Good Evening.
Tonight marks the fifth year that I have presented to you on the State of Westchester County, an event held here in the People’s Chamber, before your Honorable Board of Legislators and the viewing public. This room is the epicenter of democracy, this room where laws are made, where civilized debate occurs - this is the heart of who we are as a County. Chairwoman Catherine Borgia, and members of this Board, thank you for your leadership and thank you for letting me speak here tonight.
I want to recognize those who serve this County today, and those who paved the path for us: our County Clerk Tim Idoni, District Attorney Mimi Rocah, former County Executive Andy Spano, Former Chairman of the Board of Legislators (the legendary) Herman Geist, former Chairman and current Deputy County Executive Kenneth Jenkins, Former Chairman and Environmental Facilities Deputy Commissioner Michael Kaplowitz, Former Chairman and current Legislator Benjamin Boykin and other elected officials - I thank you for your friendship and your willingness to work together.
To my executive team, including my senior team - Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Director of Operations Joan McDonald, County Attorney John Nonna, Director of Communications Catherine Cioffi, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Steve Bass, my Chief of Staff Andrew Ferris, Deputy Director of Operations Emily Saltzman, Director of Research Ellen Hendrix and Director of Countywide Administrative Services Chris Steers - thank you for your outstanding work. Your commitment to the people of this County has been inspiring and I am eternally grateful.
We might sit up on the ninth floor, but I know we don’t go at it alone. I want to publicly thank the incredible four thousand-plus County Employees for their dedication to each other, and the entire County. I see you in the elevators, I see you in the hall, I see you on the streets of our County. I may not know all of your names (I’m trying), but I know your dedication and I see your work - you all deserve our thanks.
Some of you tonight are watching this at home on News 12 or on Facebook Live, or you are tuning in to the County’s webpage. To you I say thank you – thank you for being an active, engaged citizen, and a part of this amazing County. Thank you for putting your faith in us - and for putting your faith in me not for one term - but for two.
The first time I was in this Chamber for this annual address – the State of the County – was 30 years ago this month. I sat where Legislator Terry Clements sits now. At this podium was County Executive Andrew O’Rourke. I think of those who were in this Chamber then, who are now but memories: Suzanne Swanson, Danny Thomas, Andy Albanese, Audrey Hochberg, Drake Flynn, Kay Corsky. Not that night, but on other nights, I sat alongside Lois Bronz and Bernice Spreckman. And, the aforementioned Andy O’Rourke. Their time in service has been completed.
Whether or not the current world of this County remembers them or not, they are alive to me. I think of them in moments like this, alive again, my colleagues, my friends. And we disagreed and we fought, and there were times we got angry. But whether liberal or conservative in philosophy, Democrat or Republican in affiliation, we shared one overarching belief. The belief in Democracy, with a capital “D.” That whether – as you are this night – the current day stewards of an experiment: that men and women can govern their own lives. We do not need One Man in Albany, or One Man at the White House – One Man in the Kremlin with the power to execute millions of lives at whim. We are stronger and better when we find ways to work together. United, even in our disagreements.
This County is different, but no different really, then any other county or community in this state. The challenges we have, everyone faces.
What makes us Westchester citizens, what makes us New Yorkers, what makes us American isn’t where we were born, or what traditions, what path we follow to honor the Almighty. It isn’t who we love and marry, or the origins of our names - but rather it is what warms our core.
It is the way we pull for each other in our time of need, the way we shovel the snow off of a neighbor’s driveway, the way we check in on a sick friend, the way we share a warm meal with a loved one, and the way nearly 90 percent of Westchester County residents got vaccinated against COVID-19, to protect their families and each other.
Ladies and Gentleman that is what makes us American - we care about each other, we comfort each other, and we do right by each other.
When I was first in office I said, we share this small patch of land for a moment in time, all of us here together in our Westchester County. It is on all of us to protect this County, to nurture it and that spills over to us protecting and nurturing our state, our country and democracy over all. We must always protect what we value and hold dear to us - and Westchester County is it!
We learned during the pandemic that no one person can care for all the sick, no one person can test all the worried, or vaccinate all the willing. No one person can teach the young, and no one person can restore our faith - no one person can do anything alone. But fear not - because we have each other. One Westchester.
Westchester 2022 State of the County
A war of aggression rages just across the ocean - bringing fear and death. We pray for Ukraine. And here, locally on our streets, where our children play, where we close deals and inquire about new opportunities, where we take our parents for care and stop for coffee- in each of these corners of our small patch of land, we must continue to stop division.
We were made for this moment, but we cannot go at it alone - we must go at it together.
