Responding to County Executive Rob Astorino’s announcement that his administration is well ahead of schedule on the affordablehousing settlement, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins says the self congratulations are premature.

The board, the Yonkers Democrat noted, hasn’t seen any report that shows that the county is in the clear on the decree reached with the federal government in 2009 that has had its share of challenges.

“The Westchester County Board of Legislators has yet to see any of the documentation to support the information in the Administration’s Quarterly Housing Report regarding the number of new fair and affordable housing units that are ‘in the pipeline,’ and so it’s difficult to respond accurately to such a simple declaration,” Jenkins said in an email. “The Administration’s self-congratulatory tone in its statement (Monday) needs to be balanced against the fact that the County has been asked by a federal court to answer a set of questions concerning the Administration’s position on source of income legislation passed by the Board, which, according to the terms of the stipulations of the housing settlement, may end up nullifying the settlement and exposing the County to a judgment  of upwards of $500 million.”

In its quarterly report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal monitor, the Astorino administration maintains that 540, or 72 percent, of the required units are at some point in the planning pipeline.

“The county has made extraordinary progress and it is the result of our approach to work closely and cooperatively with municipalities, developers and non-profits around common goals,” Astorino said in a statement released Monday. “This will continue to be the county’s approach until we have fully met our obligations under the settlement. The numbers tell the story.”

The federal housing settlement mandates that Westchester spend $52 million to help build 750 units in mostly wealthy and white communities over seven years. It also sets benchmarks along the way, notably that 200 units have financing and 125 have building permits by the end of 2012. The county expects to meet those goals by spring.

In its quarterly report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal monitor that was released today, the Astorino Administration maintains that 540, or 72 percent, of the required units are at some point in the planning pipeline. Read the report here.

“The county has made extraordinary progress and it is the result of our approach to work closely and cooperatively with municipalities, developers and non-profits around common goals,” Astorino said in a statement. “This will continue to be the county’s approach until we have fully met our obligations under the settlement. The numbers tell the story.”

The federal housing settlement was reached in 2009 and mandates that Westchester spend $52 million to help build 750 units in mostly wealthy and white communities over seven years. It also sets benchmarks along the way, notably that 200 units have financing and 125 have building permits by the end of 2012; the county expects to meet those goals by Spring.

So far, 15 communities including Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, Hastings, Larchmont, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pelham, Pleasantville, Rye Brook, Rye, Somers, and Yorktown are at various stages of approval or in construction.

One three-family house in Pelham has residents living in the units.

More than 200 site reviews have taken place across all 31 communities, according to the report. The county has also set up a $2.5 million revolving loan fund to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosures in eligible municipalities. The county expects to an additional 14 units under this program.

But progress hasn’t been easy, in part, because of disagreements with HUD and the federal monitor, James Johnson, on a range of issues, including local zoning and an income discrimination law that Astorino doesn’t support. HUD has also held back millions in community development block grant monies because of differences.

Those disagreements are now being addressed in court.

“Even though that’s going on, we’re continuing to make progress,” said Ned McCormack, Astorino’s senior advisor and director of communications. “It’s important to keep moving … The process is working.”

HUD had no immediate comment today.

Lawmakers, in a meeting that was called to address this matter, won’t back Liberty Lines application to the state to reconfigure a route that covers some stops lost with the elimination of Route 76 line.

The resolution, which passed 10-5 with one Republican supporting it an a Democrat voting against it, merely sends a message to the state Department of Transportation that the county board doesn’t agree with any route changes that don’t encompass all of the lost stops.

“It eliminates bus service to an important area in Rye,” said Legislator Judy Myers, a Democrat from Mamaroneck who represents part of Rye. “There is a great need for this (bus). This is definitely an area that needs to be served.”

Myers and other legislators don’t like that the county executive cancelled a contract with a smaller carrier operating the Route 76 line and that Liberty Lines, the operator of the county-wide system, would only cover part of the line with its changes to the Route 13 line. They were also upset that there was no public hearing.

