RyeCity REVIEW THE
December 13, 2019 | Vol. 7, Number 49 | www.ryecityreview.com
The gift
of giving Helping to spread some holiday cheer to all of Westchester ’s foster children, the county is now accepting new, unwrapped toys and gifts for the holiday season. For info, see page 6.
Tips for a safer, greener holiday
Con Edison wishes New Yorkers joy and peace this season and reminds them to keep safety at the top of their holiday list by using approved LED lights and products and carefully following instructions for their use and display.
Use only Underwriters Laboratory, UL, approved lights, decorations and products. The label means the product has undergone evaluation by a recognized product safety organization. LED lights and decorations make the holiday even greener because they use significantly less energy than traditional bulbs—reducing the carbon footprint and usage cost. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment accounts for 44 percent of home Christmas tree fires, according to a recent study conducted by the National Fire Protection Association. (Submitted)
These simple safety tips will help protect your loved ones from the risk of shock or fire, minimize your electricity bill, and reduce your environmental footprint: • Look for the UL label and carefully read instructions on your lights and other devices. • Do not use inside lights outside. • Check electric cords for worn spots or fraying. Replace cords that are worn or frayed. • Don’t place electric cords under carpets or furniture. • Never attempt to retrieve an electrical product that has fallen in water. • Never staple or nail cords to walls or baseboards. • Don’t overload outlets or powers strips. Overheated wires can start fires. • Never remove the third prong from a plug to make it fit a two-prong outlet.
Control the costs of holiday lighting displays with these simple steps: • Replace old lights with LEDs. • Use automatic timers to turn lights on in the evening and off at midnight, instead of leaving them on overnight. • Look for the Energy Star label on lighting and any electronics or appliances you buy as gifts. These models meet stricter standards and can dramatically reduce energy usage compared to standard models. • Use power strips. To save energy, shut off the strip when the appliances are not used.
BOL passes 2020 county budgets On Monday, Dec. 9, the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted 15-1 to pass the county’s 2020 operating, capital and special districts budgets. The $2.1 billion operating budget, which includes a $1 million cut to the county property tax levy, continues work begun last year to strengthen the county’s finances. The 2020 budget uses no oneshot revenues and contains no borrowing to fund operating expenses. It also adds $10 million to the county’s fund balance. 2020 will be the second year in a row that the county has added to its rainy day funds, after years of declines under the prior administration. Rebuilding the county’s fund balance is essential to protecting the county for the future and improving the county’s credit rating, which keeps county borrowing costs low. “We began the legislative term with a goal of stabilizing the county’s finances while continuing to provide essential services to the people of Westchester,” said Board Chairman Ben Boykin. “Today we’re passing budgets that do just that—reducing the property tax levy, replenishing the County’s fund balance, providing new revenue to local municipalities and school districts, investing in our children, and enhancing services for the people of Westchester.” The budget strengthens crucial services for Westchester families, especially in the area of child care, including increased support for the county’s Invest in Kids programs. There’s also more funding for nonprofit organizations which provide early childhood support programs. The budget also includes an increase in the reimbursement rate paid to child care providers, to make it easier for parents to find affordable, high quality child care and easier for providers to recruit and retain qualified workers who are being lost to higher paying jobs in other areas, like New York City. The 2020 operating budget also increases money available for
2020 COUNTY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS • $1M reduction in county property tax levy • $10M in new contributions to fund balance • No borrowing to fund operating expenses; no use of one-shot revenues • Increased support for child care & domestic violence survivors • Continued support for public safety & first responders • $20M in new funding for affordable housing • Funding to speed repairs to roads, bridges & parks
eviction prevention programs, expanding legal help for those facing eviction in Yonkers, and extending that support to Mount Vernon, Ossining and Peekskill. The programs help people remain in their homes, saving the county millions of dollars annually by keeping families out of the shelter system. There’s also additional help for legal services for domestic violence survivors and for community health centers and criminal justice reform. The capital budget commits $20 million to county funds that support the creation of new units of affordable housing. It also continues efforts begun last year to accelerate long-lingering projects needed to repair and improve county roads, bridges, parks, and refuse and wastewater treatment facilities. Among other efforts, these include commitments to renovate Memorial Field in Mount Vernon and reconstruct the South County Trailway. “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to cut the county property tax levy and put money into the county’s reserves, while increasing the commitment to our nonprofit, community-based partners,” said Majority Leader Catherine Parker. “These organizations provide cost-effective, indispensable support to working people in Westchester in areas of health care, domestic violence support, the arts, and especially affordable, high-quality child care, which is the foundation on which Westchester’s future will be built.” (Submitted)