benefit of his knowledge and expertise on energy and
environmental issues.
When I created the task force, the response was
overwhelming. It was hard to select the 34 members. So, we created
opportunities for over 100 other volunteers to get involved.
Senators Schumer and Clinton have asked to be kept abreast of the
outcomes. So have Congresswoman Lowey and Congressmen Hall and
Engel.
Within the next several months, this highly
motivated, greatly committed group of people will produce a
county-wide action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
promote sustainable development. In this war, everyone is a
soldier. It is simply not enough for the business community or
government to take action. I want every person in this county to
think about global warming whether they are buying a light bulb, or
a new car. I am proud that so many of our residents are already
turning Green.
And now I am making an offer, which no
household should refuse. To celebrate Earth Day weekend, we will
give one compact fluorescent light bulb, free, to every family who
attends Kids Fair on April 21 at the County Center and those who
participate in Earth Day at Tibbetts Brook Park on April 22. I want
to especially thank the New York Power Authority for a grant that is
assisting us in this program.
Here’s why replacing light bulbs is so
important. Some statistics: Back in 1999 ─ when we last did a
study, that is now being updated ─ Westchester homes produced 3.6
million tons of carbon dioxide. If all of our households replaced
just 4 bulbs, we would reduce this emission by one million tons or
28%. That is a really big step. Besides these bulbs last longer,
use less energy and in the long run, will save money.
Right now, New York State comes in 45th
out of 50 states when it comes to purchasing compact fluorescent
bulbs. I would like to see our efforts move New York out of
basement.
At the same time, I am urging your Board to
pass my leaf-blower legislation, currently before you. This
legislation, phased in over two years so as not to create a hardship
for landscapers, could keep more than 10 tons of harmful emissions
from being released into our air each year. I want to particularly
thank legislator Tom Abinanti for his strong support on this issue.
Noise issues aside, numerous studies have shown
that old leaf blowers, still commonly used, are terrible polluters.
For example, a single blower operating for 30 minutes puts more
emissions into the air than a vehicle traveling 2000 miles. New
models are much cleaner and are now being used by the County Parks
and Public Works Departments.
I want to compliment our corporations who are
going Green, especially Swiss Re who has set a goal, to become
“greenhouse neutral.” By 2013, the company will reduce or offset
the net carbon emissions of its employees to zero, and will reduce
its own emissions by 15%. They have also announced a
first-in-the-industry incentive program that reimburses their
employees up to $3,300 dollars for purchasing a hybrid car, solar
panels for their homes or other similar measures to reduce
greenhouse gases. I urge other businesses in the County to do the
same.
And I urge our local governments to follow the
County’s lead.
All our contracts call for Energy Star and high
efficiency equipment.
We are switching to Green cleaning products in
all facilities.
Traffic signals are being computer-upgraded to
reduce vehicle idling time and resultant emissions, and the standard
light bulbs were replaced with LED technology.
Any new County vehicles are being replaced with
hybrids, which now make up 28% of our fleet. By June the percentage
will be 33%.
We are recycling more material than ever before
─ not only at our household chemical clean up days, but also in our
Parks, which recycled over 201 tons of material ─ a 31 % increase
over last year.
Our IDA now requires its projects to list its
energy saving equipment, fixtures and construction methods to foster
Green Buildings.
For the naysayers who say old habits die hard,
and initiatives to counteract global warming are just not going to
make it with the masses, I point out, that it wasn’t too long ago
that no one recycled paper, glass, or aluminum ─ much less cell
phones, computers, or tires. Today, this is second nature to most
of us.
There has been much publicity lately in a
couple of communities about where to house homeless street people at
night. Let me say this: Even though the county has no legal
obligation, I will not allow any homeless person to freeze on
Westchester streets. And, I cannot believe that any elected
official ─ or for that matter, any Westchester resident ─ feels
differently.
I will be meeting very soon with the executive
committee of the Municipal Officials Association. We need to work
together on this issue. While we have reduced the homeless
population in our shelters by over 50% since 1998, we still have men
and women who are not taking advantage of our shelter system. No
one wants to see them wandering our neighborhoods or sleeping in
cardboard boxes in front of restaurants, theaters, or parking
structures. Let’s get some ideas on the table so we can give the
street people a bed at night and at the same time give our residents
and merchants a feeling of safety.