All the legislators want is for some excluded areas, notably Milton Point, to be covered under a new route, they say.

Legislator Sheila Marcotte, R-Tuckahoe, said while she understood their concerns, this resolution may hurt riders because it could jeopardize all of the modifications. She said the wise thing to do is to talk with Liberty Lines to see if they’ll cover the entire route.

“(It’s) going to hurt the residents they’re actually trying to help,” she said.

Democrats, however, also feel snubbed that Astorino made the changes without consulting them and after they added the roughly $243,000 back into the county’s $1.8 billion budget to continue this service.

Any changes should have been discussed with them, they say.

“The law says there is a process for that and that was not followed,” said Majority Leader Peter Harckham, D-Katonah.

So they plan on communicating with the state Department of Transportation as it considers approving changes to county bus routes, notably one that would cover some, but not all, of the cancelled 76 line.

During a committee meeting this week, legislators questioned Astorino’s chief of staff, George Oros, on the change.

During the meeting, Oros acknowledged that the Milton Point neighborhood in Rye was cut off and added that the county couldn’t provide “door-to-door” for everyone.

“We can’t cover every street with a bus line,” Oros told legislators. “Not everybody can get door-to-door service with a public transportation system.”

Democratic legislators say they won’t back changes to the Liberty Lines contract with the county, which they maintain is needed since the bus company is picking up a portion of the route that was run by another operator. The board’s Government Operations Committee, by a 6-1 vote, with Legislator Michael Smith, R-Greenburgh, being the lone nay, on Thursday voted to protest Libert Lines application.

Residents have protested the changes and asked Astorino to restore the route or at least ensure that another bus covers all of the stops.

The rebuke came a day after the Republican executive announced that some county’s child care programs are going broke and will be out of money by July.

“It’s time for the Astorino Administration to get a handle on the numbers, do its job and give up on trying to undermine legislative actions that are right for Westchester,” said county board Chairman Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat. “This incessant ‘sky is falling’ and reactionary approach to governance simply has to stop.”

In a statement, Jenkins said the board restored 185 jobs and dozens of programs without raising taxes and said Astorino and the board must work together on to address these challenges. But Democrats won’t support Astorino with a rate increase, he said.

“Now let’s move on and start working together for the sake of all of Westchester’s residents, instead of making premature and mean-spirited pronouncements that unsettle people and raise undue fears.”

Jenkins said that the Department of Social Services has a $566 million annual budget and is projected to have in excess of a $10 million surplus from 2011. 

In December, the board restored $4.3 million in child care subsidies for low income families back into the budget after Astorino cut them out. They also increased parental contributions by 5 percent to 20 percent, but Astorino wanted the share to be 35 percent, which the rate parents in other places such as New York City pay.

The Astorino administration is predicting that money for certain county day-care subsidies, notably Title XX and another program for low-income families, will dry up by July 31. So on Thursday, Astorino called for a 15 percent increase, or about $6 more a day, on low-income families and limiting the number of children in Title XX to 206 to keep the program solvent.

“This abrupt decision will affect a number of residents in the legislative district that I have begun to serve, and so I am particularly upset and frustrated for them,” said Legislator Virginia Perez, D-Yonkers, and a member of the board’s Community Services Committee. “We need to hear more information about why changes have to be made—period. Putting individuals—mostly mothers, in fact—who make $30,000 a year in a position where they have increase their share of child care costs by over $1000 for each child will hurt so many families—and the local economy as well.”

“Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has once again crossed the line with yet another move consistent with his blatant disregard of the Legislative Branch of Westchester local government,”  CSEA Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo said in a statement. “For someone who claims he is focused on jobs and getting people back to work, he proved yet again how out of touch he is with reality. If he gets away with violating the law, the consequences would not only be job loss but a devastating effect on early learning and quality child care for families. It is deplorable behavior to deny community members a critical, fully funded program that was approved as part of the 2012 budget. We must keep people earning and children learning to turn this economy around, not send working parents straight to the unemployment line and onto welfare rolls.”