What is the State of our County you ask? Well, that’s simple. While others are divided, while others swim in opposing tides, fighting currents and waves of destruction - we - the State of our County - is united.
We are united, and we are growing. The 2020 Census found that more than a million —1,004,457 people to be exact — now call Westchester home.
The County’s population grew by 55,344 people which is 5.8 percent between 2010 and 2020, which was ahead of the Census Bureau’s own estimates. We are among the top 50 largest counties in the country. Even Westchester’s big cities are getting bigger: Yonkers is now the third largest city in New York, surging ahead of Rochester.
The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors also reported a “record-breaking year” in 2021 with prices up and inventory down, as demand for Westchester real estate soared.
We know families are pouring in, we know homes are flying off the market - we know it because we see it on our block. Now, let’s meet one of those new Westchester families.
United and Growing: Population is Up
Little Jasper is going to love growing up here - don’t we just know that? And when he goes to school he is going to be in a classroom with all different kinds of boys and girls. Westchester is now more diverse than ever, Hispanic, Asian, Black - Westchester is a home for everyone - and we are just very proud.
I want to thank Commissioner of Planning Norma Drummond, Deputy Commissioner of Planning Blanca Lopez, Director of Human Services Diane Atkins, Director of Policy & Programs and Faith-Based Initiatives Crystal Collins and Director of Minority and Women Owned Business Development and Immigrant Affairs Martha Lopez for their work on Census 2020.
So we are growing, and with growth comes jobs. The County has launched a virtual, six-month Advanced Manufacturing Career Training Program. Trainees will learn exciting new technologies that are changing the manufacturing process – including robotics.
Also, this Spring the County will fund Westchester County Association’s Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program that will recruit, train, support and place up to 100 job seekers with healthcare employers over a 12-month period.
We have had much success with the Launch 1000 Program in the past few years. This year we are excited to kick off Launch1000 en Español that will offer more opportunities for entrepreneurs to start their businesses right here in Westchester County. There will be workshops just for the bilingual cohort, as well as workshops combining the English-only and the bilingual launchers.
I want to thank Economic Development Director Bridget Gibbons, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Deb Novick, Advocacy and Community Liaison Shari Rosen-Ascher, Business Attraction and Retention Specialist Corazon Pineda and Economic Development and IDA Assistant Rosa Ramon for their work on these projects and more.
So we are launching innovative programs, but despite the rhetoric, we aren’t raising taxes to do it. We’ve got results - not rhetoric - and those results are to cut the County property tax levy by seven million dollars in the 2022 budget. This is the third County property tax cut in a row for my administration, and the largest cut in over a decade. And, if projections hold true, we will make every effort to continue this for next year.
Our 2022 County Budget totaled $2.2 billion dollars while restoring fiscal stability. The County also closed out 2021 with a $64 million dollar operating surplus. The 2022 budget had some non-traditional revenues and savings measures such as:
- Demand Response Contract – $200,000 dollars per year
- Airbnb – $300,000 dollars per year
- 2020 Voluntary Separation Incentive – $11.4 million dollars of savings in 2021
When it came to Child Care, the 2022 budget contained a total of $38.9 million dollars for childcare subsidies. An increase of $10.2 million dollars from 2021 levels of $28.7 million dollars.
Following nearly four full years of smart, prudent fiscal management by my administration, Westchester County’s bond ratings now stand as ‘stable’ by all three major rating agencies.
This is the result of setting a game plan and executing it – no matter what variables were thrown our way. Moody’s Investors Service report states, “the stable outlook reflects the likelihood that the County will produce balanced operations in fiscal 2021 through fiscal 2022 [..].”
Fitch Rating Agency’s report said, “fiscal improvement reflects management’s ability to eliminate its reliance on one-time budget actions…. Fitch believes that the County has returned to more conservative budget practices, which is evident by recently increased recurring revenues that better align with the County’s pace of spending growth over time.”
Lastly, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings stated, “Tenured management team and good policies and practices stabilize the County’s credit profile.”
I want to thank our Budget Director Larry Soule for his work to keep pushing this County forward.
And, I would like every County legislator to stand to accept the praise for their work:
- Colin Smith
- Erika Pierce
- Margaret Cunzio
- Vedat Gashi
- Ben Boykin
- Nancy Barr
- Catherine Parker
- Jewel Williams Johnson
- Catherine Borgia
- Damon Maher
- Terry Clements
- MaryJane Shimsky
- Tyrae Woodson-Samuels
- David Tubiolo
- James Nolan
- Christopher Johnson
- Jose Alvarado
(2021 Budget) – Alfreda Williams, Kitley Covill, Ruth Walter
We are taking care of our finances, but we are also taking care of our people.
