Eastchester REVIEW THE
December 1, 2023 | Vol. 11, Number 46 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Westchester County Tourism reached $2B in 2022 STATE CHAMPS! On Nov. 18, the Eastchester girls swim team captured its first-ever state title in Webster, NY. The Eagles’ strong relay performances pushed last year’s runners-up ahead of the pack. For story, see p. 16.
New Ro teen gets 19 years for shooting of Julian Oliveros Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that an 18-year-old was sentenced to 19 years of incarceration for the January 2022 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Julian Oliveros in New Rochelle. Rocah said: “Today’s sentence is a sobering reminder that gun violence knows no boundaries, and it has irrevocable consequences for victims, their families and communities. We must stop guns from getting in the hands of young people.” The defendant, Tommy Rivera of New Rochelle, was prosecuted as an adolescent offender, and pleaded guilty on March 17 to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a
felony. He will also be subject to five years of post-release supervision upon his release. On Jan. 25, 2022, at approximately 3:38 p.m., the defendant, who was 16 years old at the time, used an un-serialized 9mm semi-automatic pistol—a ghost gun—to shoot the victim four times, striking him in the lower back, knee, neck and shoulder, as he walked on Fourth Street in New Rochelle. The incident was captured on surveillance video. The victim was transported to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he died that day. The New Rochelle Police Department arrested the defendant shortly
after the incident near Glen Place and Beechwood Avenue in New Rochelle. Police recovered the murder weapon from the defendant’s waistband, and subsequently recovered tools used to build ghost guns in his home. Ghost guns are untraceable, fully-functioning illegal firearms that can be easily assembled at home with parts purchased online and are designed to evade certain gun laws. In a statement in Spanish read in court, the victim’s mother said: (translated) “On the evening of January 25, 2022, the life of my home changed forever...a part of our soul dies with my son...what sustains us is the solace that comes from recalling our time together.”
County Executive George Latimer is pleased to announce that Westchester County visitor spending reached $2 billion in 2022, following a challenging period for the tourism industry. The Tourism Economics report released by New York State (NYS) ESD shows Westchester represented 43% of all visitor spending in the Hudson Valley region, significantly contributing to New York State’s visitor volumes and spending that year. Key findings of the report include: • Westchester’s travel and tourism remained a significant driver of the economy with visitor spending reaching $2 billion. This was driven by increases in Retail (+39%), Lodging (+27%) and Food & Beverage (+23). • Westchester County ranks fifth in visitor spending in all of New York State. • Westchester County saw a 99% recovery from the pandemic loss. • The County wages generated by visitors amounted to at $1.1 billion, the most significant in the region. • Local taxes (hotel occupancy, sales and property) and
state taxes generated by the industry were $243.5 million. This represents $668 in local and state tax savings for every county household. Westchester County Tourism & Film Director Natasha Caputo said: “In collaboration with our local partners, we were able to illuminate Westchester as a safe and attractive destination for visitors seeking an experience beyond the everyday. The 2022 results show that our tourism industry is helping Westchester County recover, is creating meaningful job opportunities for residents and is a vital part of our County’s prosperity.” President of the Westchester Hotel Association Sean Meade said: “In the throes of the unimaginable, our hotel community rallied to rebound, to create a vibrant guest experience in Westchester County and to do our part to support the region’s tourism sector. There is work ahead as we look to draw important group business to Westchester, and the members of the Westchester Hotel Association are working in concert to grow that important element of Westchester County tourism.”