In an announcement Thursday, the Astorino administration predicted that money for certain county day-care subsidies, notably Title XX and another program for low-income families, will dry up by July 31. So it called for a 15 percent increase, or about $6 more a day, on low-income families and limiting the number of children in Title XX to 206 to keep the program solvent.

The announcement came as a surprise to lawmakers, particularly Democrats on the Board of Legislators, who say they have adequately funded a program for families just above the federal poverty level in the county’s $1.8 billion budget, despite Astorino’s continued rejection through his vetoes.

The Administration today predicted that money will dry up by July 31. The announcement came as a surprise to lawmakers, particularly Democrats on the Board of Legislators, who maintain they have adequately funded the program in the budget, despite Astorino’s vetoes.

“Unfortunately, the current situation was all too predictable,” Astorino said. “The problem has nothing to do with politics. It is simple math. You can’t run programs on good intentions; you need sufficient appropriations.

 “I certainly understand that family budgets are tight,” Astorino added. “But you have to look at the alternatives – asking families to pay about $6 dollars a day more for about eight months, or having the families pay 100 percent of the family day care bill starting in August. The whole philosophy here is to adjust payments in order to protect the long-term viability of the program.” 

Democrats were caught off guard by Astorino’s announcement and said that the press release was the first they’ve heard of a funding shortage.

The day care divide has been an ongoing battle between the branches and since Astorino took office. In his budget proposal last year, the county executive proposed cuts to day care and increases in parent share from 20 to 35 percent. But the board had fought those through a series of veto overrides and had kept the rate down.

“We put money in the budget,” Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, said. “The board adopted a budget and fully funded it. … If the administration wants to continue to violate the law, then we’ll have to address it.”

In a committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, lawmakers say they won’t back changes to the Liberty Lines contract with the county, which they maintain is needed since the bus company is picking up a portion of the route that was run by another operator.

“This resolution we’ll be voting on tomorrow confirms that the Board of Legislators has supported the development and operation of a mass transit system for passenger bus service within Westchester County since its inception in 1969, in order to promote efficient, affordable, and safe transportation through the County,” said county board Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers. “When the Board of Legislators authorizes the appropriation of funds for mass transportation services it’s in recognition of basic requirements of Westchester residents, who need to go to work, shop and travel to doctor appointments.”

This protest follows one several weeks ago where dozens of concerned residents joined Legislator Judy Myers, a Democrat from Mamaroneck, and called for immediate restoration of the Route 76 bus line service.

Astorino had cancelled the contract with the bus provider, Port Chester-Rye Transit, and cut $243,436  for the service, but the board restored that money in their budget by overriding his veto. But Astorino made changes nonetheless, saying riders could use another bus line that was extended to accommodate them.

In a meeting with the Editorial Board of The Journal News and Lohud.com, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said despite a fractured Congress, lawmakers must work together to ensure that people are working and businesses are growing.

To do that, Gillibrand said, the government can invest in its infrastructure, help small businesses gain access to capital and make sure that the United States has a vibrant manufacturing sector.

She also backed the extension of the payroll tax.

The government, she said, cannot create jobs, but can help foster an environment that helps grow the economy.

 “Government doesn’t create jobs,” Gillibrand said earlier today. “People create jobs … Ideas create jobs.”

During a one-hour discussion with the Editorial Board, Gillibrand talked about a new Tappan Zee Bridge, building a new energy grid and building a high speed rail system that connects the Northeast.

The Associated Press today reported that the Secretary of State who lives in Chappaqua plans on stepping down from her role with President Barack Obama’s administration but will stay on until a replacement is found.

“I have made it clear that I will certainly stay on until the president nominates someone and that transition can occur” if Obama wins re-election, she told a town hall meeting. “But I think after 20 years, and it will be 20 years, of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am.”

The AP also reported that she left the door open for a possible return to politics.

And in Rockland, Sen. David Carlucci’s district loses Haverstraw, Stony Point and part of Orange County but crosses the Hudson River by picking up Ossining under proposed districts released yesterday.

