Politics on the Hudson

Dorothy Fiorillo, a Republican running for county legislator in Mount Vernon, blasted County Executive Andrew Spano and the Board of Legislators over a planned $60 million housing settlement with the federal government. Read more here.

In a letter to Politics on the Hudson, Fiorillo said that it was unfair for county taxpayers, particularly those in Mount Vernon, to have to pay for this settlement — she wants city taxpayers exempt from new taxes since the city already has its share of affordable housing.

“Speaking for the Mt. Vernon taxpayer, we cannot afford any more taxes … so I think we should be exempt from the additional taxes,” she wrote in a letter. “Perhaps with more dialogue with the federal government more can be done and worked out where the Mt. Vernon taxpayer will have some relief – We cannot afford more taxes, and we do not want to lose our homes because of non-payment.”

The county board is mulling the details of this settlement and must sign off on it by Sept. 25 or else the matter goes back to court.

Fiorillo said if Legislator Lyndon Williams, an incumbent Democrat representing the district, votes for this proposal, he would be voting “against the best interests of the Mt. Vernon taxpayer.”

She also ripped the This Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York, saying they are only in it for the money

“I do not believe they really care about discrimination,” she said.

Williams challenged Fiorillo to offer solutions to the problem rather than “play on the worst fears about integration.”

“This requires thoughtful leadership. Taking positions that play on fears about integration become quite obvious even if it is dressed up as an anti-tax argument,” Williams said.  ”If the county follows the approach of some, the taxpayers could end up paying in excess of $180 million (rather than $60 million), forfeit millions of dollars in future federal funding, and engage in a contentious relationship with the federal government for several years – not to mention the reputational damage to the County. Only irresponsible leadership would follow that path.”

Williams said he supports the settlement and added that Mount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, and several other communities are exempt from the required 750 affordable housing units under the terms of settlement because those communities have already provided affordable housing for Westchester residents.

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