We have a reputation for focusing on the big things, the little things and sometimes the obnoxious things - like obnoxious driving. Our Department of Public Safety issued hundreds of summonses for loud mufflers, driving on the shoulder and cutting across hazard markings in a targeted enforcement. The enforcement targeted both quality-of-life and safety concerns.
Here in Westchester we are tough on crime - don’t let any other political nonsense tell you otherwise. The numbers don’t lie.
Crime is Down in Westchester County
I applaud the men and women at the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Probation, including Commissioner Sherriff Tom Gleason and Commissioner Rocco Pozzi - for keeping our streets safe. We are tough on crime, and we are also committed to second chances. We use advanced technology, and cooperative strategies among our police department to deter crime – which is why numbers are down.
In the Westchester Department of Correction, after completing a rigorous ten-week academy, 45 new correction officers took their oaths of office and embarked on careers. They know what opportunity means to the men and women at the County Jail, and we all know that sometimes we just need a second chance. Thank you to Correction Commissioner Joe Spano for your commitment to safety, and your compassion.
While police are ready when you call 9-1-1, not every call is about a crime. In Westchester there is now a fourth option when you call 9-1-1 and that is for a mental health crisis to go along with police, fire and EMS. The 9-1-1 caller diversion system, through which 9-1-1 dispatchers identify and refer individuals to the Crisis Network Team, is staffed by St. Vincent’s Hospital crisis personnel. This is a core element of our “Reimagining Policing - Project Alliance” initiative for individuals in a behavioral health crisis.
I want to thank Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth for his work on revolutionizing how we respond to emergencies.
9-1-1 Diversion is part of a five-prong approach developed by the Departments of Community Mental Health, Public Safety, Emergency Services and Social Services to address the needs of Westchester County residents with behavioral health challenges. This project is part of the broader Westchester County Police Reform & Reimagining Task Force. Project Alliance represents:
- 9-1-1 Dispatch Diversion Training
- Enhanced Training for EMTs responding to Behavioral Health Issues
- Enhancement of the County-wide Behavioral Health Crisis Response Line
- Crisis Intervention Team Trainings
- Mobile Crisis Response Teams
This is a bold step, and an innovative approach by better addressing the root issue. Along with the Commissioners already mentioned, I want to thank Emergency Services Commissioner Richard Wishnie and DSS Commissioner Leonard Townes.
In the next few weeks more will be coming out on this, but we will be updating the public on the County’s implementation of the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force’s recommendations. To date, 34 of the 38 recommendations that apply to the County have been implemented, and four are in the process of being implemented.
Those completed recommendations include:
- Reviewing the Westchester County Department of Public Safety’s social media and expand use for community outreach
- Providing body cameras to all County police officers and dash-cams to all County police vehicles
- And, increasing and diversifying recruitment efforts for County police.
Westchester County has been navigating through COVID for years now. Since the start of the pandemic the Westchester County Health Department, under the leadership of Dr. Sherlita Amler, held over two-hundred satellite vaccination clinics. They alone have vaccinated 77,125 people at County clinics.
- To date the County Health Department has done 416,593 case investigations for COVID
- Tested 274,167 students, faculty and staff in the schools - this year alone.
- The County has operated 22 Child Care Centers to help first responders - serving close to 600 children.
- We have enhanced funding for Feeding Westchester and helped them serve 220,000 people each month through 225 community partners, meal programs and distribution centers.
Since March 2020, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services has issued:
- 339 gallons of disinfectants & cleaners
- 49,951 packages of disinfecting wipes
- 1,013,023 face shields
- 1,527,050 pairs of gloves
- 13,199 gallons of hand sanitizer
- 2,341,680 adult face masks
- 188,324 youth face masks
- 719,140 COVID rapid test kits
I want to give a special thank you to Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Susan Spear, Director of Programs and Policies Childcare and Education Rosie Finizio, Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Relations Copper Crain, Operations staff Aviva Meyer and Karen Pascuale, Citizen Services’ Andy Genna and Kate Glazer, and CE Staff Nancy Aladino, Kyle McIntire, Fadiya Abbasi, Paula Freidman, Walter Murphy, Bessie Schachter, Tracy Smith and Diana Toledo.
Special thanks are also due to IT Commissioner Marguerite Beirne, Acting HR Commissioner Helen May, Department of Senior Programs and Services Mae Carpenter, Consumer Protection Director Jim Maisano, Office of Tourism and Film Director Natasha Caputo and Youth Bureau Executive Director Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden.
And last but not least - because we have to get the word out - my Communications Department Joe Sgammato, Carolyn Fortino, John Borst, Lisa Reyes and Chelsea Pagano and Communications Director Catherine Cioffi.