A state task force released proposed district maps for the state Legislature that were quickly criticized by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Democrats and good-government groups as being gerrymandered to benefit the parties in power.

Read the full story here and check out our maps:

http://data.lohud.com/dist_web/address_stateredist.php

Coffey has reportedly been approached by Democrats in the county party for a run and his name has been mentioned in recent weeks. Party Chairman Reginald LaFayette, in a recent conversation with POH, would only say (after a pretty long pause) that they are talking to many candidates.

“There are a few people interested, some in government, some out of government,” LaFayette said. “We have several people interested.”

Coffey, a Bronx native, graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former federal prosecutor who now works in the private sector, comes to mind in that he funded his run for attorney general.

LaFayette said that he was going to “let the process play out” and that ultimately it was up to candidates and district leaders.

But others in the party don’t think Coffey will run. Coffey, in an interview with Capital Tonight, also said he was not interested in running at “the present time.”

Other potential challengers for Republican County Executive Rob Astorino are Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins and County Clerk Tim Idoni, though Idoni may not want to run because he’d have to give up his position.

Former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of Greenburgh and Assemblyman George Latimer’s names have also come up as possible candidates, though Latimer will likely opt to run for the seat being vacated by Suzi Oppenheimer in Mamaroneck.

Here’s Coffey’s 2010 camapaign video for attorney general:

The committee, which includes nine legislators, made its selection Wednesday. Legislator Judy Myers, D-Mamaroneck, is the chair.

“I am gratified that Legislator Myers has appointed me to be her Vice-Chair,” Marcotte said in a statement. “ Following our recent bipartisan budget negotiations, I am glad to see that Legislator Myers is ‘walking the walk’ regarding a new spirit of bipartisan cooperation.” 

The budget committee oversees the county’s money by reviewing contracts, audits and expenditures and it routinely modifies expenses in the county’s $1.69 billion budget.

Word comes after Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, came under fire for appointing all Democrats to lead the counties committees.

The visit came a day after the Democrat from New Castle released his $132.5 billion budget proposal in Albany and the governor on Wednesday repeated his goals of growing the economy, repairing a broken government and creating a new state that is the nation’s envy.

In announcing $426 million in infrastructure projects across the Hudson Valley—including $24.2 million for a bridge along the Sprain Brook Parkway, nearly $8 million for wastewater treatment plants in Yonkers, Scarsdale, North Salem and Southeast and dozens of other parks and flood control projects in the region, Cuomo said it about fixing New York’s ailing infrastructure and putting thousands of people to work.

 “We need jobs,” the governor said before an auditorium at Yonkers’ Riverfront Library filled with public officials, civic leaders, union members and Yonkers public school students. “We need to do the work. Let’s do it now.”

Here’s a link to the local projects.

These projects are part of a broader $25 billion economic development agenda throughout the state that include a new convention center in Queens,  a billion to rebuild Buffalo and a power system that delivers energy all across the state. These projects will leverage private dollars and won’t cost the taxpayers, he said.

Though Cuomo set aside $5 billion for a new Tappan Zee bridge, he did not mention it in his remarks, instead focusing on other projects in the region that include:

• $148 million for Stewart Airport runways.


• $5 million to improve sewer systems at Bear Mountain State Park.


• $2.6 million to fix failing bridges at the Old Croton Aqueduct trail


• $1.15 million for FDR State Park in Yorktown


• $106 million to rehabilitate the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge


• Millions for various road repairs along Routes 9, 22, 119 and 172.


• Millions for dam repairs and flood control in Ardsley, Chappaqua, Mount Pleasant and Yonkers.

“It’s pretty simple math,” Astorino told The Journal News earlier today. “It’s going to cost the county more. ... Albany math is going to cost us an additional $26 million.”

