RyeCity REVIEW THE
May 1, 2020 | Vol. 8, Number 16 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Westchester receives donation of 50K masks
Westchester County Executive George Latimer received a donation of 50,000 protective masks for Westchester County’s frontline workers.
Schools (still) out Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday, May1, that all schools and college facilities statewide will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 academic calendar. The state is also expected to make a decision regarding summer school programming by the end of May. For more, see page 4.
State executive order allows county to remove property tax late fees Westchester County Executive George Latimer received permission from Gov. Andrew Cuomo to go forward with his plan to remove late fees for county residents and business for the late payment of their property taxes. Latimer said: “I want to thank Gov. Cuomo for recognizing the need to help Westchester residents and businesses,” Latimer said. “I am concerned about the financial pressures that the residents of this County are under. We can, we should—and
now, we are—offering them some financial relief by waiving the late payments for the County taxes now due. This is the right thing to do for our constituents.” To provide assistance to the cities and towns that collect these taxes, the executive order allows for the county executive to accept less than 60 percent of the taxes (along with special ad valorem levies and special assessments) due on May 25 from towns and cities, as long as the municipalities waive residents’ late fees for the late payment of
property taxes up to July 15. To have the fee waived, the resident or business must certify economic hardship caused by COVID-19. The threshold for the certification requires in part that a resident must have qualified for the STAR exemption, is not paying property taxes through an escrow account and can assert that they have suffered loss of substantial employment income as a result of COVID-19. “This was simply the right thing to do, as businesses con-
tinue to navigate through this crisis,” said John Ravitz, Business Council of Westchester vice president and COO. County Legislator Catherine Parker added, “This solution by County Executive Latimer and Governor Cuomo is going to help the people that lost their jobs, had to close their business and still provide relief for town governments. It is critical to those people to eliminate late penalties for being unable to pay taxes due to the COVID-19 crisis.” (Submitted)
Westchester County Executive George Latimer received a donation of 50,000 protective masks for Westchester County’s frontline workers, from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, GNYADA. The donation of perrsonal protective equipment will go a long way in assisting the county’s doctors, nurses and first responders in their continuous fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The 50,000 masks that are being donated are part of a larger donation by the GNYADA to 12 different counties in New York State. “We are extremely grateful to the GNYADA for this generous donation of masks for Westchester County’s frontline workers,” Latimer said. “The health and safety of our doctors, nurses and first responders is essential for our success in this uphill battle against COVID-19. We know this donation will go a long way in helping our healthcare heroes deliver necessary care to those who are suffering from this illness.” “When New Yorkers are in need, time and again, franchise new car dealers and their employees are always there for the communities where they live and work,” GNYADA President Mark
Schieberg. “Auto dealers are the brick-and-mortar backbones of Main Streets and neighborhoods throughout the region, supporting little leagues, hospitals, schools, senior centers, and many charities large and small. During this extremely challenging time, when so many New Yorkers are suffering, losing loved ones, losing jobs, and struggling, car dealerships are once again here to contribute.” GNYADA represents more than 400 franchised new car dealers in all five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties. The new car dealers have been declared essential businesses, and service departments must fix cars and perform roadside assistance not only for other essential workers like doctors and nurses, but also for ordinary people who need to go to the grocery store, the pharmacy and carry out the necessities of daily life. The donations will be distributed from the county Department of Emergency Services Warehouse Building. This has been Westchester’s largest emergency response operation to date. (Submitted)