That is a team working together day in and day out - for you! And we have gotten this far in the COVID-19 pandemic because of each and every one of them.
In order to best serve the population who have risked their lives to protect the nation, we opened a new County Veterans Service Agency office in White Plains. Centrally located, with plenty of parking and accessible to people with disabilities, the new facility located at 10 County Center Road is ready to provide counsel, support and be a resource for the County’s veteran population.
I also recently marked the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by honoring three local World War II veterans. These men are the last of our Greatest Generation. We must not forget what they stood for and what they fought for.
Let’s take a moment to recognize:
- Leroy Fadem of New Rochelle. At 100 years old, Fadem is a Navy veteran who served on the U.S.S. Stevens.
- 97-year-old Waldie Gullen of Waccabuc was drafted by the United States Army after graduating from Katonah High School.
- And, 95-year-old Daniel Sant of Goldens Bridge who was drafted by the United States Army in 1944 and trained with the 77th Infantry Division. Sant said: “Serving my country was the greatest experience of my life.”
May we all learn just a little bit from these brave men.
Thank you to Director of Veterans Affairs Ron Tocci – who always thinks of these brave men and women.
These men fought to protect freedoms we all deserve. Acts of hate are on the rise nationally - and Asians have been targeted. Let me take a moment to make this clear - any act of hate against anyone based on the color of their skin, their creed or their country of origin is heinous and will not be tolerated in Westchester County.
I kept my promise to strengthen and revitalize the Westchester County Human Rights Commission by signing into law the Anti-Discriminatory Harassment Bill, legislation that expands the type of harassment that can be prosecuted under the law. With the new law in place, individuals are prohibited from interfering with a person’s right to the enjoyment of their home or residence, or to utilize and enjoy public transportation free from threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or violence because of the person’s actual or perceived membership in a protected class.
Today, and always, I stand together with each and every one of you, solidifying our message that harassment and discrimination is not welcome in Westchester County. I want to thank HRC Commissioner Tejash Sanchala, the Human Rights Commission Advisory Board, and the Asian American Advisory Board for their important work on this front.
After 12 long years, Westchester County is finally able to close the book on the Affordable Housing Settlement. We recently received notification from the court that Westchester County was in substantial compliance with the Consent Decree, and a federal housing monitor was no longer needed. We did not do this alone, and we have to thank our non-profit housing organizations, the local municipalities and the many developers for all that they did to help get us here.
Among the many affordable housing developments we opened these past few months, I was thrilled to cut the ribbon on the Mayfair Apartments in Greenburgh. The property, formerly known as the WestHELP Greenburgh Homeless Shelter on the Westchester Community College Campus built in the 1980’s, has been repurposed into 74 units of affordable rental housing for seniors aged 62 and older. The project transformed long-vacant buildings once used as transitional housing for homeless families, into 60 one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom, and six studio apartments for residents with low and moderate incomes.
As of right now, affordable housing units are completed or occupied in Port Chester, in Yonkers, in Greenburgh, in Rye Brook, in numerous places, and more than 4,400 units are in the pipeline. We have allocated millions of dollars in the budget each year to develop and rehabilitate affordable housing units. A combined total of $50 million dollars that was allocated in the 2022 Capital Budget represents the largest single-year commitment to affordable housing in the County’s history, $90 million dollars over the last three years.
Our responsibility as a County government is to make sure that the opportunity for affordable housing is always there.
Along with your affordable house, we need to get you there. And, we need to get you there with minimal impact to the environment. For the first time in Westchester County history, the County is running all electric buses. The County has added six all electric Bee-Line buses to the fleet. The buses, which are all part of the clean fleet initiative, are two 40-foot buses and four 35-foot buses.
I was on hand to welcome the first of the new electric buses to Westchester. Each bus is expected to save approximately 5,000 gallons of fuel per year compared to a traditional diesel bus, while preventing greenhouse gas emissions from polluting the environment. They also have amenities like USB charging ports at every seat, a bike rack, 14 cameras for added security and a protective shield for operators.
I want to thank Department of Public Works and Transportation Commissioner Hugh Greechan, and all the BeeLine Bus drivers for keeping us moving.
Also, next month we will be rebooting the public engagement program on the master plan for Westchester County Airport. COVID sidetracked our plans, but it is all coming back. The first open conversation to see what’s “On the Horizon” for the Airport will take place Tuesday, May 24 at 6 p.m. at Pace Law School, with subsequent public input sessions planned for June. All the details will be announced next week.