Astorino was referring to Gov. Cuomo’s budget proposal that would ease up on some madates, notably Medicaid, which gobbles up so much of county tax dollars. The governor, a Democrat who lives in New Castle, proposed a new pension tier and paying for the growth in the medical program for poor people but not a complete take over of the program.

But that still leaves Westchester with an enormous Medicaid tab at $216 million, Astorino said. A state takeover of all counties 25 percent share and other Medicaid reforms are key to Albany getting its financial house in order, he said.

“We are the only state in the nation to pick up that tab,” he said.

The Westchester County Association, whose president, William Mooney, was on Cuomo’s Mandate Relief Team, said it was pleased with the governor’s proposal because “it continues along the fiscally responsible path initiated last year.”

“We are hopeful that the policies put in place will launch major job creating projects here in Westchester and across the state,” according to a statement released by the business group. “We agree with Governor Cuomo that it takes a strong private sector to ensure a secure future for New York State.”

The group also liked the plans for pension and mandate relief, which they said will help local governments “control costs and balance budgets.”

“This is the right relief at the right time for the people of Westchester.”

The Business Council of Westchester also liked what they heard, particularly points on mandate relief and pension reform.

“The entire tone of Governor Cuomo’s budget presentation today was indicative of a major shift in priorities,” the council wrote in an emailed statement. “Instead of a reactive government focused on financial crisis management, we see a responsible government delivering an on-time budget that closes a $3.5 billion gap without any gimmicks, and without any new fees or taxes. Finally, we have pro-active, business-friendly leadership focused on reform, economic development, and progress.”

Cuomo, a Democrat from New Castle, today released his $132.5 billion budget proposal in Albany that included $5 billion for a new Tappan Zee Bridge, among many other reforms aimed at curbing the growth of government while growing a troubled economy with new infrastructure projects that leverage private dollars.

“It’s nice to see the governor has recognized the need, particularly aid to cities,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, a Democrat who spent years in the state Assembly. “As a former legislator, it’s always nice to go to Albany and start ahead, or at least even, than behind.”

Find out what communities will receive here.

The Republican is expected to report to the state elections board that he raised roughly $545,000 during the last six months and that he has $974,000 in the bank.

He reported having $712,000 at his July filing and was active during the latest races for the Board of Legislature, which picked up two Republican seats in November.

“I am very pleased with our fund raising success this quarter,” Astorino wrote in an email to Politics on the Hudson. “Driving through tax and government reform can be an expensive proposition, especially when well-funded special interests are working day-and-night to block those reform efforts. These contributions will help ensure that I can speak directly with Westchester families, who have ultimate say on the direction in which this county will move.”

In the days leading up to the filing deadline, Astorino’s campaign asked its donors to contribute to help him “fight to save New York from the highest taxes and worst business climate in America.”

Phil Reisman, a columnist for The Journal News, called it politics as usual and recalled a few other examples, notably a decision by a former chairman to move former county legislator Paul Feiner’s office (now Greenburgh’s supervisor) into the photo copy room. Read Reisman’s take on the matter.

The move shows that the Yonkers Democrat has no interest in bi-partisan cooperation and is merely supporting those who backed his chairmanship, Republicans say, though Jenkins maintains they got exactly what they asked for—seats on every committee.

“This is the most partisan assignment of committees in the last 20 years,” said Minority Leader James Maisano, R-New Rochelle, who has been on the board since 1997. “He made sure every Democrat got a stipend. It’s very clear that the chairman made sure that all the Democrats that voted for him got a stipend.”

Jenkins recently won another two-year term as chairman of the county board by a 10-7 vote, a partisan split, with Republicans unsuccessfully putting up their own slate in Maisano and Legislator Gordon Burrows of Yonkers.

The vote for chairman came after a much-heralded budget season where both parties, including Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, lauded each other for working together.

“No one is being penalized,” Jenkins said earlier today. “Republicans got whatever committees they asked for. Republicans are well represented on every committee.”

Republicans were assigned to sit on all of the board’s nine committees, including the likes of budget, legislation, public safety and others, though only the chairs of those groups receive additional money.