Entergy has filed for a renewal of its license,
and my position on Indian Point is clear. I believe, and studies
have shown, that given enough of a head start, alternative energy
can be provided to replace the 2000 megawatts that the plants
provide. That’s just one reason I am against their re-licensing.
The other is safety; I cannot guarantee that everyone can be
evacuated quickly enough if a fast-breaking scenario occurs, given
our roads, traffic, population density and the possibility of severe
weather.
So, working with our Federal delegation, I will
continue to fight for an independent safety assessment of Indian
Point. I will continue to fight for new re-licensing criteria. And
I will continue to fight for license denial. If the process to
locate Indian Point were beginning today, Indian Point would never
get approval.
And, while we are on the subject of energy, I
want to say a few words about the power outages our residents faced
last summer. 90,000 families and businesses suffered without power
for extended periods of time due to the wild weather. Some
homeowers even had to leave their homes; others suffered individual
losses totalling thousands of dollars. Con Edison’s communication
and response simply failed. Last September, I wrote to the governor
calling for an independent auditor to conduct an objective
performance of Con Ed’s preparedness and response to the major
storms that hit us. I am pleased to see that the Public Service
Commission has finally hired that consultant. In addition, they
conducted their own assessment which pointed up serious problems
with the utility.
I want to see the system fixed. I want the Con
Ed culture to change. As far as I’m concerned the utility has a lot
of work to do to institute best practices when it comes to
communicating with the public, preventing widespread outages, and
restoring power promptly. My staff will continue to meet with Con
Ed officials and these auditors to monitor their progress.
Identifying the problems is not enough. Solutions must be mandated
by the Public Service Commission and implemented immediately.
The Tappan Zee Bridge is the biggest, most
important, and undoubtedly the most expensive State transportation
project Westchester County has seen in very long time. As the
incoming co-chair of the New York Metropolitan Transportation
Council, I am well aware that whatever alternative is ultimately
decided, it will have a profound effect on the quality of life, the
economy and environment, not only of Westchester and Rockland
Counties, but the whole Metropolitan area and the Northeast.
That is why Rockland County Executive Scott
Vanderhoef and I created a high level task force to work with State
DOT, Metro North and the Thruway Authority who constitute the
project team. Our task force reports that the process has been
slow, lacks vision and that the public will not be able to wade
through the tons of information in order to get a true picture of
the choices. That is why both of us have asked for the Governor’s
direct involvement to be sure the process is carried out in the best
interests of the region. I want to thank Governor Spitzer for
responding positively.
Forty Years ago, the County set out on a bold
vision that saw beyond municipal boundaries to call for a system of
connected open space, waterfront access, downtown development and
expanded transit service. Twenty years later, that vision was
refined to include stronger emphasis on the environment. Ten years
after that, in 1996, “Patterns For Westchester” was released ─ to
produce even more detailed regional plans and policies.
Last year, I asked that “Patterns,” be
updated. The County Planning Board has responded with “Westchester
2025”. This will become an interactive, land use roadmap on where
we are headed and what needs attention. I ask our municipal
partners to join with us to make a shared regional vision, a
reality.
This is a great county. As I look back on the
past 10 years, I sometimes wonder how we accomplished what we did.
The answer is we didn’t do it alone.
Westchester County was established in 1683—a
long and proud history. Yes, we are blessed with resources that
other counties envy – our preserved open space, thriving cities,
involved citizenry, and enlightened businesses. But it’s because of
the partnerships we’ve forged ─ with you, our Legislators, Federal
and State government, and local municipalities ─ that we’ve been
able to make such great strides.
It’s because of the remarkable people among us
who work on behalf of all of us, and the community organizations who
pull together for the common good, that we can speak so proudly
about where we are today.
Our county shows what can happen when people
look past their differences and focus on the interests they share.
We’ve broken ground with decisions that have been heard nationwide.
Working together, I’m confident that we will stay on that track as
we tackle the challenges that lie ahead, and continue to chart a
path others will want to follow.
Thank
you and good night.
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