Eastchester REVIEW THE
December 22 & 29, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 51 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Astorino vetoes budget; legislators ready for override By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Batter up!
Nora’s Ovenworks crowned three winners at its second annual baking competition, where kids in first through seventh grades were given an hour to complete their dishes, which were then presented to three judges from the Harrison community. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Nora Brunnett
Spano, Jaffe jump into mix for Latimer’s vacated Senate seat By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Harrison resident Mark Jaffe are the latest candidates to announce their bid for the senate seat that will be vacated when George Latimer becomes Westchester County executive. The Yonkers mayor, a Democrat, stated his interest in the position officially in a video announcement on Dec. 13. Spano is currently serving a second four-year term that is set to expire in 2019. Jaffe, who is currently the chief executive of a business advocacy nonprofit based in New York City called the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, announced his candidacy on Dec. 12.
“In these tumultuous times we need to be unified,” Jaffe said in a statement. “I pledge to fight every day to deliver necessary services and maintain core Democratic values. If elected, I will fight for greater transparency in government, more affordable higher education, improved public health and safety, mass transit improvements and use my skills to help create good paying jobs.” Jaffe has unsuccessfully ran for office five times, losing a race for Harrison Town Council in 2009 and a Democratic primary for a state Assembly seat the following year. In 2011, Jaffe ran for county legislator, but lost that Democratic primary as well. In 2013, he was nominated by the party for the same seat, but ultimately lost
in the general election to incumbent Legislator David Gelfarb, a Republican. Jaffe ran another unsuccessful campaign for Harrison Town Council in 2015, when Republicans won every seat on the board. The candidates’ announcements come after state Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, of Yonkers; Bedford Town Supervisor Chris Burdick; and White Plains’ Kat Brezler, a teacher and former campaign organizer for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during his presidential bid, have already said that they are interested in the Senate seat. The Senate’s 37th District covers Rye, White Plains, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Yonkers, North Castle, Bedford, and Eastchester. Since a primary will not be
held for the vacated seat, county Democratic leaders will be tasked with choosing a candidate to run in a special election. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has not yet announced whether there will be a special election to fill the final year of Latimer’s vacated seat. The governor is not required to call for a special election, and has the option to let the seat remain unfilled until the November 2018 election. The election may be important for Democrats to regain more ground on Republicans that will hold a 31-30 majority in January. The 37th District seat is one of two vacated positions in the New York state Senate. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
After the inclusion of a tax rate increase and restoration of several cuts by county lawmakers, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, officially vetoed a revised budget. “Such an action by the legislature was unnecessary and unacceptable to county taxpayers, already burdened with the highest combined property taxes in the nation,” Astorino said in his a message to the county Board of Legislators. How long Astorino’s veto will hold, however, remains to be seen, as county lawmakers say they have enough votes for an override. Originally legislators voted by a margin of 12-5 to pass the budget—enough votes for a supermajority, which would trigger an override. In addition to raising the tax levy by 2 percent, the lawmakers’ proposed budget restored positions to the county Parks Department, the county’s Planning and Engineering departments, as well as support staff for the county executive’s office. If the revised budget were to pass, it would mark the first time since Astorino took office in 2010 that county residents would see an increase in their tax levy. Lawmakers say the tax levy increase is being included to help offset $30 million in revenue from a deal privatizing the county’s airport; a deal Democrats have criticized since last year when the initiative was announced by Astorino. The deal seeks to reclassify the airport under a Federal Aviation Administration-run program that allows participants to transition their publicly owned airports into the private sector and then use subsequent revenue towards an operating budget.
At a glance Budget projects a 2% tax increase in order to offset $30M in project revenue from an airport privatization deal that lawmakers nixed Lawmakers’ budget restores positions to the county Parks Department and its Engineering and Planning departments.
In November, Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation agreed to a $1 billion deal that would extend for 40 years and throughout its lifespan pay the county $595 million on top of $550 million in capital improvements at the airport. That deal will be subject to the approval of an incoming administration of County Executive-elect George Latimer, a Democrat, who has so far been critical of the privatization. Latimer will be sworn into office in January. Without revenue from the airport deal, however, lawmakers worry that the county would be required to draw money from its reserve fund to cover expenses. Without a certain total in its reserve fund, Westchester County lawmakers risk taking a hit on their credit rating—particularly a rating by credit agency Moody’s—which dictates how easily the county can borrow money. Currently, Westchester has the second highest rating from Moody’s of AA1. Legislators will hold a vote to override the county executive’s veto on Thursday, Dec. 22, after press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com