Committee leadership posts, which generally come with stipends between $3,000 to $9,000, hold a lot of sway in controlling laws and policy and affect how the county board manages operations, policy and, to some extent, politics.

The chairman of the board earns a $40,000 stipend, while the vice chairman, majority leader, minority leader and heads of the budget and legislation committees each earn $9,000 a piece. The majority and minority whip each get $3,000. That’s on top of the $49,500 they make as lawmakers.

Legislators who receive a stipend for their leadership jobs won’t receive another one, Jenkins said.

In his streamlining efforts, Jenkins eliminated two committees – one for housing and another for generational diversity—and wrapped them under others in the interest of consolidation. He appointed two new legislators—Virginia Perez, D-Yonkers and Catherine Borgia, D-Ossining – to lead committees.

Maisano said it was remarkable that “two rookies” gained such important appointments while Legislator Bernice Spreckman, a Yonkers Republican who has built a career focusing on seniors, lost hers.

Spreckman was “shocked” to learn that she lost her position, particularly after she’s dedicated so much time to those issues.

“This is partisan politics at its worst,” Spreckman said. “I can’t remember the last time that a chairman has handed out committee assignments to only his party, completely excluding the other side. If this is what the chairman meant when he said we would be working under a new spirit of bipartisanship, then I think someone needs to explain to him what the word bipartisan means.”

“I am pleased to recommend these capable men and women to chair the Board’s Committees during this legislative term. We have much work to do and many challenges facing our county,” Jenkins said in his announcement. ”I know that these Legislators will be able to deliver the responsible and accessible government that the residents of Westchester have called for to help move our county in the right direction.”  

Two committees have been eliminated, including one for senior citizen issues led by Republican Legislator Bernice Spreckman of Yonkers.  In addition to their $49,500 salary, chairs receive stipends at the discretion of Jenkins, typically between $3,000 and $6,000 (Democrats have not yet provided what these chairs will make).

Here are the new chairs:

Budget & Appropriations: Judith A. Myers, D—Mamaroneck.

Legislation: William J. Ryan, D-White Plains

Appointments: Majority Whip MaryJane Shimsky, D-Greenburgh

Community Services: Alfreda Williams, D-Greenburgh

Environment & Energy: Michael B. Kaplowitz, D- Somers

Government Reform, Efficiency and Savings: Vice-Chairman Lyndon D. Williams, D-Mount Vernon

Government Operations: Catherine Borgia, D-Ossining

Public Safety & Security: Virginia Perez, D-Yonkers

Rules: Majority Leader Peter B. Harckham, D-Katonah

A porter at the Milton Harbor House, a cooperative apartment complex in Rye, the 39-year-old Bronx man said he relied on the bus as a convenient and cost-effective connection from the Metro North Train Station. Now he takes a cab from the Rye or Harrison train stations that typically run him anywhere from $8 to $18 a ride.

The bus was $2.25.

“Life is getting expensive,” he said. “They have to restore the bus. We need it.”

Saladana was among roughly 20 people, including residents, workers and lawmakers who take issue with Astorino’s cancellation of the line; they held a protest Friday in front of the Milton Harbor House in Rye calling on Astorino to restore the route or extend another line through their neighborhood. They say the line is vital to the community and a necessary link to the Metro North Train Station.

“It’s disgusting, it’s really disgusting,” said Dinah Moche, a 75 year old resident of the Harbor House who moved there in 1994 because of its proximity to mass transit. “It would be impossible to live here” without the bus. “There’s no parking at the train station.”

Although Westchester County contracts with Liberty Lines to operate its countywide Bee Line Bus System, the 76 line was run by a separate, smaller operator, Port Chester-Rye Transit. The county executive canceled that contract in an effort to save $243,436.

In its place, Astorino extended the 13 bus route from Ossining, but it didn’t go all the way into Milton Point, a wealthy waterfront neighborhood comprised of large homes, estates, beach clubs and several cooperatives. That would have been too expensive, they have said.