Also continuing our commitment to the environment, in December, Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities partnered with HELPSY, a Certified B Corporation with warehouse space in White Plains, to expand the County’s existing textile recycling program at the Household Material Recovery Facility in Valhalla. Now, in addition to clothing, the expanded textile recycling program allows residents to recycle shoes, backpacks, gloves, sheets, towels, curtains, leather, throw rugs and more. The items can be in any condition.
I want to thank Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability Peter McCartt, and Department of Environmental Facilities Commissioner Vincent Kopicki for their diligent work.
Speaking of the environment - we all know tomorrow is Earth Day so I want to draw your attention to a small brown bag of dirt. In front of you, or right next to you. Go ahead and grab it. That my friends is a bag of dirt - but not just any dirt - it is composted soil created at our very own composting center.
Attached you will find a small pack of sunflower seeds - the official flower of Ukraine. Please do me a favor, use this soil and plant those seeds- and think of the men and women overseas when you do.
We know our actions impact the environment, and we know now, more than ever before what the environment means to our wellbeing. Our award-winning Parks System has been busy upgrading facilities. We keep Commissioner Kathy O’Connor very busy!
Bikers and joggers now have a continuous 11.2-mile path to use along the Bronx River Pathway as the link from Scarsdale to Hartsdale. Years of planning went into this $6.7-million-dollar capital project and construction began in 2019.
We pledged $10 million dollars towards the building of a waterfront park in the Ludlow section of Yonkers. Mayor Mike Spano also pledged $10 million dollars and bonded $2 million for design and construction drawings, and project administration. The project is to develop roughly 3.8 acres of land along the Hudson River into a park, including walking paths, fishing access, a playground and a boat house.
We are investing $3.3 million dollars into the Tarrytown Lighthouse - so that beacon light can continue to educate us about the Hudson River and our history here in Westchester.
We are practically rebuilding Playland. The art deco masterpiece is getting a $125-million-dollar refresh – that includes colonnades, building foundations, plumbing, electrical and new bathrooms. Original buildings at the fountain plaza are down to the studs. We are modernizing, but keeping the art deco exteriors, because we believe in fixing infrastructure and we believe in that park!
We are committed to construction and renovation. We are committed to investing money to bring back what was old and make it new again to attract more people to live, invest and tour Westchester County. Since taking office in 2018, the backlog of capital projects has been reduced by $400 million dollars. We have made great strides to improve capital programs and increase efficiency.
Our parks are where we play, where we exercise, socialize and in a way that has never been done before where we celebrate our heritage, culture, what makes us - us.
Heritage and Culture: Celebrating our Rich Diversity
You saw in that video the painting of the Progress Pride Flag at Playland. I want to thank The LOFT and the LGBTQ Advisory Board for doing the painting, and I want to say to everyone listening - and I mean this - you are welcome here. Here in Westchester we say gay, we say transgender - because we also say love and acceptance.
In the end, love and acceptance is all that is left. And, this is unfortunately a tale we all learn at one point or another in our life.
This past September, Westchester County was among the first governments to unveil a new 9/11 memorial dedicated to the first responders who lost their lives to 9/11 related illnesses. The Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial is designed to complement the stonework of the Dam, and surround The Rising as an eternal watch. This memorial is the culmination of a promise this County government made to the families and loved ones of these true Westchester heroes.
9/11 First Responders: Westchester County Memorial Dedication
We will not ever take for granted the actions of those men and women, those mothers and fathers, those friends and siblings. I hope that each person who visits that memorial understands their lasting impact on this County, and on this nation.
We the people still believe that our obligations are not just to ourselves - but to all prosperity. The great moments in this country were not done by one person alone. Selma, the moon landing, Stonewall, the building of the great Kensico Dam, the building of the 9-11 First Responders Memorial, our response to COVID and our skylines - none of it was done alone.
Infrastructure Now and for Years to Come
Here in this government, we are steadfast that we must be transparent, we must be efficient, we must be responsive and ethical, we must be accountable. These are the rules we live by; these are the principals I hold very dear to myself. And we do this for you, for the good of democracy, for the well-being of our County and our Country.
We have so much more to do. Our work is not done. Perhaps, it will never be “done.” This County Executive took his name of all County signage. This County Executive chose to freeze his pay, even when colleagues in surrounding counties are paid more. This County Executive isn’t squired around the County by a motorcade of drivers and staff. And this County Executive sponsored, with your approval, the toughest County Executive term limit in the state. Because all of this is not about the County Executive. It is about the County. The people of this County. This is about good government.
We reach, we strive and we change - and we do it together. We are building something bigger than ourselves, here on our small patch of land, at this moment in time - we are building our future together. Viajandos juntos – we are traveling together.
My friends, thank you and good night.