Politics on the Hudson

In a signal that legal tussles lie ahead, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino wants new lawyers on the federal housing desegregation settlement.

County lawmakers yesterday took up the request to replace Epstein Becker and Green — a firm the county paid $3 million to defend, and later settle, a class-action lawsuit with the federal government and the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York — with another $300-an-hour firm with offices around the world, Winston and Strawn.

Read the full story here.

Westchester’s Republican county executive-in-waiting visited the nation’s capital today.

Rob Astorino met withDemocratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as Reps. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison; Eliot Engel, D-Bronx; and John Hall, D-Dover.

“We agreed to work together for the good of the county,’‘  said Schumer, who was the first elected official on Astorino’s schedule.

The two met in Schumer’s office located in the Senate Hart Office Building.

Earlier in the day Astorino met with Ron Sims, deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, regarding the county’s housing desegregation agreement.

The Westchester County Conservative Party today endorsed Andrew Spano in his run for county executive. It’s the second time in two months that the party has endorsed Spano, a Democrat, over his Republican challenger Rob Astorino.

The closed-door meeting was held at 12:30 p.m. today at Silvio’s restaurant in Yonkers.

It’s unclear why the party held a second vote (some party members objected to it), though the first one was mired in controversy when some district leaders complained that party leaders ignored the will of members and manipulated the vote since most of the votes cast, approximately 90 percent, were by weighted votes or proxies. 

Today is also the deadline to file a Wilson Pakula, whereby a political party gives a candidate the authority to run on their lines even though that candidate is not a member of that party.

It is expected that today’s vote will be legally challenged.

Rob Astorino, the Republican candidate for Westchester County executive, today called on leaders in the New York State Senate — Democrats and Republicans — to resign their leadership posts if they can’t resolve their differences by Friday.

Because the stakes are high for places like Westchester, Astorino said a resolution was needed. He said the paralysis has real consequences for working people and called on leaders to actually lead. By failing to pass the income tax surcharge and mortgage recording tax extensions, routine renewals in Albany every two years, the City of Yonkers alone would lose $15 million, Astorino said.

“The Senate leadership fight is adversely affecting counties throughout New York State and it needs to be resolved now,” Astorino said in a statement. “Whatever the reason, the current leaders of the Republican and Democratic conferences cannot come to an agreement, so it is time to let others try. It’s time for new leaders in Albany to put the state’s interests ahead of partisan interests. This hyper-partisanship has gone on long enough.”

Rob Astorino, a Republican running for Westchester County Executive, was endorsed by New Yorkers For Growth, a political action committee created to promote responsible fiscal policy in New York State.

Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld, a board member of the group and fellow Republican, said Astorino is advocating for smart government and tax relief.

“Westchester County families are bearing the highest tax burden in America, and Rob Astorino will turn things around with smarter, streamlined government,” Feld said.  “Today’s taxes are the direct result of irresponsible fiscal policy at the county, state and federal level, and Mr. Astorino has the strength and energy to challenge those who drive our taxes ever-higher at every level of government. It is critical that Westchester residents  have a county executive who will advocate for us, not just here in Westchester, but in Albany and Washington as well.”

The endorsement is the group’s first this year. It was announced Tuesday night in Rye. For more information, check out New Yorkers For Growth online.

County Executive Andrew Spano and his Republican challenger Rob Astorino on taxes, Spano’s son, and the departure of Larry Schwartz in a recent edition of The Capitol.

After reading the article, here’s what Astorino said:

“Mr. Spano might want to stop criticizing taxpayers and start listening to them,” Astorino said. “Families are genuinely hurting because of local tax bills and they have a right to question where their dollars are going.  The fact that no one can figure out how Mr. Spano is spending so much money is his problem, not theirs.”

Rob Astorino, a Republican running against incumbent County Executive Andrew Spano, wants the county executive to release how much he and his other deputies are due in unused vacation and sick time when they leave office. He also wants a full accounting of what members of the Spano administration are currently due in such payments.

“No one gets paid for unused sick time in the real world,” Astorino said. “Only in an administration like this one would a top insider draw 34,000 extra dollars for showing up at work. Andy Spano has allowed this to go on throughout his administration.  That kind of mismanagement is irresponsible and wrong.” 

His call comes a week after The Journal News reported that former Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz was paid roughly $83,000 for unused vacation, sick and longevity pay, which is consistent with county policy.

The information was obtained under the state’s Freedom of Information laws. The paper reported that Schwartz was paid $48,236 for unused vacation time, $34,340 for sick time – half of what he had actually accrued – and another $204 in longevity pay.

Rob Astorino, a Republican running for Westchester County Executive, today called on New York State senators serving Westchester County to vote “no” on the proposed state budget.

He wants his Democratic rival, Andy Spano, to do the same.

“Everyone knows this budget is a killer for Westchester families,” Astorino said. “Why hasn’t Mr. Spano said a word about it?  Westchester residents are the highest taxed in America, and now this.  Why is Mr. Spano staying mum?”

Rob Astorino this week accepted the Republican nomination to run for county executive. Here’s what he said in his acceptance speech.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks so much for having me. It’s great to be with you tonight. I hope I get as much applause after I speak!
There are so many people here to thank. Thank you, Chairman Colety. I know putting this event together wasn’t easy.
Thank you to the committee.

And thank you to my wife, Sheila, and our two children, Sean and Kiley Rose, for supporting me. I could not do this without you.
I accept your nomination for Westchester County Executive.
I am proud to be your candidate. Thank you!

Like I said when I announced my candidacy last Saturday, Spring has sprung—and change is coming to Westchester! We’re all going to be part of it.

We know why we’re here. We need new leadership. Desperately.

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It’s one of the first political salvos between deputies in what will likely to be a contentious campaign — the Republican challenger for county executive is calling on County Executive Andrew Spano’s deputy, Susan Tolchin, to resign.

And it’s only April.

Rob Astorino’s spokesman, Bill O’Reilly, yesterday called for Spano’s longtime confidant and advisor to step down or cease her political activities.

Tolchin said that’s not going to happen because she’s been responding to government matters, something she’s allowed to do. Read more about the “dueling deputies” here.