The Astorino administration said it changed this route because it was losing $8 per ride and only had 160 riders. And although the Board of Legislators restored the money in the budget (through a veto-override), they are within their rights to modify the buses. They have said this change only affected 30 riders.

“It’s not economically feasible to subsidize $8,000 per rider,” said Jessica Proud, a spokeswoman for Astorino.

During a speech before the business community this week, Astorino said that until New York state eases up on mandates, he’ll have to make tough choices like cutting bus routes, day care and other services and programs that people rely on.

Legislator Judy Myers, D-Mamaroneck, whose district encompasses Rye, said the county executive “chose to ignore” the board and its override.

Like other public services such as police, fire and others, mass transportation isn’t supposed to make money, she said, and it provides intangible benefits to residents, workers and small businesses.

“Mass transit, by definition is subsidized for the masses,” she said. “This is having an impact far beyond the savings. … Public input was never sought before the cancelation of this route.”

With a seven year wait for a parking pass at Rye’s train station, Steve Vasko, 48, relied on the bus as a convenient way to get to the train station for his daily commute into Manhattan. Now that it’s gone, he has to shell out an additional $10 a day for a cab.

“You’re talking about a couple thousand dollars a year in additional expenses,” he said. “You’re cutting costs in one area, but you’re not really taking savings … The savings are coming on the backs of people in Rye.”

 Westchester County’s largest union, CSEA, issued these statements against County Executive Rob Astorino’s call to repeal the Triborough Amendment.

“The Triborough Amendment leveled the playing field for union negotiations in New York State,” said CSEA Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo. “A look back in our state’s history shows that prior to the Triborough Amendment, many public employers refused to negotiate in good faith, knowing full well that the Taylor Law prevents public workers from the option of striking.”

The goal of this entity, known as an LDC, would be to fill a void left by the state since 2008 when Industrial Developments Corporations lost their authority to borrow on behalf of non-profits.

“We don’t have to wait for Albany any longer,” Astorino said in his remarks earlier today to roughly 500 business leaders attending the annual Westchester County Association breakfast. “Money from the incentives can then be used for low cost financing for capital projects, which will help create jobs and strengthen the fabric of our communities. This is smart government that Westchester shouldn’t have to wait for any longer.”

During his speech that was followed by a question and answer session, Astorino also spoke about cutting government spending, streamlining the contracts process, dealing with state mandates and promoting Westchester as a place to do business.

He was particularly critical of the state and said its leaders have basically put their “hands over their eyes” and ignored its real problems like spending and mandates that consume so much of the local tax base.

By promoting an LDC, Astorino said it was all part of creating a business-friendly environment because Westchester has been “on defense” for far too long in trying to keep them from leaving for places like Connecticut or the South.

Under his plan, the county executive would appoint five members to a board and the Board of Legislators would approve projects with the most merit, Astorino said. The bonds would be sold at market and neither taxpayers nor the county would be liable for the debt, he said.

Local development corporations are private, not-for-profit corporations typically created by local governments or larger industrial development agencies. They are authorized under the state’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Law and are typically used to spur economic development.

State law affords them broad powers that include the ability to issue tax-exempt bonds and take possession of public property for development purposes, and critics have argued they are not as transparent as governments and are not subject to freedom of information laws.

Ken Jenkins, chairman of the Board of Legislators, said lawmakers would take a good-hard look at the proposal, but noted the state allowed the law to lapse for a reason – so many of these agencies “skirted around the open and transparent government process.”

“We’re going to look at it, but the devil is in the details,” Jenkins said. “I’d like to know how this is going to work.”

Latimer had been mentioned as a possible candidate for Westchester County executive in two years, though he yesterday told The Journal News that he was “a dark horse” in that race.

In a release, Oppenheimer, a Democrat from Mamaroneck, said:

“It had always been my plan to seek re-election in November and continue to serve the people of this district.  When considering my responsibilities as Senator, the extensive effort that will go into rehabilitation and physical therapy following my surgery, and the added work of the hard fought campaigns I always wage, it became clear to me that I could do only two of those three important tasks. ...

