Politics on the Hudson

Although County Executive Rob Astorino said Gov. Andrew Cuomo “acknowledged the problems” facing counties like Westchester with exploding mandates, the Republican said it simply comes down to numbers—and Westchester will pay more.

“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.

Business leaders from across the lower Hudson Valley today praised Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal, hailing it as a bold plan that puts New York on a new trajectory.

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.”

 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo kept aid to cities and municipalities in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties flat at $137.5 million with 80 percent, or $108.2 million, going to Yonkers.

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.

After a push to raise more cash, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has just under a million on hand.

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.”

 

We reported that Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins appointed  all Democrats to committee leadership posts , a move that angered many Republicans.

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.

In a jab to the GOP, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins appointed Democrats to committee leadership posts and eliminated another group led by a Republican.

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.”

Westchester County Board Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, today announced his appointments for Committee Chairs and his recommendations for committee membership, which will be announced next week.

“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

 

After County Executive Rob Astorino put the brakes on the Route 76 bus, Wimore Saladana saw his daily commuting costs soar.

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.”

“Today’s statement from County Executive Astorino is another attempt to distract Westchester residents from his stubborn refusal to address a number of other cost savings proposals in contract negotiations,” said CSEA Westchester County Unit President Karen Pecora. “Our state elected officials understand that Triborough fosters an environment for negotiations that is fair to both sides.”

 

In an attempt to help non-profit agencies like hospitals and schools gain access to needed capital, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is forming a local development corporation to help groups borrow money for building projects and expansions.

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.”