“By the end of this term, I will have served 28 years in the New York State Senate, following eight years as Mayor of Mamaroneck.  The Senate is an institution that I hold very dear to my heart, and I count many of my colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – among my closest friends.”

A date for surgery has not been scheduled, but is expected to take place early in the 2012 Legislative Session.

“He’s obviously the front-runner,” said Mike Edelman, a Republican strategist who for years worked with Jenkins as a political commentator on television. “He needs to have the confidence of the Democrats on the board.”

While having the support of Democratic legislators throughout the county goes a long way with local party leaders, it may not translate into “free-sailing” for Jenkins, according to Edelman, since other Democrats such as Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Assemblyman George Latimer and County Clerk Tim Idoni have been mentioned as possibilities for the seat.

There could be a Democratic primary for the post, Edelman said, and a lot can happen in the next year, including the entry of other Democrats.

Jenkins, who will be serving his second term as chairman, will be leading with the board’s new 10-7 dynamic, which means Democrats don’t have a veto-proof supermajority. That should “stop the game playing and brinksmanship,” Edelman said.

“Now, they’re going to look badly” if they don’t compromise and work together, Edelman said.

Politics on the Hudson first reported that Jenkins was a possible candidate a year ago.

Reginald LaFayette, chairman of the Democratic Party, did not return phone calls and Jenkins said his main focus will be his current job.

“Somebody’s going to run, I can tell you that,” Jenkins said. “We have a little while to consider” whether we’re going to run.

“What I have my eye on is offering a different perspective” than the county executive, Jenkins continued. “We have had differing philosophies from the very beginning.”

The headline reads “Mr. Astorino Goes to Westchester” and outlines some of the battles he’s faced in his first two years.

In the piece published today, they open by questioning why the New York Times would criticize Astorino for his efforts to fight the Obama Administration on the housing settlement with the federal government (Astorino’s response to the editorial appeared yesterday in The Times) and they make the case that he’s “turning the tide” in a deep blue district.

“More or less, a Republican executive in a deep blue district. Over the past two years, county executive Rob Astorino has garnered widespread attention and praise for defending his county against racially tinged federal overreach in a mundane affordable-housing case, while also reducing the onerous costs of county government,” the article reads.

For more on the housing settlement, read The Journal News coverage here. 

In a letter to supporters from “Friends of Astorino,” they say that all eyes are about to be on Astorino’s campaign account, which might encourage the bad guys, those “big spending government types to sharpen their knives and plan the next assault on the Westchester County Executive.”

“Public employee union bosses and other special interests have put a bull’s-eye on Rob’s back because he is the leading elected proponent of fiscally responsible government in New York,” the note said. “He is beholden to no one—and they hate that!”

They are looking for $50, $100, $250 or $1,000 to reach their goal by Friday.

All 17 members of the county board were sworn in, including four new legislators, at a reorganization meeting last night at the legislative chambers. It was presided over by County Clerk Tim Idoni.

“Working for the people of Westchester means understanding the values that we share, and staying focused on the priorities that are right for all of our residents,” Jenkins said in his remarks after being sworn in. “Working together, this Board will confidently meet the challenges ahead.”

The new members of the Board are:

• Michael Smith, R-Greenburgh. District 3 includes Mount Pleasant, Pleasantville and North Castle


• David B. Gelfarb, R-Rye. District 6  includes Harrison, Rye Brook and Port Chester


• Catherine Borgia, D-Ossining. District 9 includes Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt, Ossining and Briarcliff Manor


•  Virginia Perez, D-Yonkers. District 17 includes south west Yonkers


• Tina Seckerson was also re-elected Clerk of the Board.

During his remarks last night, Williams thanked Jenkins and fellow legislators for their efforts over the past two years.

“One thing the legislators here tonight, and those who have served before us here, can all agree on, though, is that being a legislator requires the highest level of purpose and accountability possible,” Williams said.